Strengthen yourself in the Lord.

How many of you good use a good renewing?

Today is a day of being renewed and strengthened in Christ.

We are continuing to strengthen ourselves in the Lord.

Tell the story of David and upbringing and time line all the way up to the point of being alone and strengthening himself in the Lord.

age 10-13 David is rejected by his dad and brothers and then picked to be anointed by God

ages 10-15 David keeps sheep and kills a bear and lion with the hands of God.

ages 15-17 David is rejected by his brothers yet again, and then kills Goliath with the hands of God.

ages 13-25 David serves Saul with music and sward, and gets kicked out for it.

ages 25-30 David hides from Saul for his life. The people who help him are killed by Saul.

age 35 David is at the end of his rope. He has nothing left and he turns to God.

Saul dies and David gets what was stolen back and becomes king.

1 Samuel 30:6 NASB95

6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Common Views:

Strengthen yourself in the Lord is most often thought in way of declaring what is not seen yet.

Thanking God even when you don’t feel like it.

Declaring Scriptures and God’s word over your life.

Praying in tongs.....

A Millennial view:

No faking it so no faking it until you make it.

Not sure about this strengthen yourself idea except for get educated and work out.

Saying what you feel out loud.

Waiting for God to show up first

If it is real, He will strengthen you.

Bible references of strengthen in the Lord.

1 Samuel 23:16 NKJV

16 Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.

Nehemiah 2:18 NASB95

18 I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about the king’s words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, “Let us arise and build.” So they put their hands to the good work.

1 Samuel 30:6 NASB95

6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Counterfeit views:

Head knowledge does not bring strength.

Wisdom of men does not bring strength.

Understanding your pain and where it comes from does not bring strength.

Blaming does not bring strength.

Getting revenge or taking out your anger does not bring strength.

Many of the kings who fell way short in the old testament were followed by a phrase, “They strengthen themselves”.

Counted their army

Counted their own ability.

David’s approach:

Most of the Psalms of David start with a heart cry and sometimes even anger.

They move on to thanks and then declaration.

Most precious to David was, don’t take Your Spirit from me or let me live in Your house all my days.

Examples:

Psalm 56:1–4 NASB95

1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me. 2 My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me. 3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. 4 In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?

Psalm 142 NASB95

Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. 1 I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord; I make supplication with my voice to the Lord. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me. 4 Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul. 5 I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. 6 “Give heed to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are too strong for me. 7 “Bring my soul out of prison, So that I may give thanks to Your name; The righteous will surround me, For You will deal bountifully with me.”

“You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”

“Bring my soul out of prison, So that I may give thanks to Your name; The righteous will surround me, For you will deal bountifully with me.”

Solomon

2 Samuel 12:24–25 NASB95

24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and she gave birth to a son, and he named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved him 25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah for the Lord’s sake.

Solomon = peace

Jedidiah = beloved of jehovah

Love by Father.

Strengthening yourself in the Lord looks like:

Be honest with what you are feeling and seeing.

Give thanks to God.

Move to what your Spirit knows to be true.

Declare with boldness and confidence of Him with you.

Show by examples:

Pray for the church and this family by strengthening ourselves in the Lord.

I saw a vision:

A heart

Psalm 27:14 NASB95

14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.

It is time to come out of hiding. Father (Love) is singing this song over you today.

Closing:

Activation:

Say what you are feeling and seeing.

Now say what you are thankful for.

Declare what He has told you.

References:

1 Samuel 30 NASB95

1 Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; 2 and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. 3 When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. 5 Now David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all.” 9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those left behind remained. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men, for two hundred who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor remained behind. 11 Now they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David, and gave him bread and he ate, and they provided him water to drink. 12 They gave him a piece of fig cake and two clusters of raisins, and he ate; then his spirit revived. For he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13 David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” And he said, “I am a young man of Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind when I fell sick three days ago. 14 “We made a raid on the Negev of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on the Negev of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.” 15 Then David said to him, “Will you bring me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this band.” 16 When he had brought him down, behold, they were spread over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17 David slaughtered them from the twilight until the evening of the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled. 18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives. 19 But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken for themselves; David brought it all back. 20 So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, “This is David’s spoil.” 21 When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.” 23 Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. 24 “And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.” 25 So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day. 26 Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Behold, a gift for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord: 27 to those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the Negev, and to those who were in Jattir, 28 and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa, 29 and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites, 30 and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Bor-ashan, and to those who were in Athach, 31 and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to go.”

1035 BC: David is likely born in Bethlehem between

1040 and 1030 BC. 1030 BC: Jonathan is a mighty warrior of whom his own father is jealous (1Sam 13-14). He is fiercely and loyally defended by his men against Saul’s intent to kill him.

1025 BC: David is anointed by Samuel (1Sam 16) at age 10-13 - which Saul undoubtedly hears about, later choosing to keep David nearby for observation and ready dispatch.

1023 BC: David, bar-mizvah’d, serves Saul in an ad hoc musical capacity (1Sam 16:17, “provide me a man”). He returns to his father's house to tend sheep, but comes to Saul when needed – (1Sam 17:15).

1020 BC: David defeats Goliath probably at 15-17 years of age (1Sam 17) 1020 BC: Jonathan, who is much older than David, becomes one in spirit with him (1Sam 18:1).

1015 BC: Because of his reputation he was appointed armor-bearer to Saul (1Sam 16:21 - it may be mentioned in chap. 16, but the actual event is probably later – i.e. "he [later] became…").

1010 BC: Saul banishes David from his court, yet he makes him commander of a thousand (1Sam 18:13). Maybe he hopes David will die in battle. David is perhaps 25 years old.

1008 BC: His success as a warrior has made Saul offer him the hand of his daughter Michal “as a snare.” (1Sam 18:21). Michal marries him, and she loves him (1Sam 18:27-28).

1007 BC: At Jonathan's warning (and Michal’s), David flees from Saul to Samuel at Ramah (1Sam 19). Michal remains behind with Saul. An evil spirit caused Saul to pursue David, but he is stopped by the Spirit of God at Ramah. Ps 59

1006 BC: David and Jonathan covenant together at Ramah (1Sam 20) .

1006 BC: David flees to Nob and is helped by Ahimelech the priest (1Sam 21). He gives David the consecrated bread, and the sword of Goliath. Doeg the Edomite is present. Ps 56.

1006 BC: David flees to Achish, king of the Philistine city of Gath, the first time (1Sam 21:10). He feigns madness to protect himself and his men, and he is expelled. Ps 34.

1005 BC: David hides at the Cave at Adullam (1Sam 22:1-5) where he is joined by 30 chiefs. Three enter the camp of the Philistines to get David an off-handed request for a drink of water (1Chr. 11:15). His father’s household joins him there. Ps 142.

1005 BC: David takes his parents to Mizpah of Moab leaving them with the king (1Sam 22:3-4)

1005 BC: Doeg the Edomite, at Saul’s command, kills Ahimelech the priest who helped David and his men. He also kills 85 priests and everyone at Nob for helping David. Abiathar, the son of the priest flees to David with the ephod (1Sam 22:6-23). Ps 52.

1005 BC: David liberates Keilah from the Philistines (1Sam 23:6). Saul hears of it and gathers his forces against David at Keilah. Using the ephod, David learns that the people of Keilah will betray him to Saul, and so he flees again. Jonathan visits him at Ziph and covenants with him again (23:16). Ziphites betray David, but God hides him from Saul in the Desert of Ziph. Ps 63.

1005 BC: Saul pursues David at en-Gedi. Ps 54. David cuts of a corner of his robe in the cave near the Crags of the Wild goats. When Saul leaves the cave, David pleads his cause and his intent not to harm Saul (1Sam 24). He returns to his stronghold (Masada?). Ps 57. This is just before Samuel dies (1Sam 25:1).

1005 BC: David is living “off the land” as he encounters Nabal and Abigail at Carmel (1Sam 25). His men kindly provide protection for Nabal’s flocks expecting to be paid, but Nabal rebuffs them. David threatens to kill Nabal for his affront until Abigail diplomatically intercedes with food and praise. David has married Ahinoam of Jezreel (1Sam 25:43). When Nabal dies shortly after this incident, David marries Abigail as well. In David’s absence, Saul gives Michal to Paltiel in Gallim, which is probably on the border near Jerusalem.

1004 BC: David encounters Saul and his 3000 men in his camp at Hakilah, having been betrayed by the Ziphites a second time. He spares Saul’s life again (1Sam 26). Saul “repents” of his pursuit of David, but David doesn’t trust him.

1004 BC: David flees to Gath a second time with 600 men and their families. Saul stops his pursuit of David (1Sam 27:4).

1003 BC: After living with Achish at Gath probably for a month or two, David asks to move to Ziklag with his men (1Sam 27:6). David “serves” the Philistines for over a year (see 1Sam 29:3). Achish defends David against his officers ((1Sam 29:1-11).

1000 BC: Samuel dies (1Sam 28:3). Saul solicits the witch of Endor to call up Samuel (1Sam 28:4-7). He prophesies Saul will die the next day. In a battle with the Philistines on Mt. Gilboa, three of Saul’s sons die;

David’s Lament (2Sam 1:17-27). David’s service is “dismissed” by the Philistines. The Amalekites raze Ziklag and take the wives of David’s men (1Sam 28-2Sam 1).

David and 400 men recapture the women, but 200 men cannot go. David shares the plunder equally with them, and with the elders of Judah.

Saul is wounded and falls on his sword (1Sam 31).