The Comeback

It never ceases to impress me that some people always seem to rise to the top no matter how beaten down and broken they have been. They know how to have a ComeBack!!! We love comeback stories don’t we?

2 Great Sports“Comeback Stories”:

Bethany Hamilton:

This young surfer was attacked by a shark and lost one of her arms in the brutal event. Most people thought this trauma would be career-ending, but Hamilton underwent surgery and returned to the water. Shortly after her return, the young surfer claimed her first National Title and turned pro full-time.

Bethany Hamilton Image

Michael Jordan

This 5’11” Sophomore was cut from his high school basketball team. In addition, he overcame emotional trauma after the brutal murder of his father. He took a hiatus from basketball after his father’s attack, but later returned to lead his team to three consecutive NBA titles.

A brief listing of his top accomplishments would include the following: Rookie of the Year; Five-time NBA MVP; Six-time NBA champion; Six-time NBA Finals MVP; Ten-time All-NBA First Team; Nine time NBA All-Defensive First Team; Defensive Player of the Year; 14-time NBA All-Star; Three-time NBA All-Star MVP; 50th Anniversary All-Time Team; Ten scoring titles -- an NBA record and seven consecutive matching Wilt Chamberlain; Retired with the NBA's highest scoring average of 30.1ppg; Hall of Fame inductee.

Michael Jordan Image

What is a Comeback?

Comeback - a return to a former position or condition (as of success or prosperity) : RECOVERY, REVIVAL

Do you need a comeback in your life?

Comeback from a financial loss

Comeback from an emotional blow

Comeback from a disappointment

Comeback spiritually from having wandered near or far from what you know is right

A Comeback cannot generate from a place of discouragement.

Discouragement:

1. to deprive of courage or confidence : DISHEARTEN

2. to hinder by disfavoring

When you are discouraged, you are hindered

When you feel disfavored (by God), it is impossible to bounce back!

Next week I plan to talk about WHO God is & How to know HIM

Discouragement steals your strength & stalls your potential!

Proverbs 13:12 NKJV

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 17:22 NKJV

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Proverbs 18:14 NKJV

14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?

Nehemiah 8:10b NKJV

“...Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

We need to be encouraged!!!

Encourage:

a: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope :

b: to attempt to persuade : URGE

A Biblical Comeback Story:

1 Samuel 29:11–30:6a NKJV

11 So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel. 1 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.

David had just experienced:

Having gone 3 days out of his way to help a friend

Rejection without just cause from the Philistines (his friend’s friends)

Having to march 3 days back to Ziklag

While he is gone, trying to help a friend & being rejected, his city & family is attacked and pillaged

The men following David are tired, irritated and now want to kill David

David Needed a Comeback!

David’s Steps to start his comeback:

1 Samuel 30:6b-8a NKJV

But David strengthened (encouraged) himself in the Lord his God. 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”

At one of David’s lowest points, he didn’t quit!

Quitting at your lowest point only guarantees one thing - You’re Finished!

Many people will turn inwardly & throw a tantrum & say, “I do it myself!”

Do It Myself Toddler Meme

Others will turn to people they feel will agree with them.

1) David Turned the Right Direction:

David turned to the presence of God in worship to find encouragement, direction, clarity & instruction!

The ephod was a priestly garment & had on it the Urim & Thummim

-Many Biblical scholars agree that the Urim & Thummim stand for Perfection & Light (together = “Perfect Light”)

Getting into the Presence of God helps us to see clearly

Psalm 119:130 NKJV

The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple

Psalm 119:105 NKJV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

2) David listened to the right voice(s):

David turned his ears from hearing the complaints and threats of even those closest to him, to listening to the voice of God.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

God will ALWAYS encourage us and point us to His great and precious promises!!!

This is what God said:

1 Samuel 30:8b NKJV

And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

3) David Did the Right Thing:

Choosing worship & the presence of God gave David a personal Revival!

Revival- to come alive again.

When we are feeling hopeless, we need REVIVAL!

He needed this encouragement to pull him out of his Great Distress, hurt and loss! - This personal revival gave him the boost he needed to win.

David obeyed God’s instructions

He probably didn’t feel like it BEFORE he got into worship, but he came out of God’s presence encouraged and ready to go!!!

1 Samuel 30:17–20 NKJV

17 Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. 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 carried away, and David rescued his two wives. 19 And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. 20 Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

This is what you call a comeback of Biblical proportions!!!

Just One Thing:

Your comeback (whether big or small) starts in the presence of God - Get in it!

Discussion Questions:

What’s the most depressing meal you’ve eaten?

In what way(s) are you in need of a comeback in your life?

Re-read the account of David’s comeback in 1 Samuel 30:1-8 and share what stands out to you most about this account. Why does that impact you?

Out of the 3 steps of David’s comeback shared - Which is the easiest for you & which is the most difficult (for now)?