Foundation for Breakthrough

We serve a God of Breakthrough, but our foundation must be SURE for us to be in position for the Breakthrough. David understood the importance of his foundational relationship with the Father.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 14

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them.

9 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.

10 David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the LORD said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.”

11 So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim.

12 They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.

13 The Philistines made yet another raid in the valley.

14 David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

15 “It shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”

16 David did just as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even as far as Gezer.

17 Then the fame of David went out into all the lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him on all the nations.

In this passage, we see that David was in the Valley of Rephaim (The Valley of Giants). This was not far from the Valley of Elah where he defeated Goliath.

Just as we saw the fearless shepherd boy defeat the champion giant with complete confidence in God, we see him here defeating the Philistines with that same confidence.

David had extraordinary clarity because of his foundation in the Lord.

It is important to point out, that once David became King over all Israel that the Philistines decided to attack.

Probably going on their triumph over Saul, and wanting to attack before David could fully get his government setup.

This is what happens to us when we begin to step into our calling and purpose. As soon as we begin to walk in the calling of God, the fight begins.

Actually as soon as you accept Christ as Lord, the fight begins.

David had a foundation built on the Rock. His relationship with God was his foundation.

Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

That foundation put him in position for breakthrough.

David’s foundation was sure. It had integrity, when you talk about the integrity of a building; it means the foundation can support the weight of the structure.

(The root word of integrity is integer. It means complete, whole, perfect, nothing missing).

Jesus gives us an example of the type of foundation David had in Matthew 7:24-27.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 7

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Tony Evans gives a great illustration in his book “Kingdom Men rising” about a sure foundation.

He writes about a river in India named Yamuna. This river stretches some 855 miles through fertile lands and sweeping slopes. Having originated from the Great Himalayas this river flowed with life. Providing drinking water for over 50 million people, as well as irrigation. Unfortunately, today the river is unsafe even to bathe in because of pollution.

In addition, when monsoon season hits from June to September rain can come on suddenly in that region and delight can quickly turn into despair. The river can cause floods that raise to waist level. In 2017, millions of people were displaced and 1200 died due to a tragic series of floods.

In 2010, a multi-floor building in Lalita Park of New Delhi collapsed under the stress of the shifting sand. Hundreds of people living there scrambled for safety. 71 lost their lives.

After an investigation, they found that the owner was guilty of faulty construction. Even after he was arrested, it did nothing to address the ten thousand or more buildings in the same region with shaky foundations on unstable sand.

The reason these buildings were built on such unstable ground was that the owner’s did not have the PATIENCE to follow guidelines and building code. They wanted to build as quickly as possible and rent them out to make as much money as quickly as they could. Regardless if the structures had a sound foundation or not.

To be positioned for breakthrough our foundation must be sure, no cracks and built upon The Rock (Jesus).

NO SHORTCUTS IN OUR FOUNDATION, EXAMPLE OF SMOKING BRISKET(LEAN MEATS) WITHOUT PATIENCE YOU GET LEATHER OR EATING A SHOE. BEEF ALSO NEEDS TO REST BEFORE SLICING THIS ALLOWS THE JUICES de-liquify a little bit and settle back into the meat. Otherwise, they will spill out onto the plate and you’ll lose all that flavor.

We must have the type of relationship that David had. One that had three points that I believe help ensure a sure foundation.

The First is Patience.

1. David had extraordinary patience. It took almost 20 years after Samuel anointed him to be king before he actually sat on the throne

Before he could sit on the throne, he had to learn to come before God’s throne.

Before he could be King, he had to know the true King of Israel

It was during this time he learned to wait on the Lord (that word in the Hebrew means to bind to or intertwine.

Through all his struggles, running from Saul hiding in the cave, losing his best friend Jonathon, losing everything at Ziklag David knew to be patient and knew that God’s call on his life would be fulfilled.

So no matter what you need a breakthrough for whether it is healing, a job, your marriage, deliverance etc. Patience is key to be positioned for that breakthrough just look at what James says.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces cendurance.

4 And let aendurance have its perfect result, so that you may be bperfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The Jews whom James was writing to were going through persecution and trials. They were persecuted by the Jews because they were Christians and by the Gentiles because they were Jews.

God tests us to prove our faith, and the devil tempts us to destroy our faith.

How can we count it joy? Is joy the same as happiness? No its not

Happiness is about outside circumstances. Joy comes from within and is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is being content with who you are, where you are, and how you are.

Paul had learned to be content in everything that life brought to him, He was hungry, filled, broke, blessed, healed, sick, afflicted or delivered in all thing he learned the importance of God’s grace and relied on that grace while staying patient.

Through our trials in which we need breakthrough, we must be patient. Letting Patience have her perfect work, which is allowing us to grow on Gods provision and not our own.

David knew that being patient allowed God to do a work in him.

God has to do something in us before he can do something through us.

The second is Presence.

The very first thing David does is get into the presence of God. Just like, he did in the cave of Adullum and at Ziklag.

He actively sought God’s instruction

He listened for what God would say to him.

He did what God commanded. Which was good because the time the Philistines attack Gods strategy was different.

So with all that said I think it is important to note that David knew the importance of God’s Presence, especially during a trial or a battle.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Psalm 16

7 I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;

Indeed, my bmind instructs me in the night.

8 I have set the LORD continually before me;

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will dwell securely.

10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;

Nor will You ballow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

11 You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

David has more inquires of the Lord than all the biblical narratives listed in the scripture:

1 Samuel 23:1-3 “Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.” So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.” But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?””

1 Samuel 23:4-5 “Then David inquired of the Lord once more. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.”

1 Samuel 23:10-11 “Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account. “Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.””

1 Samuel 23:12-14 “Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.” Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit. David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.”

1 Samuel 30:8-9 “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.” So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those left behind remained.”

2 Samuel 2:1-2 “Then it came about afterwards that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.” So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite.”

2 Samuel 5:17-21 “When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. Then David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” So David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim. They abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.”

2 Samuel 5:22-25 “Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. When David inquired of the Lord, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. “It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the Lord will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.”

2 Samuel 21:1 “Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the Lord. And the Lord said, “It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.””

David knew that there is power in the presence of God, when He shows up things happen, (apostle Paul on the way to Damascus went from breathing out threating’s and wanting to kill the ones who were Christians to calling him Jesus Lord).

A foundation built for breakthrough is not just a life of prayer. It is a life that lives and practices the Presence of God. We get into His presence through worship not just by talking and asking.

It’s one thing to know about Him or know about His presence but it is a whole other level to experience Him and participate in His presence and David knew this.

Today God is beckoning each one of us to draw near to Him and when we do He draws near to us and we can come boldly before His throne and He will give us the grace to empower us to walk into a breakthrough.

I don’t know about you but I need His grace, I need His presence, in traffic, in the workplace, in my bills, in an unexpected tragedy etc.

The beauty of having an experiential relationship with God is when we realize that He greatly desires relationship with us. Psalms 139 tells us that He has so many thoughts toward us that the sand is not enough to number them.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Psalm 139

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.

Last, there is Praise.

David Praised God for delivering the Philistines into his hand.

11 So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim.

David was definitely a man of Praise just read the Psalms.

Look at when he brought the ark of the covenant back to Israel.

He did not care what the person next to him thought. He did not even care what Michal thought he just wanted to praise God.

In many of the Psalms, you will see David pouring out his prayers to the Lord only to find him praising at the end.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (Psalm 57)

1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by. 2 I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me. 3 He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.4 My soul is among lions;I must lie among those who breathe forth fire,Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrowsAnd their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps;My soul is bowed down;They dug a pit before me;They themselves have fallen into the midst of it.Selah. 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! 8 Awake, my glory!Awake, harp and lyre!I will awaken the dawn.9 I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;I will sing praises to You among the nations.10 For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavensAnd Your truth to the clouds.11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God;Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Power in praise, God inhabits the praises of His people.

So we need to be patient during our wait for the breakthrough, we need to seek and practice His presence. We need to be men and women of praise.

No matter the valley you may feel like you are in. It may feel like the valley of the Giants, or you may be on the mountain top about to go through a valley but no matter what our God is a God of breakthroughs and he is seated above all valleys all mountains and far above all things, and we are seated with him. So no matter what you need a breakthrough for get into position for it.

Make sure your foundation is sound and built on Jesus our Rock.

Remember to practice Patience, His Presence, and Praise. Then watch God burst through your battle like the bursting through of waters and give you a breakthrough.