Strength in Tough Times: David's Journey to Restoration
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delve into the life of David, a man anointed by God but who found himself in a tough place. David's story is a powerful reminder that even after being anointed, we can find ourselves in challenging situations. There are two types of tough places: those we put ourselves in and those God allows us to be in for a purpose. David's story in 1 Samuel 30:6 shows us that God sometimes anoints us for these tough times, not just for the appointing that is to come.
David believed in seeing the goodness of God in the land of the living, even when he hadn't seen it yet. This belief is crucial when we find ourselves in tough places. Many of us don't see the appointing after the anointing because we don't steward the small things. We must be anointed in the valley before we ever make it to the mountaintop. David was anointed but not yet appointed, and the enemy often attacks us in this in-between place to prevent us from reaching our appointed place.
The enemy's strategy is to kill, steal, and destroy, but often he does it little by little, hoping we will settle for less. He steals our joy, peace, and health, making us feel like a shell of who we once were. But God is a restorer, and we must not settle for the enemy's theft. We must get fed up and say, "Enough is enough." Proverbs 4 says that if you catch a thief, you can make him pay back seven times. Today is the day to catch the thief and reclaim what has been stolen.
David could have let his past experiences dictate his future, but he chose to call bad things bad and not let them define him. We must do the same. We often hold on to our past, defining our future by it, but God wants to do something new and mighty in our lives. We must let go of the past and hold on to God.
David strengthened himself in the Lord, holding on and pressing in when he wanted to run away. Before God restored anything on the outside, He strengthened David on the inside. We must do the same, ensuring our hearts are in the right place before responding to our situations. David held on to God's word, not the opinions of men. He inquired of the Lord, asking for the ephod, a representation of going into the presence of God to get a word from Him.
David didn't ask for a sword or shield; he sought a word from God. He knew he was capable of pursuing and overtaking the enemy, but he wanted to ensure it was God's will. God told David to pursue, overtake, and recover all. David's recovery wasn't just about getting back what was stolen; it was about complete restoration, with nothing missing and nothing broken.
We must seek God and get a word from Him before making decisions. God is seeking those who are seeking Him. When we seek God, we will find Him, and He will give us the answers we need. David's story teaches us that recovery is not just about survival but about thriving and seeing God's goodness in our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Enemy's Strategy: The enemy often attacks us little by little, hoping we will settle for less. He steals our joy, peace, and health, making us feel like a shell of who we once were. But God is a restorer, and we must not settle for the enemy's theft. We must get fed up and say, "Enough is enough." [13:33]
2. Letting Go of the Past: We often hold on to our past, defining our future by it. But God wants to do something new and mighty in our lives. We must let go of the past and hold on to God. David chose to call bad things bad and not let them define him, and we must do the same. [17:54]
3. Strengthening Ourselves in the Lord: Before God restores anything on the outside, He strengthens us on the inside. David strengthened himself in the Lord, holding on and pressing in when he wanted to run away. We must ensure our hearts are in the right place before responding to our situations. [08:05]
4. Seeking God's Word: David didn't ask for a sword or shield; he sought a word from God. He knew he was capable of pursuing and overtaking the enemy, but he wanted to ensure it was God's will. We must seek God and get a word from Him before making decisions. [23:22]
5. Complete Restoration: David's recovery wasn't just about getting back what was stolen; it was about complete restoration, with nothing missing and nothing broken. We must seek God and allow Him to define what recovery looks like for us, ensuring it is complete and not just a temporary fix. [30:23]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [01:16] - David's Tough Place
3. [02:37] - Stewarding the Anointing
4. [03:53] - The Enemy's Strategy
5. [08:05] - Strengthening in the Lord
6. [13:33] - The Enemy's Little Attacks
7. [17:54] - Letting Go of the Past
8. [23:22] - Seeking God's Word
9. [30:23] - Complete Restoration
10. [35:21] - Prayer and Blessing
11. [36:20] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Samuel 30:6 - "David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God."
2. Psalm 27:13 - "I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
3. John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the two types of tough places mentioned in the sermon that David found himself in? ([01:16])
2. How did David respond when he was in a tough place and wanted to run away? ([06:41])
3. What did David ask for instead of a sword or shield when he was in distress? ([22:02])
4. According to the sermon, what is the enemy's strategy in attacking us? ([13:33])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that David strengthened himself in the Lord before seeking external restoration? ([08:05])
2. How does the enemy's strategy of attacking "little by little" affect our spiritual and emotional well-being? ([13:33])
3. What does it mean to "inquire of the Lord" before making decisions, and why is this important? ([23:22])
4. How does the concept of "complete restoration" differ from merely recovering what was lost? ([30:23])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were in a tough place. Did you find strength in the Lord like David did? How can you apply David's example to your current challenges? ([06:41])
2. The sermon mentioned that the enemy often attacks us little by little. Identify one area in your life where you feel the enemy has been stealing from you. What steps can you take to reclaim what has been lost? ([13:33])
3. David chose to let go of his past and not let it define his future. Is there something from your past that you need to let go of to move forward with God's plan for your life? ([17:54])
4. Before making a significant decision, David sought a word from God. Think of a decision you are currently facing. How can you seek God's guidance in this situation? ([23:22])
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of complete restoration. What does complete restoration look like for you in a specific area of your life? How can you seek God's help to achieve it? ([30:23])
6. David held on to God's word rather than the opinions of men. Are there opinions or voices in your life that you need to let go of to focus on God's word? ([10:52])
7. The sermon concluded with the idea that God is a restorer and that the best is yet to come. How can you hold on to this promise in your daily life, especially when facing difficulties? ([34:03])
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing the Enemy's Strategy
The enemy often attacks us little by little, hoping we will settle for less. He steals our joy, peace, and health, making us feel like a shell of who we once were. But God is a restorer, and we must not settle for the enemy's theft. We must get fed up and say, "Enough is enough." The enemy's strategy is subtle, aiming to wear us down over time. By recognizing these small attacks, we can stand firm in our faith and reclaim what has been stolen from us. [13:33]
John 10:10 (ESV): "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel the enemy has been stealing your joy, peace, or health. How can you actively reclaim what has been taken from you today?
Day 2: Letting Go of the Past
We often hold on to our past, defining our future by it. But God wants to do something new and mighty in our lives. We must let go of the past and hold on to God. David chose to call bad things bad and not let them define him, and we must do the same. By releasing our past, we open ourselves to the new and mighty works God wants to do in our lives. Holding on to past hurts and failures can hinder our growth and prevent us from experiencing God's full blessings. [17:54]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: Think of a past hurt or failure that you are holding onto. What steps can you take today to release it and trust God for a new beginning?
Day 3: Strengthening Ourselves in the Lord
Before God restores anything on the outside, He strengthens us on the inside. David strengthened himself in the Lord, holding on and pressing in when he wanted to run away. We must ensure our hearts are in the right place before responding to our situations. Strengthening ourselves in the Lord involves seeking His presence, meditating on His word, and trusting in His promises. This inner strength equips us to face external challenges with faith and resilience. [08:05]
Psalm 27:14 (ESV): "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"
Reflection: In what ways can you strengthen yourself in the Lord today? Consider setting aside time for prayer, worship, or reading Scripture.
Day 4: Seeking God's Word
David didn't ask for a sword or shield; he sought a word from God. He knew he was capable of pursuing and overtaking the enemy, but he wanted to ensure it was God's will. We must seek God and get a word from Him before making decisions. Seeking God's word involves prioritizing His guidance over our own understanding and desires. By doing so, we align our actions with His will and experience His direction and provision in our lives. [23:22]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What decision are you facing today that requires God's guidance? Take time to pray and seek a word from Him before moving forward.
Day 5: Complete Restoration
David's recovery wasn't just about getting back what was stolen; it was about complete restoration, with nothing missing and nothing broken. We must seek God and allow Him to define what recovery looks like for us, ensuring it is complete and not just a temporary fix. God's restoration is holistic, addressing every aspect of our lives and bringing us to a place of wholeness and peace. By trusting in His restorative power, we can experience true healing and renewal. [30:23]
Joel 2:25-26 (ESV): "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life that needs restoration. How can you invite God to bring complete restoration, ensuring nothing is missing or broken?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Destroy. That, that is the objective of the enemy is to kill, steal, and destroy. In this instance, the enemy shows up. He doesn't kill. And sometimes here's what happens. I believe that, that many times David, even in this moment could have come and said, well, the city's burnt to the ground. Well, I, you know, I'm here in this moment, this place, but, but the good news is they didn't kill. And sometimes the enemy would love for you in this in-between place, to settle for the fact that you're, that you haven't been killed and you haven't been destroyed, but he will hope that you settle for the fact that he's stealing from you. He just wants you to settle for the fact that he stole from you. And the enemy will come in and he'll do it little by little and moment by moment. He'll begin to slowly bleed you out. Instant by instance. See, he's not going to come at you all at once. He's not going to come at you and just destroy and kill and throw everything at you in that moment, because then your spiritual goal will be, oh, this is attack from the enemy. Let me stand up to this and let me come against this." [13:33]
2. "What if God had great and mighty plans for everybody in this room today? What if the plans were for you to prosper? And be in good health? Come on, somebody. What if they were great and would bring glory to God and advance the kingdom of God? What if today, if we said we identified and got agitated and fed up with the fact that enemy's stealing from us today? And we just said, enough is enough. Everybody say enough is enough. If the church would get to a place where we're tired of the enemy stealing from us, from our families, stealing our marriages, stealing our children, taking away our futures." [16:10]
3. "Sometimes God calls you to do something and you don't have a plan. Sometimes all you have is a word. And some of you, you've received this word today, but you don't know how it's going to happen. As a matter of fact, the enemy's probably telling you right about now, yeah, you've heard sermons like this before. You've been excited. You've got your hopes up before. But today, we're fed up. Everybody say, I'm fed up. Today is the day. And sometimes, I want to let you know, you don't have a plan this morning, it's okay. You have a word. Everybody say, I have a word. you don't have a plan, it's okay. You have a word today. And all David had to do was get before God and he had a word. And when you walk out of this place today." [34:54]
4. "And you start walking broken into healthy situations and you hold on to God and you get a word from God, I'm here to tell you that the enemy has a debt to you that he needs to return to you. Say all that to get to this point. That we were looking to hear David, the life of David, the response of David. We see this. And I want you to know this today, that God is a restorer. David recovered and pursued and overtook, but God is the one who restores. So I want to say this to you. God is restoring. He's I am recovering. the best, the best is yet to come. Hallelujah. That's a word. That's it. That's the home run today. I want you to repeat after me. Ready? Say, God is restoring. God is restoring. I am recovering. I am recovering. And the best is yet to come. And the best is yet to come. Come on, one more time. Say, God is restoring. God is restoring. I'm going to believe it. I am recovering today. I am recovering. And And the best. Is yet to come. Come on, celebrate the Lord in this place. God, we thank you for restoring. We thank you that we're recovering. We thank you, Jesus. And today is the day, Lord, that we get everything that you have called us to have." [34:03]
5. "Sometimes the enemy would love for you in this in-between place, to settle for the fact that you're, that you haven't been killed and you haven't been destroyed, but he will hope that you settle for the fact that he's stealing from you. He just wants you to settle for the fact that he stole from you. And the enemy will come in and he'll do it little by little and moment by moment. He'll begin to slowly bleed you out. Instant by instance. See, he's not going to come at you all at once. He's not going to come at you and just destroy and kill and throw everything at you in that moment, because then your spiritual goal will be, oh, this is attack from the enemy. Let me stand up to this and let me come against this." [13:33]
### Quotes for Members
1. "David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord. He, he, he encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord. And many people don't understand why the enemy comes after you like he does sometimes. Could it be that the enemy believes more that you are who God says you are than you do yourself? Could it be that the enemy sees something in you that you don't even see in yourself and that he's doing everything desperately to get you to a place where you don't comfort and strengthen yourself? And he's doing everything desperately to get you to a place where you don't comfort and strengthen yourself in the Lord. David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord. When I look at this word, there's many different, different definitions, but the one I'm, I'm, we're going to hang our hat on today is the fact that David holds on to the Lord. That word also can mean to press in. So he found himself in a tough place and the Bible says he strengthens, he holds on and he presses in to the Lord. When you want to run, away, that's when you know you better start pressing in. When you want to let go of God is when you know you better hold on to God. It might have been there before. Like I just want to give up, throw in the towel. But David says, I'm going to press into the Lord. I'm going to, when I want to lean back is when I really need to lean into who God is. And that's what David does. He holds on, he leans in and he's in a, he's in a tough spot. And when he wanted to run away, he got alone with God. And when he wanted to give in, he got alone with God. And when he wanted to give in, he got alone with God. He, he wanted to, to lean in. When he wanted to give in, the Bible says, no, no, no, I want you to lean in. And here we have David, he, who comes to this position, this tough place in his life. And many times when we find ourselves in tough places, and that might be you in this room today, we want God to fix everything on the outside and restore everything on the outside. That's what we really want. But here, what happens when David leans in and he presses in and he holds on and he strengthens himself in the Lord. The first thing that it doesn't automatically happen. The first thing happened is that God rebuilds the city, returns the families and everything is great. What if before God restores the outside, he wants to restore you on the inside. The Bible said that before he ever saw a restoration of anything physical on the outside, that God strengthened him on the inside. And David knew in this moment that if I'm going to respond in this moment, the right way, I better make sure that my heart is in the right place. I better strengthen myself in the Lord. Because David knew if I walk, if I'm broken and I walk into this situation, it's going to be bad. How many know this, that you can be broken and walk into a healthy situation and make it broken also. And some of you, God has given you a healthy situation, but you never let him strengthen you and restore you on the inside. And so you took what was supposed to be a gift and turn it into a curse. And so David knew that if I walk into this situation, it's going to be bad. And so David before he got to a place where he went and responded right. And he, he did something for God that he was supposed to do. He made sure that he strengthened himself in the Lord. He held on to God. I want to ask you this question. What are you holding on to? Or better yet, if we're supposed to be holding on to God, who are you holding on to?" [08:05]
2. "David could have let his past experiences dictate his future, but he chose to call bad things bad and not let them define him. We must do the same. We often hold on to our past, defining our future by it, but God wants to do something new and mighty in our lives. We must let go of the past and hold on to God. David strengthened himself in the Lord, holding on and pressing in when he wanted to run away. Before God restored anything on the outside, He strengthened David on the inside. We must do the same, ensuring our hearts are in the right place before responding to our situations. David held on to God's word, not the opinions of men. He inquired of the Lord, asking for the ephod, a representation of going into the presence of God to get a word from Him." [17:54]
3. "David didn't ask for a sword or shield; he sought a word from God. He knew he was capable of pursuing and overtaking the enemy, but he wanted to ensure it was God's will. We must seek God and get a word from Him before making decisions. God is seeking those who are seeking Him. When we seek God, we will find Him, and He will give us the answers we need. David's story teaches us that recovery is not just about survival but about thriving and seeing God's goodness in our lives." [23:22]
4. "David's recovery wasn't just about getting back what was stolen; it was about complete restoration, with nothing missing and nothing broken. We must seek God and allow Him to define what recovery looks like for us, ensuring it is complete and not just a temporary fix. God had a word for him. Because he inquired and strengthened himself in the Lord. He got before the Lord. He said, give me the ephod. He didn't say, give me my war chest. He didn't say, give me my defense secretary. He didn't say, hey, call the boys in here. We're getting ready to go. He said, I got to get along with the Lord today. I got to get a word. Because if my flesh takes care of this, it's not going to be good. If I go handle this myself, it's not going to be righteous. And I might never see the appointment that God has for me. Because David could have went and conquered them and got it back. But you know what? He'd have been fine for the next 10 years. But how many know in here we're not looking to be okay for the next 10 years? What if we lived and made decisions for us, our marriage, our family, everybody that we come in contact with, not so that we survive the next 10 years, but to make sure we survive the next 10,000 years and we're in glory and eternity in heaven?" [30:23]
5. "David says this, if you read Psalms 27, 13, he says, I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. He says that, and I believe he pulls from that many times to say, I believe that even though I haven't seen it yet, that I will see it in Jesus' name. When you get in a tough place, sometimes you just have to hold on to the fact that God has said it, I believe it, and that settles it. I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. I don't see it now, but I believe God has said it. I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. I don't see it now, but I believe that he has anointed me, and because he has anointed me, I believe that he will appoint me. I believe it's going to happen. See, many of us don't ever see the appointment, the appointing after the anointing, because we don't steward the anointing. Many times we don't see the appointment because we don't steward the anointing. And I say that like this, we don't like to steward the small things, we only like to celebrate the big things. And we don't see the ultimate place that God has for us because we don't correctly steward the time that God has brought us into right here and right now. And so we, instead of letting the fact that God has anointed and God has given us a word and God has shown himself strong, we don't let that define who we are, we let our circumstance in that moment determine our future. And so God is calling us to not just be anointed, but to steward the small things so that he can take us to big places. Come on, you got to be anointed. You got to be anointed. You got to be anointed. You got to be anointed in the valley before you ever make it to the mountaintop. You got to say, hey, I'm going to be anointed when the enemy is coming against me, just like I'm anointed when I'm standing on the stage and everybody's celebrating me. You know what I'm saying? I'm going to be anointed and I'm not going to let anything else steal that anointing or that appointing. I'm going to hold on to what God has for us today." [02:37]
6. "David could have let his past experiences dictate his future, but he chose to call bad things bad and not let them define him. We must do the same. We often hold on to our past, defining our future by it, but God wants to do something new and mighty in our lives. We must let go of the past and hold on to God. David strengthened himself in the Lord, holding on and pressing in when he wanted to run away. Before God restored anything on the outside, He strengthened David on the inside. We must do the same, ensuring our hearts are in the right place before responding to our situations. David held on to God's word, not the opinions of men. He inquired of the Lord, asking for the ephod, a representation of going into the presence of God to get a word from Him." [17:54]
7. "David didn't ask for a sword or shield; he sought a word from God. He knew he was capable of pursuing and overtaking the enemy, but he wanted to ensure it was God's will. We must seek God and get a word from Him before making decisions. God is seeking those who are seeking Him. When we seek God, we will find Him, and He will give us the answers we need. David's story teaches us that recovery is not just about survival but about thriving and seeing God's goodness in our lives." [23:22]
8. "David's recovery wasn't just about getting back what was stolen; it was about complete restoration, with nothing missing and nothing broken. We must seek God and allow Him to define what recovery looks like for us, ensuring it is complete and not just a temporary fix. God had a word for him. Because he inquired and strengthened himself in the Lord. He got before the Lord. He said, give me the ephod. He didn't say, give me my war chest. He didn't say, give me my defense secretary. He didn't say, hey, call the boys in here. We're getting ready to go. He said, I got to get along with the Lord today. I got to get a word. Because if my flesh takes care of this, it's not going to be good. If I go handle this myself, it's not going to be righteous. And I might never see the appointment that God has for me. Because David could have went and conquered them and got it back. But you know what? He'd have been fine for the next 10 years. But how many know in here we're not looking to be okay for the next 10 years? What if we lived and made decisions for us, our marriage, our family, everybody that we come in contact with, not so that we survive the next 10 years, but to make sure we survive the next 10,000 years and we're in glory and eternity in heaven?" [30:23]
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