2020-07-26 | RECOVER STRENGTH IN THE LORD
1 Samuel 30:6 – 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 daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:6 – David was greatly distressed – oppressed, troubled, anxious, frustrated
1 Samuel 30:6(NKJV) – But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:6(NLT) – David found strength in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:6(KJV) – But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Literally – David made himself strong in the Lord
Strengthen – Make strong, have courage, be victorious, be encouraged, be fortified.
How do we encourage ourselves in the Lord our God?
1. REMEMBER THE GOODNESS OF GOD
Psalm 42:6 – O my God, my soul is cast down within me, therefore I will remember You.
Psalm 42:11 – Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him.
Psalm 27:13 – I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Hebrews 13:5 – I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Isaiah 49:16 – See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.
Romans 8:31 – If God is for us, who can be against us?
Psalm 56:9 – This I know because God is for me.
2. LIFT UP YOUR VOICE AND OFFER A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE TO GOD
Psalm 34:1 – I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:3 – Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
Nigerian Pastor – When we make God bigger, our troubles seem smaller.
Hebrews 13:15 – Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Acts 16:25 – But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.
3. BE RENEWED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Psalm 22:3 – But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.
Acts 16:26 – Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Psalm 16:11 – In Your Presence is fullness of Joy.
Nehemiah 8:10 – For the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Praise ushers us into His Presence. In His Presence we find His Joy, and in His Joy, we find His strength.
1 Samuel 30:6 – But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Discussion Questions
1. 1 Samuel 30:6 tells us that David was greatly distressed, anxious and troubled. Are you going through a time in your life like that right now? Could you share what you are going through?
2. In the midst of crisis, David strengthened himself in the Lord. How do you think he did that?
3. Is it difficult for you to remember the goodness of God when you are going through a difficult time? Why is that?
4. Can you share a time in your life when you have offered to God a sacrifice of praise? What happened when you did?
5. Why do the powers of darkness want to rob us of our joy in the Lord? How can we stop that from happening?