23 | Winning in the Wilderness

1 Samuel 23 | Winning in the Wilderness

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Slides:

Theme: God often teaches His best lessons in the wilderness.

1 John 4:3

and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the [spirit] of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

Daniel 11:21, 23-24, 32, 38

"In his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue... 23 "After an alliance is made with him he will practice deception, and he will go up and gain power with a small [force of] people. 24 "In a time of tranquility he will enter the richest [parts] of the realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his ancestors; he will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them, and he will devise his schemes against strongholds, but [only] for a time. ... 32 "By smooth [words] he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. ... 38 "But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor [him] with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures. 39 "He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with [the help of] a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge [him] and will cause them to rule over the many and will parcel out land for a price.

Winning in the wilderness:

• God will often confirm His will in the most difficult situations.

• Vengeance should be left to the Lord.

Psalm 54:3-5

For strangers have risen against me And violent men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah. 4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul. 5 He will recompense the evil to my foes; Destroy them in Your faithfulness.

Winning in the wilderness:

• We are called to encourage one another.

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is [still] called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 

Hebrews 10:24-25

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging [one another;] and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Winning in the wilderness:

• Allow God’s sovereignty to bring peace in the most difficult moments.

Genesis 50:20

"As for you, you meant evil against me, [but] God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.