Message 12 June 2016 King David Series: Regaining Momentum
Read 2 Samuel 15 and Psalm 3, 41, 55
But thou, O LORD, art
a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Psalm 3:3
The value of momentum
Everything that keeps moving forward has a force that works in favour of
the motion. A forward pushing or pulling force propelling it to a destination
or goal. A wheel rolling down a hill has gradient working in its favour to roll
and accelerate downhill. When it reaches the bottom and rolls uphill the
gradient works in its disfavour and unless it can find some greater force in
its favour it will lose speed and eventually come to a halt. Life in general
also can be gaining or losing momentum. In this sense momentum is about what to
expect next. It is high when with a conviction that good things are about to
happen (James 1:17). It is a sense of growing. Feeling of being on a path of
progressively more and more waiting for you. A confidence that setbacks make
way for come backs. A strong belief that delays are not denials. Sense of
excitement. A positive anticipation and sense of excitement. Something
positive that makes it hard for you to stop doing something. Something
generating positive thought and conversation about what is happening. The thing
that gives you reason and makes you want to keep going.
To move forward and attain your destiny you need to learn how to build and
sustain momentum. Momentum has to be maintained. Negative momentum must be addressed
before it is so low that it can’t be reversed or gangrene that it is spreading
so much in a group, that when new people come the negative talk in foyers and
prayer needs discourage immediately extinguish the fire for being a part. If you can’t keep up the momentum you lose
meaning of personal life, a relationship
or a group involvement. So you need
momentum at these three levels. Signs of loss of momentum at the personal,
relational and corporate levels include:
>> In personal life. Loss of life meaning. Not seeing a future. Tarnished
self image. Losing self esteem. Not excited about life anymore. Lack of life
motivation for your vocation. Can’t find enthusiasm to learn and grow. First
love and zeal for God has waned or disappeared. How do you feel when you wake up in the morning?
>> In a relationship. Feeling that something has been lost between you and
the other person. There is no more strong
affinity. There is no more warmth and fire. The desire to be together has
disappeared. Poor communication. The relationship is conflict ridden. Trust is
eroded and in deficit. How do you feel
when you think of the other person, are apart or are going to meet them?
>> In corporate life. Leaders out of touch with the people they lead.
There is disrespect for authority and boundaries. A
general negative sentiment about everything. No motivation to push on. Cannot see
where the group is going and the progress. The hope for a promised or expected
future is dying. Conflict and mistrust levels are high. Increasing lack
of energy, politicking, gossip, backbiting and even betrayal, rebellion
and assassination of each other (1 Samuel 15:23). If not giving life you are
killing (1 John 3:15). Little loyalty. High turnover
absenteeism and lack of commitment. Low participation and cooperation levels. How easy is it to find an excuse to avoid a
commitment? How delighted are you to sell the group programs to friends? In a church group - What
happens inside you when hear of church events and commitments such as attending
a prayer meeting. Does something in you leap with excitement or something takes
a dive forcing you to hide.
What erodes momentum?
Momentum is lost through loss of
motivation and through resistance. Momentum stealers include leadership
failures, scandals and fights. Lack of shared values and bonding among members.
Unfulfilled promises - expectations raised but only to be dashed. Poor
communication. Majoring in the past, minors and weaknesses. Losing sight of
God, his plan and his presence. Delayed results – hope deferred makes the heart
sick (Proverbs 13:12).
What restores momentum?
The Case of David
David is a case in point. After he was appointed King, he was prosperous
and experiencing relative peace but he lost something in his ability to keep
order and peace in his home and nation. Discontent festered in the domains of
his authority. In his personal life he
violated moral parameters by committing adultery and orchestrated the killing
of the husband of the woman, Bathsheba. Bathsheba was a wife to one of his top
mighty soldiers, daughter of another of his top mighty men and granddaughter of his chief strategist
and, friend and counselor – Ahithopel (2 Samuel 11:3; 23:34, 39).
In David’s home there was chaos as a consequence of his personal
sin. Amnon a son raped a daughter Tamar
resulting in another son Absalom killing Amnon. He as a result fled to exile to
a relative in Geshur. When he was brought back, for two years David would not
see him. He had to burn Joab’s barley field to get attention.
On the national front momentum was in David’s disfavor. Things deteriorated
so much that discontent with David was high. As a result Absalom was able to
steal the hearts of the people. Momentum against a person can be so strong and loud
that no one listens to the person. No one hears. Many don't look at facts and
history but follow momentum. Momentum travels faster than facts and shortens
memory. Perception of momentum gain or loss can go viral regardless of whether
they are true or false.
Psalms three, 41 and 55 are prayers David made when he was fleeing from Absalom. David was losing public space but
he reclaimed his private place. Prayer gives an ‘advantage in’ as in lawn
tennis. By praying David recalled faith.
By praying David assumed Responsibility for finding a solution. By praying
David acknowledged responsibility for his status quo. His disobedience gave
rise to the consequences he faced. Who caused the rebellion and death of Absalom?
It was David in the same way that Eli caused the death of priests at Nob.
David was humiliated. Psalm 3 Verses 1-2. He
was overwhelmed by the increasing number of people that rose up against him
from within the nation. People lost confidence in David being able to find help
from God. They had written him off as one rejected by God. ‘There is no help
for him in God.’ (Psalm 3:2; 55:5). How did things go so wrong? Interest in his
past exploits and glamour was waning. Could
word about his sin have spread and eroded the respect and aura around him as a
man of God? Could Ahithopel have harbored bitterness about what David had done
to his granddaughter, Bathsheba? Did Absalom simply take advantage of what
David was not fulfilling such as failure to provide justice to all who came to
the gates? He also had ample time to achieve his goal and do it undetected long
enough to win enough numbers and leaders. Did David fail to monitor what was
going on? Eventually Absalom rebelled and declared himself king forcing his
father to flee into the wilderness. He took on his side the chief counselor
and right hand man of David Ahithopel. To show the nation that his father was
totally defeated and there was nothing to fear of him, he slept with his father’s
concubines on the roof top in public view. It appears even lies were doing the
rounds. For an example in Psalm 41:8, ‘An
evil disease, say they, cleaves fast onto him: and now that he lies he shall
rise up no more.’
David was
particularly concerned that even his closest right hand man and chief adviser Ahithopel
had also deserted him. He felt betrayed and extremely vulnerable. Psalm 55:
12-14, 20-21 ‘For it
was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it
he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid
myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine
acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house
of God in company. … He hath put forth his hands against such as be at
peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were
smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil,
yet were they drawn swords.’ Psalm 41:6, 9 ‘And if he come to see me, he speaks vanity:
his heart gathers iniquity to itself; when he goes abroad, he tells it. …Yea,
mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath
lifted up his heel against me.’
Things were so bad
that he wished he had wings to fly away. ‘And
I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at
rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness.
Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.’
Psalm 55:6-8
David prayed. When the chips were down David’s faith remained
high. Psalm 3 verse 3-7; 55:1. David
felt low and down. He could not walk tall and lift his head high. His faith was however still high. He still
believed there was help for him from God despite increasing numbers thinking
otherwise. He believed God was still the lifter of his head. He declared that
he would not fear ten thousand people. He confessed what he believed of God and
declared what he saw God do to his enemies. He also cried to God out loud. ‘I
cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.’ God
heard him from his holy hill implying he had been completely forgiven. He admitted his failures and called for mercy,
‘I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against
thee (Psalm 41:4). David learnt to appreciate
being able to sleep and wake up still alive. It was proof to him that God was
with him (Psalm 3:5; 41:11) . Realize even among people with him he was not certain who was really on his side.
David strategized. ‘And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with
Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel
into foolishness. (I Samuel 15:31). Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues:
for I have seen violence and strife in the city.’ (Psalm 55:9). David planted
Hushai another close friend among the people of Absalom. They also set up a
communication system to keep David updated on developments in Absalom’s camp. The
‘boy’ Absalom was a schemer but he failed to outdo the old man at it. Ahithopel’s
better military advice was rejected in favor of Hushai’s and that turned the
battle in favor of David (II Samuel 16:21-23; 17:1-3). When his advice was not
followed Ahithopel knew they were losing so much that he left, went home and committed suicide.
David regained momentum. He cried out evening, morning and noon and won
through prayer. He believed salvation belonged to God and that prayer worked
(Psalm 3:8; 55:16, 17). Cast thy burden
upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous
to be moved (Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7).
God answered David’s
prayer. This was a major step in David regaining his spiritual momentum. He gave him the practical wisdom to win and also preserved him. When
Absalom was defeated and killed he mourned him much to the displeasure of his
cadres. He did not impose himself back to be King. He waited for the call by
the people to have him back. ‘And king
David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders
of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? Seeing
the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house (2 Samuel 19:11).’
It is interesting that Judah had to be reminded to make the returning
King theirs. Yet they had been the first to appoint him King when Saul was
killed. David always waited for
God, Saul couldn’t wait for God. David did not take matters into his hands but trusted
God. Saul could not wait but David’s waiting saved Saul’s life twice in the
wilderness.
What maintains
Momentum?
All issues have root and fruit levels . They are best addressed at the
root and not the fruit levels. Momentum is a fruit. You direct the causes and
fruit is Gods prerogative when the root conditions for it are met. Root issues
develop underground out of sight - in the hearts and private lives of people.
Roots are inward and fruit is outward. Root is identity and fruit is
confirmation. Root causes to be addressed
to regain spiritual momentum include:
- Revelation
of God – his plans and future generates momentum. The revelation comes from
the Holy Spirit illuminating the word of God and revealing Jesus. When you
maintain sight of him and what he has and is doing for you will always be
encouraged and have a reason to look forward to the future. You will know that
with God something good is always about to happen. When you see him and
maintain an awareness of him you will not be carried away with fear and worry. You
will always have hope. He is hope personified and promise incarnate. When you
see him you will worship. Without a revelation of God true worship is impossible. Worship is a response
to his appearing and faith is a worshipful response to his grace. The depth of knowledge and awareness of God is
the degree of fervency in worship.
- Root focused prayer. Paul’ s prayers dwelt on the root (Ephesians
1:15ff, Colossians 1:9ff, Philippians 1:7ff). Momentum comes from faith in God’s
promises, character and what he has already provided and done. View the future
positively based on God’s promises. If can't find source of momentum in the
present. You won't find it in the past but in the future. Whatever is in
the future takes faith to appreciate.
The future is in the unseen. So can't rely on sight.
- Unity and harmony in relationships through walking in
forgiveness and love is also a source of momentum. Being a part of a faith
community is momentum generating as you are encouraged by what others are
experiencing and sharing. Hebrews 10:25 gives encouraging one another as the
agenda for believers coming together.
- Momentum comes from God’s reviving presence through Spit
filled and praiseful lives.
- The fullness and work of the Holy Spirit in a group or a
life also generates momentum. The Holy Spirit makes exciting things happen.
Moving forward is not about will power but real power (Acts 1:8).
- Obedience to God’s word generates a momentum
inside that nothing else can produce. Actions that correspond to faith are
rewarded by God with his presence and intervention. Every obedience manifests
the presence of God and releases his power.
- Maintaining high morale by not despising
what God does. Don’t wait for some big thing or the final thing. Every step of
God is big because God is big. When you are full of faith you implement and
celebrate your small and short term victories because of what they mark –
progress to a great future in God. You also celebrate the mile stones because
they lay the foundation to the future goal. Momentum is sustained by sustained
morale. Exciting social, conference, prayer and other events raise morale.
Programs that involve something outside the regular and traditional such as
inviting guest ministers, involving fresh players, leaders, ideas, creativity
and strategies.
Message by Dr.
Kurai Chitima.
Faith Ministries –
Johannesburg Faith Life Center.
First Floor Dhando
House,
66 Eloff Street
Extension,
Village Deep,
Johannesburg,
South Africa
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