God of the Breakthrough by Dayle Kinney
2 Samuel 17:17-20
The Philistines heard that David had been anointed King over Israel and came up to search for him.
David heard about the Philistines searching for him and went down to the stronghold.
The Philistines went out and camped themselves in. the Valley of Rephaim They were gathering their armies to attack David and had camped only 4-5 kms south of Jerusalem where David lived.
David went and inquired of the Lord and asked whether God would deliver the Philistines into his hand. The Lord answered and told David to go into battle against the Philistines because he would deliver them into his hand. So David went into battle against the Philistines and defeated them, and he said “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water”. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim, meaning God of the breakthrough or God has broken through like a mighty flood of water.
David was a man known to seek after God, and his heart and direction. We can learn from David how to deal with life’s challenges, when the enemy comes out against us, or when people speak against us or treat us badly.
David was a man of war. He was mighty man who was skilled and experienced in battle. He could have gone up against the Philistines with his armies in his own knowledge and strength; but the first thing that David did when he heard of the gathering enemy armies was to go down to the stronghold where he sought God’s wisdom and direction. The stronghold is spoken about in 1 Samuel 28:14 and 1 Chronicles 12:8. It is the familiar mountain stronghold in the desert of Judah where David defended himself against Saul.
When circumstances, people and the enemy come up against us we need to do as David did and go to our stronghold, our secret place where we meet with God and seek his guidance and wisdom.
David knew that he would overcome every situation because he had God with him. He had learnt to trust in God and built his faith in Him.
As a young man he had spent time out in the fields as a shepherd and experienced God’s protection and provision. He had waited upon and spent time in God’s presence and it had created“bigness” on the inside of Him. He had an expectation that God would breakthrough for Him.
1 Samuel 17:32-51 tells of how David fought Goliath and stood up and expected God to work on his behalf. David knew how to think breakthrough minded. When Saul came and said you cannot go up against Goliath, you are too young and inexperienced, David did not listen to his defeatist talk. He knew that God was with him. He remembered and recalled what God had done for him in the past. How God had protected him and enabled him to defeat a lion and a bear, and he encouraged himself with the knowledge that God was with him against with uncircumcised Philistine.
When we have gone to our secret place, our stronghold with God and sought God’s wisdom and direction, it is then time to remember what God has done for us in the past, how he has broken through for us before. It is time to encourage ourselves, and think breakthrough minded and not be defeated by the negativity of others. This is when we stand up as David did and recount God’s goodness and declare that “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust, my shield and the horn of my salvation; my stronghold and my refuge. (2 Sam 22:2-4).
Celebrate your past wins. All through scripture we see accounts of where mighty men and women of God were victorious and knew the God of the breakthrough. Joshua Chapter 3 is the account of Joshua gathering the Israelites as they prepared to cross the Jordan River. Just as David did Joshua had inquired of the Lord what to do and God has said go! Joshua stepped out and instructed the priests to step out into the rushing waters and as they did the waters parted and the people crossed over on dry ground. Joshua would of remembered what God had done in the past, he would have encouraged himself in the knowledge of how God had been with him in the past (at the parting of the Red Sea, provision in the desert). He had an expectation that God would breakthrough for him as he stepped out in faith.
It is easy to focus on the negatives, but God wants us to be breakthrough minded. Some of you may have been expecting and speaking defeat and lack for a long time. It will take some practice and discipline to change your expectation of God breaking through. But you can do it!
God wants us to have a story to tell. The “bigger the better”. We are called to be witnesses. A witness tells of what they have “seen and heard”. God wants us to tell our story, to be able to tell of how God has acted and broken through for us. It brings glory to him. It builds our faith and the faith and expectation of others who hear. It causes us to become stronger and bigger on the inside. To be “breakthrough minded”.
David went into battle against the Philistines that day (2 Sam 5:17-20).
• He had gone to his stronghold, his secret place with God and inquired after God’s word for the situation.
• He knew that God was with him, he had built his relationship, his faith upon God.
• He remembered God’s mighty deeds and how he had been victorious in challenges and struggles before.
• He celebrated his past wins and encouraged himself in the goodness of God (Ps 62). He refused to listen to defeat or fear.
• He stepped out in faith expecting God to breakthrough for him .
Talk About
Discussion questions.
1. What story have you got to tell? What is your expectation for breakthrough today?
2. Are you speaking words of defeat and fear, or words of expectation, faith and victory?
3. Do you need to change what you are expecting, thinking and speaking.
4. Share when you have had a “win” that you can remember and celebrate God breaking through for you.
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