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I SAMUEL 30:6

"ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD"

Intro: David and his men had gone to help king Achish in battle. When they
       returned  to Ziglag they found the city burned and families gone.
       David's men turned on  him and spoke of stoning.

I. THE NEED OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
        A. In times of discouragement.
                1. Trying to do the right thing can often be discouraging.
                        a. People will turn on you, call you stupid.
                        b. "Be not weary in well doing."
                2. Getting the blame for something you are not
                   responsible for.
                        a. Such was David's case here.
        B. In times of uncertainty.
                1. You don't know where to turn.
                2. You don't know how things are going to work out.
        C. In times of pressure.
                1. The load gets heavier than you can carry.
                2. The task is more than you can handle.
        D. In times of fear.
                1. Your security is being threatened.
        E. Times of depression.

II. HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD.
        A. David called upon the Lord.
                1. He sought God's wisdom and counsel.
                2. Why is it that we leave prayer as a last resort?
                        a. When everything else fails, pray.
                3. Oh the strength and help and peace and power that
                   come to us  through prayer.
        B. By singing spiritual songs.
                1. It can lift your depressed mood.
                2. Force yourself to sing.
        a. You won't want to.
        b. It will take real effort.
                3. Turn on spiritual music.
        a. Put the praise album on.
        C. Congregate together with God's people.
                1. When the wolf finds a sheep isolated from the
                   herd, poor sheep.
                2. What strength we receive as we worship together.
                3. How often have we entered the doors battered
                   and bruised by our  encounter with the world.
                        a. How God's Spirit began to minister to us.
        D. Getting your mind on God.
                1. We begin to see things in their true perspective.
                        a. This is not my battle.
                        b. It's not a matter of my strength.
                2. God is still on the throne.
                3. God loves you and is watching over you.
        E. Getting into His word.

Ill. THE RESULT OF DAVID'S BEING ENCOURAGED.
        A. He became an inspirational leader and encouraged his men.
                1. He led them in pursuit of the Amalekites.
                2. He led them in victory over the Amalekites. 
        B. "David recovered all."
                1. How different the ending of that story could have been.