Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” emphasizing living with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
Scriptures we have been looking at all year:
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
(James 1:2-4 TPT)
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!
3 For you know that when your faith is tested, it stirs up power within you to endure all things.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
(Ecc 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.
Focus for today:
Setting the Stage. (From 1 Samuel 23:19-29)
In yesterday’s message, we saw how the Lord encouraged David just when he needed it; today, we will see him move supernaturally again.
While Saul was looking for David, a group of men from Ziph visited the king in Gibeah and betrayed David to him. They said, “We know where David is hiding he is in the strongholds of Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which is in the southern part of Jeshimon. Come down whenever you’re ready, O king, and we will catch him and hand him over to you!” The men were right; that is exactly where David was, and Saul got excited. But Saul’s reaction is somewhat sad. Saul said, “The LORD bless you.” Saul was not walking with the Lord; he was no longer in God’s will; he was not hearing from God and fighting against God. However, here he is, using religious jargon. This is no different than someone who says, “God bless you” to others while not having a relationship with God at all; people who could not find God if they were locked up with God in a room. The point is that religious words do not indicate a person’s heart, and God searches the heart.
Saul told the men, “Go and check again to be sure of where he is staying and who has seen him there, for I know that he is very crafty. Discover his hiding places, and come back when you are sure. Then I’ll go with you. And if he is in the area at all, I’ll track him down, even if I have to search every hiding place in Judah!”
Saul had a plan, and he put it in motion. Meanwhile, David and his men had moved into the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah Valley south of Jeshimon. When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him, he went even farther into the wilderness to a place that had been known as “the great rock,” and he remained there in the wilderness of Maon. But Saul did not give up. The king and his men pursued David deep into the wilderness to the point where Saul and David were on opposite sides of a mountain.
This was like a scene from a good Western movie. David and his men were on one side of the mountain, and Saul and his army were on the other. Saul had more men, more weapons, and access to reserves. David was in a bad place, and as Saul and his men began to close in on David and his men, it seemed like all hope was gone. BUT WAIT! Just as Saul was about to make his move, an urgent message reached Saul that the Philistines were raiding Israel again. Saul was frustrated. The man he wanted was right in front of him, seemingly helpless, but the people he was supposed to protect were behind him in trouble. So Saul did the right thing and quit chasing David in order to fight the Philistines. This was clearly God in operation, and ever since that day, the place where David was camped has been called “Sela Hammahlekoth,” translated as “The Rock of Escape.”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few quick things:
1. God’s Timing is Perfect.
When all hope seemed lost for David, God intervened at the precise moment. The Philistine attack wasn’t a coincidence; it was divine orchestration. This reminds us that God’s timing is always perfect, even when circumstances appear desperate.
How this applies to you:
— We used to sing a song that said, “He may not come when you want him, but He’s always right one time! He’s an on-time God… Yes, He is!“
— Trust in God’s perfect timing, even when your situation seems hopeless.
— Sometimes, God allows a situation to get so bad (like He did with Lazarus) that when He finally shows up, everyone will know it was God!
— Cultivate patience and understanding that God’s timeline often differs from ours.
— David and his men were basically trapped. They did not know what to do when, all of a sudden, Saul and his men left (heading back to Israel). That was God, and David knew it!
— Never give up hope. One move from God can turn any situation, no matter how seemingly hopeless, AROUND!
2. No Situation is Beyond God’s Control.
David faced an army, a mountain, and betrayal, yet God provided an escape. This demonstrates that no matter how overwhelming our challenges may seem, they are never beyond God’s ability to resolve.
How this applies to you:
— Face your challenges with confidence, knowing God is greater than any obstacle.
— If God is FOR you, He is MORE than the entire world against you!
— Refuse to limit God based on your perception of the situation.
— Pray boldly, believing that God can make a way where there seems to be no way.
— Look for God’s hand in your circumstances, even in unexpected places and through unexpected ways.
— God can cause your enemies to scatter in a moment, even when it seems as though they have the upper hand.
— This is a great reminder today for those who are praying about and against Hurricane Milton. Things may look bad, as they did for David in our text. But one move from God can change all of that!
3. God Protects His Chosen.
Despite Saul’s determined efforts, he couldn’t harm David because of God’s protection. This illustrates God’s commitment to safeguarding those He has called for His purposes.
How this applies to you:
— Rest in the assurance of God’s protection over your life and purpose.
— Stand firm in your faith, knowing that God’s plans for you cannot be stopped.
— When you pray, make sure you make it about God and His purpose. Pray for God to keep you long enough for you to fulfill His purpose before you die.
— Trust in God’s ability to shield you from those who seek to harm you.
— Align yourself with God’s will to ensure you remain under His protective covering. This is important because living in sin can and will cause you to be unprotected.
— If you are Born-Again, sinning will not undo your righteousness. But while sin may not unravel your righteousness, it will unravel your life. You will reap what you sow.
— David was not living in sin. He was trying to do what God called him to do. As a result, God kept him long enough to see the promise (to be King) come to pass. God will do the same for you!
4. Our Testimonies Have Lasting Impact.
The place of David’s deliverance was named “The Rock of Escape,” serving as a lasting testament to God’s faithfulness. Our experiences of God’s intervention can become powerful testimonies that inspire faith in others, even for generations to come.
How this applies to you:
— Paul said we are “living letters,” to be read of men. So, document and share your experiences of God’s faithfulness to encourage others.
— Use your trials and deliverances as teaching moments for those around you. Just as some say, “Don’t waste a crisis,” meaning that you should study it so you can learn from it. You should not waste a testimony, either. Study what God did for you and document it so you and others can learn from it.
— Look for opportunities to glorify God by sharing how He has worked in your life.
— Create reminders of God’s past faithfulness to strengthen your faith in future challenges.
— Allow your testimony to be a source of hope and inspiration for generations to come.
5. Religious Words Don’t Equal a Godly Heart.
Saul’s response to the Ziphites’ betrayal of David reveals a dangerous spiritual disconnect. Despite actively opposing God’s anointed and being out of divine favor, Saul casually invokes God’s blessing on the betrayers. His words were hollow, and his heart was impure. This is a reminder that spiritual language or religious words alone
do not reflect a person’s true relationship with God or the condition of their heart.
How this applies to you:
— Evaluate your own spiritual life beyond just the words you use.
— Saying, “God bless you,” to someone doesn’t mean anything if you don’t know God.
— Seek a genuine, deep relationship with God rather than relying on religious phrases.
— While words of faith, spoken from a believing heart, are powerful in God’s Kingdom, words spoken from an empty and unbelieving mean nothing to God. You may fool people by the empty words you speak, but you will never fool God.
— Be cautious of those who use godly language but don’t exhibit godly character.
— Remember that God looks at the heart, not just outward expressions of faith.
— Strive for authenticity in your faith, aligning your words with your actions and heart condition.
— The power of death and life are in the tongue when the words are spoken by someone who believes them and whose character supports them. In other words, when your audio matches your video, the words you speak flow out of the abundance of your heart, and you will have whatever you say!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I trust in Your perfect timing, even when my situation seems desperate.
No challenge I face is beyond Your ability to resolve, for You are greater than any obstacle.
I rest in the assurance of Your divine protection as I pursue Your purpose for my life.
My testimonies of Your faithfulness will inspire faith in others for generations to come.
I commit to aligning my words, actions, and heart condition with authentic faith in You.
Your supernatural intervention can turn any seemingly hopeless situation around.
I stand firm in faith, knowing Your plans for me cannot be stopped by any opposition.
My life is a living letter of Your grace, documenting Your faithful works in every season.
I seek a genuine, deep relationship with You that goes far beyond religious words or phrases.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME as I stand on my Rock of Escape, fully trusting in Your perfect will.
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!????????????????
