What does Ziklag mean?

• Ziklag is An old city in Israel with a very interesting story.
• Ziklag in Hebrew means PRESSED DOWN.
• Ziklag is more than a physical place, it is also a psychological place

 Statement: Your Ziklag could be a marriage that’s failing. Your ziklag could be a broken friendship. Your Ziklag could mean disappointments and failures. I wish I could tell you that the place called Ziklag doesn’t exist or a place you will never visit.

But one thing I can tell you: YOU DON’T HAVE TO MAKE FAILURES and BROKENESS YOUR PERMANENT ADDRESS.

HOW DO WE DEAL WITH ZIKLAGS? (Read 1 Samuel 30:1-6)

CRY

Then David and the people who were with him LIFTED UP THEIR VOICES AND WEPT, until they had no more power to weep. (1 Samuel 30:4)

• Your walk of faith with God is not a walk without feelings or emotions. God cares about your tears!

You number my wanderings; PUT MY TEARS INTO YOUR BOTTLE; Are they not in Your book? when I cry out to you, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. (Psalm 56:8-9)

• God is interested in your emotions but He does not want you to be ruled by them

STRENGTHEN YOURSELF

 Now David was GREATLY DISTRESSED, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. BUT DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD. (1Samuel 30:6)

• Ziklag can be a fearful place where uncontrolled emotions lead to chaos
• Here’s what he did: He strengthened himself in the lord!
• How do you strengthen yourself in the Lord- YOU DRAW CLOSE TO HIM

WORSHIP

Then David said to the priest “PLEASE BRING THE EPHOD HERE TO ME.”  (1 Samuel 30:7)

• David knew he had to change the atmosphere… He called for the worshipers!
• He did not just wait for them, he put on the Ephod- The garment of praise!
• Worship take the attention away from your situation and puts it on God

PRAY YOUR WAY OUT

SO DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”AND HE(GOD) ANSWERED HIM, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” (1 Samuel 30:8)

• Prayer is you inquiring of God. Asking Him to show you a way out

HOW DOES THE STORY END?

DAVID RECOVERED ALL that the Amalekites had carried away… And NOTHING OF THEIRS WAS LACKING, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them (1 Samuel 30:18-19)

• How would your story end?

CONCLUSION

• What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?