Welcome to First Missionary Baptist Church

“A Place to Belong, A People to Believe With”

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Dear Church Family and Honored Visitors,

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A new year has arrived, and with it comes fresh possibilities—but also lingering losses. As we step into this new season, many of us are still carrying the weight of what was taken from us in previous years: joy, peace, confidence, relationships, purpose, even faith.

 

The enemy doesn’t just attack randomly—he targets moments when we are tired, distracted, or vulnerable. That’s exactly what happened in 1 Samuel 30. David and his men returned home to Ziklag only to find devastation. Everything they loved was gone.

 

But this text and sermon teaches us a powerful New Year truth: what the enemy takes, God has the power to restore. This is not the year to accept loss—it’s time to take it back.

 

"It’s Time to Take It Back"

Text: 1 Samuel 30:17–19 (KJV)

“…and David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away… and there was nothing lacking… David recovered all.” (v.18–19)

 

Recognize What Has Been Lost (v.1–3)

David didn’t deny the devastation. Ziklag was burned. Families were taken captive. The place of rest had become a place of ruin. Before restoration can happen, we must be honest about our losses:

• Lost time

• Lost passion

• Lost discipline

• Lost dreams

• Lost spiritual fire

👉 New Year Lesson: You can’t recover what you refuse to acknowledge. God can handle your honesty.

 

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord (v.6)

David was in distress—his own men spoke of stoning him. Leadership was lonely. Support was thin. But Scripture says, “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” When no one else could help him, David went back to his source.

👉 New Year Lesson: Before you chase what was lost, you must reconnect with the One who gives strength. New seasons require renewed dependence on God.

 

Seek God Before You Move (v.7–8)

David didn’t assume—he inquired of the Lord: “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?”

 

God responded clearly: “Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

 

👉 New Year Lesson: Not every opportunity is a God-ordained pursuit. Direction precedes victory.

 

Pursue with Determination (v.9–10, 17)

The journey wasn’t easy. Some couldn’t go any farther. But David kept moving forward with those who could. And verse 17 tells us David fought from twilight until evening the next day. This was not a quick win—it was a committed battle.

 

👉 New Year Lesson: Recovery requires perseverance. You may get tired, but don’t stop mid-pursuit.

 

Recover Everything the Enemy Took (v.18–19)

The shout of victory rings out in the text: “David recovered all.”
Nothing was missing. Nothing was broken beyond repair. Nothing was left behind. What the enemy meant for destruction, God turned into testimony.

 

👉 New Year Lesson: God’s restoration is thorough. He doesn’t just give partial healing—He restores completely.

 

As we step into this new year, hear this clearly:

• This is not the year to settle for loss

• This is not the year to live defeated

• This is not the year to mourn what’s gone

This is the year to take it back.

• Take back your joy.

• Take back your faith.

• Take back your calling.

• Take back your confidence.

• Take back your praise.

 

If God said you can recover all, then it’s time to move forward in faith, knowing that what was lost is not the end of your story.

 

Blessings and Peace Be Unto You, 

Pastor Fred A. Gray