DAILY VIDEO DEVOTIONAL
His heart was on fire with the love of Christ. He wanted to share Jesus with all his friends. He was gifted. Some might even say “anointed.” As a young evangelist, he saw hundreds of young people flocking to hear him preach, and many responded to his messages. It appeared that he had a bright future and that God’s hand was mightily upon this young preacher.
Fast forward four decades and you discover he’s been married numerous times, with children from several different relationships. He’s no longer in ministry. He has few if any deep friendships. His life goals from his youth were shattered. Rather than a great testimony of God’s grace and victory, his life became a sad story of defeat.
But my friend’s story isn’t that unusual. I’ve met many men and women who began the race with the fire of God burning in their souls … but finished defeated and saddened. What happens in such situations to vanquish what could have been a victorious run? Why do some of the most talented and gifted men and women of God find themselves defeated? Why do believers with such a passion for God end up drowning in the deep waters of sin and self?
There are certainly many reasons. But a great many stories of failure begin with the fact that every Christian is daily faced with choices. Some of those are temptations. We must say “No” to Satan’s cunning ways and “Yes” to God. If we don’t, we may find ourselves on a slippery path that leads to spiritual defeat.
The wrong choices may begin with a subtle look, a flirtatious smile or a wink. We then begin making choices about fulfilling the lusts of our hearts. We act on things that would alienate us from God and drag us into defeat. The Bible says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (1 John 2:16 nasb).
As long as we live in this world, we’ll have to make choices in three areas of life: 1) the lust of the flesh; 2) the lust of the eyes; and 3) the boastful pride of life. Sin is no respecter of persons. If we choose any of those areas, they will destroy us.
How do we overcome such temptations? How do we make the right decisions in life? How do we put our feet on the highway to holiness and not the slippery slope of sin?
Our hearts must be set apart for God. We must passionately long to know and love Him more than we desire the passing pleasures of sin. We must hunger and thirst for His righteousness. When our hearts long to love Him, we will have the strength to reject sin and embrace Christ. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). Every morning when you awaken, make a decision.
Choose to love and serve Jesus. Before you ever place a foot outside your door, choose to passionately follow Christ. Make the right choice long before the temptation faces you. The right choices in life will lead to long-term victory. Choose Jesus. He is our victory.
1 John : Chapter 2
12) I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13) I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 14) I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. On Not Loving the World 15) Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[d] is not in them. 16) For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17) The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. Warnings Against Denying the Son
Book of the Month
Sammy Tippit told his fiancée, “I can’t promise we’ll be rich, but life won’t be boring.”
Sammy had no idea what an understatement that would become. Beginning in the bars of Baton Rouge and the nightclubs of Chicago, Tippit has shared the news of life-changing faith in Christ all over the world – including in the middle of a revolution in Romania, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and war in Burundi and the Congo.
Sammy’s lifelong adventure has come at a great price. He’s been cursed, threatened, arrested, deported, and blacklisted. He’s also been personally broken, ravaged with illness, and devastated by grief.
Yet he continues to preach to in stadiums, in open fields, and via satellite technology to hundreds of thousands around the globe. For all other books…
About Sammy Tippit Ministries
STM has been providing inspiration and help around the world for nearly 50 years. Sammy Tippit, founder and president, is a world renowned counselor, teacher and evangelist with experience serving and helping people in over 80 countries. Sammy provides materials that help people tackle a broad array of social, societal, psychological and spiritual issues. He is particularly passionate about making materials accessible to other countries around the world. Sammy is married to Debara “Tex” Tippit, and they have two children and five grandchildren.
Sammy Tippit Ministries is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Contact: info@sammytippit.org
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