DAILY VIDEO DEVOTIONAL
God has given me the privilege to meet some of His choicest servants of this era. I’ve been inspired by their commitment and leadership, as well as their style and abilities. One of the chief characteristics of these godly men and women has been their deep sense of security. They’re not threatened or intimidated by other leaders. They are secure in who they are and what God has given them to do. Great Christian leaders do not bow to the gods of comparison, but fall at the feet of the One, True, and Living God: Jehovah. They find their purpose and satisfaction completely in Him.
David found his security in God when he took Jerusalem and reigned as king over Israel. There was a simple secret to David’s sense of security: He had an undeniable peace that God was with him. The Bible says, “ And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him” (2 Samuel 5:10). David didn’t feel threatened because he reckoned on God being with him. Because God was with him, David grew in true power and authority. A person who has power from God doesn’t have to fear his enemies or his competitors. God with a person makes a majority.
One of the great miracles of the twentieth century took place in Romania during Christmas of 1989. The Romanian revolution happened in the midst of one of the most severe persecutions of Christians in all of Eastern Europe. Christians had no voice in their situation, no ability to change their circumstances. But after an evangelical pastor was to be arrested, many came to his home to protect him. They had no weapons. They carried only candles in their hands and faith in their hearts. The secret police came and began to fire into the crowd, killing innocent men, women, and children.
When the blood of the martyrs began to flow in the streets of the city, there was a release of God’s glory upon the people of God. Over 200,000 people gathered in the main plaza of the city, Timisoara, to protest. A shout rose from the multitudes: “Dumnezeu este cu noi,” which means, “God is with us!” Their only weapon was a deep sense that God was with them, and a revolution of freedom was birthed in the nation. Fear fell and faith rose — because they reckoned on God being with them.
So it was with David. He knew that God was with him, and that was all he needed. But David also knew that God would lead him. So when faced with an enemy, he inquired of the Lord: “‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?’ The Lord answered him, ‘Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you’” (2 Samuel 5:19). When David faced the same enemy a second time, he inquired again of God, who gave David different instructions. God said, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees” (v. 23).
David learned to walk in the Spirit. As long as he sought God and followed His instructions, God gave him victory. God used him and prospered him. But the secret lay in simply being led by the Holy Spirit. That’s why David was secure in his leadership. God was with him. And in the early days of his leadership, David sought to walk day by day and step by step under the guidance of the Spirit of God. The Spirit, not the strategy, was the secret to David’s sense of security. Where are the men and women today who walk in the Spirit, rather than in the flesh? They will be the ones who lead from a secure position.
2 Samuel : Chapter 5
10) And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him. 11) Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12) Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 13) After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14) These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15) Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16) Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet. David Defeats the Philistines 17) When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18) Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19) so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.” 20) So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.[c] 21) The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. 22) Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23) so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24) As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”
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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