Baptist City Blog

1 Chronicles 13:1

"And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader."

We often hear the statement, "Behind every great leader are a great people." This statement sounds good, but it is not true. I believe that beside every great leader is a great people. No leader can be successful alone. He must have people who work beside him in the work in order to be successful. Many times, those people who are beside the great leader are those whom he goes to for opinions on how to do something. That is why he either hired them or asked them to be on his team.

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2 Kings 10:15

"And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot."

Associations are very powerful. Whether its in business, religious, work or in your personal life, an association can truly destroy or validate who you are. Associations ultimately define who you are and where you are going. This is why it is vitally important to be careful with whom or with what we associate in every aspect of our lives.

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1 Kings 15:14

"But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days."

"But they were sincere." This is the statement you often hear as someone tries to defend another's actions. Sincerity is often the guidelines many people use to determine if someone is right or wrong, but sincerity isn't everything. Just because someone is sincere doesn't mean that they are doing right.

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2 Samuel 23:3

"The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God."

In the final days of David's life, he reveals the advice that God gave him concerning leading Israel. This was not leadership advice from a leader trying to sell a book, but this was leadership advice from the God Who rules over mankind. God made it clear to David that if he were to be successful as a leader, then he needed to be a just leader and a leader whose leadership is always guided by the fear of God.

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2 Samuel 12:24

"And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him."

One of the worst feelings a person can have is when they are holding something that is precious and accidentally drop it and breaking it. Several years ago I watched a friend of mine hold an object made out of crystal. He was not doing anything foolish, the object just accidentally slipped out of his hands and shattered. Oh, the look on his face and the apology coming from his lips, but nothing would ever bring that crystal object back.

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2 Samuel 1:8

"And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite."

The last act of Saul's life is a sad one. He was in a battle with the Philistines when one soldier drew his bow, shot at Saul and hit him. Saul fled from the battle wounded, but the Philistines pursued hard after him. As he saw them coming and knowing what they would do to him if they captured him, he asked a young man who was behind him who he was. He responded, "I am an Amalekite." Saul asked the Amalekite to slay him for he did not want to be abused by the Philistines.

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1 Samuel 14:45

"And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not."

There are many things about this story of Jonathan fighting alone with his armor bearer against the garrison of the Philistines that should stir the heart of the Christian. The army of God was settled, and the enemies of God were marching when Jonathan determined not to let them advance any further. With God's, help Jonathan and his armor bearer stopped the advance of the Philistines and wrought a great victory that day.

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1 Samuel 8:9

"Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them."

Samuel's sons had soured the children of Israel from wanting another priest to rule over them. They saw how the other countries had a king over them, and they thought that it would be better for them to have a king. When they went to Samuel and demanded a king, he was upset with their request, but by the command of God he agreed.

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Ruth 2:1

"And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz."

Every strong society is a society where the men are strong. We live in a generation where the men have become more effeminate and the women more masculine which has resulted in a society that lacks leadership. You will never have a strong home, church, business or nation without strong men.

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Judges 18:19

"And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?"

One of the things people often use in determining God's will is found in the verse above. The men of Dan came to the house of Micah and demanded the priest to come and be a priest for them. They reasoned with this priest by asking if it was "...better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?" They used the influence card to get this man to leave where he was supposed to be which eventually resulted in this man's compromise.

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