Starting with God: The Path to True Victory

Devotional

Day 1: Begin with God for Lasting Victory

When we start with God, we are assured of victory, even if the journey includes moments of defeat. This principle applies to every aspect of our lives—our days, careers, and relationships. Samson's story is a powerful illustration of this truth. Born through a divine promise, Samson was destined for greatness. However, his life also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and misplaced praise. After achieving a miraculous victory using a donkey's jawbone, Samson's focus shifted from God to the instrument of his success. This misstep is a common human error: we often glorify the tools and methods God uses rather than God Himself. [00:56]

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to start with God today? How can you invite Him into that area right now?

Day 2: Cherish and Guard God's Gifts

When God gives us something, it is not just for us but for a greater purpose. We must protect and cherish these gifts, recognizing their divine origin and potential impact. Samson's story teaches us about the danger of winning yet feeling worn out. Success can be draining, and without acknowledging God's role, we risk feeling empty despite our victories. Samson's eventual cry to God, albeit imperfect, led to his revival. This demonstrates the importance of refocusing on God, who refreshes and sustains us. [01:55]

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is a gift from God in your life that you may have taken for granted? How can you begin to cherish and guard it more intentionally?

Day 3: Worship the Giver, Not the Gift

Like Samson, we often focus on the tools or methods of our success rather than the God who empowers them. True worship acknowledges God's role and avoids idolizing the instruments He uses. Samson's song about the jawbone highlights a critical lesson: we must not become attached to the means through which God delivers us. The jawbone was merely a tool; the true miracle was God's power working through it. [05:19]

"Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'" (Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one tool or method in your life that you have been tempted to idolize? How can you shift your focus back to God today?

Day 4: Recognize the Cost of Success

Success can be exhausting, and without God's sustenance, it can feel empty. We must remember that our strength and victories come from God, and we need His refreshment to continue. Samson's story teaches us about the danger of winning yet feeling worn out. His eventual cry to God, albeit imperfect, led to his revival. This demonstrates the importance of refocusing on God, who refreshes and sustains us. [11:46]

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways has success left you feeling worn out? How can you seek God's refreshment and rest today?

Day 5: Refocus for Replenishment

When we shift our focus from our achievements to God's provision, we open ourselves to His refreshing power. This change in perspective allows God to refill and revive us for His purposes. Samson's eventual cry to God, albeit imperfect, led to his revival. This demonstrates the importance of refocusing on God, who refreshes and sustains us. [17:37]

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: What is one achievement you have been focusing on more than God's provision? How can you refocus on God's presence and strength today?

Sermon Summary

When we begin with God, we are assured of victory, even if the journey includes moments of defeat. This principle applies to every aspect of our lives—our days, careers, and relationships. Samson's story is a powerful illustration of this truth. Born through a divine promise, Samson was destined for greatness. However, his life also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and misplaced praise. After achieving a miraculous victory using a donkey's jawbone, Samson's focus shifted from God to the instrument of his success. This misstep is a common human error: we often glorify the tools and methods God uses rather than God Himself.

Samson's song about the jawbone highlights a critical lesson: we must not become attached to the means through which God delivers us. The jawbone was merely a tool; the true miracle was God's power working through it. Similarly, in our lives, we must recognize that our achievements and victories are not solely the result of our efforts or the tools we use, but of God's grace and intervention. We are reminded to praise the God of the jawbone, not the jawbone itself.

Moreover, Samson's story teaches us about the danger of winning yet feeling worn out. Success can be draining, and without acknowledging God's role, we risk feeling empty despite our victories. Samson's eventual cry to God, albeit imperfect, led to his revival. This demonstrates the importance of refocusing on God, who refreshes and sustains us. When we shift our perspective from "I have" to "You have," we open ourselves to God's replenishing power.

In essence, the narrative of Samson encourages us to guard what God has given, to remain humble in our victories, and to continually seek God's presence and strength. By doing so, we align ourselves with His purpose and experience the fullness of His provision.

Key Takeaways

1. Start with God for True Victory: Beginning with God ensures that our journey, despite any temporary setbacks, will culminate in victory. This principle applies to all areas of life, reminding us to seek God's guidance and presence from the outset. [00:56]
2. Guard What God Gives: When God gives us something, it is not just for us but for a greater purpose. We must protect and cherish these gifts, recognizing their divine origin and potential impact. [01:55]
3. Avoid Misplaced Praise: Like Samson, we often focus on the tools or methods of our success rather than the God who empowers them. True worship acknowledges God's role and avoids idolizing the instruments He uses. [05:19]
4. Winning and Worn Out: Success can be exhausting, and without God's sustenance, it can feel empty. We must remember that our strength and victories come from God, and we need His refreshment to continue. [11:46]
5. Refocus for Replenishment: When we shift our focus from our achievements to God's provision, we open ourselves to His refreshing power. This change in perspective allows God to refill and revive us for His purposes. [17:37]
** [17:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:56] - Starting with God
[01:55] - Samson's Divine Beginning
[03:20] - Misplaced Praise
[04:25] - The Danger of Jawbones
[05:19] - Recognizing God's Role
[06:04] - Worship the Giver, Not the Gift
[07:21] - Grabbing What You Have
[08:37] - The Miracle of the Jawbone
[09:32] - God Can Use Anything
[10:18] - The Miracle of Not Breaking
[11:00] - Naming Our Victories
[11:46] - Winning and Worn Out
[12:31] - The Cost of Success
[13:54] - The Mastery of God
[15:23] - Samson's Cry for Help
[17:37] - Refocus and Refill

Sermon Clips

Now, take that and apply it over your day, over your business venture, over your relationship. I'll say it again. If it starts with God, your day, your career, your relationship, it ends in victory, even if it goes through seasons of defeat. [00:00:11] (23 seconds)

And he said, Protect it. Protect it. Because God is giving you this child. And this child is not just given to you, but this child is going to be given to the whole nation. This child is going to do amazing things. So you need to raise this child in a very special way because he is given. [00:01:28] (19 seconds)

It's amazing what he did, but it's ridiculous what he does next. You would think that after seeing such an incredible intervention of God, such a sovereign display of the strength of God… Hey, a minute ago I couldn't even use my hands, and now I'm looking at a thousand dead Philistines, and I'm still breathing. You would think he would praise God, but Samson does something so stupid, and I do it too, and you do it too. [00:02:06] (36 seconds)

After Samson won a great victory… Some of you are in here, and you have won a great victory. You have won a great victory. You have seen God do amazing things in your life, but here comes the mistake. Verse 16. Then Samson said, With a donkey's jawbone, I have made donkeys of them. With a donkey's jawbone, I have killed a thousand men. [00:02:42] (30 seconds)

Samson's like, Oh, this is amazing. Wow. Incredible. He's still holding the jawbone, and he goes, With a donkey's jawbone. Let's see. God just gave me a great miracle. God just gave me a great success. God just did a great thing. What should I sing about? With a donkey's jawbone, I have killed. [00:03:24] (26 seconds)

Why do we get so addicted to jawbones? What do you mean by that, Pastor Stephen? I mean, when you start to think that the thing God did through you… You start to think, that the thing that God did through you… proves how great you are. [00:04:30] (18 seconds)

With the power of God, with the strength of God, with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, with the get-up-and-go of God, with the resurrection power of Jesus, with the Word of God, with the promise of God… That's what I'm praising, not a jawbone. I'm praising the God of the jawbone. [00:06:59] (23 seconds)

The truth of the matter is the only reason we're here today is because we grabbed what we had, and God did what he does. How many have that testimony? Okay. Grabbed what I had. Didn't have a spear. Grabbed what I had. Some of you didn't have a dad to raise you. Grabbed what I had. Some of you didn't get a college education. Grabbed what I had. Some of you don't have the best health right now. I grabbed what I had. I didn't have the best team around me. I grabbed what I had. I wasn't raised in that culture, but I grabbed what I have. Grab what you have. [00:07:29] (56 seconds)

You don't need a better weapon. You need a more worshipful spirit. You need greater faith. You need more innovation. God gave me that. Give it to me. It's a jawbone. Yeah, but God gave it to me. A jawbone with Jesus, a simple thing with Jesus, a silly thing with Jesus, a small thing with Jesus is better than the world's best weapons without him. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds. [00:08:26] (41 seconds)

You can be winning and worn out. People think the only people who need preaching of encouragement and inspiration are those who are losing. You're in a losing season. You just lost a relationship. You just lost someone you love. Uh-uh. You can be winning and worn out, and everybody can look at you and envy you and not have empathy for you, because their envy doesn't know how much energy it costs you to win. [00:11:36] (35 seconds)

It can be very empty to stand in a victory that you believe you produced. It can be impossible to sustain a victory that you think you started. It's not. Samson's whole life started in a barren womb. It started with God. [00:13:06] (23 seconds)

Your life gets confusing and gets hard when you start praising the guitar, the jawbone, the thing, the skill, the gift, the thing. When you start praising that, here's what happens. Verse 18. Samson was very thirsty, because he won, but he was worn out. He won. He was delivered, but he was dry. [00:14:36] (32 seconds)

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