Lessons from David: How to Be a Giant Killer (19 page)

A New Covenant

There were reasons why David sinned. He quit having intimacy with God. It stopped being a personal relationship. He became so prosperous that he didn’t have to seek God the way he did before, so he turned off his engines and began to coast. Without realizing it, he started sinking at that very moment. It was just a matter of time before some form of sin manifested. He committed adultery and then murder in an effort to cover up his adultery. Then David displayed a harsh judgment and because of that, God gave him the same judgment that he meted out.

Praise God for the New Covenant! All the judgment we deserved for our sins was placed upon Jesus two thousand years ago at the cross of Calvary. Now we have a better covenant based on better promises that was ratified through the shed blood of our Lord. Looking forward to this new covenant, David himself exclaimed:

Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Psalm 32:2

Paul even quoted this passage in Romans 4:8.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Under the Old Covenant, David had his sin imputed unto him. But you and I live in a covenant today where our sin has been imputed to Jesus. We aren’t going to suffer judgment from God, but there is still much we can learn from this. Even though Jesus has borne our punishment, we should still abhor sin and walk in integrity, knowing that it cost our beloved Savior His life. He suffered. Every time you commit a sin, Jesus suffered that sin. I don’t want to add to what the Lord has already borne. I want to live a life that glorifies God.

God’s Grace Is Evident

David suffered the consequences for his sin. God forgave him, but the child born to Bathsheba died (2 Samuel 12:18). David interceded, thinking that maybe God would have mercy. But since David had shown no mercy, he received no mercy. The child died.

But you can still see the forgiveness and grace of God in David’s life. He had sexual relations with Bathsheba again, this time they were lawfully married. Even though their whole relationship had been conceived in lust and sin, now that was over and repented of. God blessed their union and Bathsheba conceived a second son who lived. David called him Solomon, but God sent Nathan the prophet to rename him Jedidiah, which means beloved of the Lord (2 Samuel 12:24-25). God put His stamp of approval upon that marriage.

Now that’s a powerful lesson for us. I’ve met many people who were married completely out of the will of God. The initial situation was totally ungodly, yet they found themselves in that marriage. What should they do now that they have turned their life over to the Lord? Should they divorce, cause a break, go find someone else, and complicate this thing?

The relationship of David and Bathsheba serves as a scriptural precedent. If you become born again in a totally ungodly marriage relationship, you—through your repentance—become a brand-new person. God sanctifies you. Just like David and Bathsheba, the Lord can make that relationship that was conceived in sin, godly. In fact, Solomon was chosen to be the next king. God’s grace is evident throughout the entire life of David.

I encourage you to learn these life lessons at David’s expense rather than through your own hard knocks. May these truths take root in your life so that you too will walk like David—as a man after God’s own heart!

Conclusion

Remember that all the things recorded in scripture about David were to serve as examples for us (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). Here is a brief summary of some of the lessons I’ve shared in this book.

• David wasn’t God’s first choice, yet look how powerfully God used him. He is still inspiring us over 4,000 years later.
  
• David’s own family didn’t see his potential, but God did and exalted him over those who were older and stronger. God saw his heart.
  
• David didn’t let the persecution of others get him off track and up into the grandstands arguing with the spectators.
  
• David based his ability to succeed on God’s covenant, not himself.
  
• David had confidence to fight Goliath because he had been faithful in smaller things.
  
• David fought until his enemy was dead, not just down.
  
• David was humble and depended on God, instead of himself.
  
• David was able to encourage himself in the Lord.
  
• David’s great failures were a result of his prosperity. Success is a greater temptation than hardship.
  
• David didn’t receive mercy, because he showed no mercy.
  
• David truly humbled himself and repented of his sins and continued to be used of the Lord.
  
• Although God totally forgave David, there were consequences to his sins that cost him and his family dearly.
  

These lessons I’ve learned through the life of David encouraged me to continue on in hard times and have saved me much heartache. I’m better off because of what I’ve learned through the good and bad experiences of David. I’m so thankful to the Lord for recording all of these things for my instruction. And I pray that you too will benefit greatly from the truths revealed in this book.

We all learn through our mistakes. I certainly have. But I’ve discovered a better way—to learn through someone else’s mistakes. I pray the Lord will use these truths to enrich your life and cause you to prosper in Him as never before.

Receive Jesus as Your Savior

Choosing to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is the most important decision you’ll ever make!

God’s Word promises, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9,10). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

By His grace, God has already done everything to provide salvation. Your part is simply to believe and receive.

Pray out loud:
Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Savior. I believe in my heart that God raised You from the dead. By faith in Your Word, I receive salvation now. Thank You for saving me.

The very moment you commit your life to Jesus Christ, the truth of His Word instantly comes to pass in your spirit. Now that you’re born again, there’s a brand-new you.

Receive the Holy Spirit

As His child, your loving heavenly Father wants to give you the supernatural power you need to live a new life.

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened...how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Luke 11:10-13

All you have to do is ask, believe, and receive!

Pray: Father, I recognize my need for Your power to live a new life. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. By faith, I receive it right now. Thank You for baptizing me. Holy Spirit, You are welcome in my life.

Congratulations—now you’re filled with God’s supernatural power.

Some syllables from a language you don’t recognize will rise up from your heart to your mouth. (1 Corinthians 14:14.) As you speak them out loud by faith, you’re releasing God’s power from within and building yourself up in the spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:4.) You can do this whenever and wherever you like.

It doesn’t really matter whether you felt anything or not when you prayed to receive the Lord and His Spirit. If you believed in your heart that you received, then God’s Word promises you did. “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24). God always honors His Word—believe it!

Please contact me and let me know that you’ve prayed to receive Jesus as your Savior or to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I would like to rejoice with you and help you understand more fully what has taken place in your life. I’ll send you a free gift that will help you understand and grow in your new relationship with the Lord. Welcome to your new life!

About the Author

For over four decades, Andrew Wommack has traveled America and the world teaching the truth of the Gospel. His profound revelation of the Word of God is taught with clarity and simplicity, emphasizing God’s unconditional love and the balance between grace and faith. He reaches millions of people through the daily
Gospel Truth
radio and television programs, broadcast both domestically and internationally. He founded Charis Bible College in 1994 and has since established CBC extension schools in other major cities of America and around the world. Andrew has produced a library of teaching materials, available in print, audio, and visual formats. And, as it has been from the beginning, his ministry continues to distribute free audio materials to those who cannot afford them.

To contact Andrew Wommack please write, e-mail, or call:

Andrew Wommack Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 3333
Colorado Springs, CO 80934-3333
E-mail:
[email protected]
Helpline Phone (orders and prayer):
719-635-1111
Hours: 4:00 AM to 9:30 PM MST

Andrew Wommack Ministries of Europe
P.O. Box 4392
Walsall, WS1 9AR
England
E-mail:
[email protected]
U.K. Helpline Phone (orders and prayer):
011-44-192-247-3300
Hours: 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM GMT

Or visit him on the Web at:
www.awmi.net

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