DO YOU HAVE A STRONGHOLD?
"Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David". (2 Samuel 5:7)
As soon as David was made King over all Israel, the first thing he did was to secure a strong-hold. This is a wisdom we need if we must maintain the stability and outcomes that David enjoyed during his reign as King.
"David made the fortress city his home and named it “City of David.” (The MSG version).
Every king needs a stronghold. Every great Anointings have a chamber. That chamber is your stronghold. Throughout the life of David, he was anointed 3 times and every one of those anointings, he had chambers that acted as support for his calling and for the grace he carried.
In the first anointing, David had the cave of Adullam (1Sam23:14),
in the 2nd anointing, he had Hebron (1chron12:22-23),
and in the 3rd anointing, he had Jerusalem which is defined as the stronghold of zion.
Every great anointing had a chamber. This was witnessed in the life of many servants of God historically. Moses (Ex33:11-23), Elijah (1kgs17:1), Samuel (1Sam3:19-21). Jesus had a chamber (Mark1:35), and of course the Apostles too (Acts2:42).
"Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race". (Psalm 19:5)
It is your stronghold that reinforces and supplies the strenght to run the race of life and to compete. It genders a momentum. It is a support structure that affords the anointed man the boldness to stand and engage a venture. Do you sense an anointing or calling in your life?? Then build a chamber for it. Don't be defenceless. Don't abandon life to chance. You are a wanted man and that rare gift of God in your life must be secured.
Strongholds are not handed out, they are taken. It must be secured.
In verse 6, we saw the resistance he faced to secure that space. The jebusites who resided there then refused him, but he still took it.
"Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David." (2 Samuel 5:7)
The "Nevertheless" means he faced resistance but finally prevailed.
Setting up a stronghold will always face resistance. The devil will fight it because he knows the power & security that one will gain from it. If it will involve seeking him when it's pleasant and unpleasant, do it. If it will involve fastings for inner strenght and focus, do it. If it will demand a word for the now, seek that voice like never before. If it will demand periodic shut downs for Spiritual check ups, start it now. The support system you set up now will elongate your life and influence as you journey to fulfil that great call on your life.
Things To Note!
*You BUILD your stronghold!
"So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward." (2 Samuel 5:9)
He not only secured a stronghold, he built it. Your stronghold should be developed. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes consistency. No chamber is a gift. It must be cultivated and worked on. Sometimes one might need to learn from other matured and experienced ministers and apply wisdom. This is where mentoring comes in.
BENEFITS OF STRONGHOLD
*Stronghold genders GREATNESS
"And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him." (2 Samuel 5:10)
Greatness is pedestaled on the Spiritual energy generated in the hold. The stronghold or the chamber if sustained and maximised will generate greatness. Show me a man who failed in his assignment, and I will show you a man who had no support structure. A rolling stone that failed to draw from a sustainable resource. Men who become great and sustain same in life and ministry were not ordinary men, they were men who had stronghold.
"And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house." (2 Samuel 5:11)
Notice that the greatness attracted KINGS. Hence when you see men succeed and garner favour in ministry, it is because they latched onto a resource base that they took time to build.
*Strongholds will reinforce the CONVICTION of your assignment in strange times
"And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel," (2 Samuel 5:12)
To fulfil one's call, a perception is needed. This perception is an inner knowing of conviction that reinforces your mind in times of distress. Either in high/low times. Pressure comes to every person, whether high or low. A time will come when it will seem as though you are alone and in that time your convictions will be tested. It is from the resources of a strong hold that perception and a strong innver convictions are built. Don't give up or give in to the machinations of the devil. Draw inspiration from his presence and hold on to that word. Don't doubt what he told you in the secret.
*Strongholds are RETREAT & STRATEGY points
"But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold" (2 Samuel 5:17)
Just like strong-holds generates influence & greatness with King Tyre etc, it also attracts the Philistines ("all the Philistines"). Let me pause here and say... Not all days are for receiving gifts, be prepared to also receive attacks. They can be reffered to as the evil days. They come to test the authority and authenticity of a man's position. The difference in these times will be a man's stronghold. In the case of David, he had a hold to retreat to.
"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." (Psalm 27:5)
*Strongholds afford us the ACCESS & FEEDBACK protocol.
"And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand." (2 Samuel 5:19)
It was in the strong-holds he was able to enquire of the Lord about the battle strategies twice and got feedbacks. We enjoy fire-brigade approach in the times of distress. Despite how far we are from God, we always expect him to move heaven and come down because of a sudden challenge. And why not? As a merciful God, we get his response. But the way of the patriarchs such as King David was to build a resource base where he interfaces with God regularly and can get a word for the present for any confrontations of life.
We can start again today and trust that as we intend to sustain the anointing and calling of God upon us, we, as a matter of necessity must find the elbow room known as a chamber where we can apply as the spring board to higher heights in life and destiny.
Shalom!
