April 12, April 12, 2021 CAC Living Water Devotional : Topic – NOT A CONVENTIONAL FIGHT

By | April 11, 2021

April 12, April 12, 2021 CAC Living Water Devotional : Topic – NOT A CONVENTIONAL FIGHT

 

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LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Monday, April 12, 2021 – International Day of Human Space Flight

NOT A CONVENTIONAL FIGHT

Read: 1 SAMUEL 17:38-51

I Samuel 17:38-51 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.

David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David.

He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.

He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

“Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.

Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

MEMORISE:

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6).

EXPOSITION

Mankind has since creation been beset, and in most cases, with problems. The first Adam was challenged by God’s arch-enemy, Satan… although in veiled form. The first righteous man, Abel was seemingly pitched against a vindictive blood brother, Cain, who was equally profane and a murderer. The Israelites were made to face a race of hybrid, ruthless humans, the philistine of the giant stock of the Anakims. This seems to be the other calling of all the saints of God as confirmed by Apostle Peter and Paul among others (1 Pet.5:8,9; 2 Cor.10:1-6; Eph.6:10ff).

David, son of Jesse, was confronted with a much bigger problem that even defied his nation and generation. Yet, he was inspired to dare and willingly address it unconventionally! Despite being presented and clothed with the proper, proven and acceptable armour of conventional engagement. This battle was eventually won by God’s grace through him.

We are the end-time Christians. Certain solutions to our fallen world’s myriad of woes will defy normal solutions. We are to address them as God would INSPIRE and LEAD us. This is Christianity. This is the fulfilment of Romans 8:18-25ff. Today’s memory verse confirms this as well. Just as a song  says: we are able to go up and take that country; to possess it from the Jordan to the Sea, though the giant may be on our way to hinder, God will surely give us victory… etc.

Surely, it is not a conventional fight we are engaged in, but a spiritual battle: God-initiated, God-inspired, God-led, God-dirceted, and whose victory is God’s (2 Cor.10:4; Eph.6:12). May you be victorious as you go out today and always. Amen.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Thank You, our Jehovah Sabbath, the Man of war Who loses no battle because You are always on our sides.

2. In Your mighty name, Lord Jesus, we confront our lives and Christian battles, and win them all to Your glory.

3. Lord God of David, give us a generation of Christians after Your own heart that will confront satanic giants, and overcome them in accordance with Your Holy Word, in Jesus name.

EXTRA READINGS FOR TODAY: Joshua 23:4-24:33; Judges 1:1-1:18; Luke 10:4-10:25

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