C.A.C Living Water Daily Devotional For July 28, 2024 : Topic – BEWARE OF WHO YOU FIGHT AGAINST (I)
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2024)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE : Sunday, July 28, 2024
TOPIC: : BEWARE OF WHO YOU FIGHT AGAINST (I)
MEMORISE: However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. (2 Samuel 2:23).
READ : 2 Samuel 2:12-23
[11]. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
[12]. Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
[13]. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool.
[14]. Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
[15]. So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.
[16]. And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon.
[17]. So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
[18]. Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle.
[19]. So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.
[20]. Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.”
[21]. And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
[22]. So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?”
[23]. However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.
[24]. Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon.
EXPOSITION
War is hell! This was the story but honest confession, during an interview, of the pilot who dropped the atomic bomb, the first deadliest weapon ever made and used by man, in 1945. It was used against Japan by the Allies to destroy the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. War is common in Israel, including civil wars. It happened on one occasion that one combatant of the warring factions refused to let go. It was Asahel, a younger brother of Joab. He pursued a war general, named Abner, who was more experienced in battle than he. Abner warned him severally to desist from pursuing him but to no avail. Asahel eventually fell for it. The man died instantly from the injuries of the fatal blow he received. His death was so terrible and painful that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. His stubbornness in messing with the strong person who wasted him was his greatest undoing. You need not to die prematurely, either physically or spiritually. Every confrontation requires adequate preparation. It is foolhardy to think you can fight everybody successfully and win using the same strategy. Every battle has its own peculiarity, and thus a different strategy for victory. Fight the right battle (cf. 1 Tim. 6:11,12; 2 Tim. 4:7).
PRAYER POINTS
1. Thank God Who fights your battle.
2. Pray for forgiveness for all the wrong battles you have fought and are fighting.
3. Pray for divine help and victory over every besetting generational battle from dark forces, men and women, and all- round, in the name of Jesus.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY
CAC GHB: 768
1. Christian! Seek not yet repose,
Hear thy guardian angel say.
Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray.
2. Principalities and powers,
Must’ ring their unseen array,
Wait for thy unguarded hour:
Watch and pray.
3. Gird thy heavenly armour on;
Wear it ever, night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one:
Watch and pray.
4. Hear the victors who o’ ercame;
Still they mark each warrior’s way
All with one consent exclaim,
Watch and pray
5. Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lovest to obey;
Hide within thy heart His word:
Watch and pray.
6. Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issued of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down;
Watch and pray
Amen
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Ecclesiastes 12,
Song of Solomon 1, 2