Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

SATURDAY APRIL 11


WHEN WE'RE LET DOWN

READ:
1 Samuel 17:47
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The LORD does not
save with sword
and spear; for
the battle is the
LORD's and He will
give you into our
hands.
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On august 4, 1991, the MTS Oceanos cruise ship ran into a terrible storm off the coast of South Africa. When the ship began to sink, the captain decided to abandon ship and left with his officers failing to notify those onboard of any problem. Passenger Moss Hills, a British musician, noticed that something was wrong and sent out a Mayday signal to the South African coast guard. Then, taking matters into their own hands, Moss, his wife Tracy, and other entertainers on board helped organize the evacuation of all passengers by assisting them as they were lifted into helicopters.

Sometimes those we look to for leadership can let us down. When King Saul and his officers faced the belligerent insults of the Philistine giant Goliath, they responded with fear and timidity (1 SAM 17:1-11). But a young musician and shepherd boy named David had faith in God that transformed his perspective on this threat. David said to Goliath, "You come to me with a sword....But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts" (v. 50). He did not look to earthly leaders for his strength but to the living God.

When others let us down, God may be calling us to provide leadership in His strength and for His honor. __Dennis Fisher

**Dear lord, I don't have the power on my own to lead others through a
difficult situation. But You are all-powerful. Give me the courage to help others
as I rely on Your strength that cannot fail. __________________________________
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Only as we follow Christ can we lead others in the right direction.

***********************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Samuel 17:33-50*************************
33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against
this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and
he a man of war from his youth."

34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep
his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took
a lamb out of the flock 35 I went out after it and struck it...
and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them,
seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 17 Moreover
David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the
lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the
hand of this Philistine."

And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"...
40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for
himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a
shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in
his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David,
and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when
the philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him....

45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with
a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you
in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of
Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Then all this assembly shall know
that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the
battle is the LORD's...."

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a
stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was
no sword in the hand of David.