DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018 OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TEXT: 1 CHRONICLES 8:1-32 KEY VERSE:

DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

TEXT: 1 CHRONICLES 8:1-32

KEY VERSE: ”Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath.” (1 Chronicles 8:13)

In 1962, Victor and Mildred Goertzel published a revealing study of 413 “famous and exceptionally gifted people” called Cradles of Eminence. They spent years trying to understand what produced such greatness and what common thread might run through all of these outstanding people’s lives. Surprisingly, the most outstanding fact was that virtually all of them, 392, had to overcome very difficult obstacles in order to become who they were.

The passage before us speaks of the ‘heads’ of families of the tribe of Benjamin who drove away the inhabitants of Gath. This was a heroic act, considering that Gath was an important city of the Philistines which at one time produced the giant Goliath and home to the family of giants.

Driving away the giants couldn’t have been an easy task. Their size and stature gave them an instant advantage. And the fact that Gath was saith to be the dwelling place of giants (2 Samuel 21:22) only added to the challenge. David was said to have wiped out the generation of giants in 1 Chronicles 20:8. It appeared from the account in our text that the Benjamites were involved in driving out the remaining inhabitants of Gath to complete the routing of Israel’s enemies.

To enjoy the Christian life today, we must overcome obstacles. We cannot win souls to the Lord without engaging in spiritual warfare one way or the other. As a member of God’s army, we must arise and engage the giants in battle until all are vanquished. We must go to the very frontline of soul-winning and mission work without fear because God is in us and with us.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Overcoming obstacles is a necessity for greatness.

COVER to COVER: EXODUS 33-35.

PONDER:
1. Only 2 families were distinguished in the text: the first built new towns v12, and the 2nd fought and conquered v13. "Only remembered by what you have done."
2. What are you building for God or you are just known to only exist like others mentioned in the text?
3. Are you fighting the battle of the Lord, conquering territories for Christ or you are loosing territories?

HYMN: Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

1. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
ye soldiers of the cross!
Lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
his army he shall lead,
till every foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.

2 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the solemn watchword hear;
if while ye sleep he suffers,
away with shame and fear.
Where'er ye meet with evil,
within you or without,
charge for the God of battles,
and put the foe to rout.

3 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armour,
each piece put on with prayer;
when duty calls or danger
be never wanting there.

4 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor's song.
To him that overcometh
a crown of life shall be;
he with the King of glory
shall reign eternally.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, energise me to do something spectacular for your kingdom, by heaven's reckoning, in this only one life I have.
2. Give me power and courage that will not be weighed down by challenges of life as I fulfil my God given mandate.
3. Ask for the faith and boldness of a conqueror.
4. Lord, wake us from slumber and make us men and women of war for Christ.