The Battle is the Lord's

Thursday, February 19, 2015
1Samuel 17:40-50 KJV 

40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling [was] in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield [went] before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was [but] a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, [Am] I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands. 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang [it], and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but [there was] no sword in the hand of David.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did David do after taking off King Saul's armor? (v.40)
2) What did the Philistine champion do and say when he saw David? Why? (v.41-44)
3) What did David say in response the enemy's threats? (v.45-47)
4) What did David do after the Philistine giant arose and came toward him? (v.48-50)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) What "giants" are you facing this day (e.g., financial or marital trouble, sickness or disease, emotional loss)?
6) How do you intend to slay your "giants"?

LIFE LESSONS
7) The battles that we face in life are never ours to win, because our battles belong to the Lord. 
8) Victory for the child of God is most certain when we demonstrate our complete reliance and trust in God.
9) We slay the "giants" in our lives through prayer and seeking the Lord's wisdom and guidance. 

Celebrate with Presents for the Poor

Thursday, February 12, 2015
Esther 9:19-23 KJV 

19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar [a day of] gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. 20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that [were] in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, [both] nigh and far, 21 To stablish [this] among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. 23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the Jews killed their enemies in Sushan and the ten sons of Haman, what did they do to celebrate? (v.19)
2) Who did Mordecai write to and why did he write the letters? (v.20-22b)
3) What did Mordecai decree that the Jews should do during their days of celebration? (v.22c)
4) How did the Jews respond to Mordecai's letter? (v.23)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Has the Lord ever granted you overwhelming victory over your enemy (or enemies)? If so, please describe one such time.
6) What did (do) you do to celebrate that victory? Why?

LIFE LESSONS
7) Through Christ Jesus we have victory over whatever steals our joy and/or our peace.
8) When the Lord blesses us to overcome our enemies, our response to Him should overflow to those He places on our hearts.