Today’s Devotion
Topic: Don’t Give The Enemy An Inch!
Self Assessment
Background: The mission of the enemy is to steal, kill and destroy. Mostly, it is better to stand in the authority of Christ to refuse all of his demands than to compromise. Let us delve into the word of God and see why it is necessary not to get started with the devil.
READING: 1 Kings 20: 1- 11
1 Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it. 2 He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: 3 ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.’”
4 The king of Israel answered, “Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours.” 5 The messengers came again and said, “This is what Ben-Hadad says: ‘I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children. 6 But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.’”
7 The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, “See how this man is looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him.” 8 The elders and the people all answered, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.” 9 So he replied to Ben-Hadad’s messengers, “Tell my lord the king, ‘Your servant will do all you demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.’” They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad.
10 Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful.” 11 The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’” Amen
Questions:
i. Read vrs 1- 4 again. Do you think it was out of the fear of Ben- Hadad’s vast army that Ahab agreed to his initial demand without consulting his elders? What lesson can we learn from this as believers?
ii. Just when Ahab AGREED to Ben-Hadad’s initial demands, he asked for more. How does this reflect the nature of the devil when we allow him to peddle in our affairs?
iii. Read John 14: 30. To what extent did Jesus allow the enemy to interfere in His life and ministry?
iv. According to verses 7, 8, & 9, Ahab got the courage to resist the enemy after he had built consensus with the elders of Israel. How useful is “fellowshiping” to exposing the schemes of the devil and gathering strength against his threats? (Read Heb 10: 25- 27)
v. Although Ben-Hadad gave his strongest threat in verse 10, Ahab proved more courageous this time by daring him with a proverb in verse 11. The Latter was utterly ready to confront the enemy squarely this time. What must be our attitude this year when the enemy comes knocking? (read James 4: 7, Ephesians 6: 10- 18)
vi. What have you learnt from today’s discussion?
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