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<h2 class="devotional-title"><a href="https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/devotional/20180505/straight-ahead">Straight Ahead</a></h2><div class="devotional-date">Saturday, May 5, 2018</div><div class="devotional-body"><p><br>
</p><p>“David said to Saul, ‘<b>Let </b>no one l<b>ose </b>heart /on account of this
Philistine; your servant <b>will go</b> and <b>fight</b> him.’” (1 Samuel 17:32 <em>NIV</em>)
</p>
<p><br>
</p><p>The work of God <b>can only be carried on</b> /by the power of God. <br></p><p>The church
<b> is</b> a spiritual organism /<font color="#FF0000">fighting</font> spiritual battles. Only spiritual
power <b>can make</b> it function /as God <b>ordained</b>. <br></p><p><br></p>
<p>
The key <b>is not</b> money, organization, cleverness, or education. <b>Are </b>you
and I <b>seeing </b>the results () Peter <b>saw</b>? <b>Are</b> we <b>bringing</b> thousands of men
and women to Christ the way () he did? If not, we <b>need</b> to get back /to his
power source. No matter the society or culture, the city or town, God
<b>has never lacked</b> the power /to work through available people /to glorify
his name. <br></p><p><br></p>
<p>
When we sincerely <b>turn</b> to God, we <b>will find</b> that his church always<b> moves </b><em>forward</em>, not <em>backward. </em>We
<b>can never back up</b> and <b>accommodate</b> ourselves /to what the world <b>wants or
expects.</b> Our stance <b>must remain</b> militant, aggressive, bold. <br></p><p><br></p>
<p>
That <b>is</b> what <b>characterized</b> General William Booth and the early
Salvation Army /as they <b>invaded </b>the slums of London. <br></p><p>It <b>characterized
</b>the early mission movements, such as the Moravians. It <b>characterized </b>
Hudson Taylor in China as well as revivalists on the American frontier.
These Christians <b>were not</b> bulls in a china shop, but they <b>did speak </b>the
truth in love—fearlessly. <br></p><p><br></p>
<p>
In the familiar story of David and Goliath, there <b>is</b> a wonderful moment
/when the giant <b>gets</b> <font color="#FF0000">irked</font> at the sight of his young opponent. “Am I a
dog, that you <b>come</b> at me with sticks?” he <b>roars</b> (1 Samuel 17:43).
Goliath <b>is genuinely insulted</b>. “Come here, … and I’<b>ll give </b>your flesh
/to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” (v. 44).
</p>
<p>
Does David <b>flinch</b>? Does he <b>opt</b> for a strategic retreat /behind some tree or boulder, <font color="#FF0000">thinking</font> maybe to buy a little time?
</p>
<p>
Absolutely not. <br></p><p><br></p>
<p>
“As the Philistine <b>moved </b>closer to attack him, <em>David <b>ran </b>quickly toward the battle line to meet him</em>” (v. 48).
</p>
<p>
That <b>is </b>the picture of what God <b>wants</b> for us today: <em>running toward the fray</em>!
</p>
<p>
David’s weaponry <b>was</b> ridiculous: a sling and five stones. It <b>didn’t
matter</b>. God still <b>uses </b>foolish tools in the hands of weak people /to
build his kingdom. <font color="#FF0000">Backed </font>by prayer and his power, we <b>can accomplish</b>
the unthinkable. <br></p><p><br></p>
<p>
-Pastor Cymbala (excerpted from <em>Fresh Wind, Fresh Power</em>) <br></p><p><br></p>
<p>
Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17%3A32-50&version=NIV">1 Samuel 17:32-50</a>.
</p>
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