Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. (1 Samuel 17:1-7)
Today’s Morsel: A few weeks ago, our revival evangelist preached a message entitled, “I Fired My Shield Bearer.” He was citing that there comes a time that every one of us have to get to the point where we learn to fight our own battles and develop our own faith, not depending on someone else to do it for us. That is so true. If we, the church, keep giving handouts, and pampering saints of God and not making them responsible for their actions, and helping them mature in Christ, we are setting them up for failure. As big as Goliath was, he still needed a shield bearer. Goliath was afraid of Israel. Even though he was larger in size, he was still afraid. If not, he wouldn’t have needed a shield bearer. But David, on the other hand, was not afraid. “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. 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. 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” (1 Samuel 17:45-47). Do you think that it’s time for you to fire your shield bearer, that person you are trying to ride along with? He’s not doing you any good anyhow.
Sing: Faith can move mountains, mountains of fear and of doubt; faith can move mountains, so why don’t you try your faith out.
Thought For Today: Get rid of your shield bearer and trust God for the victory!
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