Sat.’s Devo - Those with Faith Will Do Exploits

Read: 1 Samuel 14:1-52; John 7:31-53; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7 One day, Jonathan secretly took his armor bearer to one of the Philistine outposts. Saul was with the rest of his men and the priest, Ahijah at Migron. No one knew Jonathan had left. *** Jonathan and his armor bearer were in the valley between two cliffs. Jonathan put forth a fleece saying that if the Philistines asked them to come up and fight them, then they would know that God had given them the victory. If they told them to stay and they would come down to them, they would flee. *** They told them to come up, so Jonathan and his armor bearer confidently climbed the cliff knowing that God would give them victory. They killed 20 men and scattered their bodies over the field. *** This broke something in the spiritual realm and the whole Philistine army panicked. At that moment an earthquake struck adding to their terror. They fled. *** Saul led his army against them but found them fighting themselves. Israelites who had deflected to their side turned on the Philistines and fought against them. Men who had fled to the hills in Ephraim came out and fought them. *** Israel’s army fought all day and were exhausted because Saul had made them promise not to eat anything until they had defeated their enemies. They would be cursed if they ate. Jonathan had not been there when they made this vow and he ate some honey he found. Another soldier saw him eat it and told him about the curse. Jonathan thought the vow and thoughtless and unwise. ***When the battle was finally over, the men were so hungry they fell upon the cattle of the spoils and ate the meat before the animals were dead. Saul had them roll a stone so that they could kill the animals on the stone first, draining them of their life before they ate. *** Saul wanted to go after the Philistines but the priest told him they should ask God first. When God didn’t respond, Saul knew someone had sinned. They asked God and he pointed to Jonathan. Jonathan told his father what he had done and even though he had innocently eaten, Saul said he had to die. The people stood up for Jonathan and rescued him and he was not killed. *** Saul didn’t pursue the Philistines and they all returned home. During Saul’s reign, he fought his enemies on all sides and God gave them victory. Saul drafted every able man into his army just like Samuel had warned. *** In John, the crowds were coming to believe that Jesus might be the Messiah because of all the miracles he did. The Pharisees heard this and sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. Jesus told them that he would only be with them a little while longer, then he would return to the one who sent him. They would search for him but not find him because they could not go where he was going. *** At the Water Libation ceremony, the priests were bringing water up from the waters of Siloam. Jesus stood and said that he was the living water and whoever was thirsty could come to him. Whoever believed in him could come and drink and living water would flow from his heart. “Siloam” means “sent”. This ceremony was a picture of Salvation and Jesus was explaining its meaning. He was salvation, sent from heaven, offered freely to whoever wanted it. When they received it the Holy Spirit like living waters would flow out of them. He was speaking of what was to come at Pentecost. *** Many believed but others were stumbling over the fact that they thought Jesus was from Galilee and they knew the scriptures said, the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. The Temple guards came back empty handed because of all Jesus said. The Temple leaders accused the guards of becoming believers also. Nicodemus stood up for Jesus and said, “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” They told him to do his research, no prophets ever came from Galilee. It was them who needed to do their research. *** Salvation comes by faith, not facts. It is a heart issue, not a head issue. The Pharisees were looking for a loop hole not to believe in Jesus and they found one. They ignored the truth because their hearts were hard. Jealousy consumed them. Believers could believe because their hearts were thirsty. *** Lord, help us to believe and have faith even when things look impossible. Nothing is impossible with you.