March 20, 2019
1 Samuel 7:5-8                             
Then Samuel said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah, and I will intercede with the Lord for you.”  When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.  When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines.  They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” 
New International Version (NIV)
                Who is the greatest spiritual leader of our lifetime?  Billy Graham comes to mind.  John R. W. Stott is lesser known in the U. S. but well-known in heaven.  Frances Chan walks in the power of the Holy Spirit.  God used Tim Keller as an agent of transformation in Manhattan.  Some who were once candidates have fallen by the wayside. 

               In every generation, spiritual leaders come in all shapes and sizes.  Samson fought the Philistines in hand to hand combat.  He moved city gates, defeated armies and collapsed buildings to save God’s people.  Samuel confronted the same foes using a different set of tools.  He called the people to a sacred assembly.  Then he prayed for them as they fasted and confessed.  No longer a boy in a tabernacle, Samuel became the leader of Israel. 

                When the Philistines heard Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they came to attack them.  Using spiritual weapons, Samuel cried out to the Lord.  God heard him and he defeated the Philistines with a thunderstorm. I have always thought that J. R. R. Tolkien had Samuel in mind when he created the character Gandalf.  Unflappable, unshakable, Samuel refused to be moved.  After God saved the people from the enemy, Samuel raised up a stone and named it Ebenezer:  “Thus far has the Lord helped us.”

                Was Jesus more like Samson or like Samuel?  How about the Apostles?  How did they fight their battles?  On their knees!  Who will lead the people of God in the following generations?  Let’s pray today for God to raise up a new generation of leaders who will cry out to the Lord on behalf of his people.   The Lord has helped us before and he will again.
Pray with me:    
Father, we thank you for our holy history filled with men and women who prayed.  In these days of cultural warfare, we pray that you would remind us that we are not battling with flesh and blood.  The people for whom you died are not the enemy.  Let us fight the battle with spiritual forces of evil using our most effective weapon:  prayer in the Spirit.  Help us to start with ourselves and our own loved ones today.  Lord hear us as we cry out on their behalf.  Draw them close to you.  Protect them.  Be their treasure today, we pray.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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