The descendants of the giants By GBILE AKANNI

And Ishbi- benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was armed with a new sword, thought to kill David. (2Sam 21:16 - ESV) REFLECTION: While I may be so armed against the giants, I must not ignore the descendants of the giants, who has been armed with a new sword and who is thinking in his heart to attempt what all others have dreaded. He thought of killing David. I must not make a mistake that only the giant will attempt to destroy me. I must look out for their little descendants that creeps in with only one aim and it is to slay me before anyone will notice it. No one thought this young man was attempting such a great thing. It would have come as a surprise to everyone. He would have scored a cheap victory but a costly damage to the kingdom of God. He drew the new sword quietly and aimed at David at his wearied point. What a matter you are showing me this morning! What a caution I must take in time! Whereas adultery and fornication may dread coming to make an attempt on me; their descendants of worldly films and time wasters may actually be crafting their new swords for me. Whereas I may not be tempted to walk into the cinema halls and whirl away my precious time, their little descendant in a TV show may volunteer an attempt. It does not look dangerous. It looks relaxing and with no complication but therein is a sharp new sword poisoned to capture my soul. Money has lost its hold on me for so many years and may not be courageous to rise up to make a fresh attempt but his little descendant of materialism may just think of finding an in-road into my soul when I get weary of my tasks in the kingdom. I may begin to share affection for cars, for tiles, for clothes and for good looks at the expense of keeping my soul trimmed and oiled for the Lord's cause. Little foxes that spoil the vine I must look for especially when I grow weary with my journey. Giants may dread coming near me but their descendants are small enough to creep in unnoticed. Even my disciples and fellow yoke fellows may not see these things creeping into my soul. They may leave me to my wits thinking I am a great warrior who is ever ready for battle. They may not warn me against such little things since they know I will simply crush such a thing under my feet. They may undermine the level of my growing weariness in the inside and think I am still so strong in every form of consecration. This is the danger to any man of God who has had a name for being strong, and for being stern against sin. No one prays for him in that regard any more. If they pray for him at all, it will be in great matters of the kingdom business not on the issues of his personal omissions. Descendants of the giants may simply be new trend of overeating, surfeiting and laziness. I may be omitting my fasting lifestyle, in the guise of the care of the brethren as I move about in ministry. Others think it is just right to fill my tommy with good food for the days I am in their territory, forgetting that this is what all others are trying to do when I get to their own domain as well. It is my duty to watch out for this little descendants of indulgence who has drawn their new swords to scatter my consecration and render me impotent to resist their assault. Other little descendants could just be distractions: the internet, the email that pops up all the time for attention. The phone calls and texts that divert attention from concentrating on deep meditation of the word. The whole world is now interconnected and it is not a big deal to watch what is going on in several continents of the world on our palms. It does not look wrong to be so engrossed, but it could be drawing a new sword to strike at the heart of my devotional life. It reduces the attention and measure of thought and study I mete out to the word of God and so reduces what measure of virtue I bring down into my life and it further reduces the gravity of unction I bring into the ministry of the word to my generation, for which God has raised me up. PERSONAL HEARTCRY Father, I plead for mercy today not just to prevail over the giants I have known over the years, but to deal with their little descendants who have determined to make their own attempts at my soul. I plead for a fresh sensitivity in this battle, which grows in intensity by the day. Help me dear Lord to walk circumspectly in this last days. _[See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16]_