With God’s Approval, You Don’t Need To Fear, Just Believe
Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. 1Samuel 23:2
In the bible, David was a man known for making enquiries from God before taking important steps. This man also knew the way to the heart of God through praise, communication and brokenness. No wonder God calls him the man after his heart.
From our text today, we see David enquiring from God if he should go to battle with the Philistines who had just invaded Keilah and plundered the city. He got God’s approval but he tarried because he was affected by the fear of the people.
How many times do you want to take important steps, enquired of God, and have the conviction of God’s approval, but have given up due to fears that have been nursed by the people around you, or due to your own fears.
A popular song says “God says it, I believe it, that settles it”.
If God approves, it is settled, for no word that comes from the mouth of God shall ever fail. (Luke 1:37)
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
It is possible that God has said something over your life and you are in doubt whether it will ever come to pass. It seems that God has taken too long, has forgotten about His promise to you, or you even find it hard to believe because you can’t see, touch of feel it.
Let me shock you that the problem with many of us believers today, is that we want God to walk at our pace, hence we want immediate answers to all our prayers.
But God has a way of doing things. Certain things you are praying for right now, may not be the right time in God’s calendar for you. There are some other things that God considers not important or necessary for you. As a father, He knows what is best for His children.
Therefore, the fact that you have not gotten what you’ve prayed for should not make you lose faith in God.
Habakkuk said something very important about waiting for God’s promises.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3)
Back to our text, we see that David was affected by the fears of the people with Him because they were afraid and tried to dissuade him from the possibility of winning the battle against the Philistines because of the circumstances that surrounded them at the time. This was the period that Saul was constantly looking for David to kill. So the people were in perpetual fear in Judah and now you tell them to go fight against the host of the Philistines and overcome.
Such consolation will be difficult to believe, but a man of faith will take God on His word believing that no word from Him shall ever fail.
Thank God! David was not taken aback by the fear of the people. Though He was affected, he didn’t base his decision on the fear. He further inquired of God to confirm if God really meant what He said.
And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. (1 Samuel 23:3-4).
Dear friend, I want to charge you today that you shouldn’t be afraid if God has given His approval.
Do you seek to embark on a business, journey, or make a key decision, and God said go? Then you don’t need any further confirmation to know that God stands by His word, and can not fail or desist from what He has approved; for He is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man to change His mind. Numbers 23:19.
Most often fear holds us back from doing certain things we should do. Fear of the unknown. The journey or decision may be risky, such as making a key business decision involving millions of Naira. Who wouldn’t draw back a feet in such a scenario? But have you asked God? Have you enquired of Him? Have you sought His mind concerning the issue? What does God say in His word about the present circumstance you are facing. Did he say you will overcome or not? Do you believe His word and promises?
As humans, we may want to rely upon our senses to make decisions, but living in our sensual pseudo-reality deprives us of experiencing the full possibilities, power and glory of God. If fact these sensual decisions are often in opposition to the ways of the Spirit of God. So we need to live by faith, for without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6), and as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14).
Beloved when there is the urge to disbelieve what God has said because you can’t see, feel or touch it, let these scriptures guide you because hope that can be seen is not hope at all. (Romans 8:24).
God bless you today!