Bible In One Year-Day 108 (Friday, April 18, 2014)

King Saul found himself under a compelling situation which made him to take a decision out of God’s counsel. He gathered 3000 troops to fight a war only to realize that the troop of the enemy massively outnumbered his, 1Sam13:5. Fear gripped his soldiers; they ran into the cave of fear and every available refuge. His army was getting reduced in number, more were departing from him and his people scattered all over the place. He resorted to seeking for God’s help in a way contrary to His command. Unfortunately, he was rebuked and his appointment with God came under review. What a lesson to those who think God is taking too long in answering prayers. Saul saw three ‘D’s in 1 Samuel 13:11 “…, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me (DISCOURAGEMENT), and that thou camest not within the days appointed (DELAY), and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; (DEFEAT)” None of these is a good banner to fight under. Saul had forgotten that his position was not of his doing but God had chosen and anointed him to rule over his people, not over dead people. The weapon you have to fight with might be small compared with what the enemy has, the difference is in the realm of the spirit, i.e. which power is behind the weapon in your hand. Elisha said in 2 Kings 6:16 “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” Gideon chose a number of Soldiers but God reduced the number to His desirable minimum. You don’t need everybody to agree with your vision or dream, even though you started together, many will still fall back; IT IS THE LAW, Matt22:14. If you rely on human beings to be there in the time of great help, you will be discouraged and highly disappointed. Whoever is discouraged cannot see visions and cannot go far. We run with vision and where there is no vision or revelation, the people perish. In times of trial, seek for vision or revelation. Don’t jump into conclusions under any evil compellation or pressure just as Saul did. The summary of such actions is FOOLISHNESS in the highest order (1Sam13:13). Jonathan, Saul’s eldest son, had a different heart in this battle from that of his father. He trusted in God; 1 Samuel 14:6 “And Jonathan said … for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.” He went to war with this believe and without telling his father. He didn’t want the spirit of discouragement which was already in his father to infect him. You need to know whom you share difficult times with. When they are supposed to join you in prayer and fasting, they tell you about how you are horribly looking. Discouraging spirit always look for the mouth of the close ones to come in. The wisdom in it is to politely and quietly do away with them until you sort yourself out; Micah 7:5 “Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.” Elisha advised the widow in 2Kings4:1-6 to borrow vessels from neighbors and shut herself up in the room while she fills the vessels. This was to keep discouragers away from her. Your testimony is what will make them seek for you. Jonathan had a very good armor bearer, the man with the same heart as he was; 1 Samuel 14:7 “And his armor-bearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.” Saul had no armor bearer as at this time who could encourage him but those around him were those who wanted to identify with him by virtue of his position. He put them on compulsory fasting because of fear, it didn’t work, and rather, they were distressed. Any fasting and prayer made in fear don’t work. Esther fasted in faith and power changed hands. Jonathan had a good faith in God and he had a wonderful armor bearer who joined his faith with one heart. God respected their faith and therefore ordained an earthquake to fight for them, 1 Sam14:15. What was a threat to King Saul melted away. The people there and then gathered around Jonathan the moment they saw him as the person who defeated the Philistines. People will only identify with your victory and testimony, they will not identify with your battles. The question is “who is your armor bearer in ministry or in this Christian race?” Another question is “Are you having an armor bearer as friend, a rumor-bearer or a rancor-bearer?” Our next reading is 1 Samuel16-18. Keep the fire burning and alive.

John 19:35 “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.”

Revelation 1:2 “Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.”