Compelled by Fear

1 Samuel 13:11-15 Psalm 14:1< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

When you lose focus, when fear begins to reign, when you cannot wait for God to move, when you are in a hurry for needs, when you think you can do it, when you are paying too much attention to the time in your hand instead of the One who gives time, and when you begin to go outside of your assignment to get results that are not in your control, it is an indication that you are compelled by fear. King Saul was to wait for Samuel to carry out a burnt offering but he could not wait because he felt compelled by fear. In his explanation for why he carried out a burnt offering that was meant for the priest, he said in 1 Samuel 13:12, ÒThen I said, the Philistines will now come on me at Gilgal, and I have not made  supplication to the LORD. Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.Ó The anointed of God became another one of the crowd. He forgot his roots; he did not remember that it was a search for a donkey that led him to become a servant for the LORD. You cannot forget how you became saved; it is the driving force for where you are going. The day you forget how your salvation came about is the day you are no longer on course in your journey. Samuel responded to SaulÕs excuse, 1 Samuel < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>13:13, ÒAnd Samuel said to Saul, you have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your Kingdom over Israel forever.Ó It is important to pray to God for deliverance from every compelling force that causes man to act foolishly. Foolishness does not have a place before God because it is like saying there is no God. Psalm 14:1, ÒThe fool has said in his heart, ÔThere is no God.ÕÓ. To be compelled by fear is an act of foolishness.

Favor and Wisdom< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Acts 7: 9-14

Joseph had deliverance upon deliverance. His brothers stood against him because God added color to him, and envy rapped his brothers up. Joseph was delivered from death when his brothers attempted to kill him, but their mind was switched to selling him. Joseph was delivered from his brothersÕ wickedness, delivered from false accusation in the hand of PotipharÕs wife, and was delivered from prison. God delivered Joseph out of every trouble that came before him. God had a plan for his life and Joseph did not take any step to derail himself out of GodÕs plan for his life. To be in constant deliverance, you need to keep yourself in consistent devotion unto to God, and He will deliver you out of all your trouble. Acts 7:9-10, ÒAnd the patriarchs, becoming envious sold Joseph into < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Egypt. But God was with him ÔAnd delivered him out of all his troubles and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.Ó Favor and wisdom gave Joseph an open door to the entire house and it made him governor over all his territories. What would it be like if you can get an open door in a house where you are not allowed or where you are not accepted, or a land that is foreign to you in all areas of life? You can also become a governor on a land that was distant to your home. Ask God to endue you with favor and wisdom that will cause you to inherit and possess wherever you step on.   

Only Trust< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Psalm 32, 34

Do you wonder why it is taking this long for all that is causing your tears to give up on you? Despite the fact that you are God fearing, the wicked one did not stop shooting at you. There is never a late time for GodÕs hand to intervene. God will not sit back for your expectation to be cut off. Psalm 32:10, ÒMany sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.Ó Do you believe that God will intervene in your situation? If you do, then know for sure that God is with you and He will always see you through. Psalm 34:19, ÒMany are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.Ó He is a faithful God, He will do what He said He will do, and all that you need to do is what is required of you. In this season of your challenges, in this season that you are wondering, do not deceive or be deceived by your own understanding. If you lean on your own, it will not get you out from the hand of the wicked ones. Leaning on your own understanding is an indication of you trusting yourself. Proverb 3:5, ÒTrust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him.Ó God was true to His word yesterday, He is true to His word today, and He will be true to His word forever. Hold on to Him and He will carry you through whatever it is that is causing you tears. God will never fail.

Accepted Christ?< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Job 1:1-12

What can God say about you? God has some things to say about you, can you figure it out? God said about Job in Job 1:8, ÒThen the LORD said to Satan, ÔHave you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?ÕÓ A blameless and upright man is the one that fears God and constantly walks away from anything that does not represent God. This confirmation by God is not limited to just the ones that have lived in the past.  With the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, this is the standard of expectation in getting to the expected end of your journey on the face earth. The Lord is coming back for a church with no spot or wrinkle. Ephesians 5:27, ÒThat He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.Ó God will not lower His standard of qualification for any man. He has brought down Himself in Christ Jesus for you to be lifted high and qualified. Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your life? There is no hide-and-seek with God, the eyes of God is everywhere. 2 Chronicles 16:9, ÒFor the eyes of God runs to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.Ó It is not possible to hide from God. Either you want Him to say anything about you or not, He will eventually say what He has for you at His time. Ask for grace to live for Him now. 

Direction from Destruction< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Matthew 2:1-23

Joseph and Mary were carrying the presence of God while King Herod was in the process of denying the purpose of God. Every attempt of King Herod to track down the location of Jesus at birth and attempt to kill Him was a failure. Matthew 2:7-8, ÒThen Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Bethlehem and said, ÔGo and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.ÕÓ King Herod was lying and being deceptive. All he wanted to do was to deny the redemption plan of God in Christ Jesus. It is not possible to be carrying the presence of God and be trapped or destroyed by the forces of the wicked. The wicked will attempt to destroy you; they will bring trouble, but eventually the wicked will fail. The wicked will fail because God will give you direction to thwart and avoid destruction. Matthew 2:13, Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ÔArise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.ÕÓ Joseph and Mary did not just receive direction, but the plan of enemy was also revealed to them. The same Herod is out after you today if indeed you are carrying the word of God. If your heart is after the purpose of God, He will constantly speak direction to your life. Ask God for grace and mercy that will help you to constantly hear the direction that will protect you from destruction.