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Many years ago, King Saul offered a sacrifice he was not supposed to offer. He rushed into offering a sacrifice that only the nation’s prophet qualify to offer. He made this grievous mistake because he acted in fear, rather than faith. I want to exhort you today to act in faith and not in fear. We live in times when many are acting out of fear rather than faith. Many do the things they do because they are afraid, and not because they believe it is the best thing to do.

[1 Samuel 13:1-14 KJV] “Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, [2] Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. [3] And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. [4] And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal”.

[5] “And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven. [6] When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. [7] And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling”.

[8] “And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed : but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. [9] And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. [10] And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him”.

[11] “And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; [12] Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord : I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.[13] And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. [14] But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee”.

To act in faith is to do what you have heard by the word of God. It is acting because you believe it is the best thing to be done in any circumstance. Many, however, like King Saul, act in fear because they fear what would happen if they don’t act. Many young people have married and settled for the wrong suitors because they were afraid; some were afraid that age is catching up with them, or that it was their last opportunity to get married, or afraid of never being married. Many people are panic buying because they fear the outcome. Life is already a big challenge, and therefore, the need to act in faith and not out of fear.

It is needful and important to act in faith and not out of fear because;

Fear has torment: Fear has a way of chastising those it captivates. Fear will torment and disturb your mind.

[1 John 4:18 KJV] “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Fear leads to panic reaction: When you are acting out of fear you may compromise wisdom and important protocols. Saul offered a sacrifice he did not qualify to offer, all because of fear. The young men were leaving and he was afraid. He offered the sacrifice because Samuel delayed in coming. Fear leads to mistakes.

Those who act in faith pleases God: Anything done which is not based on faith is sin. You must act in faith and not in fear. You will go far when you act in faith rather than fear.

[Romans 14:23 KJV] “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

The following are simple secrets to act in faith;

1. Hear by the Word:

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word. You can act in faith if you know what has been said. You must, therefore, take heed to what you hear and how you hear it. Faith comes by hearing. What you feed to your spirit will determine what you will eventually believe.

[Romans 10:17 KJV] “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2. Believe the testimony of the Lord:

You will act by faith when you believe the report of Lord. The prophet Isaiah asked “who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” You must believe the testimony of the Lord. This is how you act by faith.

[Isaiah 53:1 KJV] “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?”

3. Speak the promise, and not the facts:

There are times when what you see is different from what was promised. This what we called the contradiction of faith. I dare you to keep believing, even when there is no hope of change, keep your faith in the promise. You will win when you keep the faith to the end. What you say matters a lot, so speak the promise and not the facts.