Mensa Otabil - Advance (10/03/2025)
Welcome to day number 18 in our 40 days of power. As you know, this week we are looking at breaking barriers, so everything we learn and pray about is focused on breaking barriers. Yesterday, we discovered David’s battle with the Philistines, where he encountered God as the Lord of the breakthrough. Today, we are looking at another instance, which follows from 2 Samuel 5:24: «And it shall be when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly, for then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.»
After David had won his first battle against the Philistines, they regrouped for a second battle. Isn’t it amazing that sometimes you think you’ve won a victory, and then the enemy comes back to fight you again? That’s what happened here. The enemies regrouped, and David had to inquire of the Lord again, who provided him with new directions. There’s something very interesting and profitable for us to learn from the first battle. In that battle, God gave him instructions on how to fight. In the second battle, God provided different instructions.
In the first battle, David was in a defensive position; this time, David had to take an offensive stance. What we learn is that yesterday’s permission is not today’s mandate. What God said to you yesterday should not dictate your course of action for every battle. For different situations, God has different strategies for us. Similar situations may require different approaches. When we rely on the Lord, we don’t just rely on Him once and for all; we rely on Him daily. That’s why we pray, «Give us this day our daily bread,» because God does new things with us every day.
In the second battle, if you look at the instructions, there are important points to note. First, God says that you shall hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees. This means that while they are there by the mulberry trees, they will hear a sound of marching. Definitely, marching doesn’t happen on top of the trees; this is a spiritual sound. In this battle, David had to be sensitive to hear the sound of heaven-what is God saying, where is God moving, and what is God indicating?
This sensitivity is crucial; it’s a strategy to rely entirely on what God is doing and where He is moving. David had to follow the Spirit’s leading. In the first battle, God was with David; in this second battle, God went ahead of him. These are two different approaches. Sometimes God is with us in a battle; other times, He goes ahead to secure our victory, and we need to follow Him. So, this is what is occurring here.
The third lesson we learn is that David had to act in the natural according to what he hears in the spiritual. When he hears that God is moving ahead of him, he moves; when he hears that God is granting him victory, he goes out to claim it. David needed to enact what is taking place in the spiritual realm in the natural. This battle is fought on two levels: spiritually and naturally. Whatever God does spiritually, we must also put into action in the natural realm. This instruction was different from the first battle, which simply required him to go in for a victory. This time, it required sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and His indications.
What He does in the Spirit, you must do in the natural. Then God tells David, when you see all these signs, advance quickly. Don’t wait for further instructions! Why? Because in the first battle, God was with him, but in the second battle, God goes ahead of him. When God makes a way, you shouldn’t hesitate-you simply rush into it. And that’s what occurred, as God granted David two victories through two different strategies.
For every battle and every situation you face, remember, He is the Lord of the breakthrough. He doesn’t use the same method all the time; He employs different strategies for different occasions. That’s a key takeaway. The important thing is that when God makes a way for you, you must advance into what He has prepared for you. Are you ready to make advancements? Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You are the source of my progress. Help me to move forward in all areas of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.» And amen! Yes, we are breaking barriers. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.