Notes from Sunday 20 October 2013..
Speaker: Pastor Yide Ukachi
David was a great King, capable Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and a terrific organizer and administrator. If you don’t know these, then you have not been reading your bible. He believed in excellence, and ran his Kingdom in line with his beliefs. We can learn from, and copy David.
When David was King he established order in the nation of Israel; he organized the Levites (1 Chronicles 23:24-32), the Priesthood (1 Chronicles 24:1a, 3-4), Music and Worship ministers (1 Chronicles 25:1, 2a, 6-8), Security (i.e. the Gatekeepers) (1 Chronicles 26:1a, 4-10), and the Military (1 Chronicles 27: 1-15). David also appointed people into key positions to perform special duties such as being in charge of palace treasuries, regional treasuries, field work, King’s lands, King’s vineyard, King’s sheep, donkeys, camels, grapes and wine, supply of olive, the cattle, olive groves and sycamore-fig trees (1 Chronicles 27:25-31). David also appointed a wise counselor, a royal adviser, had a royal friend and even someone in charge of his children’s education;
“Also Jehonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons. Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion”. (1 Chronicles 27:32-33).
It is important that we acquire skills, and undergo training. Money is not our only purpose, we need to invest in our future, and in impact. You do not know who is watching, and how God will choose to uplift you. Whatever you choose to do, do it well, and with all your heart. As we work, we invest in ourselves. Lousiness or laziness yield unfortunate results for us. Even your enemies will credit your hard-work and excellent results.
During David’s time as King, everyone knew their job duties and job responsibilities. The lesson here is that work was allocated, in an orderly manner, and everything moved smoothly. Another lesson is that there were job descriptions and job responsibilities, so there was no room for doubt, uncertainty, and job shifting or dodging or for charlatans to hijack or usurp authority.
The Levites served in the Lord’s presence at all times. When we serve, we serve in God’s presence and in His sight. They followed all the procedures they had been given and faithfully carry out their duties of service at the house of the Lord (1 Chronicles 23: 31-32).
The Priest did the same (1 Chronicles 24:19). Each group carried out their duties in the House of the Lord according to the procedure established.
Music and worship ministers were also appointed (1 Chronicles 25:1-2). Are listed as a worker in God’s House or are you on the list of loafers? There are many things to do in God’s house. From the work of Greeters to those of Ushers, Security, Choir members and worship team, Sunday School teachers, House fellowship leaders, Children Church teachers, Teenage Church teachers, Prayer Band members, Evangelism team and follow-up members, Protocol and Logistic group, Publicity group, Hospitality group, Beautification, Decoration and Sanitation group, Media crew, Youth group, Men fellowship, Women’s fellowship, Singles fellowship, Couples’ fellowship, Care group, etc., etc.
On the list of those who serve the Lord is your name missing? Are you enlisted? If not, it’s not too late. You can enlist today.
The musicians made music under the direction of their fathers. Are your children serving the Lord under your watchful care or is everyone on his or her own in your household?
New Living Translation says that “the Gatekeepers were assigned by families for guard duty at the various gates”. What is that thing that God has assigned your family to do for Him in the Kingdom? Are you doing it as individuals and as a family?
Also the Bible reports that “God had richly blessed Obed-Edom” (1 Chronicles 26:5). Why did that happen? Obed-Edom had gladly accommodated the Ark of God and took care of it in his home for three months, when it seemed that the Ark was too hot to handle and too risky to have around (or so they thought). Obed-Edom took the risk and God rewarded him with all manner of blessings, including blessings upon his children and entire household (1 Chronicles 13: 9-13). God gave Obed-Edom sons with great ability who earned position of great authority in their clan. In today’s language we would say they were good at what they do. May you be good at what you do and may you earn a position of great authority in the land in Jesus name. Amen.
The Bible goes further to say that their relatives were also capable men, and that all of the descendants of Obed-Edom (62 of them in all) were very capable men who were qualified for their work – they were not put there to reflect federal character or please a section of the population. No!!! They were capable men and qualified for their work. May you develop capability. May you be the best at what you do and may men notice your ability and capability.
We need to give the Lord the best, and not what is left. God called David a man after his heart. May we be so described our God our Father.
How does this apply to our service in the house of God? Are you improving in the way you serve in the House of God or are you doing things in the same old ways? Are you striving to better do what you do? For instance if you belong to a subgroup are you there by name only but absent from meetings or group activities? Many years ago I asked our then choir leader why only one sister was allowed to lead songs. The choir leader explained that only this sister was diligent at practicing the songs as instructed. That sister was dutiful with her role and served with excellence. No wonder she was recognized and esteemed. May you be diligent enough to become great and recognized for what you do. Amen!
We should not envy the rewards of diligent people!!
Lastly we read in 1 Chronicles 26:10 that Hosah of the Merari clan appointed Shimri as the leader amongst his sons even though Shimri was not the oldest. The lesson here is that our Father God knows best and He appoints as He pleases. God’s appointment or appointment in the household of God is not by age or position or social status or tribal affiliation etc.
Aaron was older than Moses, but it was Moses who God appointed to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, with Aaron as his helper. Let’s trust our heavenly Daddy, He knows best. He will not mismanage your destiny or allow your abilities to be wasted if you are genuinely willing to serve in His kingdom. He will cause your abilities to be noticed and He will provide opportunity for you to serve. Only have an open mind and recognize that God can use you in more than one way.
Judah was not the first born of Jacob, but he was the one that was chosen to produce the Messiah. In fact, Jacob had been a crook (if we can put it that way) but he was the one God chose. Have you ever wondered why God chose Solomon to reign after his dad – the son of a woman with whom David had committed adultery and over whom he also committed that terrible sin of cold blooded murder (2 Samuel 11)? Why would God choose the product of such a relationship? He is God and we are not. Period!
One lesson here is that as much as possible in the Body of Christ, we should give genuine leaders the free hand to appoint people as God leads them.
When Solomon became King he simply fell in line in the tradition he had learnt from his Father (2 Chronicles 8:15) –the tradition of organization and administration- the Bible says he did not deviate from it. Indeed, he took organized to a higher level. That was why he was able to build the Temple exactly the way he was supposed to, build his own palace, the palace of his wife, stalls for his chariots and horses, the kingdom and a great enterprise too. If you did not know it King Solomon was a builder, a kingdom expansionist, a great organizer, a capable administrator, a shrewd business mogul, an entrepreneur per excellence, and the richest man that ever lived (2 Chronicles 8: 1- 9: 30).
Solomon brought in excellence of the highest order into the service of God and the way of life in Israel. When Queen Sheba came and saw how wise and rich Solomon was, the Palace and the Temple he had built, the food on his table, the organization of his officials, their splendid clothing, the cup bearers and their robes and the burnt offerings Solomon made at the Temple she became breathless and she said ‘Not half was told me!’ (1 Kings 10:7)
He became richer and wiser than any other king in all the earth.
Conclusion: There is reward in service and there is excellent reward in excellent service. Let’s serve the Lord with a spirit of excellence not sloppiness (Sloppiness refers to careless or lazy manner or attitude).
Ask yourself and sincerely answer it in your heart- “How have I been serving the Lord?’’. Plan to change today! 2 Peter 1:3 says “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue”.
Exodus 23: 25 And ye shall serve the Lord your God and He shall bless your water and your bread and He shall take sickness away from you.
Prayer: Lord Help Me, I Want to Be Better
