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| Jas 5:16b The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. | August 29, 2008 |
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HAVE WE A COMMISSION-TARRY NOT!! II Samuel 20:1-10 1). "And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tent, oh Israel. 2). So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even unto Jerusalem. 3). And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women to his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood. 4). Then said the king to Amasa, assemble me the men of Judah with in three days, and be thou here present. 5). So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time, which he had appointed him. 6). And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: Take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. 7). And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri. 8). When they were at a great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out. 9). And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10). But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: So he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again: and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. We should notice here first of all that Judah remained loyal to their king, and whole-heartedly brought him back into Jerusalem in chapter 19, while Israel had been half-hearted in their attempt. This would bring a question to ones heart. Are we whole-heartedly waiting for our Kings return? If we are really honest with this question, we will have to hang our heads and acknowledge that there is a great deal of luke-warmness among us. Think about this! Could this be a sign of the times? In connection with this, let us read Revelation 3:15-16 "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art luke-warm, and neither cold nor hot. I will spue thee out of my mouth." These are very solemn words, dear ones. Let us be ever whole-heartedly in expectation of His soon return. Let us be on fire for Him. Let us have hearts burning for Him. I'm sure His return is so very close. But then, this brings one to a very important question. Dear reader, are you saved? Are you a born-again believer? When the Lord comes to take us who believe home to be with Him forever, those who believe not will be left behind. It makes no difference that perhaps you are in a family of believers, or are friends of believers. Salvation is unto all that believe, individually. The Lord is at the door of your heart, knocking. You have to open your heart doors and let Him into your life and heart. Those that are left behind in this world, its going to be awful, eventually death then the Lake of fire. Well back to our subject matter. We find that Sheba was a rebel. Such were we before we were saved. Ephesians 2:1-3 "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Now, one doesn't wish to linger on the negative, but this is what we were. This is from Ephesians, considered by many to be the highest church truth. Yet Paul, by the inspiration of God, takes us back to what we were. You say what? "But that was to the Ephesians." Guess again! At the end of Chapter one verse one, it says, "and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:" Does this not humble the heart? However, God, Praise His Name, didn't leave us there. Those next verses in Ephesians 2 bring in His wonderful grace. "BUT GOD, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved;)" We were on a downward course, heading down that wide crooked road to destruction. "BUT GOD" Paul says, how wonderful. Divine intervention, first mercy, (not giving us what we deserve), then grace, (giving us what we don't deserve). Well, back in II Samuel, Amasa was given a commission, but our verses tell us that he tarried longer that the set time. Perhaps at some time the Lord, our King, may have given us a commission. We know by this example that we mustn't tarry, but now some questions to ask ourselves. How can I be sure He has given me a commission? How can I know His will for me? Let's go to Psalms for some insight. Psalms 32; 8 "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." Next lets go to II Timothy 2:21. "If a man therefore purge himself from these, (Separation from evil,) he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work." When we first come into god's presence, we need instruction, as newborn Christians. Then, once instructed we need to be taught in the way we should go. This may be a long process, like maybe our entire natural lives. But then to be guided by his eye, how wonderful, though I would think that we would need to be walking close enough to be able to see His eye. CLOSENESS TO HIM, that is my next thought from II Timothy. Paul says to "Purge yourself " from these. That is to separate from evil. So let's question ourselves. Am I going on with something I know is not right, or am I close friends with someone who I know is going on with something that is not right? Separate yourself from sin. If your friend is doing something wrong, reprove him. If they continue, separate yourself. But remember you are separating unto the Lord. Then we are to "be prepared unto every good work" When we are walking close to Him, we will find that God is at work around us. Be ready and join what God is already doing. One last thought, we found that Amasa was lax about his commission, his duty given by his king. Let's ask our own hearts and let us really be honest with ourselves. Am I being lax about my God given duties? We see that Amasa was slain by Joab. This is the day of grace and we probably won't find Joab ready to slay us, but that is how serious our God given duties is to our King. So, if I'm too lax about my duties, I might be even set aside and another who is meet will be called to the task. Let us be prepared; let us keep these three tings on our hearts and mind. CLOSENESS! SEPARATION! AND BEING PREPARED! P.W.D.
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