“Try to give your agenda to God. Keep saying, ‘Your will be done, not mine.’ Give every part of your heart and your time to God and let God tell you what to do, where to go, when and how to respond. God does not want you to destroy yourself. Exhaustion, burnout, and depression are not signs that you are doing God’s will. God is gentle and loving. God desires to give you a deep sense of safety in God’s love. Once you have allowed yourself to experience that love fully, you will be better able to discern who you are being sent to in God’s name ” (Henri J. M. Nouwen).
In order to do God’s agenda and not your own, learn delegation; beware of disobedience to God; rely on Him and your supporters; equip culturally-sensitive leaders; beware of following men’s counsel and not God’s; and obey His strategy at each stage.
Delegate Responsibilities to Diverse People
Descendants of Benjamin were listed including Shaharaim who divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who handled the bow. Judah was taken captivity to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. The priests were able men responsible for ministering in the house of God. Gatekeepers were assigned to their positions by David and Samuel. Their brothers shared duties for seven-day periods, spent the night guarding the house of God and opening it each morning. They entrusted the Levites, four principal gatekeepers, with responsibility for its rooms and treasuries. Others took charge of the articles, furnishings, flour, wine, oil, incense and spices used in the temple service. Musicians were exempt from other duties since they were responsible for the work day and night (1 Chron. 8:1-9:44). Delegate responsibilities to diverse people who labor faithfully everyday.
Understand How Disobedience to God’s Word Causes Death
A wounded Saul took his own life by falling on his sword. The Philistines killed his three sons, including Jonathan. They put Saul’s armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon. Saul’s unfaithfulness to God caused his death by not keeping His word, consulting a medium for guidance and not inquiring of the Lord. His kingdom was turned over to David (1 Chron. 10:1-14). Understand how disobedience to God’s word by following human guidance causes spiritual and physical death.
Rely on God and Those Providing Support to Extend Your Sphere of Influence
All Israel came together to anoint David king as the Lord promised through Samuel. He conquered Jerusalem and made Joab commander because he led the attack on the Jebusites. David became more powerful because the Lord Almighty was with him. His mighty men provided strong support to extend his kingship over the whole land. Three of the 30 chiefs came to David at the cave of Adullam when he longed for water. The Three broke through the Philistine lines but he refused to drink because they risked their lives to bring the water. Abishai, brother of Joab and chief of the Three, killed 300 men with his spear, Benaiah struck down two of Moab’s best men and killed a lion. He snatched the spear from a 7 1/2 foot tall Egyptian and killed him with his own spear. Other mighty men were listed (1 Chron. 11:1-47). Rely on God and those providing support to extend your sphere of influence.
Equip Unified, Culturally-Sensitive Leaders for Spiritual Battle
Warriors armed with bows and arrows helped David in battle at Ziklag when he was banished from Saul’s presence. Eleven brave warriors from Gad prepared for battle with shield and spear defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. Their faces were like lions and as swift as gazelles. As army commanders, they put to flight everyone living in the valleys. The Spirit through Amasai, chief of the Thirty, said they and God were to help David achieve success as leaders of his raiding bands. Brave warriors from Manasseh helped David until he had a great and mighty army. A list of volunteer fighting men from every tribe armed for battle came to David in Hebron with one mind to make him king over all Israel. Men of Issachar understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Experienced soldiers of Zebulun with every type of weapon helped David with undivided loyalty. Men of Naphtali carried shields and spears. The men spent three days with David eating and drinking because their families supplied provision. Neighbors from Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali brought food and provisions on animals (1 Chron. 12:1-40). Equip unified, culturally-sensitive leaders for spiritual battle who know the appropriate actions to take.
Beware of Following Men’s Counsel and Not God’s
After David consulted with the commanders, he gathered the priests and Levites to bring back the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. The whole assembly agreed to do it because it seemed right to all the people. They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart. David and all the Israelites celebrated with all their might before God using instruments. Uzzah died after steadying the ark when the oxen stumbled. David became angry, afraid of God’s wrath and wondered how to bring the ark to him. God blessed the house of Obed-Edom where the ark remained for three months (1 Chron. 13:1-14). Beware of following men’s counsel and not God’s that causes disaster.
Ask God for Direction and Obey His Strategy at Each Stage
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers, cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for David. He knew the Lord established and exalted him as king over Israel for the sake of His people. David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters. David inquired of God whether to attack the Philistines when they raided the Valley of Rephaim. When God said He would defeat them, David and his men went to Baal Perazim. The defeated Philistines abandoned their gods and David gave orders to burn them. The next time the Philistines raided the valley, God told David to circle and attack them in front of the balsam trees. He moved out to battle after hearing the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees meaning God went in front to strike the Philistine army. When David obeyed God’s command, they defeated them from Gibeon to Gezer. David’s fame spread throughout the land and the Lord made every nation fear him (1 Chron. 14:1-17). Ask God for direction and obey His strategy at each stage in the spiritual battle.
How to Do God’s Agenda and Not Your Own:
1. Delegate responsibilities to diverse people who labor faithfully everyday
2. Understand how disobedience to God’s word by following human guidance causes spiritual and physical death
3. Rely on God and those providing support to extend your sphere of influence
4. Equip unified, culturally-sensitive leaders for spiritual battle who know the appropriate actions to take
5. Beware of following men’s counsel and not God’s that causes disaster
6. Ask God for direction and obey His strategy at each stage in the spiritual battle.
