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Mar 22 2018
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Bring Back the King

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King David’s third oldest son was named Absalom. For whatever reason, David had a special affection for this son. However, this son of his ended up turning against him. Here is what happened:

“And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel…And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom” (II Samuel 15:1-6,12-13).

Absalom started a rebellion against his father David. What he did was usurp David’s authority as king. Usurp means to seize and hold (an office, place, or powers) in possession by force or without right. Absalom had no right to be king, but he schmoozed the people into preferring him as king over his father, David. Though Israel may have accepted Absalom as king, God didn’t. Remember how careful David was not to touch the Lord’s anointed? Absalom gave it no thought. This eventually ended up in a battle, Absalom and Israel against David and his warriors, and Absalom was slain.

Absalom was everyone’s favorite son.  The good looking, dashing son of the king. In all Israel there was none to be praised like him. He was the talk of the town. With his beautiful long flowing hair he had the fresh new look. Combine that with smooth talking flattery that he spoke, he stole the hearts of the people. He was telling the people that the king’s ways are no good anymore. He is old and outdated. If only you would let me care for you. The people fell for it. Now the people could boast about their new king as other nations marvel at him. He will impress them all.

After all, they don’t need the old king anymore. All the giants are dead, the battles are won. Now it’s time to enjoy our victory and spread our wings. The king isn’t relevant anymore. Even his music is old. Now it’s time for the world to take notice. We don’t need a warrior king anymore. It is a time for peace and love. In the same manner as Israel loved Absalom, the world will love our new brand of church.

Just as Absalom usurped David as king, so has a good portion of the fivefold ministry usurped King Jesus. You see, Absalom represents the unauthorized, unanointed ministers. What the ministry has done today is replaced King Jesus with another king. King Jesus is no longer the focus, church is now all about the people and what they want. I wonder how many churches here in America have Jesus sitting as king in their church on a Sunday morning.

To be king means to be sovereign. That means that the king has absolute authority over all his subjects. Who wants that? In this day of no restraint, do as you please living, why would anyone want to put themselves under any kind of demands. So if we can just get rid of the king (well, maybe not go that far), and replace him with someone or something more appealing like Absalom, then we will fill the pews. Then we will be loved and accepted by this world. We appreciated all that King Jesus did for us, but now it is time to move on.

Just as most of the Israelites were deceived by Absalom’s flattery, Christians fall for the same things. It doesn’t take much to deceive Christians today. I have heard it said over and over that people don’t like change, and that is true, but for some reason Christians are willing to change kings.

Have you grown tired of the same old Jesus? Have you set your heart on the next new thing coming down the pike? Jesus may be the same yesterday, today and forever, but there is nothing tiring or boring about Him. You may have grown tired, but it is not because Jesus is boring. It’s because you have allowed an Absalom to come into your life. You have allowed your affections to be on things of this earth instead of things above.

If this is the case in your life, you need to do what David said. “And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house. Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king? And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab. And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan” (II Samuel 19:10-15).

You need to bring back the king. If Absalom is still alive in your heart, he needs to die.

The things of this world will fall apart. Anything that Christ is not in will fail. Ask for King Jesus to come back and take residence on the throne of your heart. He will come and do as you ask because His mercy endures forever.

It is sad that many people won’t come to Jesus until everything has fallen apart in their life, but Hallelujah, God will still take them. He will still be their king.

The church needs to bring the king back. If individuals who make up the church bring their king back, then the king will come back to the church. Let’s share in the plea for the church to invite their King Jesus back to His rightful place.

 

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING (sovereign) OF KINGS, AND LORD (supreme) OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16).

 

If you want to see that name, written on Jesus’ thigh, then He must be your king now.

 

Feb 22 2018
1

Remnant Rise Up

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“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth” (Isaiah 10:20).

 

Please give me some liberty to restate this Bible verse using Israel as a type of church. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of the church, who have escaped the church system, shall no more be abused by them; but shall be fully committed to the Lord, the Holy One, who is head of the church, in truth.”

So many Christians have been put down and let down; so many are discouraged and disappointed; some have even become skeptical and scornful. Why? No doubt they are responsible for their own spiritual life, but it doesn’t help when the church has failed so many believers in so many ways.

There are many believers who have been so much a part of a dead powerless church system that they can hardly believe God for anything. So many have been under ministers who calculate and formulate, but don’t demonstrate a Christianity that declares Christ is alive to this generation. Ministers, through their intellect have outlined and commentated on the word of God, but have failed to really believe it as they should. Studying and meditating on the word does no good if one is not going to believe it. No one can say they really believe it until they live it. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).

Some ministers have brought forth so many of their own ideas about God that those under their leadership have no idea who God really is. We have those who preach a Jesus who is a big Santa Claus that exists just to give Christians everything they want. We have those who preach a Jesus who is ready to crush you, if you take one step out of line. We have those who preach a Jesus who still just winks at sin. We have those who preach a Jesus who will accept your works as a payment to receive eternal life.

It is one thing to hear someone mention the name of Jesus and talk about Him, it is a whole other thing to preach who the real Jesus is. He is the whole counsel of God. He is the concealed Christ of the Old Testament and the revealed Christ of the New Testament. He is the Son of the Living God. He is the Redeemer of mankind. He is the one who John saw and wrote about saying, “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (Revelation 1:14-16). This scene was so powerful on John that he fell at Jesus’ feet as if he was dead. That is sure a far contrast from the Jesus who some depict today as almost having a soft feminine side to Him. They preach a Jesus who you can take or leave. This world needs to see a powerful holy Jesus, who is mighty to save. Yet a Jesus who is willing to save all who call upon the name of the Lord.

Some of the preachers we have today are so dry you could use them for a dehumidifier. Some have exchanged the anointing for education, exchanged the hour of prayer for a committee meeting, and exchanged the study of the word for the study of demographics and community culture.

As long as the wrong Jesus is preached, the church will lie dormant and ineffective. As long as preachers are asleep on their post, the church will be lost in lala land. ALL I CAN SAY IS “THERE IS NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW FOR THE REMNANT TO RISE UP.”

We need some Davids who have some mighty men at their side. We need some Joshuas who can lead some obedient believers around enemy walls that need to come down. We need some Calebs who are looking for another mountain to climb and conquer. We need some Isaiahs, Jeremiahs and Ezekiels who will speak to our generation, “Thus saith the Lord.” We need some Hebrew boys who know how to walk in the fire with God. We need some Daniels who through interpreting dreams can cause kings to declare, “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34).

We need some Peters who can escape shackles and walk through open prison doors, while at the same time some Pauls who can get up and shake the dust off after being stoned and left for dead. We need some remnant believers to rise up in this day, will you be one?

Actually, I want to simplify all this. You don’t need to study the lives of all these men and learn just what and how they did things. We just need some remnant to rise up who truly believe. They believe the whole word. They believe the whole truth and nothing but the truth. They believe the church is still here to turn this world upside down. They believe that God still fills saints with His Holy Spirit and fire which endues them with power to win the nations. They believe that they can do anything and everything God has called them to do through the power of the Spirit. We need this remnant to believe that the church is still God’s chosen and anointed vessel to display an all loving and powerful Christ to this world. We need the remnant to believe God and His word, even if many around them don’t. We need the remnant to hate this world, but love the soul of every sinner enough to pray they would be saved from this world.

Are you of the remnant sort? Will you rise up in this generation with a love for God, a hate for sin, a love for truth and a hate for every lie? Will you rise up to be one who worships God in Spirit and in truth? Will you rise up and give your life, to whatever extent God plans on using it, for the sake of the kingdom of God?

If you are one of the remnant, you may ask, “What can I do?” Here is a simple strategy; let’s call it the three P’s. First PRAY. Just like you do daily and sit down to eat breakfast, lunch and supper; pray often for the remnant believers all over Wisconsin. Pray they would be strengthened in the inner man, Pray for revival to come to Wisconsin. Secondly, PREACH. Preaching is the power of God unto salvation and also to those who are saved. Last of all, PARTICIPATE. Participate in searching out other remnant believers. Participate in fellowship with them. Pray with them and encourage each other. Amen!