Chasing our own demise
Chasing our own demise
2 Samuel 2:18-23 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
Chasing the WRONG MAN
ABILITY does not MEAN APPOINTMENT
Just because you possess the necessary gifts to make it to the desired target doesn’t mean you have what is necessary to handle it once you are there.
Just because we can “RUN LIKE A WILD ROE” doesn’t mean we need to use that ability to catch up with ABNER. What happens if you catch him?
Catching the Objective and being able to deal with it are TWO different things.
Be careful what you chase after you may just catch it, and it may be BIGGER than you thought.. it may be CONSUMING.
TASKS you were never MEANT FOR or NOT READY FOR
1 Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Numbers 16:1-3 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
We need to understand that GIFT and ABILITY need to be tempered with EXPERIENCE and UNDERSTANDING.
Many in MINISTRY or the world rush headlong into the battle UNPREPARED and ILL EQUIP to face the OBSTACLES. They end up crashing and burning… many destroy themselves, their families, harm their churches and leave a legacy of FEAR and FAILURE, BITTERNESS and DISTRUST to those surrounding them.
THE FALLOUT
Our OWN DEMISE… DEFEATED, CRIPPLED or DESTROYED.
He WRECKED HIMSELF by running headlong into ABNER’S spear.
WE WILL WRECK OURSELVES, OUR FAMILY and our TESTIMONY, we will CRASH … We need to be ready for ABNER not just THINK we are…
His Impetuosity created a stumbling block for JOAB and ABISHAI
Plunged the Kingdom into chaos with how his failure effected others.
Proverbs 21:16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
THE WARNING
Turn aside was given him TWICE. His own COCKINESS overshadowed REASON
When we are BLINDLY PURSUING an OBJECTIVE sometimes we in the PRIDE of our OWN JUDGMENT and ABILITY refuse words of CAUTION.
We become SCORNFUL of the WARNING and OTHERS ABILITIES…
“If I were in charge, THIS is what I would have done” “I could handle things”
The same spirit indwelled ABSOLOM
2 Samuel 15:1-6 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.
DAVID was a MAN OF WAR… ABSOLOM was a preening pretty boy with a heart full of resentment and a silver spoon in his mouth.
He fared poorly as a leader listening to the young hotheads like himself rather than the voice of age and wisdom.
Many followed and the Kingdom was plunged into a BLOODY civil war… lives were lost, unity compromised and all because of someone CHASING something they SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN CHASING.
THE MOTIVE
Asahael wanted Abner’s ARMOUR he wanted the RECOGNITION and ACCLAIM for slaying ABNER. By killing ABNER he would gain recognition and status….
Abner didn’t need killing… he was a mighty man who could handle himself capably. What Asahael saw as FEAR in ABER was nothing of the kind, simply PRUDENCE.
ABNER was thinking of BIGGER ISSUES… relations in the future, Relationships in the KINGDOM…
Experience sees the BIGGER ISSUES and makes judgments based upon that.
Asahael could only see the PETTY and SMALL… Look ABNER runs.. he must be SCARED… I must be ABLE to overcome… see I am closing the distance.
Abner dispatched him like a pesky fly with the butt of his spear… NO FEAR of him… just regret in knowing what Joab was like and what problems this would cause.
God is the God of the IMPOSSIBLE
“Is there not a cause?”
DAVID and GOLIATH
GIDEON and the HOST
God’s PROVIDENTIAL LEADING
David was not in the camp of his own accord, despite what his brother said
David was sent there by his father and PLACED there by GOD
God’s PROVIDENTIAL PREPARATION
David had seen God deliver the LION and the BEAR into his hands
God’s PROVIDENTIAL PERSON
David had already been ANOINTED and SEPARATED… He was a “Man after God’s own heart” selected to be KING.
God used this SITUATION to EXALT DAVID in the sight of the armies of ISRAEL.
DAVID was not there to GAIN FAME and FORTUNE… He was INCENSED at the CHALLENGE to GOD…He was WHOLLY concerned with the HONOUR OF GOD.
He was CHASING NOTHING that day but the HONOUR of the LORD.
THIS WAS NOT A CONTEST IT WAS AN EXECUTION.
GOD GOT THE GLORY….
We are not trying to negate
Attempt great things for God and Expect great things from God, we do not foster an attitude of FEARFUL resignation and indolence. What we do wish to promote is a SOBER reflection and a FEAR and trembling in each endeavour… a close EXAMINATION of
God’s LEADING
GOD’S PREPARATION
We want to caution against RASH PRIDE and CHASING DESTRUCTIVE THINGS
WHAT ARE YOU CHASING
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
THE WORLD
It will entangle you and destroy you … many people think that they can “Handle” the world and worldly ambition but it is bigger than they expect and swallows them up.
THINGS and a QUEST for MORE… stability … money…possessions…security… career… it is a NEVER ENDING CYCLE that in the end will leave you EMPTY and INEFFECTIVE.
A RELATIONSHIP (you aren’t ready for)
So many RUN after what they are not ready for, madly “in love” without the first idea of COMMITMENT, STABILITY, MATURITY or LOVE.
They Run headlong into TROUBLE, and HEARTBREAK.
A MINDSET (Is this really YOU or someone else?)
Many want to BE someone else. They haven’t figured out WHO THEY are so they try to be someone ELSE… they adopt others GOALS, AMBITIONS, STYLE and WAYS… but the ARMOUR might be TOO BIG, or ILL FITTING…
A PROMOTION
ACCEPTANCE
POWER, POSITION, PRESTIGE
RECOGNITION
AUTHORITY
Chasing the WRONG THING can KILL YOU
Pharaoah sought GREATNESS and was drowned in the SEA or ambition
Absolom chased POWER and REVENGE and was caught by his pride
JOAB sought AUTHORITY and PLACE and was slain by the sword
Pilot sought appeasement and troubled his own soul
Herod sought acclaim and was eaten by worms
Acts 12:21-23 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
The Rich man sought riches and gained TORMENT
LUCIFER seeks the throne of God and inherits the PIT OF HELL.
THAT I MAY KNOW HIM
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Psalms 75:6-7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
KNOW GOD’S
PROVISION for YOU
Our GIFTS and ABILITIES
Where we are to USE those GIFTS and ABILITIES
HIS PLACE for you TODAY.
You may have the gifts of leadership but each gift must be tempered with EXPERIENCE and GRACE.
HIS PLAN for YOU.. Your CALLING
HIS POSITION for YOU. Where you fit in… the AUTHORITY HE has placed you UNDER GOD PLACED YOU UNDER THEM FOR YOU TO LEARN AND GROW… (Most people have the idea, man am I an ASSET to this place.. )
HIS POWER for you
His grace is sufficient for TODAY
HIS PACE for you ( how fast are you supposed to be running, what are you supposed to be running after.)
We sometimes get overwhelmed with what we THINK God has for us… we see too many GIANTS when we need to simply focus on the CURRENT TASK and GRACE for today.
BE SOBER and MINDFUL … With the PROPER LEADING and MOTIVE chase GIANTS but GOD SANCTIONED GIANTS.
BE READY… BE PREPARING, GROW, SUBMIT and CHASE the PROPER THINGS
CHASE GOD and HE WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE GIANTS… for they are ALREADY DEFEATED…. But don’t chase your OWN.