The men of valour became leaders where they were
Another lesson from 1 Chronicles comes out of the reign of David. And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king (1 Chronicles 26:32). These men didn’t seek to become rulers or leaders. These men had demonstrated their faithfulness in battle. They demonstrated their ability to follow the king’s orders precisely. It was these men who were now called upon by the king to give crucial leadership within Israel.
These men weren’t sitting in the safety of the walled cities nor were they just hanging around. These men, when needed by their king, were ready to march into battle at any moment. When not on the battlefield, these men were busy training for the next battle. They knew their swords, their armour, and every other piece of their equipment. These men were ready to meet any challenge set before them by the king. They were ready, if necessary, to give their lives in the service of their king.
Every church needs people to be as these men of valour
The week after Christmas, the Lord began to bring everything together that He had brought to my mind over the last two weeks. I began noticing through various friends on Facebook the comments they were making about the health of their churches. Some were commenting on low attendance on Christmas Sunday while others were asking prayers for God to send them more families. Others were praying about church financial needs and still others were complaining about the lack of people willing to volunteer for nursery and other church duties. One thing each of these people had in common – none of them are really active in any ministry of their church but yet expect someone to step up and volunteer.
Our churches are filled with people who are content to sit in the pews, show up for services, and then complain that there aren’t enough people to handle the ministries of the church. They are also the same ones that complains about the one or two families who are involved with nearly every aspect of the local church ministry. As I began to think about what the Lord was laying on my heart and what I was seeing on Facebook, it became clear. The Lord is looking for people who are willing to become people of valour. He is looking for people who are willing to go to battle against Satan, sin, and the evil that’s plaguing our communities, our churches, and families. Our Lord is looking for people who are willing to be spirit led, spirit filled, and ready to follow Him.
He has called you to be a watchman…
Jesus spent much of his Earthy ministry telling those who followed after Him that they were to teach the world about His gospel. If we are completely honest, he did not give the apostles the Great Commission. In fact, the Great Commission was given before the disciples were called to be apostles. This commission is no clearer stated than in this verse: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). The disciples – those who were taught at the feet of Jesus – were given the instructions to take the gospel to every part of the world. Jesus further defines this instruction before His ascension: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47).
This is similar to the charge God placed on the prophet Ezekiel; So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me (Ezekiel 33:7). God is always consistent in His plan. He has always sought those who are willing to take His message of love, mercy, and grace to people who are not always open to hearing it. God needs people of valour who are willing to share the gospel with everyone they come in contact with and regardless of what others may think. We are always ready to share good news of a job promotion, a new child, or maybe even a new car. When it comes to sharing the good news that will lead to eternal life, many of us become silent, not wanting to stand out.
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He has called us to be faithful in studying His word…
In Paul’s description of the armour of God, he writes: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17). We are to take the word of God – the Bible – and become as familiar with it as the soldier becomes with the equipment taken into battle.
Paul similarly instructed Timothy: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). If we look at the Psalms, we see the same basic instruction to study God’s word all through that book. David wrote, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalms 119:11). By studying the Bible we can intimately know God’s love for us and the plan He has for us. We also will begin to understand the reason He has called His people to study His word and why it will aid us in following Him.
He has called us to live a holy life…
As we see with David in the book of Psalms, one of the products of following after the Lord is a desire to live a holy life. It just so happens this desire is also in obedience to one of God’s commandments to His people. This command is found in both the Old and New Testaments: Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16; related Leviticus 20:7). The Lord has called us out of a life of sin and into a life of holiness. Jesus even referred to those who believe in Him as being salt. Salt has a distinct flavor and acts as a preservative. As Christians, we are to stand out in contrast to the lost and serve as a preservative of humanity – pointing the way to Christ by the very life we live.
Paul wrote extensively about the new person we are once we are saved. He writes in a letter to the Christians living Corinth: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). He also wrote a related verse: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (Galatians 6:15). Once we receive Jesus as our personal Saviour, we are to take on the characteristics of the new life he brings. We are to follow His example not out of fear, but out of wanting to emulate the one who has redeemed us.
Being a champion for your church begins with faithfulness…
Even in the days of the apostles, the Lord was looking for those men of valour who would be ready to serve. Paul describes a core characteristic of becoming a servant of the Lord: Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). He even tells Timothy to put into practice what he has been taught. He exhorts Timothy to be faithful in all that he does. This is the key to understanding what it takes to become a person of valour – the champion your church needs. It means being faithful in sharing the gospel, reading your Bible, and living a holy life. And it is also about being faithful in our church attendance, giving of ourselves sacrificially, and actively participating in the ministries of the local church.
It doesn’t mean that I should seek out a high-profile position. It means just the opposite. What God wants out of His champions is faithfulness in the basics. It means being ready to take on His charge when it is laid before us. Jesus taught, He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much (Luke 16:10). While this verse can be a sermon in itself, it is the first part of the verse where I want to focus. If we cannot be faithful in the basics of our faith we cannot be faithful in the other things the Lord has for us. It is for this very reason our churches, communities, and families are in a state of crisis.
A testimony of the people of valour found in Jude…
I share the question with you the Lord laid on my heart – are you ready to be the champion, the person of valour, your church needs? The Bible shares this testimony of those who have decided to be this person: And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 22-23). My heart’s desire is that at the end of 2017, the Lord will account me as one of these that made a difference. Will you become the champion your local church needs? Are you willing to become one that makes a difference?
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