1 Chronicles 12:17-18 - David went out to meet them and said to them,
"If you have come to me in peace, to help me, I am ready to have you unite
with me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free
from violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you." Then the Spirit came upon
Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: "We are yours, O
David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Success, success to you,
and success to those who help you, for your God will help you." So David
received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.
After David had been anointed king for the third time….great
warriors flocked to his kingdom be a part of his military. They were strong men…courageous and
determined…well practiced in their skills…at the peak of their physical
strength. But one thing David could not
determine with his eyes was their heart…so he went out to meet them…and spoke
bluntly to them about their intentions.
It was the Holy Spirit…who saw a need to intervene…that came
down and spoke through his military chief Amasai. The words spoken through Amasai by the Holy
Spirit put all doubt away from David’s heart…so confident was he about the
hearts of these men that he made them leaders of his raiding bands.
It was one huge celebration…as they all gathered around the
city and ate and drank…for three days! Other
cities even sent food and supplies to the enormous party they had in their joy.
God had answered the fervent prayers David had prayed for so many months in
those caves….by allowing his enemy Saul to die.
God had raised David up to be king of all Israel…..and rallied the men
around him he would need to carry out God’s plan for his chosen kingdom.
David wasn’t the only one that was relieved and joyous over
Saul’s death…. seeing the anointing of Samuel so long ago finally become a
reality in his life. The people of Israel were ready for a change….they had
suffered under the rule of Saul…and looked forward to what changes David might
make. The spirit did more than just
affirm the hearts of the men who came to fight for David…it lit a passion…a
fire in the hearts of all who heard the words of devotion spoken to the new
king. They were thirsty for God to be relevant
in their lives once more. They were thirsty
to see the power God had manifested in his people….in all the stories they had
heard about the days of Moses.
That’s what we need folks…the Holy Spirit to come down and
light a fire in believers all over the world.
Like the he is trying to light in my home town….where he has given my
church a vision…of a larger church…and ministries that would fill a 55 acre
plot of land. We called the spirit down
to dedicate it Sunday…June 30…and poured oil out on the corners of the
temporary tent that was erected to shelter us from the elements. We ate and ate
and drank pop…and tons of water. God even sent us a rainbow that evening after
the service….that sent a warm chill to my heart as my eyes traced its origin to
the exact spot we had picked to start the construction of the new church. It is
amazing to hear the progress of paying the note completely off….and how quickly
God is providing the funds to make our church vision a reality.
We left the tent up for a week…and held revival services
every night. It was the first tent
revival I remember being a part of since I was a child. Many people were saved…and the spirit
reaffirmed the passion in many of us to work a little a harder at making God
relevant to our lives. It was a grand celebration I hated to see end….my heart
wanting to leave the tent up until the new church is erected....just like the
tabernacle God lived in so long ago….just like David and his men as they
celebrated the anointing of a new king…and the possibilities of how God would
reestablish himself among them.
Father…I thank you for sending your spirit so long ago to
ignite a passion in the hearts of these people.
Send your spirit once again to ignite a fire and passion in my heart as
well….to make sure that everything I do is in line with your plan for my life. Help me to celebrate the small steps you help
me take towards loving you completely…and always listen for your spirit to
guide me….so I can quickly be the servant you need me to be…and lead others to
your amazing love. Amen.
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