FOR YOUR THRONE OR FOR THE KINGDOM

InThe Spirit

FOR THE KINGDOM OR FOR THE THRONE

INTRODUCTION

Everyman is odanied by God for greatness. Greatness is defined in this context to mean a state of achievement ; a state of influence and prominence in any given field of endeavour. 

A carpenter is great when he ceases to be one of the carpenters and becomes The Carpenter. The Cleaner is called great when he/she ceases to be one of the cleaners in Cleaning profession rather stands out in the skills and wisdom needed for that profession.

NAAMAN' MAID WAS GREAT!

The Maid who lead Naaman to the Israel and the prophet for his healing ceases to be one of the maids but rather become the The Maid in both Naaman's household, in Israel, in the World and generations to come because her decision and actions cave out a prominence place for her in Human History.

The Carpenter becomes a great man in  the carpentery profession because he developed his carpentry skills to the point that  others look up to him for either carpentery wisdom or for his great leadership skill in promoting others to become better carpenters than him 

Mother Theresa a Catholic Nun is celebrated today and in previous generations for her decision to show kindness to her fellow humans. She did not invent a car, create an internet platform yet she was recognised and rewarded by Presidents and nobles of Nations: Who would have said that showing kindness to others can make you great.  

Yet Mother Theresa is known and mentioned in generations before now and will be known in generations to come because of her kind deeds  

Probably if she was born and lived in this generation, few would have regarded her as a great woman 

WHY

She does not  have fleets of cars, mansions to her name and an  Army of followers.  But among people at her time, she is a great woman because she discovered her propose and fulfilled it . Today her name is in the Hallmark of influencers  in her generation and beyond.

GREATNESS IN THE KINGDOM

Greatness is not attained by how much you did but faithfulness in carrying out successfully what God  required of you.

When discussing greatness in the Kingdom, the tree will not fall too far from the definition of greatness seen  in the life of such persons like Mother Theresa.

After John’s messengers departed, Jesus spoke about John to the audience crowded around him, saying, “What kind of man did you expect to see out in the wilderness? Did you expect to see a man who would be easily influenced and shaken by the shifting opinions of others? Who did you go there to see? Did you expect to see a man decked out in the splendid fashion of the day living in the lap of luxury? Or did you discover a true prophet out in the lonely wilderness? Yes, John was a legitimate prophet. Even more than that, he was the fulfillment of this Scripture: ‘See, I am sending my prophetic messenger who will go ahead of me to prepare hearts to receive me.’ “Throughout history there was never found a man as great as John. Yet those who now walk in God’s kingdom realm, though they appear to be insignificant, will become even greater than he.”

Luke 7:24‭-‬28 TPT

BEZALEL, A GREAT MAN.

In the Scriptures, Bezalel and his company of skilled craftsmen received the Spirit of wisdom and  understanding in all crafts needed for the  begining of the Tabernacle in the wilderness.

Read that Bible passage again, it was God himself who put this Spirit of wisdom on Bezalel and his men and the Spirit of wisdom was not imparted through the laying of Moses's hand.

AND THE Lord said to Moses, See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, To devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,

Exodus 31:1‭-‬4 AMPC

The impartation on Bezalel was from The Almighty God Himself; while on Joshua , the inpartion was done  through Moses. The reason is because Joshua did not received a new commission, he was not given a new purpose and assignment. Rather he was commissioned to continue with the vision given to Moses.

AFTER THE death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' minister, [Deut. 34:4-8.] Moses My servant is dead. So now arise [take his place], go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, the Israelites. Every place upon which the sole of your foot shall tread, that have I given to you, as I promised Moses.

Joshua 1:1‭-‬3 AMPC

Moses was original called by God to take the people of Israel from Egypt to the promise land. Moses did not take them to the promise land. He saw the Land of  Canaan; moreso,  he sent spies to go and check out the land but he never entered the promised land. He was given the promise but the promise was not fulfilled in his lifetime because he did not follow divine instruction just once.

And because Moses did not enter the promiseland, the Israelites were delayed from  entering  the promise land   during Moses ministry.

A leader can hinder a people by the limitations he places over his life through decisions and actions. This is why it is very critical to pray for Christian Leaders. Remember strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.   

Moses failed to enter the promiseland, the Israelites did not enter the promiseland as long as Moses was the one in charge .

WHY? 

Yahweh God told Moses he will not enter the promiseland and as long as Moses was the Leader, the people who followed him  will not enter the promiseland. The followers of Moses were limited by the words spoken over the life of Moses.

So God had to raise Joshua to take the reins of leadership from Moses and complete the assignment given to Moses. 

Because of you the LORD became angry with me also and said, “You shall not enter it, either. But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it. Deut 1:37

But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” Deut 3:26

So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.” Number 27:18

THE SAME SPIRIT OF WISDOM ON ALL

"The same Spirit of Wisdom besotted on Bezalel a craftsman was the same Spirit which  filled Joshua with wisdom when Moses laid his hands on Joshua 

If Bezalel and Joshua had lived in this generation;  Joshua willl be regarded as a highly successful and great  Minister of the Gospel while Bezalel may not be regarded as Minister of the Gospel at all but as one of the workers in the Church. He may be called a man in the Welder profession who is successful. But each man were given a measure of the Spirit of wisdom needed for their ministry.

And in the sight of God, both men are great. In the sight of men, both men may not be great. 

"His birth will bring you much joy and gladness. Many will rejoice because of him, and he will be one of the great ones in the sight of God. He will drink no wine or strong drink, but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even while still in his mother’s womb. And he will persuade many in Israel to convert and turn back to the Lord their God."

Luke 1:14‭-‬16 TPT

The emphasis " He will be one of the Great One I. THE SIGHT OF GOD" 

There is Greatness in the  SIGHT OF MEN and there is Greatness in the SIGHT OF GOD . A Christian must desire to become great in the Sight of God and in the sight of men.

MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM IN SOLOMON'S LIFE.

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!

1 Kings 3:10‭-‬12 NLT

There were three men given the Spirit of wisdom and understanding but the degree and measure may differs. The outpouring of the Spirit is given   for the purpose of the Kingdom. 

Joshua had a throne as a Leader ; ( who was raised to finish the Vision started by another man) and for him to successfully do this, the same spirit on Moses,  the man he was called to finish his work rested on him 

Bezalel was given a vision to create from the scratch items and vessels for the Tabernacle of God in the wilderness.  While he had   few men who worked  with him and did not have a prominent  ministry as Joshua yet the same Spirit of wisdom and understanding was given to him to do work for God 

King Solomon was the richest and wisest King that ever lived before him. He was a king that other kings respected and honoured . Solomon was not wise until God spoke wisdom to him through the promise in 1 Kings 3:10-12.

Solomon was not rich until the Word of wealth and richess was uttered by God. 

All Solomon had begote the encounter in 1 Kings 3:10 ,n was what he inherited from his father, King David  

But Solomon had to offer his own sacrifices to God, he had to entreat the God whom his father King David served and got his own mantle from God  Then God spoke to him, and wisdom, riches and wealth and honour were mparted to him 

Three men called to serve the King of Glory and give a measure of the Spirit of wisdom and understanding 

KINGSHIP IS FOR SERVICE

Believes and men of God must arrive at this pivotal junction whereby we do not do the work of the Kingdom for self glory or to make a throne for ourselves. 

Truly, we  are a kingdom of priests and kings, let  those who are called to be priests remain faithful in their calling and not leave their callings to run for a physical throne. The mantle and gifts given to them will be for the priesthood and not for kingship. If such men chose of their own volition yo function in the Kingship anointment, error is inevitable.

They must know that it is the priests who anoints Kings to their offices. The anointing for Kings to enter their offices is an honour given to the priests by God 

It was the prophets in Antioch that prophesy that the Holy Spirit said " set apart unto me  Paul and Barnabas for the work that l have called them to do 

And Kings should know too that though they have a ministry and calling that is visible to all and has its displays of glamour and honour and majesty, they are put there by God to offer leadership to His people which is His inheritance  They must not become bullies and oppressors who use their positions and power to oppress the Flock of Christ. 

 Kingship is for service. Apostle Paul one of the greatest Apostles in the Early church said in several instances " l Paul, a bonded slave of Christ Jesus.

Apostle Paul was commissioned as an Apostle, he was anointed by the spoken words of our LORD Jesus Christ Himself ( Glory and honour to His name forever) yet Paul took the position and stance of a slave who willingly bound himself to his Master, The LORD  forever.

A bonded slave is one who after he had been given his freedom by his master, chose willingly to stay with the master and serve the master for life. In essence such forfeits the freedom he had earned and choses to serve the master's interest for life 

This is what Apostle Paul statement meant. He is saying in essence 

" LORD Jesus , you have made me an Apostle over your inheritance, your people. You have anointed me to be a leader in your Church but l willingly with knowledge bond myself to you as a slave for life . I willingly  take the position  of a Servant. 

It is only men who has done this that can remain humble for a life time though such has been given wealth, riches, fame and honour that should bring pride 

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:1

Hephzibah-Abigail