Learning to Live Within Your Anointing (Part 2) How to Be a Leader God Uses

16 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by eisakouo in Our Journey Into The Promised Land

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anointing not up for debate, character, do not mock God, Humble, Korah's rebellion, Motivate honestly, Numbers 16, Robert Kraft

The story of Korah and his followers gives us a clear picture of what not to do with the gifts, abilities, and anointing of God. Korah could have been a leader God used, if he had simply stayed within God’s boundaries. How do we do this?

#1 Measure Yourself Humbly and Do Not Magnify Yourself.

8 Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi, 9 is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; 10 and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also? (Numbers 16:8-10)

Magnifying oneself is exaggerating one’s importance and contribution. It is a sign of the beginning and the cause of one’s fall.

Korah’s grandfather occupied an important place in the ministry of the Lord. Kohath’s family was one of three families appointed to serve in the sanctuary.

This family had the highest honor because the holiest items in the tabernacle were assigned to their care. This included the Tent of Meeting or tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, the table of shew-bread, the candlestick, the altar of incense, and altar of burnt-offering. God had promised that they would never to be cut off from the Levites. Wow!

BUT THE SONS OF KORAH WANTED MORE…

This family was more privileged than most, yet it wasn’t enough. They began to entertain thoughts of greater service and positions. The tasks and anointing God placed on others was coveted by Korah and his followers.

The father of Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, reminded him several times of a humbling truth. “Whenever you get too high on yourself, go down to the beach and look out over the vast ocean. Then, pick up a handful of sand and realize that one grain is all you are in the space of time.” (USA Today 1/21/97)

Someone noted, “The less privileged looked up at the sons of Korah, gushed in their presence, and pined for an opportunity to safeguard the most holy things, to keep Moses and Aaron company, and to serve God up-close and personal.”

#2 Motivate People Honestly and Do Not Mislead Others. (Numbers 16:12-15)

Many people motivate others in the wrong way. They only look after their own interests and take advantage of people’s trust, fear, and ignorance.

The mutineers were essentially calling Moses a tyrant, a liar, and a sadist. Dathan and Abiram reopened old wounds by echoing the ten spies’ claims that Egypt represented everything good – milk and honey (13). They twisted the promises of God by saying Moses personified death and torture and the Promised Land epitomized wastelands and barrenness.

Moses, a good leader, offered a measured response and opportunity for those in rebellion to “opt-out” and correct the situation. Dathan and Abiram dug their own grave when they refused to control the damage, confess their wrongdoing, and correct people’s misperception.

Moses gave Dathan and Abiram more leeway than Korah, but the two didn’t show up or shut up! He was disappointed, exasperated, and angered by their unproven accusations (16:15). He had gone out of his way to meet them, mend fences and make up (16:4), but the two did not even have the respect to see, face, or confront him (16:12).

#3 Meet God Honorably and Do Not Mock Him! (Numbers 16:41-50)

THE ANOINTING IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE

Korah and company accused, defied, and humiliated Moses in public. They succeeded in shredding Moses’ reputation to pieces, pouring contempt on his leadership, and raising issues about the land. The problem here… Moses was God’s ordained leader. Moses was both appointed and anointed. When God appoints, gifts, and anoints someone, that person is not up for debate.

THE END RESULT OF THIS CANCER

At the end of the two day incident, close to 15,000 people died. The stern judgment could have been averted, but the people did not stop their complaining or accept their responsibility. They rolled up their sleeves and prepared for a confrontation. The Lord’s judgment was not as lenient, gracious, or merciful the second time round.

Moses could not prevent the breakout of the plague. His intervention could not stop the plague because the offenders were insolent and impenitent.

How could people be so wrong? How could people see such miraculous signs/miracles and then attack God’s servant?

The answer is rebellion! It may be in our hearts, just not revealed in our character until we are faced with it. Korah and his followers forfeited their call because of rebellion. God will not allow rebellion to remain. He must remove and replace it.

The good news, when confession of sin is made and intercession is offered, God restores His anointing and presence. Rebellion can be corrected. It simply has to be dealt with God’s way.

These sons of Korah did not fare very well in this generation. But they rebounded in later generations. They became renown for their worship and psalms.

Blessings,

Pastor

Learning to Live Within Your Anointing (Part 1) Mutiny in the Desert

15 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by eisakouo in Our Journey Into The Promised Land

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anointed and appointed, complaining against Moses, ground swallowed, how to catch a monkey, korah, Numbers 16, rebellion, you are not the boss of me

Some of us want more than what God says is good for us. Why is it that we are never satisfied with what God has provided? I am speaking primarily of the Spirit. Why is it that we covet the things others have like possessions, position, or power (authority)?

We seem to be like the monkey.

There is a well told story that says in Africa and India the natives use a very simple technique to catch monkeys. They hollow out one end of a coconut and they put peanuts or bananas inside. The monkey puts his hand in the coconut and when he makes a fist to grab the peanuts, he’s trapped. The monkey cannot remove his hand with his fist clinched. Because he desperately desires the treats inside the coconut, he keeps his fist clinched. The natives will pull a string attached to the other end of the coconut and capture the monkey without harming it. All the little monkey has to do in order to escape is to let go of the fruit. But he never releases his grasp of the fruit and is caught.

Korah’s History

Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action, (Numbers 16:1)

This desert rebellion was led by a man named Korah. He was a Levite, meaning he was a privileged person among the Hebrews. He was specially chosen from among God’s Chosen People to serve in the Priesthood. Yet the story tells us he was still discontented with his position when he compared himself to Moses and Aaron.

Korah spread his discontent to 250 other Israelites. They brought forward a list of complaints, acting more like a mob. They were determined to have things their own way.

Have you ever known people like this?

It is as if they cannot be happy unless they are the ones running the show.

They think they have just as much right to be the boss as the boss.
They are self-appointed.
They insist they have been disadvantaged somehow by not being given the opportunity to lead.

These mutineers have not demonstrated any ability to lead. Yet, due to the mob, they insist they know what is best. All this sounds like some politicians doesn’t it?

Korah’s Complaint (2-3)

“and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown. 3 They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” (Numbers 16:2-3)

Those wanting a change in leadership had three complaints. These complaints all focused around Moses.

#1 Moses, you are no better than anyone else.
#2 Everyone in Israel is chosen of the Lord, not just Moses and Aaron
#3 We don’t need to obey you Moses (you’re no better than us).

If you are a parent, these complaints may sound familiar. Have you ever heard a child say, “you’re not the boss of me.”

Well, the fact of the matter is God has made (the parent) “the boss of you.” But trying to convince insolent children of this truth is a difficult task. It may take dramatic discipline to restore the leadership.

Korah’s Rebellion

Webster’s Dictionary uses several synonyms to help to define rebellion.

Insolent – arrogantly rude.
Arrogate – to claim or seize without justification.
Arrogant – proud and overbearing.

When Moses sees and hears of the rebellion, it looks as though he is shot in the stomach. He immediately falls to the ground. But the Lord gives Moses a simple plan to deal with these mutineers.

Everyone is invited to stand before the Lord as equals at the Tent of Meeting. Each is to have a censer filled with incense to burn before the Lord. Each will be received or rejected by the Lord. It never dawned on Korah that the Lord would reject him.

God instructs Moses to move everyone away from the trouble makers and their tents. Moses informs everyone plainly; This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea. (28)

29 If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men (a natural death), then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol (unnatural death), then you will understand that these men have spurned the LORD.”

31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth may swallow us up!” 35 Fire also came forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense. (Numbers 16:29-35)

End of discussion… end of the rebellion! The leadership question has been answered once and for all. When the ground opens up and swallows you, your family, and everything you own, then there is nothing left to discuss.

When we challenge the leaders God has put in place, we do so at our own peril. To challenge leadership with wrong motives may cost you more than you are will pay.

The truth is leadership is more than just leading. It is about anointing and how God has appointed that person.

Moses – As Good As It Gets

Korah’s group sought to walk outside their anointing, calling, and purpose. They were ministers of the Tabernacle. Their personal anointing didn’t extend beyond the priesthood. Yet they challenged the established authority using numbers and influence.

By the end of the next day 14,950 Israelites died. The plague that struck the camp was the scene of the longest and bloodiest day in the wilderness. This incident far outnumbered the 3,000 calf-worshippers that had died previously (Ex 32:28).

The truth is God had His best man on the job, Moses. We may think we know better than God. Nothing could be further from the truth. When God appoints, He anoints. Our job is to follow the anointing and learn to be comfortable with God’s anointed leadership. The Leadership was not going to get any better than Moses.

Have you learned to discern who is anointed and appointed by God? If you are still stuck in the flesh and looking for fleshly solutions to spiritual problems, you will be constantly disappointed. Learn to discern where God’s anointing is resting. It will change the way you operate and bring glory to the Lord.

Blessings,

Pastor