The Threshing Floor

04-30-08 The Threshing Floor

..So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 2 Samuel 6:12

In this story the Ark of the Lord is being carried from house of Abinadab to the City of David. The Ark is placed on a cart driven by Oxen. When the oxen stumbled it caused the cart tip and Uzzah reached out to prevent the Ark from falling. Instantly Uzzah dies from his irreverent act.

A couple of things that I noticed in this story today. I wondered why God would allow this to happen? Uzzah paid with this life. Uzzah's reaction was a clear indication of what happens when being unfamiliar with the presence of God. It's not the act of touching the Ark that killed Uzzah it was the unfamiliarity in how to carry the presence that killed him. That happened long before his incident. I think it's so true of our lives. I know that I've gone through things at times and have felt like inside my spirit has no strength to go on. It wasn't one event that pushed me overboard it was the decision that I had made long before to do things on my own, ignore my spiritual need of God and stop pursuing God's presence daily.

The second thing I noticed is where this happened and why it happened. This event all took place at the threshing floor of Nacon. The threshing floor was the place where the wheat and the chaff where separated. The name Nacon means prepared. I think sometimes God puts us in a place of separation of preparation for what's next. David and the Levites should of known that the Ark was to be carried by the Levites through poles on their shoulders but they instead were carrying the presence on a cart. This is a perfect example of how we can approach the presence of God at times. So familiar that we become unfamiliar. How does this happen in someones life? When we are so familiar with the presence of God that we become unfamiliar. It's a perfect example of being satisfied with the last time. Every opportunity is a new door to find God out more. When you approach the presence of God the flesh has to be separated from our lives. We have to prepare our minds and our hearts for something new. "It's never just another church service". David was in a place of separation of the flesh and preparation of something new. I know one thing, David never looked at the presence of God the same from this moment.

How Desperate Are You?...

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. Matthew 8:5

Usually when reading this story I've always thought about the great faith that this centurion had to ask Jesus just to simply say the word that his servant would be healed. Today I noticed the mans desperation. Here was a man that had not only great faith but was desperate for a touch, not on his own life but for someone else's. I think Jesus was moved by this mans faith but was also moved by his heart. The Centurion soldier was not just anyone he was a commander, he was a person of authority, he was a person of influence. The centurion seperated himself to pursue Jesus. The Centurion didn't care about his position, what anyone else would say, didn't care what others would think he was desperate for a move of God and there was nothing else that would or could suffice. 

It's amazing to see this Centurions heart, he was desperate on behalf of someone else. Recently a phrased was mentioned to me that has interrupted my life. "Walk slow through the crowd". I mentioned this to the Milpitas team yesterday. I know sometimes I get so mission minded with getting things done, accomplished and reaching goals but the bottom line is people are the mission. The mission of the ministry is people. Walk slow in life. Are you desperate on behalf of someone else? Do they know it? Do they feel it? if not what are they feeling? I love what John Maxwell say's "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care". How desperate are you today for a move of God not just in your life but in someone else?

Lord thank you for teaching me the concept of "Walking slow in the crowd". Whether called to full-time ministry or not, the bottom line is that if I call myself a disciple of Christ my mission is to touch people for You. Let me walk slower, have a heart like the centurion and reach somebody today for the kingdom. In Jesus Name, amen. 

Where are You Running

When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. 1 Samuel 19:18

This was the last time, David could no longer remain in the house of Saul. Saul had attempted to kill David twice by spear but David eluded Saul. David escaped and went away, where would he go? Where could he go? David goes to Samuel the prophet.

Although David led thousands into war, and was a skilled warrior himself David, did not take matters into his own hands. David could of let a coup, he had won the hearts of the people, he had won the heart of the son of the king. David could of took the kingdom into his hand by his own strength and influence but he didn't. David ran. Where did David go? David went to "Naioth" which means habitation. It's believed that Naioth was a place where there may have been a school of prophets. Wait a minute here's a war man, he doesn't go where there are shields, he doesn't go where there are swords, David runs to where there's "word". I think the name of the place is important to identify. Naioth means "Habitation". How many times have I run away from things only to drag out a problem, drag out suffering, and drag out my searching. David teaches to run to the place of "God's habitation" to the presence of the Lord. Why? Because nothing can compare or compete against a word from God. Even when Saul's men showed up they ended up being filled with the presence of the Lord and started prophesying. Saul shows up himself and could not go against David because he to started prophesying. If you run, better yet when you run, run into the presence of the Lord, where the habitation of God is. Where God dwells you will find strength, encouragement, and a word that can carry you. Where are you running?

Lord I want to run into your presence daily, where there is a word of encouragement, strength and peace. Help me to find you in the midst of what feels at times like chaos and hectic living. Thank you Lord for your word today, in Jesus name, amen.