“What Are You Good For?”
Part 3 – Managing the Whisper
VIDEO – Are You Equipped #1 (Available at SermonSpice.com)
Two weeks ago, I told you that we, like David’s mighty men, are misfits. I said this because their description is our description . . . distressed, in debt, and discontent. However, I also told you that there is still hope for us if we will do what they did, rally around a common cause (What is our cause?), rally around one another, be willing to fight, and we have to be willing to trust leaders. That is how we find our destiny as a body and then last week we began dealing with principles that you can use to find out what you are good for. We did this by starting the story of David’s nephew Abishai. You will remember that Abishai’s father whispered over him, “Your name is Abishai”. That doesn’t seem that significant until you discover the meaning of his name. His name means “The Father of a Gift”. This christening sent him on a life time journey of trying to give his gift. So I told you that the first two steps of discovering you purpose was to first hear the whisper again. Your Father has named you Abishai too. You too are the Father of a Gift. It doesn’t matter how hard life is or how many wrong choices you have made you are still destined for significance. We just have to tune in to the right voice. Second, I told you that Abishai was constantly trying to give his gift. He didn’t wait for someone to ask him he just stepped up and tried to give his gift. So I challenged you to try something. Don’t sit there and do nothing. Don’t sit there and let the gift that is in you die. Try something. So let’s pick up where we left off.
TEXT: I Samuel 26:6, 8-9; I Samuel 24:3-4, 6-7; II Samuel 16:5-6, 10; 19:16, 19, 21-22; I Chronicles 11:10, 20-21
I Samuel 26:6, 8-9
“Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered up thine enemy into thy hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can put forth his hand against Jehovah’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
I Samuel 24:3-4, 6-7
“Saul went into the cave to relieve himself. David and his men were hiding at the back of the cave. They whispered to David, ‘The Lord told you he was going to let you defeat your enemies and do whatever you want with them. This must be the day the Lord was talking about.’ David sneaked over and cut off a small piece of Saul’s robe, but Saul didn’t notice a thing. He said to his men, “GOD forbid that I should have done this to my master, GOD’s anointed, that I should so much as raise a finger against him. He’s GOD’s anointed!” 7David held his men in check with these words and wouldn’t let them pounce on Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and went on down the road.”
II Samuel 16:5-6, 9-10
“And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Because he curseth, and because Jehovah hath said unto him, Curse David; who then shall say, Wherefore hast thou done so? ”
II Samuel 19:16,19, 21-22
“And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David. And he said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Jehovah’s anointed? And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel? ”
I Chronicles 11:10,20-21
“Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. And Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three. Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.”
THE STORY CONTINUES:
He has offered three times; three times he has been refused. The whisper has grown quieter. Abishai remains faithful to David. He proves himself in battle. He kills 300 enemy soldiers single handedly in one battle and 18,000 Edomites in another. He is promoted to captain of David’s army. He is famous.
Scripture says Abishai has a name among the other mighty men. And that was the issue — he had a name. He was successful, brave, well known, applauded, and still he couldn’t get away from his name. The whisper wasn’t loud, but it was constant.
THE APPLICATION:
I will end the story right there. To find out how things turn out you have to come back the next two weeks. The lessons for today
1. Lesson Three: Ask Before You Strike
Abishai tries to give his gift at least 3 times and my belief he tried
4. Once in the cave, once in Saul’s camp, twice with Shemei. I told you last week he didn’t wait to be asked. Do you know the #1 reason people don’t volunteer? They aren’t asked. I would help, but no one asked me. I would step up, but no one asked me. Abishai didn’t wait to be asked. But hear me very carefully the first principle I want us to learn from Abishai today is this. Although he didn’t wait to be asked he always asked before he struck. If you want to find out what you are good for don’t wait to be invited, but always ask before you try to give your gift.
It is only when we demand our gift be used a certain way and at a certain time that we create problems. We have to be willing to ask so that someone can look at us and honestly say that this isn’t the time or place!
It was when Peter didn’t ask for permission that he was rebuked by Jesus.
Abishai always asked permission. He may have not had the best handle on timing, but he had a great understanding and appreciation for the concept of submission and spiritual authority.
Too many of us are so anxious to give gift that we step out of line. We strike before asking and we make a mess. We get the big head and refuse to listen to anyone. Our attitude is have gift will travel. And everywhere we go we throw our gift around and create chaos and pain for those who have to clean it up when we are gone.
John Maxwell says this, “The wrong action at the wrong time leads to disaster, the right action at the wrong time brings resistance, the wrong action at the right time is a mistake and the right action at the right time results in success."
The reason asking is important is timing. Those in authority can help you discern timing.
Remember we have been taught in Proverbs 18:16 teaches us very clearly that our gift will make room for us. We don’t have to push our way to the top. We just keep trying to give our gift while we are submitted to authority to teach us timing.
A perfect example is the tear down that we have to do after each service. Some of you would help, but you haven’t because you haven’t been asked. Don’t wait on someone to ask you. Step up and get ready to serve. However, at the same time ask before you strike. Ask the person in charge of the area you want to help tear down. Why? If you don’t you could cause major problems. You might take something down we don’t need or have to take down and that creates more set up time. You may take something in your anxiousness and put it somewhere it doesn’t belong and then we can’t find it the next time. Simple example to illustrate a powerful spiritual principle.
Ask before you strike. Have an attitude of willingness and then find the spiritual authority in the situation and ask permission so that they can help you discern the right place and the right time.
A refusal may not mean it’s not your gift. It may just mean that it is not your time.
Lesson 4: Prepare during the hidden time
Abishai knows he has a gift to give, so at every turn he is trying to give that gift. However, he is not allowed to do so. What happens? Does Abishai mope? Does he just sit down on the pew and refuse to serve? Does he quit? We lose track of Abishai for the next 30 years. The only clue we have to what he is doing is found in I Chronicles 11 and 18. Abishai was made a commander of the mighty men in David’s army. He also was very successful in battle on two occasions killing 300 men by himself and leading in an attack that killed 18,000 enemy soldiers. In those 30 years of obscurity he was sparring, practicing, and preparing. During the hidden times he was developing his skill.
Can you imagine the scene if Abishai day comes (and it will – next week). His opportunity to fulfill his name. His chance to make history. His chance to serve. And he had to say, “Excuse me destiny, excuse me gift, I have known for 30 years that I was destined to give my gift, but can you wait a few days and give me the chance to practice, improve, and prepare.”
As farfetched as that sounds, this is exactly what too many of us do. God has given us a gift to give, yet during the quiet, hidden, obscure moments we pout, piddle, and procrastinate. Then the day, our day comes along and finds us unprepared. We stand before our opportunity and have to say “Excuse me, but can you give me a few months to read, study, prepare, write, develop, and mature?” If your day comes and God has to wait on you to get ready and prepare, then it is too late. The opportunity passes us by forever.
We must become like Abishai and begin to prepare in the quiet time. It may be 1 year, 5 years, 20 years, or even 60 years before you get to give your gift, but God has you in your present role so that you can prepare for tomorrow.
You are tomorrow what you decide to be and prepare to be today! You forfeit tomorrow if you do not prepare today!
In the quiet time – prepare. In the unseen time – prepare. In the mean time – prepare. While everyone else is taking it easy, or getting to fulfill their promise or their purpose – prepare.
Quit waiting on someone to hand you a mic before you prepare. Quit waiting on a trophy before you prepare. Quit waiting on applause before you prepare. Get ready now!
In the hidden place – prepare. Hiding info. It isn’t defensive position. – Moses & Elijah (word of law and word of life). Some of you have no power and no life because you haven’t been hidden. Some of you are fighting the hiding time, trying to kick and force your way out. Don’t fight it. God has you there to prepare you for the light of day. He is preparing you for greatness. He doesn’t do that while you are on stage. He does it when you are hidden. He does that when no one is watching. Those that aren’t hidden and wind up on stage are shallow and carnal. Accept the hidden times. Embrace it. Learn from it. You aren’t able to give your gift until you are first hidden!
The reason some of you keep trying to give your gift and are refused, or frustrated, or unfulfilled is that you haven’t been hidden. Your gift hasn’t matured yet. You aren’t ready for your gift and gift isn’t ready for you!
Because success can be just as painful as failure if you aren’t equipped for it!
So begin reading now. Study now. Write now. Practice now. Serve now. Train now. Don’t wait for your opportunity to come and then try to prepare. You must get ready now.
The Father is leaning over you right now whispering, “You are the Father of a Gift”! Prepare as if you know who you are even if you don’t!
"If we aren’t prepared then we arrive at a destination we cannot occupy. We must remember that we are not called to visit our inheritance we are called to posses our inheritance."
It takes 20 years to be an overnight success.
Henry Ford
Before everything else, getting ready is the secret to success.
Johnny Carson
Talent alone won’t make you a success. Neither will being in the right place at the right time, unless you are ready. The most important question is: ’Are you ready?’
J. B. Matthews
Unless a man has trained himself for his chance, the chance will only make him look ridiculous.
We must remember that God only shows up in a prepared place. He is not obligated to make up the difference when you procrastinate. Invite me to your house for cake and when I get there you have flour, salt, sugar, eggs, and icing sitting on the counter. How many of you know there is a cake there, but I am not going to be very happy and I probably won’t eat. What makes the cake good is preparation during the hidden time. While I wasn’t there you were baking. No applause, no high fives, just preparation. Too many of us come off half-baked because we want the cake without preparing!
Solomon teaches us in Proverbs that God takes care of the diligent and doesn’t visit the slothful.
You can’t sit and do nothing.
Peter tells us that we are a chosen generation (Abishai) called out of darkness (father of gift) who show forth Excellencies of your name (how we do it – with excellence – How do you do it with excellence? Prepared).
We need to learn that if we fail to prepare our desires outrun our development. If we don’t prepare our desires will push us onto a stage we cannot stay on. Moses’ desire was to be a great deliver so his desires outran his development and he ended up killing someone. You will hurt you and others if you don’t develop and prepare.
I need some Abishais to get ready. Yes you have a gift. We need that gift. However, what we really need is a prepared gift. A gift that is covered by power because it has been hidden and now is ready to burst on the scene with anointing. I remind you of John 1:12 in closing. He gives us power to become before he gives us power to do.
