Move it & Keep on Going.
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING”- The first rule of physics states a body in motion. Martin Luther King said, “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” The important thing that we must understand is that we keep moving. My father will often say when someone would say you are always moving and doing something he will respond “If I stand still, I will fall over”. There is a song that says “Don’t stop like the hands of time – just keep on moving”.
SCRIPTURE: - The Bible says in 2 Samuel 20:11-13 “And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri”.
Today I want to come from the topic of “Move it & Keep on Going.”
PRAYER: -
This week I was faced with a decision and depending on the choice I made in my decision I would either be standing still, or I would keep moving. The important thing is to keep moving.
IN OUR TEXT: - We find a very interesting story. A story of murder, intrigue, suspense, lying, rape, incest, favoritism, fear, rebellion, battle, and victory. A people want to say the Bible is boring.
A brief background. Ammon, one of David’s son raped his half-sister Tamar, the full-blooded sister of Absalom. When David found out about it, he did do anything about it at all. For 2 long years he never did anything to Ammon for the rape of Tamar. This made Absalom extremely upset and vowed to avenge his sister. So, Absalom threw a party and invited all his brothers. It is said that David had 19 sons and 1 daughter. When the party was in full swing and Ammon had gotten drunk, he had commanded his men to kill Ammon and be not afraid because this was his command. When he had Ammon killed all the other brothers ran away not knowing what Absalom would do to them. David thought Absalom had killed all his sons, but found out that it was only Ammon that was killed.
All the sons come back to their father, the King, David except Absalom. He left and for 3 long years was away from Jerusalem and the Bible says in 2 Samuel 13:39 “And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead”.
He never went after Absalom, he never punished him for killing Ammon, he never did anything at all to Absalom. Now there was a man by the name of Joab, who was the nephew of King David and the commander of his army, a scoundrel above scoundrels, a bloody murderer, a liar, a rebel, and egotist. When David met with Abner and was looking for peace between the Northern and Southern kingdoms. After David left Joab used his position as commander to speak to Abner. Abner now believing there is peace between the two kingdoms agrees to meet with Joab and Joab stabs him and kills him. He sent for a wise woman from Tekoa and had her present a story to King David about how she was a widow woman that had 2 sons and these 2 sons of her got into a fight and one killed the other. Now the people wanted to punish the one for killing the other, but she refused to turn her son over to the people for them to punish him and she feared for her life. And David said he would handle it and nothing would happen to here. The wise to David then why haven’t you done anything to your son Absalom for killing his brother. David knew immediately that Joab had out this woman up to this. So, David has Joab go after Absalom and bring him back to Jerusalem. Once Absalom is brought back in Jerusalem David still doesn’t do anything to Absalom. He didn’t even see him, for 2 more years Absalom is living in Jerusalem and his father the King doesn’t even lay eyes on him. Finally, Absalom sets Joab’s field on fire stating he had sent for Joab but he never came and this was his way of getting Joab to show up. Absalom tells Joab he wants to meet with his father King David. Joab believes in his heart that finally Absalom is going to be punished for what he has done. When David finally sees Absalom, he forgives him and gives him a kiss of affection because he is happy to see his son.
Absalom, because of his good looks, glorious hair begins, and believing he can do anything and his father will forgive begins to rebel against David. He begins to judge the people which is the job of the King. Absalom began to find favor in the sight of the people and David became afraid a fled, but he left behind his 10 concubines. A concubine is a woman that literally enjoys the pleasure of marriage but had none of the commitment. (I might have to preach that one day). He leaves them behind and Absalom rapes all of them.
Now David is old, he was almost killed by a giant that resembled goliath and the people tell him not to go and fight anymore, but just send his army. Now there is a battle at Mount Ephraim against the Northern Kingdom, this is where Absalom has fled to. David gives orders to his commanding officers not to harm Absalom and all the people heard what he said about saving Absalom. The battle broke out and Absalom was riding on his mule through the forest and his hair got tangled in the trees and he was hanging the between heaven and earth. The news is brought to Joab that Absalom is hang by his hair in the trees. Joab goes and finds Absalom hanging in the tree by his hair and takes 3 staves (darts) and thrust them through Absalom’s heart and kills him, then they take his body dump him in a deep pit and put a very great heap upon it. David grieves for Absalom and the victory that day was turned into mourning because David grieved for his son Absalom. Joab reproves David saying how the people saved his life, his wives, lives, and his children’s lives and you have made them feel shame because you love your enemy more than your friends. He advises David to speak kindly to the people and commend them for the good they have done. David does and is restored to his Kingdom, but of course everyone is not accepting what he has done. There is a vicious and ruthless man by the name of Sheba that is not accepting the words that come out of David’s mouth and he says the people are not following David anymore and the Bible says all the men of Israel withdrew from David except the men of the tribe of Judah. David knew that Sheba was more wicked, vile, and deadly then Absalom and that he would revolt and kill David. So David decided to send some men after Sheba and kill him before he could get his plan together and revolt. He told Amasa to assemble the men of Judah and in 3 days report back to him. However, 3 days later Amasa hadn’t accomplished what the King had commanded him to do. So, he said unto Abishai his nephew “And David said to Abishai, now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri” 2 Samuel 20:6-7. Joab is with them and when they catch up to Amasa, Joab greets Amasa and ask if he is in good health. Amasa unaware of any danger greats Joab. Joab has a dagger in his hand and runs it into Amama’s stomach and kills him. Then began to pursue after Sheba.
Now we come to the part of the message that is our focus. 2 Samuel 20:11-13 “And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab. And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still. When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri”.
WATCH THIS: - They had been sent on a mission from the King. Now they are standing there looking at something that can do them no good now instead of moving forward and pursuing after what the King had commanded them do to. When the man saw that all stood still, he moved him out of the way and covered him up, because if he didn’t the people would not have moved.
Someone is holding onto some stuff that has you standing still. You have to move it and keep on going.
Someone is looking at a dead situation in amazement. You must move it and keep on going.
Someone is wallowing over a messy divorce. You must move it and keep on going.
Sure 2020 messed us up but we can’t stand here a continually look back. We have to move it and keep on going.
I feel like I am about to lose my mind and if you stand there starring at that mess you will – you have to move it and keep on going.
Someone may say, but you don’t understand Bishop I gave that relationship everything I had to give and they treated me like this and I don’t know what I am going to do. Move it and keep on going.
But what am I going to do with this or without that, it’s no dead, that WATCH THIS that which got me this far is no longer around what am I going to do.
WATCH THIS:- you must first understand the difference between process and purpose. Amasa was part of the process. He got them to a certain point, but their purpose, which was commanded from the King was to go after Sheba, so in order to fulfill their purpose they had to move it and keep on going.
God (the King of Kings) has called you on a purpose. Now there may be some things that are part of the process to help you to get to your purpose. But as one song writer said something happened along the way. You can’t afford to stand there and look at that mess, you can’t stand there a wallow over it anymore you got to move it and keep on going. If you stand still because if you do you are going to fall. If you stand still you going to miss out on your purpose. If you stand still and stare at that mess never will fulfill what God has called, you to do.
You have to move it and keep on going.
You got to move it and keep on going because we are more than conquerors.
We got to move it and keep on going because the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always bounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord”.
“Steadfast” and “immovable” remind us that we can keep going because Jesus has gone all the way and we can also through Christ who strengthens.
“Always abounding in the work of the Lord” means just what it says! There is plenty to be done and we are the people to do it. That is our purpose – that is why we must Move anything that causes us to stop and stand still and keep on moving, so when we have accomplished our purpose we can here the King of Kings say Well done my good and faithful servant – you kept on moving and didn’t stop enter into the joy of the Lord.
Bishop Melvin Maughmer, Jr.
