September 2 - 8, 2010



Serve God 
by Helping Others


BY DR. FRANK SMITH, PASTOR ; Divine Way Ministries, Orlando. 
     It is sometimes easy to ignore what is not our issue.  This new millennium, popular posture appears to absolve one of responsibility, excusing the potential of life-changing intervention and interception.  Ignoring what we could possibly, positively impact, sometimes further isolates the afflicted displaying the appearance of a nonchalant or gross disregard; when the truth is, our own incompetency and inability to deal with or address the dilemma of another often intimidates us.  So, rather than appear insufficient, incompetent or unqualified, we would rather act as if we don’t see it, don’t know it, didn’t hear it, and don’t understand it.  Turning a deaf ear seems to be more convenient, more comfortable, and more accommodating than the temporary extension of ourselves and our resources to improve, strengthen and lighten the load of our brother.  We silently declare, “If the help you need is beyond me, I’d rather not become involved at all,” as opposed to reaching beyond ourselves to find capable, qualified assistance.
     The man under the bridge, the boy on the corner, the co-worker in the next cubicle, the person in our path on the way to our assignment needs our help.  Our spouses, our children or the persons sitting right next to us are our assignments.  While we’re praying for God to reveal our assignment; He’s doing it every day.  The girl on the corner wearing the daisy dukes is screaming, “I’m your assignment, don’t act like you don’t see me.”  Before we go around the world, perhaps we should go around the corner.  Before we go across the country, let’s walk across the aisle and avail ourselves to the person who worships with and works with us every day and every week.  
     Colossians 3:12 in the Amplified version reads, “Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].”  Simply put, we can’t ignore what we may have the ability to influence and impact, even if it is laborious, requiring us to be longsuffering and enduring. 
     One of Mike Murdock’s wisdom keys states “those who unlock your compassion, are those to whom you’ve been assigned.”  In many instances, those to whom we’ve been assigned are right under our noses, in our faces, and as close as the breath we breathe.  In I Samuel 17:17, the bible says that “Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren.”  This is clearly an assignment.  Merriam Webster defines it as “A specified task or amount of work undertaken as if appointed by an authority.”  Who would have imagined that the ones David grew up with would one day become the ones to whom he was assigned?  The mistake we sometimes make is that we look at the earthly authority as the only one who has assigned a task; not recognizing that the ultimate authority, God, is the One orchestrating many of the assignments in our lives, for His purpose.  David, being the youngest, could have assumed a rebellious posture in light of his previous anointing to become king.  He could have decided that since he was next in line to be king of Israel, this task was miniscule and trivial; considering where he was to ultimately reign.  However, David’s character and qualification by God landed him the assignment as servant to his brothers in a time of battle.  Proverbs 17:17 tells us that a “brother is born for adversity,” or “born to help in the time of need.”  According to the scripture, David was simply doing what he was born to do.  In helping his biological brothers, he was also helping a nation, and a God Who loved His people.  What appeared to be an assignment given by his father Jesse, turned out to be an assignment divinely appointed by His Father, God.  What type of world would we have, if we took seriously all of our assignments; behaving as if God Himself had given them to us?  This means, we would literally find ourselves doing “whatever our hands find to do” by allowing our sensitivities to be pierced and our bowels of compassion to be stirred.
     As David fulfills the assignment of assisting his brothers in a time of battle, He finds himself confronting the Philistine enemy, Goliath.  Now, I can only imagine that David didn’t see Goliath in the equation where he was assigned to go and take supplies to his brothers.  How many times do we tackle the troubles of our neighbor to only discover that once we’re in it, there’s more to it?  Assisting our brother not only means providing for them; but it sometimes implies that we must also protect them, even against a giant.  The great thing about this assignment is David was prepared to not only confront; but also kill his brothers’ giant.  His wilderness entanglements with lions and bears as he protected his father’s sheep, pre-qualified him to deal with the nuisance challenging Israel’s native sons.  We are not merely assigned to confront what challenges our brothers; but instead, we are called to kill what threatens the purpose of God’s people.   
     The providential timing of David’s arrival was amazing.  It appears that the assignment was given by Jesse, just in time to get David to the valley of Elah for the fulfillment of a divine appointment.  Chapter 17 of I Samuel opens with the Philistine and Israelite armies facing one another from opposite hilltops with the valley between them.  David could have received his assignment and showed up when the armies were on the hilltops…at a time when he wasn’t really needed.  However, David arrived during the battle in the valley.  The enemy we face on the hilltop is the same enemy we must engage in the valley, the difference is the distance.  Being maligned and attacked from afar is a huge difference from being attacked in your face.  Taunting, tormenting, and terrorizing are the enemy’s tactics on the hilltop; but he becomes the assassin against our assignment in the valley.  David was born to engage the enemy in the valley.
     To further complicate the entire issue of David’s intervention; his assignment to provide for and protect his brothers could have been thwarted by the fact that he had to posture himself to handle the scrutiny and speculation of the very ones he was assigned to assist.  What do you do when you are attacked by what you have been assigned to accommodate?  The jealousy of Eliab, David’s eldest brother, could have been the discouragement that drove David from the place he was destined to prevail in; however, David’s focus and humility allowed him to bear the provocation and defeat the enemy that he was destined to conquer. 
     Assisting our brother sometimes involves the daunting task of confronting our brothers’ giants.  This is accomplished through a posture of humility and a heart to provide for and protect those to whom we’ve been assigned.  This posture is only made possible through our submission to God, our focus on the assignment, and our love for our brother.  My prayer for you is that you remain effective as you engage the enemies against the purpose of God’s people.
.





Pastor Encourages At Men’s Day Event