2 Samuel 23:1 - 2 “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, (2) The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”
David lived an extradentary life, he was King of Israel for 40 years, most of the book of Psalms was attributed to him, he was indeed a man of God. For 40 years King David had led the people both of Israel in civil righteousness and in spiritual devotion. He had been both God’s king on this earth and God’s prophet both by the power of God. But now his life was ending, as he wrote “Now these be the last words of David…”. It is always sad to see God’s men leave this life, because these men have had a profound mark on our life with their leadership and ministry. David’s greatest mark left on this world was his words because they were penned words of God by the Holy Spirit. Men who wrote the bible were not the authors of the bible, God is its author. These people who penned the scriptures were not giving their opinions, nor their arguments, nor were these their thoughts, these were holy people who were all led by one source, God The Holy Spirit. Many men were leaders, many men conquered much in this world, but only a few had a part in penning God’s Holy Word and David was one of those few. I am sure that these same people wrote a lot more than we have in the scriptures, but their only perfect writings were in God’s word. From Moses, to David, to Isaiah, to the gospel writers, to Paul, all were men led of the Holy Spirit to pen God’s Word. Now, let us move to ministers, and Pastors, who were also moved by the Holy Spirit. All of God’s ministers and pastors were set into place by God The Holy Spirit as God has appointed them, all were led by the Holy Spirit to their work and as to what to preach. Each Pastor or minister’s entire ministry is floor planned by God through the workings of the Holy Spirit. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21 Holy men of God are all appointed and led by the Holy Spirit. While Pastors are not penning inspired words, they are all preaching inspired words from God’s word, and inspired sermons. I know from personal experience, that the sermons I preach are not mine, they are God’s. Just as King David led Israel and penned many chapters in the Psalms, his leadership and ministry left a lasting mark on his people and this world, even today. Many of us have Pastors now with the Lord that have done the same things in our life. Many of my mentors will live in my heart until my death, I loved and appreciated them all. Just as we remember the words King David wrote, we remember the teaching our Pastors preached and led us with. However, we must remember that the ministries are not ours no more than the scriptures were theirs. Holy men of God are moved by the Holy Spirit, not of their own inspiration. Our sermons, churches, and ministries will live on beyond us, because of the Holy Spirit and not because we were great preachers or ministers. David with all the power he had could not change Israel, no more than his writings will change people, just as our sermons will not change people. The word of God, the sermons we preach from them, the gospel itself must all be powered by the Holy Spirit for it to accomplish anything. David knew Israel was not as he wished while he lived. And He foresaw that it would be no better after he was gone. However, he was pricked at his heart to carry through the work just as those before and after him. Here we are thousands of years later, preachers have come and gone and more have come and when we are gone more will come, but the results have never changed. All ministers and Pastors understand our work in the ministry, the only accomplishments are Holy Spirit impowered. David kingship and ministry found no hope or comfort in himself. In all his “good works” and efforts it gave him no reason for joy, but only sorrow. We too sometimes find sorrow in our ministries, our churches and works for the Lord we sometime must think, “what are we accomplishing”? It seems that we are not advancing but rather reclining, it seems that the churches are dying instead of growing. As the times get worse, it seems that the truth is vanishing from the earth, as time goes by. As a Pastor of almost two decades, I sometimes wonder “what has been accomplished”? However, David never lost confidence in God or the power of the Holy Spirit, just read his writings in the Psalms. David proclaimed, “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.” Therefore, we who work in such difficult time of unbelief must remember that God’s works never return void, but accomplished everything God ordained it too. Paul wrote these words, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. (18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17 – 18 Changing God’s word, changing doctrine, changing truth, will never advance the success that God will have in our ministries. We are doing all that God ordained, accomplishing all that God ordained. Therefore, when our time, as those before us has been fulfilled we also like king David will realize we have done, and accomplished God’s blessed will. Therefore, I personally thank God for the opportunity for a New Year to lead one of the Lords churches and as I know my time is running out, I will continue to move forward preaching and teaching God’s word by the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen!
