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Luke 20 41-47 Christ, the Son of David 07 Luke 20 42-43 Not looking for positions or importance
📖 Luke 20:41-47
15Apr2021 - *Not looking for positions or importance* - _Luke 20:41-47_ - CHRIST, THE SON OF DAVID (7) – Bible reading: _I Thessalonians 2:6-7_
We are priests and kings in the lineage of David. We must ensure that we do not become enemies of God. We have considered two specific reasons that can make us enemies of God.
We looked at the issue of following after our own will and not the will of God. The second issue that we considered was to complain about our circumstances and not keep our eyes on the Lord. Keeping our eyes on the Lord is what makes us grow in faith and the exercise of our faith is the evidence of our salvation.
*Luke 20:42-43 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, " SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, (43) TILL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES YOUR FOOTSTOOL."*
We will now look at yet another issue that can cause us to become enemies of God.
*The rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram*
_Numbers 16:3 They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"_
This was the general complaint that these persons had against Moses and Aaron. Let us dig deeper to understand their real problem.
_Numbers 16:9-11 Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; (10) and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? *And are you seeking the priesthood also?* (11) Therefore *you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD*. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?"_
The problem of Korah and those who were with him *was to desire the priesthood*, which was given to Aaron and to his descendants. They were Levites and as Levites, they were given responsibility for the tabernacle but their rebellion was to seek after the priesthood. They were not satisfied, content with the responsibility of the tabernacle but sought the priesthood.
They were seeking a position and a status and attached their significance and importance to the place of a priest. Their identity and security were not in God but in rank and title.
What was the problem with Dathan and Abiram?
_Numbers 16:12-14 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up! (13) Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, *that you should keep acting like a prince over us?* (14) Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!"_
The rebellion of Dathan and Abiram was against the leadership of Moses. Their question to Moses was, ”who made you be prince over us?” They were angry with Moses because of the leadership that Moses had, which they craved for.
Dathan and Abiram were either from the tribes of Zebulun or Reuben. They were not seeking the priesthood as Korah and his group of Levites were wanting but wanted the leadership place of Moses.
These two rebellions were different from each other in their specificity, but essentially, both were rebellion. These rebellions were primarily over the matter of leadership of both Aaron and Moses.
These people became enemies of God because of the rebellion and the judgement of God fell on them.
_Numbers 16:31-33 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, (32) and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. (33) So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly._
_Numbers 16:35 And a fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense._
*What is the lesson for us?* We see the same issue of rebellion amongst ourselves in our churches and Christian organization. We crave positions, titles, designations and rank.
We are offended when we do not get importance, which we think we deserve. We are terribly upset when someone less qualified or of lesser age or of lesser experience than us is given importance or promoted and we are ignored or overlooked.
These are forms of rebellion that we see in our own hearts. *When we have all of these rebellious thoughts and intentions and we allow these to fester in our hearts, we become enemies of God*.
How do we set these issues right in our hearts, for this form of rebellion is such a common malady amongst the people of God?
*By God’s grace we need to learn to serve*. Titles may come and go but the only title that we can claim for ourselves is *servants…no…bondservants to the body of Christ, for Jesus’ sake*.
_II Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and *ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake*. I Thessalonians 2:6-7 *Nor did we seek glory from men*, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. (7) But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children._
It is only when we learn to be bondservants to the body of Christ that the gospel will grow and flourish.
_I Thessalonians 1:5-6 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as *you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake*. (6) And *you became followers of us and of the Lord*, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,_
*Thought to ponder*
```Our life here on earth is a life of simplicity, not looking for positions, importance or recognition.```