elevate may 15

this week we looked at some opportunities to get sidetracked when participating in God's work.
If we are not constantly developing the character of God, that is going through the process that God has is walking through we can get sidetracked and cause negative ramifications.

The first one we will call "speed without skill" it really has to do with the concept of maturity. Having one really good gift and being very singularly focused about that gift may get things started but without more training could get you killed.
We drew an example from 2 Samuel 2:18-23 .
There we saw a soldier with incredible speed. The soldier was able to spot the opposing general, and began to chase him down. The opposing general while running away made it clear that if the runner insisted on chasing him he (the General) would kill him. The runner remained singular and focus and with great speed close the gap on the much more experienced general. The general as promised killed the runner.
Many times people take off with a gift that God has given them. And they take on far more than they should. They decide to attack, or try to overtake a much larger aspect of the enemies territory than their experience in training would warrant. They even refused to listen to warnings that people throw their way. Ultimately the ministry is killed off by the opposition, and sometimes their gifting is lost forever.

The second one we will call "messy messenger" and he really has to do with not rushing into an assignment in which you are not fully informed.
We drew an example from 2 Samuel 18:19-33.
After a very long and strategic battle and message needed to get back to the king regarding all that it happened. The first messenger who wanted to go desperately wanted to be the first one to share the victory.
The second messenger was someone who had observed all that had occurred throughout the day was fully informed.
The general sent the fully informed messenger. The general knew that just reporting the victory was not enough. The messenger needed to be able to recount a full day's battle to the advisers that would be sitting in the room with the king.
He knew though the message might get their a little slower it needed to be complete.
The first messenger continued to push and beg the General to send him.a general finally relents, first runner is faster and those shortcut, and arrives to the King before the other runner. He informs the king of the victory, but cannot answer any of the Kings questions. As the other runner arrives the king pushes aside the first runner.
It is vital that our desire to be noticed, or to bring our message doesn't override the wisdom of those in authority over us. We must be willing to wait for God's timing so that we can be a trustworthy messenger. If we arrive first, we may be noticed but if we cannot answer questions and our message is incomplete we will not be considered a trustworthy messenger. We may be pushed aside by the king.

A third warning we looked at as the idea of being sensational with no substance" here we drew from the book of Judges chapter 16. It's the story of the capture of Samson. Although Samson's story seems complicated the common thread through all of it is pride. Samson did sensational things when the Spirit of God came upon him. Samson never had the substance of God's character to recognize God's Spirit, and took credit for what he thought he controlled.
So wrapped up in pride Samson believed God needed him to accomplish God's will on this earth. When God lifted the gifts of strength from Samson, Samson didn't even notice. Without the spirit of God upon him he was blinded, bound up, and imprisoned by the enemy. If Samson had had the substance of God's character within him, he would've recognized God's Spirit when it was upon him is what gave him the strength, and he definitely would've noticed when God's Spirit was lifted.

In essence we said this
when you put gifting over character, or position over processed you are in danger of,
being blinded, being bound up, being imprisoned, being killed, or being pushed aside.

When you put character over gifting, and process over position you receive,
God's heart, victory over your enemy, freedom to be successful in God's call, you are seen as a trusted messenger.