Sermon Central
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Economic Empowerment Part 5: Kings & Priests Series
Contributed by Ken Hubbard on Feb 2, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the final message in a series of sermons on handling finances in a godly way. This message addresses the difference between vision and provision, and how both are important for proper stewardship and feeling fulfilled.
VISION - PRIESTS
PROVISION - KINGS
* You will function as one or the other
* All the time (private life)
* But only in the office of one (church)
ƒ{ If you are not receiving a paycheck for full-time employment from your church, then you are a king.
o I would love to be a king -- here's why
„X I want to have a King's blessing
o Kings would love to be a Priest -- here's why
„X He wants money going into good soil
o They fight against each other
ƒ{ In the church we have under-developed kingship and over-developed priesthood
ƒ{ Churches are filled with unfulfilled kings
ƒ{ There has been a subtle pressure placed upon people in the church to become priests
ƒ{ There will always be a handful of priests and an abundance of kings
ƒ{ Because God set the pattern in the Old Testament
„X 12 tribes
* 1 tribe of priests, Levi
* 11 were tribes of Kings
THE MISTAKES
THE MANDATES
THE MODEL
1. THE MISTAKES
o I didn't teach Nick, Berrit, Lindsey about Kings & Priests
ƒ{ Here is a king who didn't act like a king
ƒ{ David was supposed to go to war
ƒ{ War to get spoils -- possess land -- possessions
1 Samuel 13:1-14 / Deuteronomy 20:1-4
ƒ{ Saul was trying to do the job of a priest -- and lost his kingdom because of it
ƒ{ Often evil kings didn't lose their kingdom
ƒ{ Manasseh
o Built sexual organs in the temple
o Witches & warlocks in leadership
o Erected and worshipped the God of Molech -- burned babies
o Sawed Isaiah in half
o Philistine dragged him, left him for dead
o He repented and got his kingdom back
o David trying to recapture the Ark
ƒ{ Uzza tries to steady it and is killed
ƒ{ David a king is trying to do the work of a priest
ƒ{ He later sends the tribe of Levi (priest) to get the Ark
o We have inactive kings because
o They either haven't heard of or accepted their mandate
1. Lack of respect between the two
2. Pastors are viewed
ƒ{ As power hungry
ƒ{ Or wimps
ƒ{ Or no dead church vision
2. THE MANDATE
1. The primary responsibility of the priest is to provide the vision
Helen Keller, when asked:
"Is there anything in life worse than being blind?"
Answered, "Yes, having eyesight and no vision."
ƒ{ Vision has power
ƒ{ Vision gives:
A. Direction
* Abraham
* Genesis 12 -- Region
* Genesis 22 -- Place
B. Motivation
C. Energy
D. Tenacity
ƒ{ 5 years
E. Priorities
F. Solves problems
ƒ{ Where there is no vision people perish
ƒ{ Vision = stay in your lane
ƒ{ Vision is what keeps us on course
2. The primary responsibility of the king is to provide the provision for the vision
* If you're full of vision and have no provision you're going nowhere!
* We can see in our world many kings with great provision who don't have a priest keeping their provision in the right lane
EXAMPLE: Hollywood Tom Cruise - Scientology
Sports Investing in wrong things
Business Wasting money
Newest toys
3. THE MODEL
ƒ{ Not the TV evangelist raising money
ƒ{ There isn't a covenant relationship to support the request
* Elisha had potential for greatness
* But he's plowing a field
* Until Elijah places mantel -- vision on him
ƒ{ If you can't allow someone to put a demand on your life
ƒ{ You will never go to a higher level
ƒ{ We always want to equalize or minimize
4 Places Elisha Follows Elijah
1. Gilgal (verse 2)
* The place of sacrifice
o Divine relationship will require sacrifice
* Fruitfulness sometimes come from discomfort
* Ask a lady giving birth
* When you want what's in someone you start at Gilgal
* Their term
EXAMPLE: Pastor Barnett
2. Bethel
* House of God or House of Prayer
* If we are to have a divine relationship it must be covered in prayer
EXAMPLE: Joe Woodmansee asking us to pray for his business
* Elisha poured water on Elijah's hands
* Prayer will refresh your relationship
* I should pray for your business
* You should pray for my vision
EXAMPLE: Prayer Card
3. Jericho
* Walls of protection
* Protect your divine relationships
* Protect your priest
* Protect your king
* Elijah knew where he was going (vision)
* If Elisha didn't protect him
* Neither of them would get there!
* I will protect you
o Prayer
o Honor
o Respect
o Trust
o Stewardship
* I won't exploit our relationship for personal things
Galatians 6:6 The Law of Reciprocity
4. Jordan
