But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
Mark 10:40
Bible Study: Judges 4. 5. Mark 10:36-40
In our previous class we established that God has seated us in Christ for our salvation. He then works to enthrone Christ in us in order that He might give us seats of influence from which Christ’s light may be brought to bare upon the habitations of darkness around us. Deborah’s life demonstrates the profit that comes to a nation when this happens.
In His response to James and John, Jesus did not deny that there are ‘prepared places’ of influence and glory – But He did reveal that these places are:
[I] Given by God.
[II] Given to those whom God has prepared.
Virtues God seeks in those He aims to give seats of power.
1. Kingdom Mindedness.
- 6 “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were deserted,
And the travelers walked along the byways. 7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel. 8 They chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates; Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. - Every generation/family/nation/lineage has darkness which plagues them Psa 74:20 for which they cry out for help from God.
- Just as with His preparation of Jeremiah, God has foreknown and consecrated us as His answers to this cry in our generation. Jer 1:5
- God’s dilemma is that He has given us free will. He cannot force us to recognise His purpose and lay down our lives for it. We have to accept his entreaties Phil 2:13 and willingly offer ourselves from amongst our people. to serve His purpose in our generation Jud 5:9
- Jesus used His life on earth to set the standard of willing submission. Phil 2:6-9 tells us:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: - God will seek to train us into a Kingdom-oriented mindset. For it is those who will ‘seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness‘ who can qualify for the higher realms and dimensions of influence.
- Joseph’s kingdom mindset is what constrained him from revenge on his brethren Gen 50:20
David’s Kingdom mindset is what made him insist all must partake equally in the bounty – a thing that became a statute and law in Israel till this day. 1 Sam 30:22-25 - It is men with this sort of mind that God seeks to produce and give authority to hold court!.
2. Kingdom Identity
7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel.
- Adam failed God and all generations because He allowed Satan to entice him with the lie ‘then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil‘ Gen 3:5
- Today the serpents old lies are couched in new language: (i) God just wants you to be happy; (ii) you only live once; (iii) you need to live your truth; (iv) your feelings are reality; (v) your life is what you make it (6) you need to let go and let God; (7) God helps those who help themselves.
Each of these has a seed of truth, but the subtle lie places self firmly in the centre! With God existing to serve self as opposed to dying to self and living for God. - Does your church preach a mild variation of these?
- Those whom God will enthrone in these end-times are those whose identities, purpose, ambitions are fully derived and rooted in Christ.
3. Kingdom Value-Addition.
- Ref: Judges 4:4, Judges 4:9, Phile 1:10-13, 2 Kings 4:10, Acts 9:36-43
- It is the posture of service, anchored in the understanding that there are treasures God has buried within you that needs to be brought to the fore to serve His purpose in your dispensation.
- The grave is one thing that continually takes and never gives in return. Kingdom men are those whose posture demonstrate that is is more blessed to give than to receive. Those whose posture stems in the ‘me’ ‘me’ ‘me’ mindset are unfit for this higher dealings.
4. Kingdom Placement
- John 3:26-20, Judges 4:4, Judges 4:18-20, 1 Cor 12:12-27
- No man is raised for isolation nor relevant in detachment. We are all called to be part of one body! [continually giving and receiving from it]
- Deborah recognised & operated faithfully her calling to be a wife to Lapidoth: a mother: a prophetess and a Judge. She allows the river to flow to all tributaries!
- With this understanding comes the knowing that there is a Barak to work with, there are princes in Isreal to engage, and it is okay that the glory will go to another! Meekness and Selflessness are hallmarks of such men.
- John the baptist understood his placement as a fore-runner and friend of the groom who attends to him. Those who know their place do not engage in jealous competition but are content for “Him to increase even as I decrease”
5. Kingdom Operations. ~ double-edged ness
- Judges 4:21. Jeremiah 1:9-11. Judges 5:23-24
- It is the fundamental understanding that the place of influence has a double edged context to it. Just as it was with Jeremiah’s calling we must accept that the seat of influence is also a seat of confrontation! We must not shy from it because there are things to root up and things to plant; things to tear down and things to build up; things to throw down and things to lift up!
- Deborah did not shy away from confrontation by the leading of the Spirit.
23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. 24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
Conclusion
The prepared seat is for prepared men. As much as God has a keen interest in giving us the seat of influence, He will not do it at the expense of our ‘processing’. Yes Deborah used to sit, because she had been processed!
The Revealed Word. 