Our Allotment in the Promise Part 9 “Issachar”
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14 Issachar is a strong ass Couching down between two burdens:
15 And he saw that rest was good, And the land that it was pleasant; And bowed his shoulder to bear, And became a servant unto tribute.
Introduction
Introduction
I don’t often read Poetry in a sermon, but I couldn’t get away from this one by Robert Service:
The Ordinary Man
The Ordinary Man
If you and I should chance to meet,
I guess you wouldn't care;
I'm sure you'd pass me in the street
As if I wasn't there;
You'd never look me in the face,
My modest mug to scan,
Because I'm just a commonplace
And Ordinary Man.
But then, it may be, you are too
A guy of every day,
Who does the job he's told to do
And takes the wife his pay;
Who makes a home and kids his care,
And works with pick or pen. . . .
Why, Pal, I guess we're just a pair
Of Ordinary Men.
We plug away and make no fuss,
Our feats are never crowned;
And yet it's common coves like us
Who make the world go round.
And as we steer a steady course
By God's predestined plan,
Hats off to that almighty Force:
THE ORDINARY MAN.
Jesus was seen as an ordinary man, a carpenter, a cousin to John the Baptist, but when John saw the Spirit rest on Him as He came to the Jordan, he cried out “Behold the Lamb of God”.
Woman at the well.
Zacchaeus
Issachar was an ordinary man, the tribe was an ordinary tribe.
Judges 10:1 tells us about Tola, the judge from Issachar. He judged Israel for 23 years and absolutely nothing happened worth writing about.
This is most of us. Most people will never stand in the pulpit. Most people aren’t rich. Just ordinary, but they are the backbone of a church.
Issachar means “hire” or “wages”
17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
Jacob said “He’s like a strong donkey laying between two burdens” In the East being compared to a donkey was an honorable thing.
15 And he saw that rest was good, And the land that it was pleasant; And bowed his shoulder to bear, And became a servant unto tribute.
He saw that rest was good, so he put his shoulder to the wheel and worked.
The best way to have rest is to not be lazy.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Labour
The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words spŏudazō σπουδάζω
spoo-dad´-zo; from 4710; to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest:— do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.
We press into the Kingdom of God, to a place of rest.
In the natural we press to get our bills paid, so we can rest.
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, And thy want as an armed man.
If you won’t get up and work poverty will knock on your door like a repossession agent.
We don’t want to be slothful, naturally or spiritually.
Just because your work is ordinary doesn’t mean it isn’t important.
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: But the slothful shall be under tribute.
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: But the substance of a diligent man is precious.
19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: But the way of the righteous is made plain.
Something always keeps the slothful man from doing what needs to be done.
9 He also that is slothful in his work Is brother to him that is a great waster.
25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; For his hands refuse to labour.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: But the righteous giveth and spareth not.
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, So doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; It grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.
A slothful man will blame God for not giving him food, when God gave him hands to work, and a mind to think, and feet to walk.
A farmer can’t complain about a crop he never plants.
Issachar was an ordinary man, but he saw that rest was good so he put his shoulder to the wheel.
What if we recognized the Holy Ghost, God’s rest, was good, and put all the strength we had into doing His will?
(Illustrate: Bullets hitting a woman’s dress)
Persecution always gives strength to the church; we’ve had it too easy, we get slothful, we get to a place where we don’t want to move on, because everything’s just handed to us.
It takes sorrow, and tears, and sweat, and prayer, and faith, and promise to move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. 62-1122 - "Return And Jubilee"
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
In other words, don’t be lazy, be like Abraham. Get up and follow God.
When we work for the Lord, we might make mistakes, but if we sit here were sure to fail.
Illustrate: Three lepers. Why sit we here until we die?
God was with Moses, even in His failures and mistakes.
And what a consolation that must have been to Joshua, when he heard God say, “As I was with Moses, so will I be with you.”
Although, if I’m trying, and I fail, God won’t leave me. I never have much confidence in anybody that’s too afraid to do anything. I would rather be found a failure than too lazy to try. 60-0911M - "As I Was With Moses, So I Will Be With Thee"
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
He was afraid to fail.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Every man will have to answer for his talent. God gives men talent and they have to use it. Some can preach like a house on fire, and the other, different things. But God requires these talents. 54-0404M - "Earnestly Contending For The Faith"
He gave you the ability to work, to provide or to care, He gave you all the seed to plant, and He will require it at your hand.
Now we’re not a perfect people. We make our mistakes. We do things that’s wrong. But, you see, love covers all of that. We’re willing, when we see our mistakes, to come back and apologize to one another.
Yeah, that’s warriors. That’s really men and women that’s gallant. Any man can go out to the battlefield, that’s got nerve enough to walk out there; but when he gets knocked down, then get up and try it again, see.
And with as many as a hundred and twenty people here together, you are bound to find things sometimes, the enemy will sweep in among you, and through your minds, and start this, that.
Just stop when he does it. Think back, think of this morning, think of the times when you’re sitting together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Some of you are plumbers and some are carpenters and some this, that, and the other. You rub arms with the world each day, when you’re out there.
But when you see those things, and great temptations rise, just remember these little, sacred places where you’re sitting together, with the only thing that lasts.
Your jobs will fail, one of these days. Your health will fail. Even your life, here on earth, will fail. But then That won’t fail.
And if He is the center of all things, then let’s keep our minds on the center Post, what has drawed us to this. 65-1031M — Power Of Transformation
The cautionary tale.
15 And he saw that rest was good, And the land that it was pleasant; And bowed his shoulder to bear, And became a servant unto tribute.
The tribe of Issachar became indentured servants to those around them because they never could see a profit in war.
Some things are worth more than money.
Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! - Patrick Henry
We’ve got to know what things are worth fighting for.
6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Be careful that you don’t become so focused on obtaining rest in the natural that you never actually rest.
Work is the means not the end.
Now, we hear so much today about, “We are free. Oh, we live in a beautiful America. We are free.” Oh, the air is full of it, books are wrote of it, thousands of them, but you are a million miles from being free.
You’re not free, don’t you be deceived by that. America is one of the greatest deceived nations, and in more bondage than any place I know of. They are worse in bondage than communism could put them in.
Communism can only hurt the body, they can only put the body in bondage, but when the devil comes in, he puts the soul in bondage. And man is a slave; Americans is a bunch of slaves.
You may be a slave to pride. You might walk up and down the streets and go through every store and every fashion that you can see on television, and go from store to store trying to buy something, you become a slave to it, you become a slave to your dressing.
You can become a slave to your money, that the only thing that you think of is to make money, grab, and put it up here. If you do that, you’re a slave. 59-0612 - "All The Days Of Our Life"
Lot of people build upon riches. They try to work, see how much money they can make. They say, “If I can’t spend it, my children can, behind me.” What does it do? It re-leads to slavery. You become a slave to your money.
You don’t have to be a millionaire to be that. You can just covet money, and you’re just as guilty as a millionaire. See? There’s just as many penny-aires, as there is millionaires, will be in hell.
Because, it’s your attitude towards it, what God has given you. Now, if you build it upon riches, it’ll fall. 60-0604 - "To Whom Shall We Go?"
1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
There is a time for everything, we need to understand the times.
(Pharisees wanting a sign) (Weather forecast)
It was time for the Old Covenant to be done away with, and the new covenant to be established.
32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
It was time for David to be King. Would they support David or Saul’s house? These ordinary men helped David gain the throne.
We are ordinary men, but we have understanding by the Message of the hour.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Conclusion
Conclusion
If your allotment is ordinary, just working a job, just raising your family, don’t despise that. The main thing is Christ.
I’d Rather Have Jesus
