Numbers 12: 8-9 (NKJV) I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses? ” So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed.
Moses was leading a million people towards the Promised Land but nobody was able to empathize with him. Even Miriam and Aaron as his family did not help much when they were speaking against Moses. Sometimes, we are not aware of the work load of the leaders until we step into their shoes. In fact, we might not even have the capacity, gifting and calling to step into their shoes. Many are called but few are chosen.
This is one of the rare occasion when God called for a meeting to rebuke a person openly. It was a confrontation. God stood in the door of the tabernacle and asked to speak to Aaron and Miriam. We do not want to offend God when He has chosen to do something through His servant. The Lord clearly does not condone or appreciate when anyone speaks evil of those He has placed in positions of authority —in particular, spiritual authority. God listens to every conversation, comment, remark, sarcasm and attack against those whom He has called and set apart to serve Him full time. It is noticeable that God backed up Moses fully.
1 Sam 24:10 (NKJV) Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’
2 Sam 1:14-15 (NKJV) So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died.
David was a man after God’s heart. He knew God and His ways. He was knowledgeable not just of the covenant but also of the importance of respecting who God has chosen to serve Him. He knows that he should not touch or speak against God’s anointed. David was still respectful of God’s anointed even though King Saul wasn’t walking in the ways of the Lord.
There is a consistency in the Scripture where God was marveled that Miriam and Aaron weren’t afraid to speak against His servant Moses. It is clear that God does not permit it. David who is a man after God’s heart understood that nobody should touch God’s anointed. He understood that guilt and consequences would follow. In fact, King David executed the messenger who claimed that he killed Saul. He asked a similar question that God asked Miriam and Aaron.
“How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
How is it that we are not afraid to speak against those whom God has called and anointed to preach, teach, and serve full time? Just like Moses was carrying out the mandate in leading the people of Israel towards the Promised Land, every church Pastor is also carrying out the mandate of the church vision given by God because every church has a special calling.
1 Tim 5: 17 (NKJV) Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
The teaching from the Word suggests to give double honor to those who labor among us and teaches us the Word. You are to honor the person in action and speech. Everyone has a special calling and gift to fulfill a work for the Lord. God has called us personally and it is not easy to lead a church or organization.
When someone comes against God’s anointed, he or she is stepping into the devil’s playground and opens door for the demons to enter into their lives because he/she walks out of God’s protection. This person will not enjoy good days according to His Word!
There will be a trail of damage if the person were to keep striving in action and speech. The church will be divided and nobody will gain anything except the devil. Therefore, it is very important that we guard the words we use in the church to ensure that it will not lead to division. This is one of the devil’s ways to sow discord and bring confusion in the church. Let us learn from David to stay respectful of God’s anointed because in doing so, we give God due honor and respect for His sovereignty.
Sermon Series: Get a Grip on Your Lip
尊重神的受膏者
民数记 12:8-9 要与他面对面说话，乃是明说，不用谜语，并且他必见我的形象。你们毁谤我的仆人摩西，为何不惧怕呢？” 耶和华就向他们二人发怒而去。
摩西带领一百万人走向应许之地，但没有人能同理他。即使米利暗和亚伦作为他的家人也没有帮助他，反而说反对摩西的话。有时，我们不知道领导者承担了什么，直到我们自己成为领导者。事实上，我们甚至可能没有能力，恩赐和呼召成为领导者。许多人被呼召，但很少人被选中。
神召集聚会，公开谴责一个人的情况很少发生。这是一场直接对质。神站在帐幕的门口，要求对亚伦和米利暗说话。当神选择通过祂的仆人做事的时候我们不想得罪神。当任何人诋毁神赐予权柄的人时，特别是属灵权柄时，神显然不会宽恕或感激。神会听到所有针对祂所呼召、分别为圣为祂全职服务的人的谈话、评论、议论、挖苦和攻击。很明显，神完全支持摩西。
撒母耳记上 24:10 今日你亲眼看见在洞中，耶和华将你交在我手里。有人叫我杀你，我却爱惜你，说：“我不敢伸手害我的主，因为他是耶和华的受膏者。”
撒母耳记下 1:14-15 14 大卫说：“你伸手杀害耶和华的受膏者，怎么不畏惧呢？” 大卫叫了一个少年人来，说：“你去杀他吧！”
大卫是一个与神心意相通的人。他知道神和祂的道。他不仅了解神的盟约，而且了解尊重神所拣选服事祂的人的重要性。他知道他不应该伤害或批评神的受膏者。大卫仍然尊敬神的受膏者，即使扫罗王没有走在耶和华的道上。
圣经中始终是一致的，神惊讶于米利暗和亚伦不怕说诋毁祂的仆人摩西的话。很明显，神不允许这样做。大卫是追随神的心意的人，他明白没有人可以伤害神的受膏者。他明白内疚和后果会随之而来。事实上，大卫王处决了那个声称杀了扫罗的信使。他问了一个跟神问米利暗和亚伦类似的问题。
“你伸出你的手来杀死主的受膏者时怎么会不害怕？”
反对神所呼召与膏立来讲道、教导、和全职服务的人时我们怎麽能不怕呢？就像摩西在带领以色列人走向应许之地的使命一样，每一个教会牧师也在执行神所赐予的教会异象的任务，因为每个教会都有一个特殊的呼召。
提摩太前书 5:17 那善于管理教会的长老，当以为配受加倍的敬奉，那劳苦传道教导人的更当如此。
圣经教导说要给那些在我们中间做工并教导我们神的话语的人与以双倍的敬奉。你要在话语和行动中尊重这个人。每个人都有一个特殊的呼召和恩赐来完成主所交给的工作。神亲自呼召我们，领导一个教会或组织并不容易。
当有人与神的受膏者作对时，他或她正踏入魔鬼的领地，为邪灵进入他们的生命敞开大门，因为他/她走出了神的保护。这个人将不能按照神的话语享受美好日子！
如果这个人继续这样的话语和行为，就走上了毁灭的道路。教会将被分裂，除了魔鬼没有人会得到任何好处。因此，我们必须谨慎在教会所说的话，确保不会导致分裂。这是魔鬼伎俩之一，在教会中播种不和，并带来混乱。让我们向大卫学习，尊重神的受膏者，因为在这样做的时候，我们给予神应有的荣耀并尊重祂的主权。
讲章系列：守住你的口
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