from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
This verse is in the middle of an account of David's armies amassing. It is a useful verse but to properly apply it we must make sure we don't think that Israel is 'the church.' Israel are God's chosen people and so are believers. However the Church has not replaced Israel as Paul underlines in Romans 9-11. We must also beware of anyone who wants to categorize believers into the 12/13 tribes. That would be error. I see this question as being in the spirit of... With that understanding I want to ask, Are you (like) a son of Issachar who knows what God's chosen people should do?
In the church it appears that God is separating a remnant for His purposes. Many are finding that the historical church is not preaching the word of God. That someone cares this component is present is a telling factor that you want to honor the Lord and His word. The worship services that repeat choruses forever yet are void of God worship content are getting tiring. The fellowship that focuses on 'your ministry' over the sacred bond of 'brother and sister' is wearing and exhausting to many. In the middle of all this those who are sensitive to the above are fearful of being alone so they stick with the hive.
Of course there are those who don't really care about all this. Church is actually a measure of where they fit into a social dynamic. The message from the church has to be more relevant and contemporary than accurate. Outreach is the fulcrum of the event and winning the lost is what Jesus is solely focused on. The worship has to mimic the music of their culture and the words describe the construct of 'our worship' instead of ascribing worth to the Creator. The word of God is shaped and morphed by the safety of keeping the crowd happy. People aspire to achieve and succeed towards the upper echelon of church society. Many are identifying this sort of meeting as inauthentic, man-led and mimicking the world it is supposed to be separate from.
The painful journey from church to church trying to find a 'word-based' gathering get you labelled as a 'spiritual nomad' and whispers of doom come to fuel the enemy's strategy of doubt. I have some good news for you if this is you. You can break free from the 'I still haven't found what I'm looking for' inner melody by doing what believers should do. It is likely you are called out from the mainstream gatherings to meet under the Lord's directives for 'church.' It's simple...
Get your family together, cook a meal and get some juice and a single loaf. Open your bibles and discuss some scripture, break the bread, eat the meal with the juice and thank the Lord for his sacrifice and his anticipated return. From their the Lord will lead you... lo and behold THIS IS CHURCH! It is how the first Christians met and Paul stated to the Corinthians that they must do this until he comes. Maybe the Lord will add to your number.
In doing this you have departed from something that is off track and unrepentant. You have calibrated your self and family to walking the way the lord always intended it. I will warn you though that it is a tough road to walk as the other way to do church included crutches we didn't even know we used. This transition must be Spirit led and prayerful. It can be disorientating and you will reach out for flesh to somehow help you. With this is view I am sharing my skype name so that we can chat to people who want to chat over a transition like this. This is what God's chosen people must do as we reach the end times scenario.
Skype: garywardframe Facetime: gary.ward.c1@gmail.com
Let's chat over your walk.
Gary Ward
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