EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES
THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 32 – Sunday 16th August, 2020
(1 Sam.9:22-24, Heb.12:1-2, Gen.49:14-15)
THE MYSTERY AND THE MESSAGE OF THE ‘SHOULDER’
It is never enough to receive the Call of God or the Call to leadership but unraveling the mystery behind the Call is far much more important. But for king Saul, it was disaster all the way because he failed in understanding and equally failed to ask questions that would have bettered his understanding.
1 Samuel chapter 9:22-24 states:
22 ‘And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
23 And Samuel said unto the cook, bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! Set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day’.
Surprising! Of every part of an animal’s body to be offered as food, no other part could be given eating consideration but the shoulder! The reason for my shock is none other but the fact that the shoulder part of the body is full of bones and not just bones but very hard bones.
I would have thought that the essence of eating any meat is for comfort and enjoyment. Should eating then be encumbered with struggling and the engagement of war with bones? But when God and God through His prophet takes a step, there is and will always be a mystery and a message behind that step.
To start with, it was true that Saul was by shoulder taller than every living soul in Israel at the time he met prophet Samuel through to the moment in which he became the king of Israel(1 Sam.9:2). But underlying this fact is a much deeper revelation.
Michael Bolton’s song ‘lean on me when you are not strong I’ll be your friend I’ll help you carry on. For it won’t be long you gonna need someone to lean on’ is a contemporary answer to this deep spiritual mystery.
The role of kingship is to shoulder the responsibility of the kingdom. In the right and non-political sense, the flipside of kingship or leadership is expectedly burden-bearing. The cries of the citizenery were supposed to be the King’s utmost concern.
King Saul and indeed any leader’s shoulder is a leaning point for all followers. Since life is a containment of no vacuum but a containment of the defining principle of reciprocity, shouldering the responsibilities of the people under one’s leadership outfit would automatically call for their support.
Dear brother and dear sister, do you have a shoulder full of grace for shouldering people’s concerns. How do you respond to people in crisis even those who have hurt you? Oh! God asked the prophet Samuel to give Saul the shoulder part because of the task that was ahead of him. But instead of being a shoulder bearing the burden of the people of God, he rather made himself burden to the people (1 Sam.8:11-18). Thus king Saul failed in his divine assignment.
Understand beloved that words of comfort and consolation in times of crisis are worth much more than a bank vault full of money and the many golds and diamond piled up in secure safe.
Kenny Rogers quipped, ‘there is always one for everyone’. Without doubt, no man is an island onto himself alone. No one can do it all alone. No one knows it all. Everyone needs someone. No one can do without anyone. It all answers to the principle of reciprocity.
If others cannot lean on us, we ourselves will have no one to lean on when the need arises. Give for a course. Sow into people’s lives. Encourage a soul today. You never can tell, that soul might be preparing to return home that day only to commit suicide. Pray for someone in your little corner. Someone too will return that gesture to you at some point.
IN THE END, HAD KING SAUL GOT A HEART OF COMPASSION, HIS SHOULDER WOULD HAVE BEEN LOWERED IN ORDER TO SHOULDER THE PEOPLE’S BURDEN. BUT ALAS! HIS SHOULDER WAS SIMPLY HIGH UP THERE. HE FORGOT THAT THE WAY UP THE LADDER OF GREATNESS AND SUCCESS IN LEADERSHIP IS DOWN. HE WAS GIVEN THE SHOULDER TO EAT (THAT IS, TO CONQUER IT) AND BEND LOW. BUT HE DID NOT GET THE MYSTERY NOR THE MESSAGE CONTAINED IN THE MYSTERY. SO, HE FAILED WOEFULLY. DO IT DIFFERENTLY FROM THE WAYS OF KING SAUL.
Question and Answer Section
Question: The great questions again! When was the last time that you preached to any soul? Do you serve God with joyful heart or with reluctance? How much hurt is in your soul against that fellow? Won’t rather forgive them and forget their mischief so that you can rightly serve your loving Father? When was the last time you smiled genuinely and truly from your heart about yourself bearing in mind the bright days to come? when was the last time you heard a force praying within your belly without your consciousness? When was the last time you gave some thing to support God’s work apart from your tithes and offerings? When was the last time you supported any man to fulfill a divine or a personal agenda? When was the last time you put smile on the face of someone?
Answer: Hmmm!.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Counseling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com Alternatively, meet us every Sunday at the address below:
Suit 26, 2nd Floor, Nikky Africana Plaza, 70C Allen Avenue, Opposite UBA/MTN Office, Ikeja, Lagos.
Further information: Be informed that this Ministry has only one Facebook page and no other. Any other Facebook page is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page should be directed to: contactus@expressimageglory.com
The General Superintendent Minister of this Ministry therefore pleads and urges you to desist from all such fake and ungodly Facebook pages. Our website is: www.expressimageglory.com
ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).
HYMN: There Is Not A Friend Like The Lowly Jesus
PRAY NOW:
1. O God, please give me grace to be responsive and more responsible with my divine and career assignment.
2. O God, appoint and speak to men and women who will help my divine mandate to its perfection and fulfillment.
3. Every satanic attack against my destiny helpers, be frustrated and scatter.
4. O God, speedily help my destiny helpers and give them the joyful burden for service in your kingdom.
5. Present your personal petitions.
