DMM: Tenacity

 DBS: Tenacity in Making Multiplying Disciple Makers

 

Into A Pit on a Snowy Day, Lion Killing

 

In I Chronicles 11:22-25, we see a glimpse of all of us, 

 

²² Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. ²³ And he struck down an Egyptian who was five cubits tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s rod in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.²⁴ Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. ²⁵ He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

 

What do we observe from this valiant warrior for David? 

 

Benaiah

·       A valiant fighter

·       Performed great exploits

·       Struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors

·       Went down into a pit,

o   On a snowy day,

o   And killed a lion.

·       Struck down a really tall Egyptian

o   Used a club to conquer a spear

o   Snatched the spear and killed the Egyptian with it

·       As famous as the three mighty men warriors

·       Held in greater honor than any of the Thirty

·       Not included among the Three

·       David put him in charge of his bodyguard

 

What seemed to consume or compel Benaiah?

 

And what about the stuff of us? What is transformed in us when we are being compelled or consumed by desiring God’s glory as our most magnificent and worthy King?

 

For each of us to become increasingly mindful of what it is to be compelled by God’s glory alone, let’s isolate down on the really great literary phrasing found in verse 22, “He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.”

 

Who does that???? On three levels, in this verse alone, we get a vast portrait of one who is consumed and compelled by the delight and pleasure of his king. 

 

Who chooses to take the risk to go to the hard places for their king? (into the pit)

Who chooses to persevere in order to get to the hard places for their king? (on a snowy day)

Who chooses to count the cost by placing themselves in the direct line of fire from the enemy which keeps the peoples from knowing Jesus? (and killed a lion)

 

This is us as Jesus’ disciples…this is you…this is me…this is our God and King among us.

 

Listening Prayer time: Ask the Lord for specific action steps in any of the following:

 

1. To Go (into the hard places)

 

2. To Persevere (on a snowy day)

 

3. To Count the Cost (and killed a lion)

 

Just to wrap up these thoughts, my husband and I were discussing how amazing it is to believe God to launch cascading movements to Christ amongst our region’s UPGs and beyond. 

 

As those committed to see the launch of Disciple Making Movements among the remaining Unreached People Groups, we have chosen to go together into the pit on a snowy day. Now, let’s go kill some lions for the pleasure of our Great King.