The lives of David and Saul are in contrast to one another and represent two types of ministry. One is of God and the other is of man. God soveringly chose David to be king of Israel, while Saul was the people's choice for king. The people did not want to be ruled by God through the prophet Samuel, so they begged and pleaded for an earthly king. God gave them the desires of their heart. He gave them a man that was head and shoulders above all other men. The problem is that Saul did not have the inner heart preparation that was necessary for him to lead the children of Israel. He was a man with a title, a position, but without the dealings of the Lord in his life.
Today, much of the ministry within the church is based on position and title, and credentials have become more important than the actual inward work within the man. Jesus said that we would know them by their fruits. Today, we have changed that saying to "we will know them by their titles and degrees." What is it that God is looking for in a man? Is it ability? Is it a high IQ, charisma or an eloquent speaker? If this is what God is looking for then certainly Jesus made a poor choice when he chose the 12 men that He would give the keys to the kingdom of heaven to.
God does not look at any of those outward things that man looks at in choosing those that will represent Him in ministry, but God is looking at the heart of the man. David was a man after God's own heart. He was a man that the Lord had built His character into on the hills of Israel as he was tending his sheep and ministering to the Lord. The Lord chose David to be king because he had the heart of the king. One of the basic differences between David and Saul was that the former was more concerned with God's interests and purposes than his own well being, while Saul was primarily concerned with self promotion and with what benefits he could reap from his position.
Because the people chose Saul, the people ruled Saul, and Saul feared the people more than he feared the Lord. Whenever the people choose the spiritual leaders in the church, then they are at the mercy of the people. The people voted them in and they can be voted out just as easily. The result of this kind of leadership is compromise and weakness.
True spiritual authority can only be given by God. It is the measure of Christ within a leader that gives him spiritual authority. The man that has true spiritual authority is taking his marching orders from God. He is a man that fears God more than he fears the people.
True spiritual ministry is ministry that is under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is ministry that is not of the letter but of the Spirit, and the chief characteristic of this type of ministry is life. Where there is life there is growth, and true spiritual ministry builds up and edifies the Body of Christ. True spiritual ministry always points people to the Head to receive whatever they need. There is only one sure foundation that the Church can be built on and that is Jesus Christ who is the chief cornerstone.
True spiritual ministry is ministry before God in the inward court. All true ministry begins with God. All true ministry starts with ministry to the Lord in the inner court and then proceeds to minister to the people in the outer court.
"But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister to me; and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord God". (Ezekiel 44:15).
God has called all of His children to be kings and priests before Him. The highest calling of God for his people is to come near to Him to minister to Him. The priests of God are not a select few, but the whole house of God is called to be priests. This is why the enemy is working overtime to devalue the true calling of every child of God. The highest calling of God is not to be a pastor of a church or a great leader that is seen and recognized by man, but the highest calling in the Church is that of an intercessor. To stand before God offering up spiritual sacrifices whose incense ascends unto Him as a sweet smelling savor, is the highest calling.
The Saul type ministry will do everything to seek promotion and good standing in the eyes of man, but the heart of David is to minister to the Lord in the secret place. Every believer has been called to minister to the Lord, to enter into God's presence by the precious blood of the Lamb, and to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. In the end the believer will be rewarded for those works that were done for the Lord and by the Lord. When we are in true fellowship with the Lord, the life that is in the vine will be ministered through us. God is not only looking at the work that is done for Him, but He is also concerned with the source of the power behind our work. Is it the Spirit or the natural life of man that is the energizing force behind our work? Every thing that the Spirit does through a man will bring forth fruit unto God. Everything that man does apart from the Spirit, while maybe looking good outwardly, will be dead inwardly. Only the true ministry of the Spirit can produce life. The flesh profits nothing.
Mike