Text: Leviticus 10:1-3
Memory verse:
âAnd Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.â
(Leviticus 10:1 KJV)
I once read the story of a great man of God who worked as an assistant to another man of God for several years. This assistant was gifted in the working of miracles and wonders. At that time, the set man would preach and then step down the platform for his assistant to minister his gift. Then, pride came into his heart and he began to think of himself as the glory of the set man and that he was too gifted to be an assistant. He began to think that the ministry would end when he exited. He was wrong! One day, in a crusade where he was to minister, he didnât show up deliberately, and he withdrew from that day. Having waited in vain for his gifted assistant, this set man mounted the platform with the help of the Holy Spirit. Surprisingly, God used him mightily that day, as great wonders and miracles were performed. One day, this assistant came to one of the crusades and surprised to see a great multitude like never before, he said to the set man and his former principal, âI missed it, I missed it!â. That day marked the new beginning of the set manâs ministry and the end of the gifted assistantâs ministry. He left the venue, and that was the last time they met as he died shortly after!
This man failed to recognize his assistant role as a calling. He didnât know that his relevance was tied to the ministry and not vice versa. God calls people to work together, some to be responsible and some to help; some as authority and some as under authority, like Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy, Peter and Mark and so forth.
In our text, Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, died because they offered strange fire before the Lord. Aaron was called as the chief priest, and his sons were called to help him. They were to serve beside the altar in obedience to Aaron and not independently. Everything began with Aaron and not with his sons. They offered strange fire when they offered sacrifices without Aaronâs order; when they served in disobedience to authority! They would have thought, âWe can also do itâ and thus stepped up, in pride, into the role they were not given! True service is initiated by God, and He accepts it when done under His established authority. Strange fire originates from man, done through manâs own zeal and ends in death!
Friends, as priests after the order of Mekhizedek (Heb 7:17), let us serve God according to the order of coordinated authority and not independently.
Prayer points
1. Father, please search me and see if there is any form of pride in me and deliver me today, in Jesusâ name.
2. Father, help me to recognize my calling and to remain in it, in Jesusâ name.
Todayâs declarations
1. I will not work independently or outside coordinated authority.
2. I recognize my calling, remain in it, and I serve my gift there.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng