ADONIJAH

“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying,
“I will be king”;
and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen,
and fifty men to run before him.
(And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying,
“Why have you done so?”
He was also very good-looking.
His mother* had borne him after Absalom.)
Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah
and with Abiathar the priest,
and they followed and helped Adonijah”
1KINGS 1:5-7 NKJV

( Read the whole event in 1Kings chapters 1 and 2)

“There is nothing new under the Sun” declares the Word. In the days when King David was passing off the scene and the need arose for a new king we see many false expressions rising to “claim” their place. Adonijah was a picture of this. He had a good sounding name (the Lord is my YHWH), a spiritually blind Joab and priesthood lending their credentials, and a multitude of people proclaiming that this was God’s anointed; the feast went on with great excitement yet GOD WAS NOT IN IT! Neither were those who truly knew their God involved in this.

“But Zadok the priest and Be-naiah the son of Jehoiada
and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei
and David’s mighty men were not with Adonijah”
II CHRONICLES 3:3 (YLT Bible)

This is an example of a false move that ended in the judgment of God coming upon all who where involved in it. We see the parallel today with many claiming to be the anointed one, associated with signs and wonders and great excitement, BUT GOD IS NOT IN IT! We see “moves” of the spirit where people are barking like dogs, howling and running around with no wisdom or depth of character being displayed. The lack of discernment allows chaos and foolishness to be exercised and encouraged. Those who know their God are not taken in by such things. They stand in the wisdom of their God. Men and women of integrity know there is a difference between following signs and wonders or signs and wonders following them. While multitudes seek out signs and wonders there are those who are not moved by such things. Jesus said..

“An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign”
MATTHEW 12:39

It is evil to seek after signs. When Jesus sent out His disciples and they came back with the report that even the demons were subject to them in HIS NAME… Jesus replied…

“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not,
that the spirits are subject unto you;
but rather rejoice,
because your names are written in heaven”
LUKE 10:4

Our glory is to Glorify Him and to do HIS WILL! In the doing of that will we will discover that our rejoicing is always in Him. I have seen and been a part of great movings of God, have seen healings and experienced Holy Visitations of HIS glorious presence; in all of these glimpses of HIS Glory there remained the Holy Wonder of Him. It was not a circus. Rather it was the Holy One moving by grace to reveal His wondrous ways and person. His Holy Spirit has ONE PURPOSE and that is to humble men and glorify Jesus. We see men on stage soaking in the applause of men and glorified and followed as if they were of any account. In the days of Azuza’s outpouring one of the main preachers would hide himself behind the pulpit so as not to attract any attention to himself. In our day we put men’s names in lights so to speak and the multitudes following with an adulation that should be reserved for God alone!

In the Book of Acts we see Paul being used of God…

“And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius,
because he was the chief speaker.
Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city,
brought oxen and garlands unto the gates,
and would have done sacrifice with the people.
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of,
they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things?”
ACTS 14:12-15

Such is the difference between the ministers of God and the false ministrations of our day. Who is glorified and what is our motivation? These are eternal questions that will determine our end on the day of Judgement. Men who follow men know not their God. Their confidence is in being in concert with others and they know not the internal approval of God within their own hearts.

Will we not hear in this Day…

“Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you:
depart from me,
ye that work iniquity.”
MATTHEW 7:21-23

There is a balance in the wonder of our God. We are exhorted to despise not prophesy for it is one of the means of God speaking to and encouraging His people; necessary and vital. On the other hand we must have those who are equipped with discernment and wisdom to judge all things that go on in the midst of God’s people.

May God continue to raise up elders and men of God that are here to see the plumb-line applied to the building of His house. Men of integrity, free from agendas and personal pursuits. Men whose sole purpose is to Glorify Jesus that HE may have the pre-eminence in our midst. Woe to those who partake of the fleshly excitement of trite expressions and dedicate themselves to the lifting up of organizations and men. Woe to those who cannot discern between the house of God and the organizations of men. Woe to those who are satisfied with the lack of reality in our day. Woe to those who can simply submit themselves to the rote of meetings and gatherings that are not producing men and women abandoned unto their God. Lord save us from the status quo of this day!!

“And the LORD said unto him,
Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem,
and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry
for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof”
EZEKIEL 9:4

*NOTE: The same faith that had birthed the rebellion of Absalom had now given birth to Adonijah. The same heinous expression only clothed in a different form. Both very good looking and pleasing to the eye, both exalting themselves, both of the “lineage” of David and yet false.

Brian Troxel