Stay in Position

The school bell has rung, class is now in session.

A little less than a week ago a good friend of mine, Pastor, Michael Fulton Jr., a Dynamic Educator and Preacher, preached a sermon titled Stay in Position.

Pastor Fulton referenced 2 Chronicles Chapter 26, which discussed a King by the name of Uzziah. Uzziah became King when he was only 16 years of age and reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem.

At this point it is safe to say that Uzziah is positioned as a King and with that comes certain responsibilities and expectations. King Uzziah was appointed during a difficult era: Jerusalem was in shambles, a part of the protective wall was dismantled, palace treasurers were missing, and some of the people had been taken hostage.

Another unusual circumstance was that King Uzziah was appointed by the people, and was prosperous as long as he continued to seek the Lord for guidance when making decisions. Over time, his fame spread throughout the region and nations because of his many victories against the ancient enemies of the Israelites and innovative inventions he created.

THE TRANSGRESSION OF KING UZZIAH

King Uzziah decided to enter the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar. This may seem harmless, but God had a rule that no King can also be a Priest and the office of Prophet, Priest and King should not be combined in one man; that is until Christ came on the scene.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

King Uzziah was out of position, which takes me back to the sermon that resonated with me. The Pastor said, “If you are not in position, you will be out of commission.” He went on to explain how each of us has a role to occupy and it is imperative that we discern what that role entails. If some of you are in one position, but attempting to function in another, you can end up causing more damage than good. King Uzziah was great at managing and growing the Kingdom, but he ended up becoming prideful and breaking protocol.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

King Uzziah became discontented with the authority given to him and turned his sights to the priestly authority. He went into the temple to burn incense to the Lord, and the Chief Priest and eighty other Priest followed him inside and confronted him. They told him it was not his place to burn incense to the Lord and that he was trespassing.

Instead of recognizing that he was out of his position/jurisdiction/authority, he became angry. As King, he thought the Priest were out of line to correct him, but boy he was wrong. Immediately, leprosy broke out on his forehead before everyone. The Priest rushed him out because the Lord had struck him. King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. His son was appointed over his house.

KEY POINTS

Despite the issue of what King Uzziah had done, he did not become a leper until he displayed rebellious anger toward the Priests.

If King Uzziah would have focused on his own role and function, he would not have been interested in being out of position.

King Uzziah would not listen to the warning of the Priests, but was made to listen in the end, when he ended up having to run out of the temple.

Overall he was a good and strong King, but had a tragic ending because of disobedience and a lack of respect for people’s positions.

CONCLUSION

Know your position. What have you been gifted to do? Are you walking in that gifting? Are you aligned to the vision, and purpose over your life or are you living according to what someone else wants you to do? Know the answers to these questions.

Stay in your lane. The road to “wrong” is paved with good intentions. The best of intentions can still lead you done the wrong rabbit hole. King Uzziah had good intentions to burn incense but it was not his place to do so, he should have stayed in his lane.

Out of commission. Feeling out of sorts, stressed and burned out constantly? It could be that you are not in the right position physically, spiritually or mentally. Reflect and make some serious decisions about your quality of life.

Are you in the right position? Knowing the answer to this question is necessary for your next steps.

The school bell has rung, class dismissed.