Selfless

*Recap of*

*Be Inspired Intercessory Prayer and Testimony*

*Tuesday 23rd July 2019*

*Anchored by Sister Leah Adepeju*

*Topic:* Selfless

*Text:*
One day David asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family? If so, I’d like to show him some kindness in honor of Jonathan.” It happened that a servant from Saul’s household named Ziba was there. They called him into David’s presence. The king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” “Yes sir,” he replied. The king asked, “Is there anyone left from the family of Saul to whom I can show some godly kindness?” Ziba told the king, “Yes, there is Jonathan’s son, lame in both feet.” “Where is he?” “He’s living at the home of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” King David didn’t lose a minute. He sent and got him from the home of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar. When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan (who was the son of Saul), came before David, he bowed deeply, abasing himself, honoring David. David spoke his name: “Mephibosheth.” “Yes sir?” “Don’t be frightened,” said David. “I’d like to do something special for you in memory of your father Jonathan. To begin with, I’m returning to you all the properties of your grandfather Saul. Furthermore, from now on you’ll take all your meals at my table.” Shuffling and stammering, not looking him in the eye, Mephibosheth said, “Who am I that you pay attention to a stray dog like me?” David then called in Ziba, Saul’s right-hand man, and told him, “Everything that belonged to Saul and his family, I’ve handed over to your master’s grandson. You and your sons and your servants will work his land and bring in the produce, provisions for your master’s grandson. Mephibosheth himself, your master’s grandson, from now on will take all his meals at my table.” Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. “All that my master the king has ordered his servant,” answered Ziba, “your servant will surely do.” And Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, just like one of the royal family. Mephibosheth also had a small son named Mica. All who were part of Ziba’s household were now the servants of Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, taking all his meals at the king’s table. He was lame in both feet.

2 Samuel 9:1‭-‬13 MSG

https://bible.com/bible/97/2sa.9.1-13.MSG

What do we understand by being *Selfless?*

*Sis Queeneth:* To go the extra mile to help others.

*Sis Leah:* *To be selfless means to think of others more, care about others' needs and view, to be self-sacrificing.*
In the above scripture Kind David did something really selfless and it changed the life of Mephibosheth.
Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan. If you are familiar with the story of Jonathan and David you will see that Jonathan took David like his own brother. Regardless of how Saul was tactically against David Jonathan was not like that.

Forward to Mephibosheth, he was the crippled son of Jonathan. Then one day, David asked Ziba who used to be a servant of Saul: "Is there anyone at all left in the house of Saul?"
Ziba was like: Yes, king. Mephibosheth is there, the son of Jonathan and he lives with Makir in Lo debar.
King David requested that they fetch Mephibosheth to come to him
When Mephibosheth got there, imagine a crippled man going on all fours to worship and honour the king.
He didn't do it because he was already crippled but imagine the kind of mixed feelings this person will be having knowing well that his grandad Saul was selfish, and wanted to see the end of David. What will this king want from this crippled man?
I can imagine Mephibosheth's body language said it all. Imagine the feat and uncertainties🤕🙆🏾🥵 written all over him!
David seeing this said to Mephibosheth: Calm down, put your mind at rest, and he said "I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all that belonged to your grandfather. And from today you will eat at my table."
Mephibosheth was like: Me? *a dead dog like me?*
Mephibosheth didn't think of such selfless act from David.
In fact Mephibosheth had resorted into being that crippled grandson of the former king.
Knowing the history of Saul and David he least expected such kindness.
He compared himself to a dead dog.
At least a living dog still had hope.
But here Mephibosheth had lost hope because this comparison was to a dead lowlife being.
A dead dog....
I pray for someone today: that situation that has kept you in a low life state, the situation that has made you write yourself off any kindness or favour, the situation that has rubbished your hope will turn around for your good in Jesus name.

David now summoned Ziba to take charge and be servant to Mephibosheth by being his right hand man.
There is something significant here. Ziba himself was a big man.
But at the word of the king....
The Bible says there is power in the word of the king.
Ziba became chief of staff below Mephibosheth.
Crippled or not Mephibosheth became a ruler above ruler.
He got his inheritance back even when he was not thinking about it.
Ziba dare not disobey the king. He said to the king: *your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.*
From that day onward Mephibosheth dined with the king like the son of a king.
I remember the lyrics of a song that says *_Nobody on this earth can tell me who I am, I am a child of the king, I can do anything._*
Those lyrics wouldn't have applied to Mephibosheth before the selfless encounter he had with David.

Many children of the king are living like a dead dog.
Many children of the king are below the standards the king wants them.
Mephibosheth from that day stayed in Jerusalem and dined with the king.
I can imagine if it were this day we are in.
He will get a motorised wheelchair that can wheel him about.
Well adapted environment.
In fact Mephibosheth would have a driver with latest the car.
But let us remember somebody who made that possible. David. No wonder God called him a man after His heart.
David's selfless act restored the glory of a man who had resorted to fate and put himself in a place God didn't put him.

Are you a selfless believer?

Many of us have this sense naturally as humans to be a blessing in places we can get a return.
But sometimes God is saying to us: Intercede for that person. Stand on behalf of that person.
They are rubbishing the image of that person but God is saying: I want you to bring them into your care.
Don't get me wrong; God will never ask us to do something that is not within our capacity.
David's selfless act wouldn't have made sense if he was still the shepherd boy.

Today we need to search ourselves.
Not everyone we help will have it in their capacity to pay back.

*Sis Queeneth:* Yes, and it maybe someone you haven't helped before that will help you when you're in need.
*Mummy Julie:* Our help always comes from the unexpected and unimagined.

*Sis Leah:* Also many of us would have received a selfless act if only we do not take our unsatisfactory impression and decision of people God has chosen to help us as a tool to tear them down.
Imagine if Mephibosheth had rubbished David, would he have received what he got?

If you read further in 2 Samuel 10, David planned  to do another selfless act to Hanun son of Nahash.
But guess what! Hanun got bad advice that David meant evil.
And that led to their demise.
It is good to be discerning, not to take a selfless act as a bad one or the one that the person offering it has a bad motive.
Many of us are due for that selfless intervention.

I decree today where you and I least expect may we receive that intervention that will cause divine transformation.
That act that will make you burst into tears of joy and songs of thank will locate you today in Jesus name.
I decree you will not receive bad advice where your help is knocking at the door.
I decree that place where you are owed they will look for you and locate you with divine blessings in Jesus name.

Say: Father, deliver me from every form of selfishness in Jesus name. Lord eternal, transport my destiny to the level it ought to be henceforth in Jesus name.
Say: Jehovah, uproot the curse that will make one become tactical against the helper of destiny in my life in Jesus name.
Say: Father, use me to be a blessing to others around me without waiting for pay back or reward in Jesus name.
Say: Lord, give me enablement even where I have experienced any form of disability in Jesus name.

*Personal Prayer.*