WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FOR? (PART 2): PASTOR MENSA OTABIL, SEPT. 13TH, 2020

ONLINE SUNDAY SERVICE MESSAGE BY DR. MENSAH OTABIL (GENERAL OVERSEER INTERNATIONAL CENTRAL GOSPEL CHURCH (ICGC) ACCRA, GHANA)

TOPIC: “WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FOR?

DATE: 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2020.

TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 9:11

Let’s rise up together wherever we are (or reading now on the Label of DMC) as we make our DECLARATIONS OF EXCELLENCE in this very Special Year of Excellence.

… Are you ready? – SAY WITH ME:

Out of Zion, the Perfection of Beauty, God shines forth. The Lord my God causes the Righteous to shine forth as the Sun.

His Awesome Hands has formed me; His Creative Spirit inspires my mind. He Skillfully guides my hands.

Therefore, I boldly declare: I am Set Apart for Excellence. The Ruler of the Universe has exalted my horn among the Nations. He sets my feet on high! In His Strength, I rise!

By Faith, I Press forward towards the Prize of my Highest Calling.

I believe in my heart, and confess with my mouth: that Jesus is Lord! He is the Vine, I am the Branch; in Him I abide, in Him I Blossom.

As it is written: God, who commanded Light out of darkness, has Shone His Light in our hearts.

We have His Treasure in Earthen Vessels. That the Excellence of the Power may be of God, and not of us!

In this Year, I commit to EXCELLENCE, I commit to EXCEPTIONALISM, I commit to do the EXTRAORDINARY.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen and Amen and Amen and Amen.

Give God Praise wherever you are and you may be be seated, in God’s Presence.

Last week, I started talking about PUSH and the PULL factors of life and I am continuing my Message.

Last week Topic was “What is Running after you?”

DMC NOTES: Kindly avail yourself the Full Text of the Message referenced above on this Link:

https://discoverymediacrew.com/What-Is-Running-After-You-Dr-Mensah-Otabil

And today, my Message is titled: “WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FOR?”

… It sounds better when it is spoken faster: “What are you Running for?”

It is a question I want to ask you and it is a question I want you to ask yourself: WHAT AM I RUNNING FOR?

What am I HUSTLING for? – Because I used the word RUNNING: to mean the efforts we make to move on in life.

… Some call it the hustle!

Each one of us runs – We do something!

There is a running around in our lives.

Just take a stand at any busy intersection in a City, and you will see people moving up and down. And sometimes you wonder: “Where are they going? And what are they trying to achieve?’

To go on with my Message, I want you to remember “The Legend of the Lion and the Gazelle” that I mentioned last week.

And I will repeat it.

And it says: Every morning in Africa – And I suppose in every Country where this takes Place; it may not be a Lion and a Gazelle but something in Particular takes Place!

“Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up and knows that it must run faster than the fastest Lion or it will be KILLED.

And every morning, a Lion wakes up, and knows that it must run faster than the slowest Gazelle, or it will STARVE to death.”

It doesn’t matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle; when the sun comes up, you better start RUNNING.

And that is how our life is: Sun up, to sun down, we are running!

We are either a Lion – trying to catch something, or a Gazelle – making sure nobody catches us.

But whichever you are; the PUSH Factor and the PULL Factor of life, affect us.

Last week we looked at four (4) kinds of Runners:

1. We talked about HAGAR, who was running from the Consequences of her Past.
2. We talked about JEPHTHAH, who was running from Rejection;
3. We talked about DAVID, who is running from Evil Conspiracies;
4. And we talked about JONAH, who is running from Responsibility and God’s Plan for his life.

It is important you figure out why you are running in life. And to determine whether the race you are on, is leading you in a Productive Direction or not.

And it is important to ask yourself:

1. Why am I in so much hurry?
2. Why am I doing all this hard work I am doing?
3. What am I Pushing for?
4. What am I trying to Achieve?

It is always a blessing to see God use our disadvantages to DRIVE us in life.

However, we could also be wrongly driven in different directions.

The Book of Ecclesiastes 9:11 has this to say. And the writer of Ecclesiastes says:

“I returned and saw under the sun that —
The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them ALL.”

So, many times we are running, but TIMING is wrong! And many times you are running, but it is not our TURN to run!

And that is going to form the basis of my Message.

Because today we are going to look at two (2) kinds of Runners:

1. One who runs with a MISSION.
2. And the other who runs WITHOUT a Mission.

And my Passage is going to be from 2 Samuel 18.

The background to this Passage is about: David and his son, Absalom.

Absalom had led a revolt against his father David. And so a Civil War had ensued! And in the Process David has to leave Jerusalem, and Absalom temporary becomes King.

And in the Civil War that ensued, David’s son, Absalom was killed in Battle.

And now a Messenger has to go and deliver a Message to David – That his son (Absalom) who rebelled against him has just been killed in the battle.

So, who is the Messenger who is going to take this Message – Who will run with such a Message to David?

And you have to understand that: First, when King Saul was killed, the Messenger who carried the Message to David that King Saul had been killed, was killed by David!

And then Saul’s son Ish-bosh-eth, who tried to rebelled also against David – after Saul died, was also killed.

And the one who took the Message to David that Ish-bosh-eth had been killed, was also killed!

So, it looks like carrying Messages of these Nature can be very hazardous to your health.

So, who can give such a Message to David.

So, Absalom is dead in battle – One side it is a Good News! But knowing how David had responded in the Past; who is going to tell David that you have WON, but your son is dead?*

… Very delicate Message!

And that is the background to what we are going to read in 2 Samuel 18:19-23 (NKJV);

19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the News to the king, how the Lord has avenged him of his enemies.”

20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the News this day, for you shall take the News another day. But today you shall take no News, because the king’s son is dead.”

21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.

22 And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no News ready?”

23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

There are TWO (2) KINDS OF RUNNERS here:

1. The first (1st) one is called AHIMAAZ. That is his name!

His name actually in Hebrew means: My brother is rough’ or ‘my brother is angered’

… Whether his name indicates his Personality, or his not, is another story.

But it Publicly shows that he is highly tempered – Hot Tempered Driven Personality.

He is a Person you would call an “Action Man” – He is a Person who always wants to do something.

And the Passage describes Ahimaaz as a son of Zadok. Zadok is a Priestly Flock.

… If his father is a Priest, then he also is a Priest.

And in Israel, the Priestly Family is a very highly considered family.

So, you would say that he is from the right kind of family.

2. Secondly, he is a Faster Runner than the other fellow who is being sent the Message.

He is very, very Good Runner – He has got SPEED, he is SWIFT.

3. Thirdly, he is a Trusted Messenger of David.

Because if you read 2 Samuel 15:35-36; you realized that this was not the first time that he has carried Messages for David – It was something that he did!

In 2 Samuel 17, he carried Messages to David.

… So, this is a man with a trusted record of carrying Messages.

If you read 1 Samuel 17:15-17 (NKJV);

15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised.

16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the People who are with him be swallowed up.’”

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David.

So, this Ahimaaz – He is a Courier for David; so he is Smart, he is a Priest, he has got Speed, he is Trusted, he has got experience.

… He is the Right Man for the Job!

So, if you were assessing the situation at the moment; David has not heard the Message. It is a delicate Message. It has to get to him quickly!

This is a trusted Messenger – Ahimaaz. He has done it all the time. David knows him, his father is a Priest, he has got speed.

Everything seems to indicate that for this moment, Ahimaaz must go on this Mission.

… Yet, he is not sent, he is not Picked.

The race is not to the SWIFT all the time. Sometimes People who seems to have EVERYTHING together may be be JUMPED OVER!

And, there is Second (2nd) Runner!

The second (2nd) Runner is called THE CUSHITE.

… It is a description, it is not a name!

His name is not mentioned – He is just mentioned by his Tribe or by the way he looks: He is ‘The Cushite.’

Literary it means “A Black man – He is a man with no name.

He is supposedly Trusted, because he is around in the Corridors of Power.

So, there is a Crisis and this is the first (1st) time we are hearing him being called to Service.

“Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.” 2 Samuel 18:21

He has two (2) Things that Ahimaaz doesn’t have:

1. He has a MISSION,
2. And he has a MESSAGE.

… A Mission and a Message.

But he does not have SPEED, he does not come from a Royal Family, he does not come from the Priestly Flock, he does not even know the short cut of the terrain and he is not addressed by name.

So if you look at these two (2) People;

• AHIMAAZ: He is known by name. His Parenthood is right. He has got Speed, he has got Pedigree, he has got the Credentials.

… He should send the Message!

• THE CUSHITE: No Pedigree, no name, he does not have the speed, does not know the terrain so well.

… But he is called to do the Job!

The race is not always to the SWIFT; there will be an opportunity that comes, that does not favour the most Highly Qualified.

He (The Cushite) has the Message, he is the man for the hour.

There are those who run in life because they have a Message and a Mission.

And then there are those who run in life because they just can’t stand still – They needed to be seen. And Ahimaaz was like that! He is an Action Person. He can’t Stand Still.

And I want you to listen to Ahimaaz’ Statement. He says: “Let me run now…”

… This is the spirit of ENTITLEMENT.

Then he says: “But whatever happens, Please let me also run…”

… That is the spirit of COMPETITION.

This guy (Ahimaaz) says: The Message must be given, and I am going to give the Message.

Joan says: You will not give the Message, because it is above your PAY GRADE.

… It is beyond you.

Why? – Because the King’s son is DEAD!

And history shows: If you don’t have what it takes to carry this Message, you will get into trouble!

So, although you are qualified, you would not go!

But he says: Whether I have a Message or not, I would go!

There are People like Ahimaaz in our world – Those who runs because they just can’t accept that some races are not theirs to run.

They just feel: I must also be there! They are the ‘WANNA BEES’.

They want to be in the midst of things. They want to be where the action is.

So, when something is happening: Whether they are supposed to do it or not; they do it anyhow!

A lot of ‘Ahimaaz’ in this world – RUNNING simply because they want to be seen.

And Ahimaaz also represent those who run because they want to OUTRUN OTHERS.

Somebody is doing it, they say – I will BEAT him. I will do it better! I can be better.

And they will give you their Pedigree: I know this guy, when we were in school – when I was first (1st) he was LAST.

I come from a rich family, he is from a Poor family. I have done this before, he has never done it before. I can beat him.

The fact that you can BEAT somebody, doesn’t mean you are called to the FIGHT.

The race is not for the SWIFT, and the BATTLE is also not for the Strong!

There are those who run because they CAN’T allow others to SHINE. They always have to SPOIL IT for somebody else.

And there are People like that; and I hope you are not one (1) of them?

I hope you are not one (1) of those who RUN because:

1. You can’t stand that it is somebody’s turn.
2. You just can’t stand that somebody you think is inferior to you has got an opportunity you don’t have.
3. You can’t stand that somebody you think you are better than has a door opened.

And if you are Ahimaaz – you are running without a Mission and without a Message – Very fast and very talented but going nowhere!

… So this is how the race is Set Up!

And Joab, the General for David’s Army said: Listen Ahimaaz, we know everything about you.

But Ahimaaz said: Whether you like it or not, I am RUNNING.

So eventually Joan says, RUN!

It is those kinds of Permission when they give you, you don’t take it. You are forcing it and you are told: Okay, if you want to go, go ahead and do it.

… It is going to be a long time, great efforts but you are going to achieve NOTHING.

So, let me ask you a question – Between these two (2), for the race you are running now: Are you an Ahimaaz or the Cushite?

Are you running Purposely because you are supposed to run? Or you are running because you can’t stand the Person who is Winning?

You can’t stand the Person you think you are better than, who seems to be doing well – If he can do three (3) I can do ten (10). If he can do ten (10) I can do hundred (100)!

… I know him, I am better than him, I can beat him.

And there are many People running races like that – Life is an incessant competition!

Even when there is no competition, they will Invent one!

I. Somebody buys a pair of shoes, you must buy a better one.

II. Somebody buys a car, you must buy a nicer one.

III. Somebody builds a house, you must get more bedrooms than he has!

Your whole race in life is to say: I can’t allow the Cushite to RUN, I must also run!

There will come a time when there will be a Message for Ahimaaz – A time another message will come and you will be given the opportunity.

… But this Particular one, is not for you!

May God HELP YOU: not to run, because somebody else is Running!

… So let’s see the OUTCOME:

So, there are two (2) People running – If you look at it: When Ahimaaz is told to to RUN; although the Cushite took the lead. Ahimaaz knew the shortcut of the terrain.

… He has been doing it all his life!

And so he uses a shortcut, he runs faster, and he overtakes the Cushite.

So, you will think: Oh, he has overtaken, and this guy is going to win the Prize.

Let’s see the OUTCOME – 2 Samuel 18:24-29 (KNJV);

24 Now David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone.

25 Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is News in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.

26 Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!” And the king said, “He also brings News.”

27 So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with Good News.”

28 So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”

29 The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”

Can you imagine? – He said: I saw the crowd gathering, but I don’t know what it was all about. But I wanted to RUN!

It is like those days in Ghana when we used to queue up for everything.

Sometimes you go to a Place, and People have QUEUED UP!

And you don’t know what the queue is about, you join the line.

And then you get to the end, you realised that they are selling something you don’t need.

There are People joining line, and queue and running. And when you ask them: Why are you running? They say: I saw the crowd gathering, but I didn’t know what it was about.

David says: If you ran this FAST, and you have no MESSAGE, turn aside and stand here.

May that never be your Portion – That after you have run effectively in life, you are told: Stand aside, because you carry nothing – You were just competing with somebody.

… Alright! (Continue with 2 Samuel 18)

30 And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

31 Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is Good News, my lord the king! For the Lord has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”

32 And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

So the Cushite answered: “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”

33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your Place! O Absalom my son, my son!”

I want you to note how the Cushuite delivered the Message to the King – He knows that those who have carried such Messages in the Past get in to trouble.

So, when he is asked: What is happening? Is the young man Absalom safe?

He did not say – The boy is killed. He did not say: I saw him with my own two (2) eyes – The boy has been killed. Because People who gives such direct Messages to David get into trouble.

He said: Oh King, may it happen to your enemies as it has happened to that BOY! – And the King got the coded Message.

He understood the delicateness of the moment and he gave the Right Message.

The King knew Absalom had died but death had not been mentioned.

… And that is why this guy was the Right for the Job!

He doesn’t have Speed, but he has the Wisdom for the hour, to deliver the Right Message.

When you see somebody running, don’t just run after them: They may operate at the Wisdom Level you don’t have!

They may not have your Certificates, they may not have your Degrees, they may not have your Pedigrees; but for this race, they have something that you don’t have!

Ahimaaz was told: Stand aside! He has run so long, he has run ahead. He has the best family, he has lots of Past Successes; yet, he is told: ‘Step Aside!’

But the Cushite: He ran, his life is spent. The King gets the Message, the deed is done! He came second (2nd) but he was FIRST (1ST)! He came behind, but he delivered the result.

That is why in life you don’t just struggle with People who are already running; because they may be running with the Message.

You RUN the Race that is set before you, and you finish it WELL.

And when you FINISH IT WELL, your Message would be delivered.

The Big Question is: WHY WAS “THE CUSHITE” CHOSEN?

• Was it a Set Up for his Failure?
• Was it a Set Up for his Death?

They just sent him because they know, this guy is going to be killed – Let’s send him!

… It is a Possibility!

Because sometimes People may Set you Up for Failure and Push you into a Zone where they think you may be destroyed.

But God can use that Set Up for His Appointed Time!

And do you know the number of times they wished you would fail?

… They think you will fail, you will not amount to anything.

I have lived a little bit of this life and I have seen People who were Set Up for Failure, being Appointed by God for Destiny.

I have seen People whose Bosses Set them Up: put them into the wrong office, into the wrong Department – Just to destroy them.

… And God turned it around!

Maybe that is what you meant for the Cushite.

They say, somebody is going to die today because by experience, David is going to kill the fellow.

Ahimaaz is too PRECIOUS; the Cushite is dispensable – He is a Black man. He is Dispensable!

. . But God used that Set Up to His Glory.

That is why, in life you don’t always complain about People Setting you Up – In their minds they would say: You are finished, we have got him! No way, this is the End.

But in God’s Mind: This is the Race that he must run; this is his Appointment! This is something he or she alone can do!

May God Set you Up for Success – Amen!

… I said: May God Set you Up for Success – AMEN!

You may not be running as fast as everybody; but you will deliver your Message – Amen. You will deliver your Mission – Amen!

Your Appointment, your Destiny shall Manifest – Amen!

In conclusion; the Message to every CUSHITE – And by Cushite! I mean People who are nameless. You haven’t done much:

But there will come a moment in your Life, when God will Pick you up for something UNIQUE.

… And when the time comes – Be like the Cushite.

When Joab said run, the Bible say: He (Cushite) bowed himself and ran! – He doesn’t have speed, but he RAN. He does not know the terrain well, but he RAN. He doesn’t come from the right family, but he RAN. People have Set him Up for failure, but he RAN.

Forget about People’s motives, forget about what they want to do, forget at their Agenda – Just RUN the race set before you because you going to RUN, and you are going to deliver the Message.

… Somebody say: I AM A CUSHITE!

And to the CUSHITE Nations of the world (Ghana and Nigeria included):

We may not have the speed of the other Nations.

We may not know and understand the terrain like the other People;

We may not have done this before!

But there will come a time in our Destiny, in our History; a moment of Destiny. It may look like a SET UP for Failure but it will be a Divine Appointment – Amen.

And I believed with all my heart, with everything within me; that: This Pandemic; which seems like a Set Up for destruction, is going to work for our Advantage – Amen.

Is it any wonder that those who said there will be dead bodies littered all over Africa cannot understand what is happening because it is CUSHITE TIME!!!!

And it may be a Set Up that was supposed to destroy us but it will be for our Divine Visitation, for our Glory – Amen.

We just have to run and keep running, and keep running – the RACE that is Set before us!

May the Lord grant us the Spirit that came upon this Cushite that made him he RAN!

Even when it seems like somebody was trying to send him on a wrong Mission – He RAN.

Even when it seems he did not now the terrain well and did not have the Speed.

Even when he was overtaken, he did not give up to say: Well, I am last. I am not going to run again. He kept running and running from behind.

… The first Person was told to stand behind.

If you not have a Message (as Ahimaaz); you are going to be told “STAND ASIDE:”

“You have done well to run FAST, but this race is not to the SWIFT; it is for those who have TIME and OPPORTUNITY working on their behalf.”

May the Lord give you the Wisdom to discern that your moment – IN TIME; and to go know when the Grace of God is upon you – to RUN THE RACE, to finish it well, to Glorify GOD.

… Just stand up and lift up your hands to God:

And I want you to talk to the Lord – And I want you to just ask the Lord to HELP YOU, in the Race that is Set before you! To Help you, to Help you!

It may seems like a Set Up for Failure, but it will turn into our ADVANTAGE, in the Name of Jesus -Amen!

Ask God to help you to SEIZE the Right moment:

I. Not to run other People’s races!

II. Not to be among those who ALSO run! – A wanna be! A copy cat.

But to do that which is Set before you, in the Name of Jesus!

CLOSING PRAYER:

Father we come to You, fully confident that You have Good Plans for our lives, and Destiny for our Assignment.

Although men may seek to manipulate the events of our lives; You will SET IT UP for our Glory!

Because Your Word says that: ALL things is going to walk together for our Good, because we Love You.

May this Season of our lives, Set us Up for SUCCESS; Set us Up for Message, set us Up for Achievement.

We may come from behind, but we will carry a Message!

We may not know the terrain well, but we will carry a Message!

May we run our Race EFFECTIVELY, to Your Glory Lord; in JESUS’ Name!

… And if you believe you are a CUSHITE for this moment, say: Amen – AMEN!!!!

Hallelujah! We give You Praise Lord and we give You Glory. In Jesus’ Name – Amen and AMEN!

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