Tues.'s Devo - Are You a Force?

Read 1 Chron. 26: 6-9
I don't know why I am spending so much time on these names except that there are some truths hidden in them that we need to uncover. Today we are going to talk about Shemaiah's sons. Shemaiah means "God has heard". That is comforting. It is beyond human comprehension to understand how God can hear and respond to every prayer prayed, but he does. Shemaiah's sons were commended because they ruled throughout their father's house and they were mighty men of valour. In Jewish culture the father would train the sons to do his trade and when they became trustworthy the father would turn the affairs of the household over to his sons and go and sit in the gate of the city and become an elder and a judge. Shemaiah's sons were able to rule their father's house well. They were powerful men of force and virtue. His first son's names meant "force". If you have a revelation that God hears everything you do, your prayers become a force. They accomplish what they are set out to do. The second son's name meant "God has healed and mended". This person has the opportunity to pray for the broken spirit and see God mend it. He can also pray for the sick and see results. The third son's name meant "serving". Every gift is a gift of service. We are all servants, serving with our different gifts. The next son's name meant "God has bestowed". This person realizes that gifts can be transferred just like anointings. Saul did not have a mantle of a king till Samuel bestowed that on him through prophecy. Whenever I hear a word given to someone that I want in my life I claim it and take it as mine. We can move in all the gifts and should. The next son's name meant "God is his strength". I rely on this one a lot, especially when I am called to do something that is not in my "strength department". It is then that I remember that in our weaknesses God is strong. He can do more in your weakness than in your strength because his strength is eons more powerful than our greatest strength. The last son's name meant "God is our support, the one we lean on". Everyone needs that encouragement. He is the one that props us up when we are weak and don't think we can keep going. Moses needed that and God sent Aaron and Hur to hold his arms up all day while the battle raged. God does that for us. He holds us up when we can't hold ourselves.
All these men are gatekeepers - intercessors, prophets, but they all have different assignments. These particular ones seemed more powerful in praying for healing- physically and emotionally, and confer gifts of faith on people.
The total number of Obededom's sons were 62. The number 62 means men who were tested to discern between good and evil. (I need to teach on numbers some day.) Meshelemiah's sons totaled 18 which means they were tested in the area of new revelation.
We are all prophets - people who can hear from God and repeat what he says and intercessors - those who can pray what we hear the spirit praying. So, Lord help us to see how easy it is to follow you and do our part. Stretch us beyond ourselves to become stronger and more effective for your name's sake.