HUSTLERS IN CHURCH: AHIMAAZ PREACHERS
Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, perfectly represents many preachers in today’s church. He was a man who was full of zeal, he was loyal, and had good speed; but he lacked one thing which was THE MESSAGE.
In 2 Samuel 18, King David’s son Absalom had just been killed during a rebellion and it was a moment that required very strong discernment, deep sensitivity, and truth. Joab, who was David’s general, by wisdom chose a Cushite messenger to take the news back to the king – this SENT MAN was not famous or flashy, but one thing was sure, HE WAS SENT.
But Ahimaaz begged to run.
Joab told him plainly: “You have no good news that will bring you a reward.” In other words, he was telling Ahimaaz that he never bore any message; but Ahimaaz insisted that he was willing to run anyway.
Reluctantly, Joab said, “Run.”
He did run truly and even outran the Cushite that was sent, he got to David first, and stood before him, eager and visible; but when David asked him about Absalom, all he could say was:
“I saw a great commotion, but I don’t know what it was.”
He was FAST, VISIBLE, IMPRESSIVE but COMPLETELY EMPTY.
This is exactly what we’re witnessing today in the Church, a generation of hustlers doing ministry, men and women running so hard, building brands, gathering crowds, pioneering churches, flaunting the titles like “apostle,” “prophet,” and most recently we now have people with the tag “revivalist”, but they have no message from heaven.
They are Ahimaaz preachers:
They beg for platforms but have no burden.
They outrun those who are sent, but they don’t even know what the fight is all about.
They chase visibility, but usually evade and avoid accountability.
They are very loud on social media, but are mute in the secret place.
They are simply hustlers in the house of God, turning ministry into a hustle, the calling into a career path, and the sacred into strategy.
Let’s be honest with ourselves, there is a difference between being gifted and being sent and between running and having a revelation. There is also a difference between crowds following you and God truly trusting you with great treasuers.
The problem with Ahimaaz was not just that he ran without being sent, it was that he arrived before the real messenger yet he had nothing to say. He wasted energy, wasted attention, wasted time and still delayed the truth. Isn’t that what is happening today? We have loads of true messengers who are humble, hidden, and obedient; they are on their way, still trying to find their stability while the stage is already filled with those who rushed ahead in their own ambition.
The Church must wake up.
We must stop endorsing speed over substance.
We must stop being impressed by charisma without character.
We must stop giving microphones to people who have not been with the Lord.
We must stop celebrating noise over message.
We must make room for those who have truly been with Jesus to deliver the Message they have received, even if they are slower, unknown, or are not trending. We must allow the Cushites come to the limelight, the ones with scars from the battlefield and a message from the King.
To the Ahimaaz Preachers:
- Sit down until you have a message
- Wait until you are sent
- Don’t confuse ambition for assignment
- You may outrun men, but you will not outrun God
“I did not send these prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.” — Jeremiah 23:21
May the Lord help His Church.
