If I Be A Man Of God

If I Be A Man Of God...

II Kings 1:9-10 NKJV

[9] Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: “Man of God, the king has said, ‘Come down!’ ” [10] So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 

I first heard the phrase, " If I be a Man of God", from Archbishop Idahosa before I read it in the word. Some seven armed robbers had gone to the Idahosa's house to accost some missionaries from England. That is when  the Bishop told them: " If I be a Man of God...". The robbers ran away. This is where the Archbishop read the original.

   There are moments when a man's calling faces resistance snd challenges. It is as if all hell is asking: "Who called you?" The devil tried it first with Jesus: “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down...."( Mat. 4:6 ). 

   Angie Ward was faced with this kind of problems. Hear her discovery: " The Bible never promises that following God will be easy. In fact, Jesus says that believers should expect to experience trouble in this world (John 16:33). While this verse also promises that Christ will have ultimate victory, the Bible gives plenty of examples of men and women who experienced challenges as they sought to obey God’s calling". 

   Its the attitude that makes meaning to me. The fire prophet called down fire on the fifty. Elijah still had the anointing. Its like saying, " I maybe old but I still got it". Respect returned. Join me tomorrow to see what God will do. Good morning.

When The Season Changes

When The Season Changes 

II Kings 1:7-8 NKJV

[7] Then he said to them, “What kind of man was it who came up to meet you and told you these words?” [8] So they answered him, “A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

Seasons had changed. Elijah was no more tge center of attention in the land. We all grow up and the attention we enjoyed passes unto the younger generation. We haven't heard much about Elisha so far, but very soon. Elijah's story appears occasionally now. Time has past. Even the kings emissaries did not appear to recognize Elijah. They could only describe his looks. 

   You will not always be young. Times will change. All you need to do is to maximize your season. Here is Andrew Linder talking about growth with our children. " Recognize your season.

Getting your season right starts by recognizing the different seasons and which one you’re currently in. There are four primary seasons of life for most people: childhood/growth years, family/parenting years, mid-life/empty-nester years, and the senior golden years.

Identifying your season ought to help shape your current goals and aspirations. There are things you can only do in certain seasons (like raising your kids), while there are many things you can always do, regardless of the season (like investing in hobbies or working late nights at the office). Recognizing your season should give clarity to prioritizing what you and others in your life need from you right now".

  There was a time Elijah could challenge the King and four hundred prophets of Baal on the same grounds. Today he can only wait for the King's messengers who do not even know him. Its their description that reminded the King that Elijah was still alive. Do me a favour, maximize your seasons. Even if you called fire from heaven, it will be forgotten. Elijah can tell that story better. 

  The only thing that didn't change with the man was his prophetic insight. Don't loose your anointing. Study James Rebanks’ book: The Shepherd. It will help you stabilize your life seasons. People use different climatic seasons to describe life seasons.  So it may vary from four in the temperate regions to two in the tropics if we accept the classifications. Whichever model you may want to use, remember, there will be a passage of season. Are you preparing for it? Good morning.

Ahaziah Enquires Of Baal-zeebub

Ahaziah Enqures Of Baal-zeebub

II Kings 1:2-4 NKJV

[2] Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.” [3] But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ [4] Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed.

Sometimes God may allow certain things to happen to us with the believe that we will run to Him as a father. In the midst of that crisis, God will not bend our will to Himself. He will still allow us freedom of choice. If you wonder why God would allow us such freedom, someone gives an answer. " God gives all of us freedom for ONE purpose, and ONE purpose only. And that is to choose to love Him. Because we cannot genuinely love without freedom. This does NOT mean that we are free to do evil, this means that we may MISuse our freedom and choose evil, but we are not supposed to". So Ahaziah made a choice for Baal-zebub.

   When things happen in your life how do you make your choices? Do we make choices that honour or dishonour God? Another scholar says, "... for love to be real, it must not be coerced. If we did not have the ability to reject God, then neither would we have the ability to truly love Him. Some theologians even go so far as to say that human freedom is the highest good and that even God will not violate it". 

   The only thing God did was to pull out the oldest prophet in the land to go and confront Ahaziah's messengers. Guzik says, " Ahaziah showed that he was a true worshipper of the pagan god Baal-Zebub because he turned to this god in his time of trouble". Who do turn to in trouble? Today turn to Jesus, the author and the finisher of faith. Turn to Him who can give you the answers to your pains. Turn to God. He has the answers. Good morning.

Ahaziah Had A choice

Ahaziah Had A Choice To Be Different 

I Kings 22:51-52 NKJV

[51] Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. [52] He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; 

Ahaziah had a choice to be different. Theres no law that you have to be like your parents. I am familiar with ancestral and parental influence on our upbringing. By such training, we are supposed to follow certain life patterns, but we can break those patterns. That is what the New Creation does for us. It translates us out of old paradigms to a new one and a new starting block.

   Ahaziah, like so many did not know this, so he continued in the fathers footsteps ( v.52 ). Hear me, you can remove the shackle. You can resist the devil. You can refuse the bet to continue in family patterns. The choice is yours to make when you're born again. 

   Simple by Emmy is not a preacher or a theologian, but her observations make a good reading. She's talking to mothers. " Our lives are the summation of the choices we make, and as much as I’d like to say that I am always intentional and mindful about mine, that is definitely not the case. I sometimes parent out of anger. I eat out of frustration. I stare at a screen out of boredom. Many times these choices are a result of a negative choice I made just prior: a choice to yell rather than listen, a choice to inhale food rather than exhale a deep breath, a choice to numb my discomfort rather than to acknowledge and work through it". Does that sound like what we do? Thats how life is lived.

   Greg McKeown in his book Essentialism deals with this matter of choice. " We often think of choice as a thing. But a choice is not a thing. Our options may be things, but a choice—a choice is an action. It is not just something we have but something we do. This experience brought me to the liberating realization that while we may not always have control over our options, we always have control over how we choose among them.”  I know we may say its the fulfillment of the word that was spoken to the father Ahab. Well here is another scholar: " In 853 BC, King Ahaziah of the northern Kingdom of Israel also relied on his faith for recovery. Yet, his faith actually became the cause of his death. He had a sincere faith, but there was just one problem—he was sincerely wrong. After suffering a major injury, he called upon the false god Baal-zebub, rather than Yahweh. And it cost him his life". Choice. What are your choices for today? Will they serve God or the devil? Good morning.

The Narrative Swings To Jehoshaphat

The Narrative Swings To Jehosaphat 

I Kings 22:42-44 NKJV

[42] Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. [43] And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. [44] Also Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

The narrative now swings to Judah, to tell the story of Jehoshaphat. He did right and even attempted to route the community of counter worship but he took major life decisions to entrench evil. Britannica explains some of those decisions , " Jehoshaphat aided Ahab in his unsuccessful attempt to recapture the city of Ramoth-gilead, joined Ahaziah in extending maritime trade, helped Jehoram in his battle with Moab, and married his son and successor, Jehoram, to Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab". Jehoshaphat is a picture of some Christians who wants to have both ways: serving the Lord and associating with the world at the same time. " Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world".( 1 John 2:15-16 ). It can't be clearer than that.

    Lusts are cravings to do evil. The lust of the flesh takes your desires and swing it out of control .The lust of the eyes wants to sacrifice everything else for what you see. The pride of life seeks to exclude God in your life accomplishments. Jehoshaphat fell for the things of the world.

   Add that to the fact that he had no motivation to remove the contrary worship centers like his father Asa did.  He revival lacked the zeal of a committed child of God. We can't serve two masters no matter how much we try. God has consistently said that He will spue such people out of His mouth( Rev.3:16 ). Our commitment to Christ must be tangible in every sphere. How do people see you? How do you see yourself? How does God see you? How is your commitment to God? Good morning.

.Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned 

I Kings 22:48-50 NKJV

[48] Jehoshaphat made merchant ships to go to Ophir for gold; but they never sailed, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber. [49] Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships.” But Jehoshaphat would not. [50] And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place. 

Some people don't learn very fast. So they tend to suffer the consequences of foolishness. The details of this story is told better in 2Ch 20:35-37. Jehoshaphat made an alliance with Ahaziah and it ended in disaster. The LORD told Jehoshaphat that he allied himself with Ahaziah. So the LORD destroyed his works (2Ch 20:37). It was after this word that Jehoshaphat turned down the offer of a continued alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel. Some people don't learn from their own mistakes or even from others.

   When we do not learn from divine guidance, we will learn from trial and error. That was Jehoshaphat's problem. In an article by Pub Med Central Website( Oct-Dec.2006,Vol.48,4), Shamassunder explains what happens in professional progress as we learn from life and mistakes. " Trial-and-error learning involves learning from consequences of one's behaviour. Some of the consequences will be mistakes. It is also logically possible to learn from others' mistakes, provided one knows the constituent inputs that led to a given mistake". When we learn from mistakes, we can "correct our responses and do things differently the next time we are in the same situation". That's what happened to Jehoshaphat. When we dont learn, we remain fools for life. It makes the enemy celebrate. 

  Someone says that to make no mistakes may not be in the power of a man, but the wise and the good learn from it wisdom for the future. The time to correct a mistake is before it is made. That is where the help of the Holy Spirit comes in. Refuse associations that will compromise your faith. Jehoshaphat learnt his lessons. We hope you do too. Good morning.

The Prophecy Fulfilled

The Prophecy Fulfilled.

I Kings 22:37-38, 40 NKJV

[37] So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. [38] Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken.

[40] So Ahab rested with his fathers. Then Ahaziah his son reigned in his place. 

We are familiar with the arguments of Ahab's death and whether Elijah's Elijah's prophecies were fulfilled. Benjamin Fireman has done a beautiful work in the Journal of Evangelical Theological Society( June 2015). Well, Micaiah's prophecy was fulfilled. Read the conclusions again. The dogs licked his blood while harlots bathed in the water. 

   Here is how one scholar reports that end, " There seems to have been a little fear in Ahab's heart that Micaiah's word would come to pass, for Ahab disguised himself before he went to battle. But a disguise can never prevent the word of the Lord from being fulfilled.". The word says, " The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). It follows up in Galatians " Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (6:7). Ahab reaped what he sowed, and wasted a whole generation.

    Imagine God's gestures of love to bring him to senses. Imagine all the warnings and prophecies. The irony is tbat the struggle for our salvation continues today. We can only learn from Ahab and Jehoshaphat. Has the word of God gone forth, be careful, because it will come to pass. Jehoshaphat must have learnt that evil association will wound you. Be careful Gods prophecies are still being fulfilled. Good morning.

Exposing The Lying Spirit

Exposing The Lying Spirit 

I Kings 22:20-22 NKJV

[20] And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. [21] Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ [22] The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 

It was difficult for Ahab and the rest of the court to believe one prophet when four hundred spoke a different thing. That's when it was needful for Miciah to reveal their source of inspiration. Without drawing us into complex arguments, it's is a recorded fact that Satan and its minions have access to heaven.(Job 1:6, Rev 12:10). Here's David Guzik: "  There is a well-intentioned but mistaken teaching that God can allow no evil in His presence, meaning that Satan and other fallen angels could not be in His presence.

    These passages show that God can allow evil in His presence, though He can have no fellowship with evil and one day all evil will be removed from His presence (Rev 20:14-15)". Another scholar submits, " And, just as in Job’s case, Satan and his minions can do only what God allows them to do (Job 1:12; 2:6). They never act independently of God’s sovereign and perfect will and purpose". Depite this exposure, the two Kings belied the lies of the four hundred false prophets.

    This is how the story ended at the battle field. "So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria( v.37 ). May every lying prophetic spirit be exposed in our communes in Jesus Name. May their confusion end like that of these prophets, in consternation. They claim to speak for God, but they actually subscribe to the god of the belly. It is a fearful thing to claim to speak what God has not spoken. It may look like spiritually, but its an easy way to death. Good morning.

The Character Of A True Prophet

The Character Of A True Prophet 

I Kings 22:17-18 NKJV

[17] Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ” [18] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

In 2010, Ed Grub told this story to demonstrate the difference between the fake and the real. " A certain jewelry store sold man-made stones as though they were priceless, natural gems. This was happening for years and scores of men & women bought what they thought were precious stones. No one questioned the authenticity until someone with trained eyes pointed out they were man-made. How were people deceived? The counterfeit looked remarkably like the real. The difference was not noticeable unless you had a trained eye. First you have to establish the criteria for the authentic: look at a real stone under a magnifying glass. Then will you be trained concerning what to look for in the counterfeit." No matter how much the fake tries to imitate the real, someone will find out one day.

     There are things to watch out in the life of a true prophet that sets them apart unto God. J. Cunningham Geikie addressed this matter in Bible Hub. He points out the following characteristics of a true prophet:

      *They may have a stern message   

       to deliver as Jeremiah had too. 

        Jer.26:4-7

      * They do not  diminish from the w

         ord no matter how unpopular or

         unpleasant 

     * A true prophet will speak 

           fearlessly 

     * A true prophet is promised the 

         backing of God

     * A true prophet will speak peace 

           as well as wrath as God 

            demands

It is as if he sat down to draw a portrait of Prophet Micaiah. The king of Israel concluded that the Prophet doesn't like him. 

    When the King of Israel said he should be returned to jail, Micaiah added the concluding part of the prophecy. “...If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” Boldness. And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”( I Kings 22:28 ). The rest was left for God to defend. And God did it. A true prophet delivers God's inspiration. It doesn't have to favour anyone. Its God's position on earth. Good morning.

Prophesying To Please

Prophesying To Please 

I Kings 22:16-18 NKJV

[16] So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” [17] Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ” [18] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

The preponderance of false prophets and prophecies in these last days have made it look like its a playground for fakes. Prophecy is a special ministry gift with divinely inspired revelation or interpretation.  Christinity.com says that it: " encapsulates the divine communication of God's will, often foretelling future events or conveying messages of moral and spiritual significance. Prophets, as designated messengers of God, play a pivotal role in this dynamic relationship between the Creator and His creation. The voices of prophets such as Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah echo through the pages of the Old and New Testaments, each prophet uniquely contributing to the unfolding story of salvation, redemption, and the fulfillment of God's promises." When Prophets or people with prophecies begin to use the guft for merchandising or control, it is not different from witchcraft.

   In our reading today, there appear two class of prophets. One set prophesy to please the King, and Micaiah prophesied for his conscience and Jehovah. There are so many lives that have been ruined, marriges scattered, and homes and businesses destroyed because of false prophets and their prophecies. Prophecies must be judged by the word of God. 

  Micaiaih's prophecy was not pleasing to Ahab or Jehosaphat. So they set out together. Even in the Old Testament, there were guidelines and warnings on how to receive prophets and prophecies. Deut.18:20-22,  Jer.23:16-18,22. Prophetic words aren't to please the hearers. They are to communicate insights from the council of heaven. God knows how to defend His words when people disparage the prophecies and the prophets. On no account should a prophet prophesy to please. Whose words do you listen to? Good morning.

The Word For Today

The Word Of the Lord For Today 

I Kings 22:5-7 NKJV

[5] Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.” [6] Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” [7] And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?”

These were two leaders. One had a tradition of asking God for divine directions, the other acts by what and how he feels. Where do you belong? Greg Hauser of Independent Baptist Church explains why the word of God is important in our daily decisions in life . " It guides us through our daily lives.  It informs us on the decisions we make.  It directs us in how we should conduct our lives as Christians.  It even shows us how to speak to and care for others.  It is an integral and important part of who we are". Im sure Jehoshaphat didn't read that. It was part of the serious Jewish lifestyle to include divine directions in their daily grind so that Jehovah will make their day victorious. What about you?

    David Guzik makes a very poignant suggestion about this matter.  "Considering the generally adversarial relationship between Ahab and the prophets of Yahweh, this was a bold request for Jehoshaphat to ask of Ahab. It wasn’t surprising that Ahab picked prophets who would tell them what they wanted to hear". The stage is set for whose word you prefer to hear everyday.

    There's a word for you everyday. Its real excitement for me to hear God's word on a daily basis. Jesus said we couldn't survive without Gods word: Mat.4:4. The Palmist says he could meditate on the word of God all day long( Psa.119:97). That's why he could speak the Psalms. What do you meditate on? When the word finally came, over four hundred false prophets spoke lies. It took one bold prophet to tell them the truth despite manipulations. God, give us men. Go for the word today. There's a divine direction for you there. Good morning.

You're Different

You're Different 

I Kings 22:4-5 NKJV

[4] So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” [5] Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.”

You may be related to some people, but the moment you have an encounter with Christ, and surrender to follow Him, there's a difference between you and them. The difference between you as a New Creation and the Natural creation is huge. There was a difference between Ahab and Jehoshaphat. They represented different creations. Ahab had consistently rejected the overtures of Jehovah, and was King of Israel. Jehoshaphat loved God, was King of Judah, but had weaknesses in his associations. This is a report in Britannica, " Jehoshaphat aided Ahab in his unsuccessful attempt to recapture the city of Ramoth-gilead, joined Ahaziah in extending maritime trade, helped Jehoram in his battle with Moab, and married his son and successor, Jehoram, to Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab". A wise man explains," Jehoshaphat was a man of great diplomatic skill, and his biggest weakness was his habit of forming alliances with evil men — first with Israel's King Ahab, then later with Ahab's son King Ahaziah, and finally with Ahab's son King Jehoram. The LORD soundly reprimanded him for supporting sin in that way". Your excitement in relationships are not more important than Gods demands.

   God has still not changed His mind in our relationships with unbelivers in the New Testament. Here's  how a member of NLWC answers it." The Gospel already establishes the fact that we cannot have unbelievers as our best friends because there is no basis of fellowship between righteousness and unrighteousness". (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).  Selah!

   Paul taught us to walk in wisdom with unbelivers. While we love unbelivers, the Biblical wisdom to relate  "  with unbelievers would create a platform to share Christ with them, when the opportunity presents itself". You can not have great expectations of virtue from an unbeliver. No matter your opinions, that the New Testament condition. You may bless and unbeliver, but you do not share fellowships. You may lead them to Christ before  you establish roots of deeper relationships. This is because our beliefs affect our relationships. The Bible  calls one light, and the other darkness. Choose light. Good morning.

Ahab Murdered And Took Possession

Ahab Mudered And Took Possession 

I Kings 21:17, 19-20 NKJV

[17] Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,...[19] You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” ” [20] So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord.

In this matter, Ahab was King, husband and the beneficiary of the crimes committed by Jezebel. He couldn't feign ignorance especially, not to the old Elijah. The attempts by some scholars to make Ahab a near kinsman of Naboth has no proofs. Guzik says, "Elijah did what few other men had the courage to do – confront this wicked, brutal, and amoral king and queen of Israel. He pointedly charged them with the two crimes of both murder and theft of Naboth’s land". The Expositor's Commentary is very scathing in its report of this confrontation, " The advantage of his crime was snatched from him at the instant of fruition. Half in anger, half in anguish, he cried, "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?"

   Its a terrible feeling when your sins find you out( Num.32:23 ). The Lord saw through the intrigues and brought out the old prophet. Ahab must have felt like a masquerade undressed in the market place. That language must be very unique to Africa. Its like being caught as a thief in broad daylight. 

  Don't try ro cover your sins (Prov.28:13). If covering sin was sufficient, Christ would not have come to die. What Ahab needed was repentance. The words spoken by the prophet that day fulfilled in his son. It wasn't worth the garden or the murder. Most people do not think of the consequences when they feel the rush of adrenaline. Remember, your sins will find you out. Good morning.

Jezebel's Plot

Jezebel's Plot

I Kings 21:8-10 NKJV

[8] And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. [9] She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; [10] and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die.

I was so tempted to title this vignette: High Honour, Accusations and Death. That is the summary of Jezebel's plot to take Naboth's Vineyard. Brittannicca summarises her actions  as tampering "... with the exclusive worship of the Hebrew God, Yahweh, by disregarding the rights of the common people, and by defying the great prophets Elijah and Elisha, she provoked the internecine strife that enfeebled Israel for decades. She has come to be known as an archetype of the wicked woman". Her greatest wickedness was the killing of Naboth. She demonstrated she was willing to do anything just to have her way. 

   She impersonated the husband, stole the nation's seal and planted men to lie against an innocent man. If anyone deserved punishment, it should have been Jezebel. Its not tgat the husband was not aware. He was, but as we said in our earlier post, he was a Man Child. Momma had come to fight for him. So he kept quiet. Guzik says that Alexander  McLaren observed three types of character in the rising action. "...: (1) Ahab, who was wicked and weak. (2) Jezebel, who was wicked and strong. (3) The Elders of Jezreel, who were wicked and subservient". Wherever these set of factors intersect in a nation, the " Man Dies ". Naboth died. What do you do when evil is taking over your town and cities. We dont just aquiese, we pray, intense prayers before we act. No one prayed for Naboth. Jezebel's influence had become a religion. May God raise you as a part of the generational intercessors that will pray for the survival of people like Naboth. It's the reason Christ came to set men free, and free indeed. Good morning.

Toying With People's Inheritance

Toying with People's inheritance 

I Kings 21:1-3 NKJV

[1] And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. [2] So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.” [3] But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”

An inheritance is " the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations". It is what parents leave for their children. It is a reminder of vestiges of relationships. It tells of the struggles, achievements and victories of a family. Bakers Evangelical Dictionary adds that " Legal inheritance refers to actual property or goods received after a family member's death. While Jewish inheritance customs were linked to family blood lines, Greek and Roman laws also provided for the disposition of family possessions through the adoption of an heir. The Scriptures transform the concept of inheritance to include the acquisition of spiritual blessings and promises from God". Understood this way, it explains why Naboth could not easily exchange his inheritance for another place.

   Read the details. The king wanted the place for a vegetable garden. Imagine that. What about the associated history of the family? For it Naboth was killed. 

  The devil is willing to kill today, just to access your inheritance under God. "The focus of the inheritance concept in the Old Testament is God's promise to Abraham. The land of Canaan was bequeathed to him and his descendants as an eternal possession ( Gen 12:7 )". Today there's still a battle of inheritance going on in the middle east between Israel and the Palestinians. Nicholas Batzig tells the story of the mother's explanation of inheritance. " ...there are different kinds of inheritances that parents can leave their children. Most limit their understanding of an inheritance to the financial realm, while the Scriptures predominantly emphasize the importance of leaving your descendants a spiritual inheritance. The latter is far more important than the former.” Eph.1:11, Col3:24. Heb.9:15 all point out that inheritance we have in Christ while on earth. The enemy wants to steal that inheritance. We must fight for it. 1 Peter 1:4 says that the inheritance we have received can never perish,spoil or fade. Dont let the enemy toy with your inheritance. Good morning.

Your Obedience Must Be Complete

Your Obedience Must be Complete 

I Kings 20:31-32, 42 NKJV

[31] Then his servants said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please, let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.” [32] So they wore sackcloth around their waists and put ropes around their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says, ‘Please let me live.’ ” And he said, “Is he still alive? He is my brother.”...

[42] Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ”

The MkJV renders 2Cor.10:6 this way, " ...and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled". Paul had admonished the Corinthians that its easy to deal with the enemy when they are properly submitted under  God. This was Ahab's greatest weakness. Ahab could choose what he wants, not always what God wants. You'd be very surprised at how many find the covenant walk restrictive. So, many are prepared to shift base if they can get something beneficial to their disobedience.

   This is David Guzik, " God intended that Ben-Hadad should be utterly destroyed, but He also intended that this happen by the hand of the army of Israel. God was interested in more than the mere death of Ben-Hadad, but also in the way that death came about". Ahab contradicted God's expectations because he wanted  trade opportinities with Syria.   

   Guzik adds, " Perhaps Ahab wanted Ben-Hadad and Syria’s friendship as protection against the powerful and threatening Assyrian Empire. If so, he looked for friends in the wrong places". Then he quotes Trapp, " This was not courtesy, but foolery. Brother Ben-Hadad will ere long fight against Ahab with that life which he had given him (chapt. 22:31).” When we don't obey God in full, we make fools of ourselves and suffer the consequences. Obedience is an act of worship. It is described by Kuwali as " hearing the word of God and acting on it. It implies aligning our will to God's will; doing what God has asked us to do. It is when we completely surrender to His authority and base our decisions and our actions on His Word". Our obedience to God must always be complete. Jesus demostrated complete obedience, even to the death on the cross. Is your obedience complete? Good morning.

God Of The Mountain

God Of The Mountain 

I Kings 20:28-29 NKJV

[28] Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ” [29] And they encamped opposite each other for seven days. So it was that on the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed one hundred thousand foot soldiers of the Syrians in one day. 

 

A couple, Tracy and Sharon Dartt had a life shattering experience as pool builders in 1974. They were broke. Their pool building company was in heavy debt, and faced foreclosure. In the course of cries for help from God, Tracy wrote the song. God answered the prayers. The song later became a number one hit song on the charts. This is Tracy, "God On The Mountain" has been recorded hundreds of times, by artists such as Lynda Randle, Jake Hess, Jessy Dixon, John Starnes, the list goes on and on. It has been translated into several languages as well. This simple little song, comprised of 72 words and 4 chords, has been an encouragement to thousands of people.".

   David Vryhoff did a podcast review of the song with these words: " The song acknowledges that life has its ups and downs, its mountains and valleys, and that it’s easy to talk of faith “when life’s at its best.” But when we’re “down in the valley of trials and temptations, that’s where [our] faith is really put to the test”. The song was drawn from the metaphor of the verses we are reading today. 

  Sometimes, the enemy thinks it has you conerned. It thinks that where you're, God is unable to reach you and help you. The devil is a wild dreamer, because, I can tell you stories of God's deliverance from the depths of the earth to the top of Mount Everest. Read the story again. God heard them. 

  The story is similar to what the devil tried with Jesus. It thought it has dealt with Jesus. It thought the case was closed. Three days kater, Jesus was back to life. Your situation is going to change. You will not always be under. God can fight for you whether it be on the mountain or in the valley. You may be experiencing a night season now, but the day will break again. 

  Enjoy some part of that lyrics here: " Life is easy, when you're up on the mountain

And you've got peace of mind, like you've never known

But things change when you're down in the valley

Don't lose faith, for you're never alone

For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley

When things go wrong, He'll make them right

And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times

The God of the day is still God in the night". (Tracy Dartt). Good morning.

Prophetic Enforcement

Prophetic Enforcement 

I Kings 20:23-25 NKJV

[23] Then the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they. [24] So do this thing: Dismiss the kings, each from his position, and put captains in their places; [25] and you shall muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain; surely we will be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.

The enemy may change tatics but it will be defeated. Prophecies have to be enforced by wisdom and proper planning. A young woman I know waited to be married. A word was given to her by several people, but she remained adamant in being prayerless and didn't care about changing her appearance. She still dressed as if she was already a retired mother of three. Days passed, and no one spoke to her. Later, she left the church for a new place. She never used the word she was given to war. It wasn't a matter of location. Her problem was enforcing the prophecy. 

   Here is a response to that situation from a seasoned minister of the gospel. " Prophecy is not the ultimate, but it is a means to an end. Prophecy is a tool, a weapon of war. Prophecy is one of the weapons of our warfare (2 Cor. 10). Timothy was instructed/CHARGED by the apostle Paul, to take the prophecy of God on his life and war/fight with it, USING IT AS A SPIRITUAL WEAPON OF WAR." 

   Most people, unfortunately, want to just know what God thinks sbout them or their situations. They are not interested in doing anything about their conditions. God wants us to be co-creator's with Him( 1Cor.3:9 ). We are familiar with Hefner's position on this. That doesn't mean youre equal with God, it means you have a share in creation. Paul told Timothy that he should war with the prophecies ( 1Tim.1:18 ) when Daniel understood by the books the time of his people, he began to pray about it ( Daniel 9:2-3 ). Brit Eaton says this matter better, " You are a created being who creates. You are not a deified Creator. You’re like God. But you are not God. Got it? ". So in v.28 of our reading, the man of God returned to enforce the word he had given before.

   We have to contend for every prophetic word we have received. We have to remind God that we are waiting for the manifestation, and we are holding unto Him. By the end of that day, the battle was in favour of the people of God. You are empowered for a prophetic reinforcement. That's why we pray the word of God. God is well able to defend His word. Please pray the word. Good morning.

Be Alert: The Enemy will Return

Be Alert: The Enemy Will Return 

I Kings 20:22 NKJV

[22] And the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself; take note, and see what you should do, for in the spring of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.” 

In Mat.12:43-45, there's a story about the attitude of demons cast out of someone. Jesus explains that these spirits will walk about ,and finding no rest. So they decide to go back to the old house. They always want to return to check out where they were driven away, with the intention to return with more wicked demons. 

   Currently, there's an international situation between Israel and Hamas on a piece of ground between Egypt and Gaza. Its called the Philadelphi Corridor. The Israeli President doesn't have faith that the enemy will not use the border to import weapons to attack Israel. He is seeking a ratification of the 2005 agreement. Its a little piece of land of a hundred meters by fourteen kilometers. That piece of ground, the President says, will make the enemy to return. The issue is not winning the war. The issue is to be on the alert that the enemy will return.

   So the prophet gave the warning that the enemy will return. Be alert, the enemy's greatest weakness is that it will return for that same house. How ready are you? Most people tend to relax after the initial victory. Please be informed, the enemy will return. Do what the Prophet says: strengthen yourself. Study, fast, pray, discuss strategies. Don't let the devil take you unawares.

   Most people loose spiritual warfare because they loose sight of the enemy's return. In the military, the strategy that works is Clear and Hold. That is a " strategy in which military personnel clear an area of guerrillas or other insurgents, and then keep the area clear of insurgents while winning the support of the populace for the government and its policies". Hold your ground. Good morning.

Exploits Of Emerging leaders

Exploits Of The Emerging Leaders

I Kings 20:15, 17-18 NKJV

[15] Then he mustered the young leaders of the provinces, and there were two hundred and thirty-two; and after them he mustered all the people, all the children of Israel—seven thousand....

[17] The young leaders of the provinces went out first. And Ben-Hadad sent out a patrol, and they told him, saying, “Men are coming out of Samaria!” [18] So he said, “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive.”

For once Ahab was obedient to a Prophet. He even wanted to know the details of how the battle will be fought. That was a good sign. The Prophet told him that the emerging leaders from the provinces will lead the battle. 

   What was about to happen here was going to be beyond human experience. God was not interested in the people who had abandoned a sense of order and were just wasting military funds. God was interested in the next generation. You're a part of this generation.

   An online article from Coventry University describes an emerging leader as being different from assigned leader. " Assigned leaders are people who become leaders by being given a formal leadership role in their organisation. In contrast, an emergent leader is someone who becomes a leader due to the way other group members respond to them". John Dijulius and colleague add that emerging leaders "...are team members who not only perform their jobs well but also demonstrate potential for growth and leadership beyond their current roles, primarily by demonstrating emotional intelligence in addition to strong critical thinking skills. They are willing to take on challenges and are very proactive in seeking solutions. They also demonstrate their leadership potential with a natural ability to inspire their colleagues". Those words are not from a Bible commentary. They are just critical writings from experts in leadership. So emerging leaders are innovative, collaborative and adaptable people who own the vision of the nation.They were few. In a whole nation, only two hundred and thirty two were found. Perhaps they remind you of Gideons three hundred who stoop up to lap water to show tgeir readiness for battle. These were the kind of people God picked. Would you have been picked if this happened today? Exploits was made because of these men. Is your team full of emergent leaders? Think about it. Good morning.

The Intervening Variable

The Intervening Variable 

I Kings 20:12-14 NKJV

[12] And it happened when Ben-Hadad heard this message, as he and the kings were drinking at the command post, that he said to his servants, “Get ready.” And they got ready to attack the city. [13] Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver it into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ” [14] So Ahab said, “By whom?” And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘By the young leaders of the provinces.’ ” Then he said, “Who will set the battle in order?” And he answered, “You.”

In a story, an obstacle is described as an intervening variable. It is what was not intended by the character in action, but whose activities precipitate a consequence.  Ben-Hadad's action moved heaven to respond. V13 says, " suddenly"..Praise God for a change of actions. The devil wont continue forever. Suddenly, God interrupted. Whenever God interupts the flow of the story, it turns in a new direction. The battle is not just yours. There are spiritual players as well. Read v.13 again.

   In a story, the intervening variable could be a person, a spirit or a thing that stops the enemy from accomplshing its purpose. That's what the cross did on Calvary. Someone says that , " Intervening variables intervene between the independent and dependent variables to navigate their relationship". For the more professional readers, " The intervening variable is a control variable that will follow an independent variable, preceding the dependent variable in a causal succession". Now don't ask me to start explaining all that. The main thing is that the intervening variable is a control variable. Without the cross, we could have been meat for the enemy. The cross intervened in your story. Hallelujah!

   That intervening variable leaves us with a Name and power above other names. That is what that Prophet's entrance into the war signified. He began, " Thus says the Lord..". If God intervened for Ahab, He is going to intervene for you. If anyone deserved disgrace, it should have been Ahab, but Israel is God's inheritance. So are you. Today in the Name of Jesus Christ, we activate the intervening variable on your behalf. Let the enemy fall. Let them suffer the disgrace that was meant for you. There's an intervention on your behalf. Phew! Thank you Jesus. 

   For once, even Ahab listened to advice. Who wouldn't? The variable changed the story. That's how yours will change. Good morning.

The Battle Is Not Always To The Strong

The Battle Is Not Always To The Strong

I Kings 20:1-3 NKJV

[1] Now Ben-Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his forces together; thirty-two kings were with him, with horses and chariots. And he went up and besieged Samaria, and made war against it. [2] Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “Thus says Ben-Hadad: [3] ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your loveliest wives and children are mine.’ ”

When Solomon addressed the implications of cause and effects in life, he mentions that there could be  intervening variables. He was saying that there are somethings that can stop the flow of that principle. The variables are time and chance or events as TheBibilesays commentary puts it. " We are not in control of circumstances. Things happen, events transpire. These are events we had nothing to do with and cannot control. And those events can have huge impacts on us. The longer we live, the more likely such events are to impact us. Humans often pretend it is not so. Humans often are oblivious to this reality. But it is reality. No matter what we do, we cannot prevent time and chance, events, from overriding the consequences of our own actions". This was the guiding principle which Ahab sent in the reply to Ben-Hadad's son. If you read down to v. 11, it fits with the proverb.

   Sometimes you need to look the enemy in the eyes and say: enough is enough. Until you do that, the enemy will take an advantage of you. There's so much depth in the utterance of Ahab in v11. He was simply saying: bring it on!

    The commentsry continues, " Normally men of ability gain the most favor. That favor might come in the form of awards or recognition. It might manifest itself in the form of success. But sometimes events, time and chance, overtake ability. We cannot control outcomes in this life". Ben-Had appeared not have understood that. Neither does the devil. 1Cor.2:8 "...which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory". By the end of the battle, the confidence payed off. Hang unto your confidence because it has a great recompense of rewards. The enemy won't win. Ive seen the records. Itys to your favour. You xan take that to the bank. Good morning.