Let the Others Judge

In I Kings 22, Israel's evil king Ahab was planning to go to war with an enemy-nation.  He invited Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, to visit him, hoping to persuade Jehoshaphat to join in his war.

But when they counseled together, the Godly Jehoshaphat asked Ahab to "Please inquire first for the word of the Lord" (v. 5).

Ahab called together 400 of Israel's prophets, all of whom duly prophesied that God would bless Ahab with victory over his enemies.  But Jehoshaphat evidently suspected those prophets might be agents of Ahab's political "spin," and again asked "Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him ?" (v. 7).

Reluctantly, Ahab admitted "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah” (v. 8).  But put on the spot, Ahab knew He had to let Micaiah speak, to satisfy Jehoshaphat.

The messenger sent to summon Micaiah warned him that all the other prophets had pronounced God's blessing on Ahab's plans, and begged him not to say otherwise.  But Micaiah told him, "As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak" (v. 14).

But when he appeared before the kings, Micaiah also told Ahab to go ahead with his plan, and God would "give it into the hand of the king" (v. 15).  He must have said it in a tone of heavy sarcasm: Ahab could tell Micaiah didn't mean it; and angrily told him "How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord ?" (v. 16).

So Micaiah did.  He announced that God said if the kings persisted in their plan, their people would be scattered throughout the mountains, leaderless: so they and their armies should best go home "in peace" (v. 17).

Micaiah's prophecy proved true.  Israel and Judah were defeated in the battle Ahab desired to fight, and Ahab himself was killed.  But my attention was drawn to how Ahab received...or rather, how he refused to receive...God's word.

"Did I not tell you," Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil ?" (v. 18).  Ahab said (publicly, at least) that he wanted to hear "nothing but the truth" of God's word: but he didn't really.  And when God's direction was contrary to his wishes, Ahab rejected God's word.

Ahab rejected God's word in the deadly self-delusion that Micaiah's words weren't really God's words.  Ahab convinced himself that Micaiah's unfavorable prophecy was personal with the prophet, because "he hates me."

It can be impossible, for those entirely certain all their ways are pleasing to God, to ever believe God would contradict them.  For the self-confident, God's correction or warning can only, ever, come from the prophet's opinions, emotions, politics, or personality.

It's mortal error to mistake God's word.  Ahab's deadly mistake was dismissing Micaiah's prophecy as personal animosity.  He'd made the same mistake when he rejected Elijah's warning that God would punish the king's sins with nationwide drought, claiming the prophet only said so because he was an ill-intentioned "troubler of Israel" (I Kings 18:7)

So it's a heavy responsibility God entrusts to all who "...pass judgement" on prophetic utterances (I Corinthians 14:29).

Micaiah showed the true prophetic spirit, entirely determined that "what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak."  Those who "pass judgement" on prophecy...the Church' "official" prophets in Spirit-filled worship, or kings, or we ordinary members of the Church to whom God is speaking...must judge prophecy on no other criteria than is it God's word ?

Today's self-willed and self-assured, like Ahab, who will not believe God's ways and plans can ever be different than their own, can only ever hear God's prophetic warnings as personal attacks by the prophet.   It is a deadly error to mistake God's word, in our time as much as it was in Ahab's.

Amen.

Oh Yeah

Jesus once rebuked His followers VERY harshly for failing to "discern this present time" (Luke 12:56).   It seems a good question, then, for His followers today, if WE "discern" this present time.

It seems Jesus expected His followers to perceive the Spiritual reality and significance of what was taking place in front of them.  Probably the same kind of thing He meant when He admonished those with ears (/eyes) to hear (/see), to hear (/see).

Jesus' point is clear: His followers, then and now, must perceive the "times" the way He does.

A few scriptures help me "discern" how Jesus sees "this present time."

 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus defined “murder” as angry, hate-filled contempt for others (Matthew 5:21-2).  And it's always a good theological rule of thumb that whatever Jesus says something is, it IS.

His definition is key to understanding what He meant that some of His followers were actually “children of the devil,” doing the lies and "murder" that are satan's desires and very nature (John 8:44).

With that identification of the enemy and his forces, Jesus also grounds us in His view of spiritual warfare.  Is anything more critical in a morally-murky world and time, than knowing where Jesus authoritatively draws the battle-line ?

Matthew 23:15 has long been one of my "HUH !?!" scriptures: those verses or passages that seize your attention because you're not quite sure how to take them.  Most of us probably have a few in our mental grab-bag, waiting for God to put His light on them.

My "HUH !?!" is that we usually hear "evangelism" preached as a Christian absolute, Jesus' command incumbent on every Christian, in every situation, every day.  Indeed, we often hear evangelism preached as Jesus' greatest command...The Great Commission.

But in Matthew 23:15, Jesus proclaims "woe" to "hypocrites" who (He says) "...cross sea and land to make one convert; and make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."

Clearly Jesus isn't down-grading evangelism per se: rather people (probably not "scribes and Pharisees only) who evangelize from evil motive.  My best guess is that He means those who "win souls to Christ" for their own glory, rather than God's.  Self-glorification (like that of the spiritual personage addressed in Isaiah 14) would certainly be somewhere near the top of the Hit Parade of Sins: and doing so in the pretence of glorifying God is probably correspondingly high on the hypocrisy-scale.

The most we can say for certain is that Jesus didn't consider evangelism inherently, or unquestionably, righteous. (I'd question too that He considered it His premier command to His followers, since He specifically designated another as "first.")

But God brought that scripture back to mind this past week, on a different consideration: that Jesus' calling hypocritical evangelizers "sons of hell" is very similar to His characterization of "murder"-ous liars as "children of the devil."  I have to think Jesus views those two kinds of people alike, as His spiritual enemies. *

Certainly in our "present time” they are allied in a major attack on Christ and His followers.

Self-described “Evangelical Christians” today are the single biggest “demographic” supporting politicians whose manifest, and complete, character is lies and hateful contempt for others (“murder").  In the last two U.S. elections "Evangelicals" overwhelmiingly wanted (voting 81% and 75%) to follow (and want our country to follow) a "child of the devil."

(Those numbers also undoubtedly show that some "Evangelicals" who truly love Jesus, and desire to follow Him.  We know that was similarly true even among the Pharisees whom Jesus denounced so harshly, and so often.)

I consider these words of Jesus tell us how He Spiritually views our "present time," and how His followers must.

If so, the inescapable prophetic question for Christians in our time is this: how long will Jesus allow His Name to be used by false "followers" to endorse the works of satan ?

My guess is "not much longer."  Amen.

* Strengthening that identification, Jesus only ever used a similar phrase one other time, of Judas, a "son of perdition," John 17:12.

What Time Is It ?

In my favored NASB translation of the Bible, the word "hypocrite" is used 18 times, all by Jesus.  The NIV uses the word 18 times, but once is in Proverbs.  The word appears 31 times in the King James Version, with 11 in the Old Testament (8 of those in Job).

In whatever translation, Jesus owns the word "hypocrite."  He uses it a few times in a general sense, describing "hypocrisy" per se: but most often it's how He characterizes some religious leaders of His time, usually the "scribes and Pharisees."

Except once.  In Luke 12:54-56, speaking to "the crowds" who followed to hear His teaching, Jesus said

"Whenever you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it turns out.  And whenever you feel a south wind blowing, you say, 'It will be a hot day,' and it turns out that way.  You hypocrites !  You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and sky, but how is it that you do not know how to analyze this present time ?" (my emphasis)

Undoubtedly Jesus knew that calling your audience unflattering names is a sure way to lose them.  Or maybe His point was so important, and "the crowds" so clueless, that He thought it needed to be said ?

The Greek word there translated "analyze" is dokimazo: to test, examine closely, prove what is genuine.  In secular use, Greeks would dokimazo a coin to ascertain if it was actually silver or gold.  Jesus exhorted "the crowds" who followed Him to similarly "analyze" the spiritual time in which they were living.

If Jesus was speaking to us as well, about "this present time," two facts seem extremely relevant:

In Jesus' discourse on His return and "the end of the age" in Matthew 24, He repeatedly warns His followers not to be misled by the many deceivers who target Christians in that time, including "Christian" deceivers.

In 2016, 81% of self-described "Evangelicals" voted that a blatant liar should be America's leader; and 75% of "Evangelicals" again wanted to follow him in 2020.

Are today's crowds of Jesus' supposed "followers" Spiritually analyzing "this present time:" or do they deserve His harsh rebuke, "You hypocrites !"

Amen.

What spiritual time is it for Christians in America ?

What's The Church ?

Studying the gifts of the Spirit (charismata), it struck me long ago that we are exhorted to "...earnestly desire the greater gifts" (I Corinthian 12:31).  Paul explained a few verses later what he meant by a greater gift: "...greater is one who prophesies...so that the church may receive edifying" (I Corinthians 14:5).

In this context, relative "greatness" is nothing about the person to whom the Spirit gives a word of prophecy.  There are certainly some members of the congregation recognized as "prophets:" but Paul's "all may prophesy" (I Corinthians 14:31) may be open-ended, that the Spirit can give His word to anyone among the gathered Church.  That would certainly be consistent with the teaching that The Spirit Sovereignly ",,,distributes [charismata] to each one, just as he determines" (I Corinthians 12:11).

A charismata is "great" relative to its edifying ("building up") the Church, the Bride Jesus loved so much He gave His Life for her (Ephesians 5:25).  The "love chapter" (I Corinthians 13) is literally at the center of scripture's primary teaching on charismata i(n Chapters 12 and 14); and we manifest Jesus' love for the Church when we minister His Life-giving Spirit to build her up.

A charismatic understanding of the Church re-orders our operative view of the church.  It also fundamentally re-orders our view of each other...the Church...that any one of us may, at any time The Spirit chooses, speak out God's word of "...edification or exhortation or consolation" (I Corinthians 14:3).

Amen.

Discerning "Interpretations" of Prophecy

So how do we know if an interpretation of prophecy…our OWN or someone else’s…is valid ?

Scripture says the Spirit ALONE, Who authors prophecy,  is able to interpret its meaning:

“But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter

 of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of

 human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”  (I Peter 1:20,21)

Jesus gives us these guidelines for recognizing if an interpretation of prophecy is from the Spirit:

     “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…

       and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me…”  (John 16:13-14a)

If an interpretation of prophecy is untrue, it is not from the Spirit.  (Under Moses' Law, the penalty was death for saying God prophesied something was going to happen, and it didn’t: Deuteronomy 18:20-22.  Such a law would certainly thin the ranks of today’s “interpreters of Biblical prophecy.")

Likewise, if an interpretation of prophecy glorifies man, man’s thoughts, man’s ways, or man’s works, it is not from the Spirit.   The Spirit will glorify Jesus: He will emphatically NOT glorify any “interpreter of Biblical prophecy.”  Nor will He glorify any nation of men, doctrine of men, culture of men, or political faction of men.

Many of today’s self-proclaimed “interpreters” tell us that Biblical prophecy says the “culture war” doctrines of a current political faction are the only way to “save” America.  The book I noted a few months ago, Letter to the American Church (authored by a “conservative”-media celebrity) is a prime example.

Let me say here, forcefully and firmly, that no such “interpretation” of prophecy is from the Spirit of God.

Amen, and amen !!

What If Jesus Was Serious ?, by Skye Jethani

 Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness…”   Matthew 5:10

“When Jesus spoke about persecution, He made it clear that not all suffering His followers experience is persecution.  He said, ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness…’ and He went on to bless those who are persecuted, ‘on My account.’  It is when we suffer for doing what is right or for being identified with Jesus that we are blessed, but there are plenty of Christians who may claim persecution…are actually suffering due to their own foolishness or unrighteous behavior.  Some suffer for righteousness.  But frankly, some Christians suffer because they are insufferable.

“…A desire to be seen as a ‘genuine’ Christian, however, may cause us to claim persecution where none exists.  This temptation is compounded by two additional realities of our age.  First, the privileged position that the Christian faith and values once enjoyed in our culture is diminishing.  As this occurs—for example, removing Christian prayers or symbols from public spaces—the loss of privilege can be misinterpreted as persecution.

“Second, we live in a strange time when some want to claim the label of ‘victim’ in order to accumulate cultural and political power…there can be a twisted upside to being seen as a persecuted group today.  It may be used as leverage against cultural and political opponents, or to excuse one’s own unrighteous attitudes and behaviors…

“Persecution is never something sought by a Christian.  It is the by-product of seeking first the Kingdom of God rather than the privileges of the world.”

                                                    --  What If Jesus Was Serious ?, by Skye Jethani, pp. 40-41

A People Prepared

There's an interesting phrase in Luke 1:17: that John the Baptist came “…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And scripture indeed attests that when Jesus came, the hearts of those who had responded to John’s message were ready to hear and respond to Jesus, The Truth.

We know satan loves to imitate God’s ways.  Could it be that in the run-up to his greatest spiritual counterfeit he is “preparing a people” for the Anti-Christ: a people whose hearts have been made ready to hear and accept satan’s ultimate Lie ?

Jesus’ hallmark teaching in Matthew 24 about “the end of the age” and His return REPEATEDLY warns His people not be “misled” by, or “believe,” or “follow,” the increasing crowd of deceivers active at that time (an increase we see around us today).  And it's certain those who don't heed Jesus' warning will end up misled by the deceivers: and fully prepared to receive satan’s Lie incarnate, the Anti-Christ ?

Many Christians study prophecy in the thought that they’ll be able to recognize Anti-Christ when he comes, and reject him.  But I think we have to consider the possibility that some, “even the elect,” may have so thoroughly trained their hearts to believe the lies of Anti-Christ’s “forerunners” (such as those we have today) that they’ll be completely PREPARED to accept satan’s counterfeit “Messiah"...and unable to reject him.

"Unable" because God Himself will set the full force of His Own spiritually-determinative power against them:

"...because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved...God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false."        II Thessalonians 2:10,11

I beg all who read this to Always LOVE The Truth, and FOLLOW The Truth.  Amen !! 

Allegiance

 From a favorite blog by a Canadian Christian:

"An allegiance is...our single non-negotiable. It is our only priority. It is the sole conviction and passion that controls, moderates and, if needed, displaces all loyalties. Nothing comes before it. All things must bow to it.

It is the hill we are willing to die on.

...That gets to the heart of the matter for Christ followers. Our single allegiance is Christ, the one willing to die on a hill for us and, frankly, the only one who commands our sole allegiance."

--  n  https://christianity201.wordpress.com/

"Allegiance" is probably too "controversial" a matter for American Christians to question, raised as we all are to recite "The Pledge of Allegiance" on every civic-religion occasion: our pledge that each of we individual Americans...Christian or not...will put the American flag, "and the republic for which it stands," above our every other love and loyalty.

I'm consequently having to re-think my reflexive and rote recitation of "The Pledge."

What's a Dollar Worth ?

The details aren't important, but I had to ask for a refund from a motel.

Fortunately, it was a local franchisee, and I could talk to him in person.

We paid for a week, I said, but the friend I rented for had to go to the hospital yesterday, so he wasn't in the room today.  Can we get a refund for today ?

No, said the franchisee, you rented for a week, at a special rate, so we can't refund that.

Well, I said, I can remove my friend's possessions from the room, and you would have it available for rental today.

No, he said, you rented for a week, at a special rate, so we can't do that.

Alright, I said.  How about this: my friend was in the hospital because he got sick and had to go to the emergency room, no fault of his own.  But he'll still need to be in town next week for additional medical appointments: can you add the day he wasn't actually here to the week he rented for ?

No, he said, the room was rented for a week, at a special rate, so we can't do that.

O.K., I said.  Thank you.

I was polite throughout, as was he.  But...

Our national currency used to be backed by gold-reserves, which guaranteed its value.  Since 1934 the value of a dollar betokens our trust in the government which stands behind it.

The thought occurred that a dollar can also represent our heart's desire to "do justice" and "love mercy."

Warning Against "Political Idolatry," by Andrew Strom

Andrew Strom was a New Zealander ministering in the Kansas City area when I ran across his website some years ago.  His teachings about living out Christ's teachings very often seemed to hit the nail on the head, and I began reading his website regularly.

About 10 or 15 years ago he felt like God called him back to New Zealand.  I think he currently has a church in the Auckland suburbs; and frequently travels to Africa to teach, and has a ministry to the Maori.  And he still has a heart for the American Church, often addressing spiritual issues and events in the U.S.

His e-mail teaching-letter recently reprised this warning from 2006, when I believe he was still in the U.S.  It seems even more relevant and even more critically needed today, than it was 17 years ago.  Even if what he then called "Republicanism" might now be understood as "Conservatism," his prophetic warning remains spot-on.

His characterization of this danger to the Church as "Political Idolatry" also seems to put it in exactly the right terms: worship of what mankind has created, above worship of The Creator of mankind.

Amen !!

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REPENT of POLITICAL IDOLATRY !    by Andrew Strom

Something I find a little distressing in America is that the Christians
are so often relying on POLITICS to accomplish SPIRITUAL results.
Thus they ally themselves fervently with one particular party and
treat it like "God has won" if that party wins - and "God has lost" if
it doesn't. I almost see this as a kind of BLINDNESS.

The fact is - most of America's problems today are SPIRITUAL
problems that can only be solved by a sweeping move of God's
Spirit. Yet we are relying on Politics and Politicians to accomplish
many of these things?? How bizarre!

How bizarre that we strive and strive to get the "right (worldy) guy"
elected. How bizarre that we treat the President like some kind of
mega-preacher or mega-minister. We put our "hope" in him and his
Political party for all kinds of SPIRITUAL things! What is wrong with us?

I don't know of any other country where the Christians put such
hope in worldly political parties for things that ONLY GOD CAN
DO. Is this not a kind of IDOLATRY??

Yes - there are issues of righteousness to be concerned with - and
it is good to vote. But what is with this OBSESSION with Politics
amongst the Christians? Do we not realize it is a kind of "phony
war"? Imagine if we spent all that time PRAYING instead of
STRIVING for Political victory. We might be actually having a
Revival right now!

Can Politics make America truly righteous? NO! Only GOD can do that!

I want to issue a call to all true Christians right now: "REPENT of
trusting in MAN instead of God. REPENT of trusting in Politics to
do things that only God can do. REPENT of striving and striving to
get the "right party" in power - and thinking that will solve this
country's SPIRITUAL problems. REPENT of making an IDOL out
of any party or any PRESIDENT. The Presidency does NOT equal
God's move! REPENT of putting so much energy and effort into
things that WILL NOT SOLVE the PROBLEM!

If only the Christians of this nation would PRAY instead of running
to POLITICAL ACTIVISM - everything would be different.

What if all of this is a false trust - a false hope - a false gospel?
What if our worship of Republicanism is out and out IDOLATRY??

God help us all.