Monday, March 8, 2021

Mistakes in the Bible!?!


Mistakes in the bible: yes, I have seen them like Adam who chose with his wife to sin against God. Those who choose to go without God throughout their lifetime become mistakes, not in how they were created for purpose in God, but how they aligned themselves with the world and created to alienate themselves from the truth and life in God!

Heard this morning that two drivers were killed on one highway, the northbound roadway, yet one driver was on the wrong roadway, driving in the wrong direction and hit another vehicle who was actually going the right way to head toward Vancouver, Washington. Sad but true, this happens in the Portland and Vancouver area all too often.  What direction is the accurate and true to go or arrive at the “specific” destination where life and truth are seen and lived out?

Might Adam and Eve in their thinking after finding fig leaves to cover themselves, speak, “ we will just hide from God and be fine. We can stay among these coverings and God will not question us”! Yes, God knew their condition and it could not continue within His presence. People long for the great accolades when giving what they believe to be as an arduous endeavor, but those aligning with the world will find only heartache, loss and death. You cannot feed yourself on false hopes expecting God to pass you through when you fail to recognize His will is life for you and you act outside of that!

Just like on the roadway, two different vehicles traveling, each heading for a destination, but not reading the warnings and going onto a freeway that is northbound only you will find someone on the same path expecting to go northbound but find someone coming toward you from the opposite direction. Following directions will bring life but avoiding it will bring only death. We must never presume God’s grace or take it for granted. We must always be the fervent people to seek and to submit to the will of God in order to be in His kingdom!

 Matthew 19:16-18 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God. But if you want to enter  into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,”

Yes, there it is in the written word of God: you shall not bear false witness! And did we not know that is written as the ninth commandment of God found in Exodus 20:16: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Matthew 5:37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes” and your ‘No’, ‘No’. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. So in believing truth and holding onto truth, celebration of Christ should be sometime during mid Sept to mid October and not in December. For outside of God is considered pagan. And paganism is of the evil one: is a total lie of the devil and is from the father of that lie: John 8:44 You are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do, He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

 

We depend on Christ in our salvation. There is not one ounce of spirituality that we bring to the table! Jesus was and is the ultimate sacrifice, we are utterly bankrupt Matthew 5:3 blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Yes, spiritual poverty is a real thing indeed. Jesus on the cross gave up His body and by shedding His blood completely satisfied God’s requirement: Hebrews 10:12-14 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. He completely opened up the gates of heaven for anyone that would believe in Him. (John 3:16).

Whether you are the leader of your home or the pastor leading other believers, The Lord’s Supper’s is an opportunity to examine our hearts. As that leader one can be overwhelmed with the responsibility of shepherding souls. In truth, it is more than any human being can handle and can be impossible for humans to handle. James 2:4  …have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love Him?

It is worldly standards that tries to reveal the person or his true value! It can be hard to discern why people do what they do even when they are adults. We cannot see their hearts but God does. Certainly the disciples never expected Judas as not being saved. They had no idea that he would betray Jesus! They spent much time together, going from town to town to deliver the kingdom of God that Jesus held in His heart.

If our heart only holds what we desire, and forget what God spoke about not touching that one tree, then we are being our own leader without another for God! We are to be faith people! While writing on this today, I am reminded that David did not take the rule as king immediately when the Prophet Samuel anointed him with oil. David slew the giant, and then he had to steer completely away from king Saul who desired David to be gone. It was many years before David had a crown and the royal robes, but his heart held that of God and giving Him first place, David moved through the obstacles of life which included people!

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?---unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

It is not the opinion of men of whether you are approved, it is their right behavior that of the righteous man who does what is right behavior before God.

Adam and his wife did not keep the right behavior before God. They made an opinion and followed it after a lengthy talk with a “sneaky snake”.

Going back to the Old Testament, I am reminded of the prophet Micaiah who warns the king Ahab. Ahab is in battle with Syria and he enlists the help of Jehoshaphat  who ruled from the south. And Jehoshaphat wisely asks for counsel before going into battle. Now Ahab had gathered only prophets that would speak what he wanted to hear so he could continue doing things his way! But Jehoshaphat asks if another prophet is there for counsel. And yes, there is another prophet: Micaiah!

1 Kings 22: 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?” 8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah ( Me—kaw---yeh---hoo’) the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”

 And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”

 The king knows Me—kawy-yeh-hoo is giving the truthful word and he hates him for giving what he does not want to hear. Even in his wisdom, Jehoshaphat is reminding Ahab not to bad mouth the prophet!

 1 Kings 22: 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah( Me-kaw-yeh-hoo’) the son of Imlah quickly!” 10 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.  11 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah (Ken- ah-an –aw) had made some horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus said the LORD: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.”

12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead & prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king’s hand.” 13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah ( Me-kaw-yeh-hoo’) spoke to him saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.

 Me-kaw-yeh-hoo…is being told that his word was to match that of the false prophets….and one which would bring or speak encouragement.

 1 Kings 22:14 And Micaiah (Me-kaw-yeh-hoo’)  said, “As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.”  15 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, Micaiah (Me-kaw-yeh-hoo’), shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, ‘Go and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king!” 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?” 19 Then Macaiah (Me-kaw-yeh-hoo’) said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD; “I saw the  LORD sitting on His throne, and all the hose of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on the left. 20”Amd the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’

 

Micaiah is holding to truth and would not be given over to the false narrative. He gives the vision and the king is now upset. King Ahab wanted people to give him love always, and to be encouraged in all of his own endeavors. Observing that Ahab demanded truth from verse 16….the king still held a low or no account of honor toward the prophet. It is by verse 18 that king Ahab makes Micaiah as malevolent without any authority…but verse 19 gives the account of a vision given the prophet: given to Stephen in Acts 7:56! THE Word now given, the king would fall, be cut off and his army scattered!


1 Kings 22: 21 “Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ Yes, if the father of lies that 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.’

23 “Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.”

24 Now Zedekiah, the son of Chenaanah (Ken- ah-an –aw)     went near and struck Micaiah (Me-kaw-yeh-hoo)  on the cheek and said, “Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you?”  25 And Micaiah (Me-kaw-yee-hoo)  said, “Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!”

 

It is the wicked prophet Zedekiah who insults the prophet Micaiah!  He hits him on the cheek……expressing indignation (Jesus was abused this way: Matthew 26:67) Then  Ahab was pleased with this conduct of the “false prophet” and king Jehoshaphat did nothing to help the injured prophet. Micaiah tells Zedekiah that he would see his judgment when he goes into an inner chamber to hide.  


1 Kings 22:26 So the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah (Me, kaw-yee-hoo’), and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 27 “and say, “Thus says the king; ‘Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.

” 28 But Micaiah  (Me-kaw-yee-hoo’) said, “If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people.”

 Ahab, that wicked king, committed him ( Micaiah) to prison (v. 27), not only ordered him to be taken into custody, or remitted to the prison! He was to be fed with bread and water, (coarse bread and puddle-water) till he should return, not doubting but that he should return a conqueror, and then he would put him to death for being a false prophet (v. 27)—hard usage for one that would have prevented his ruin!  There was little likelihood of Ahab coming home in peace when he left one of God's prophets behind him in prison.

 Micaiah put it upon the issue, and called all the people to be witnesses that he did so: "If  you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me….from  v. 28. Let me incur the reproach and punishment of a false prophet, if the king come home alive." Micaiah spoke with no error, for he knew whom he had believed!

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to me voice, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the things for which I send it.

To live in safety, is to live for God in His plan and from His truth! Increasing in God is increasing in a strength of muscle that fills a place, it is yes, a place of love but it is also a place of authority! And our response is to give place to Him and make our own!

Jesus used the picture of sheep that have no shepherd in Mark 6:34 like Micaiah uses here.  Zedekiah gave an optimistic prophecy and it confirmed what the other prophet's were giving to the kings Ahab and Jehoshaphat! But it is one prophet who stood alone to give truth. In this day and within this hour, there are still those who would rather have the lie than to receive God's truth!

Oh yes, time will tell of those who stand with God and of those who do not! And this I have heard for over a year from the Lord for many may speak, but only the true will be lived out. Only in time will one note for who has God in their speaking and one who does not!


                                            New teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

The Power of One Willing

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells
Remember Lot’s Wife

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching


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