A Lying Spirit – 1 Kings 22:19-22

“Then Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right and on His left.  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.  Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 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.’”

We know this lying spirit is Satan based upon what Jesus told us “When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”  (John 8:44b)  “Something that we don't often consider is that in a sense, Satan is a servant of God. He is serving God's purposes. That is why God has allowed him to exist. That's why God has allowed him freedom. He is acting in the sphere of his own free will, but yet the controls are ultimately held by God. We have made a tragic mistake in our thinking processes as we think of Satan as an opposite of God. Satan is not an opposite of God.  God is an eternal, omnipotent, self-existent being, whereas Satan is a created being and is in the rank of angels. So if you're looking for an opposite of Satan, you'd have to look at maybe Michael, one of the archangels. There you would have opposites. But in no way is he an opposite of God. No way does he rank even near God. He is existing under the total sphere of God, and though he is opposed to God, he is not an opposite of God in any sense of being an opposite to God Who is God, the eternal, omnipotent God.  Satan is definitely limited in his understanding, in his abilities, in his powers. They are limited by God. God says you can go so far, no further. Satan complained to God the fact of his limitations in the case of Job. "You put a hedge around that guy. I can't get to him." And he was complaining that God had put limitations on what he could do. So Satan is only allowed liberty within a limited spoke. God puts the limitations on him, but he does serve purposes of God. Thus, God can use and often does use Satan or his emissaries to fulfill God's purposes. Here is the case where God uses a lying spirit to fulfill His purpose.”  (Chuck Smith)

It is hard to call Satan a ‘servant of God’ – because that should be our title.  If Satan keeps that title, it should be preceded with words like rebellious, prideful, murderous, hateful, and deceptive.  Maybe the more appropriate way to look at it is that Satan must submit to God, and the things he does, God can use toward good.   Satan is limited, and he hates it.  He hates you.  He is most clever to deceive you.  Do not for an instant think you are more clever.  Oh, but God is gracious.  He will bring you the truth and you must decide.  How many times did God send a prophet to Ahab to give him the truth in these critical decisions?  Up to now, and even now, each time. 

Do you ever notice how some people will say they are seeking God’s counsel, and when you share with them what God’s Word says on the matter, they disregard it, or get mad and argue about it?  That is the thing about deception that makes it much easier for the deceiver.  The person that falls for the deception is already bent toward hearing the lie.  When a person already wants something, it is fairly easy to deceive them.  Ahab believes and wants to proceed with the war, so he is easily convinced of his future victory by the 400 prophets that all counsel him in unison.  “Unity is not always the mark of a true church or a true ministry.” (Matthew Henry) 

Jesus warned us not to be deceived at the signs of the end of the age “And He said: ‘Take heed that you not be deceived.  For many will come in My name, saying ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.’”  (Luke 21:8)  Paul warns us that times will become more perilous, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13). 

In this story, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah who loved God and His prophets, was unimpressed by the lie of the 400 prophets.  Jehoshaphat spoke up after Ahab’s prophets made their pitch, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of Him?” (1 Kings 22:7)  God does not want His people to be deceived.  Scripture shows us how to discern.  As Paul told Timothy, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17) 

The passage about Micaiah’s vision should give you pause.  Remember the spiritual warfare around us and about us.  Study God’s Word daily, not for justification of your actions, but to correct your actions.  Pray to seek God’s will, not your own.  Ask God for discernment and wisdom, He will give it to you.  It is the blindness and hardness of the heart that makes us subject to deception.  Through the Holy Scriptures and with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, our hearts will melt and we will discern the truth. 

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Be Silent, All Flesh – Zechariah 2:13

“Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!”

The prophets Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied regarding the unfinished temple to the people that returned to Israel from captivity in Babylon.  The general approach by Zechariah was to encourage the people to continue in God’s work by reminding them of the coming Messiah.  In the book of Zechariah, the descriptions of the coming Messiah cover both the first and second coming.  Can you think of a better way to encourage God’s people to return to passionately serving God than to remind them of our Redeemer’s imminent return? 

In this particular passage, the description of the joyful coming of the Messiah also includes instructions for silence.  One would expect that we, His people, would be reverently silent and in awe as God comes to the earth to complete His mighty work.  But this instruction is to “all flesh.”  Such a momentous occasion is this that God’s enemies will be silenced.  “before God and his providence; the enemies of the church shall be silenced; all iniquity shall stop her mouth. The friends of the church also must be silent. Leave it to God to take his own way, and neither prescribe to him what he should do nor quarrel with him whatever he does. Be still, and know that he is God.  Stand still, and see his salvation.  Silently acquiesce in his holy will, and patiently wait the issue, as those who are assured that when God is raised up out of his holy habitation he will not retreat, nor sit down again, till he has accomplished his whole work.” (Matthew Henry)

The word ‘silence’ used here is NOT used in a descriptive sense such as we see following the opening of the seventh seal: “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” (Revelation 8:1)  Rather, this word in Zechariah is used as a command and is directed to all humans and animals (flesh) who dwell on earth.  It is the same word (Strong’s 02013, to hush, hold your peace, hold your tongue) used in Zephaniah when the day of the LORD is at hand.  “Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, for the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.” (Zephaniah 1:7)  It is the same word used in Habakkuk, when the LORD is in His holy temple.  “But the LORD is in His holy temple.  Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”  (Habakkuk 2:20)

On that glorious day of our Lord’s return, of His second coming, there will be no arguing with Jesus.  There will be no ‘presenting your case’ in defense of rejecting His Way of salvation.  There will be no words worthy to be spoken to a holy God, in His holy temple in His holy land.  All flesh will be silenced in the presence of pure truth.  For those who have not been justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, His return will be a time of great fear and holy judgment.   

Friends, we plead with you to surrender to Jesus, receive His gift of eternal salvation, before it is too late.  Once Jesus leaves heaven to inhabit His holy temple on earth, it will be pencils down, exam over. 

If you are already God’s child, then we encourage you to quicken your work in His service.  Be diligent that your service will speak multitudes to Christ in the form of saved souls.   For those who have been justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, His return will be a time of awe and joy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

(Matthew 5:8)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

God Knows Science – 1 Timothy 6:20

“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.”

Timothy was to “keep” or “guard” the truth.  These are not passive words.  These are action words, which means there are some that will oppose it and try to take the truth away by any means, such as deception or even by force.  And to avoid profane (ungodly) and idle (empty, useless) babblings.  Timothy is warned of these concerns many times within these letters to him from the Apostle Paul.

An interesting point in this verse is ‘oppositions of science falsely so called.’  We would be hard pressed to say God does not understand science, since He made our world.  What would God have against science?  Apparently, He would have nothing against science as defined by Webster which is “knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through the scientific method and concerned with the physical world and its phenomena.”  Further, Webster defines the scientific method as “principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.”

No, what God is warning us about here, through the Apostle Paul, is science that is falsely so called.  Matthew Henry says “science that opposes the truth of the gospel is falsely so called; it is not true science, if it were, it would approve of the gospel and consent to it.” 

Think about what the world has called science that does not meet Webster's definition of science.  Maybe you are not scientifically inclined and are drawing a blank, then think about any ‘so-called’ science that opposes the gospel and then see if their conclusions were arrived at based upon the collection of data through observation and experiment.  There are more, but I can readily think of two:  evolution and string theory.  Can you add to this list?

It is not ‘God verses science,’ it is really ‘falsely so-called science verses God.’ 

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Nothing Hidden – Mark 4:21-22

“Also He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.’“

We do not yet know everything about God, so we have faith.  It is mysterious how the Holy Spirit works in the life of an unbeliever.  A war rages within that individual as the flesh battles the spirit.  It is a mystery because no one, except Jesus, knows the details of what is happening within the heart of that person.  The war is not exactly the same for everyone.  Almost always, though, there is an aspect of pride in the unbeliever that rigorously fights against the truth about Jesus and their own state of sinful condemnation.  Only God knows what it will take for that individual to surrender.  That war may rage for an extended period of time.  As the person grows closer to accepting the truth, the war within them will become more and more violent. 

When that glorious day arrives and the person surrenders to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it is a joyful time for fellow believers and a time of rejoicing in Heaven.  To an observing unbeliever, the change in the person is a mystery.  The unbeliever wonders what has happened to their friend, and they want that old friend back.

The new believer is a light born into the world, and a light has been born into the new believer.  A light that reveals the truth about sin, about God’s Holy Word, about eternal salvation.  The purpose of the Gospel has become crystal clear to the new believer, and they wonder why the rest of the world does not see it.  This is where we believers, old or new, become responsible.  The world is in darkness and we have the light.  Jesus does not want what He has done for us to be a mystery to those around us.  As He reveals His truths to His disciples, to us, He expects we will share what we have learned.     

“We must expect that what is now done in secret, and from unseen springs, will shortly be manifested and made known. What is committed to you in secret should be made manifest by you; for your Master did not give you talents to be buried, but to be traded with. Let that which is now hid be made known; for, if it be not manifested by you, it will be manifested against you, will be produced in evidence of your treachery.” (Matthew Henry)

At some point the Lord will return, and He will reveal all things.  Nothing will be a secret.  Knowing this should further inspire us, as servants of Christ, to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God.  It should prompt us to be diligent in sharing the truth with others.  When all is done, can you imagine one of your friends in this world asking you, as they are condemned to hell for eternity for not surrendering to Christ, why you never tried to convince them of the truth?  Why did you not try harder to tell them about how you found the way to eternal life?  We know that God will provide some way for that person to know the truth.  Still, is it not your desire that God use you so He can later say ‘well done good and faithful servant’?

The Apostle Paul reminds us of our responsibility, and the joy awaiting the faithful steward in hearing praise from God.  “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful…Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.  Then each one’s praise will come from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5)

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.