Getting There
It has been said that "Folks want to be there, without going there" [Sadie & Bessie Dulaney].
A king in the Old Testament wanted to go to war. He was a wicked king, serving himself. He developed a friendship with a righteous king, because his son had married the daughter of the wicked king.
One day they the righteous king visited the wicked king. They sat in all their royal regalia, pomp and splendor, enjoyed the benefits of being kings. Is it not always dangerous to plan the future based on worldly wealth and fame?
When the wicked king asked the righteous king to join forces and go to war against an enemy of the wicked king, the righteous king said: "I am as you are. We are as one."
How does a righteous person get to the point of praying amiss? A good question.
The righteous king asked the wicked king if he had prophets with a word from the Lord. The wicked king said: "Oh, yes, lots of prophets (400) have spoken favor."
The righteous king knowing that the wicked king serves idols asked if a prophet of the living God had been consulted.
The wicked king said there was only one prophet of God, but the prophet of God always prophesied bad things against him (the wicked king). Nevertheless, the prophet of God was called and asked for counsel about going to war.
The prophet of God said: "Go to war."
The wicked king said: "Have not I told you to always speak the truth to me?"
The prophet of God said: "OK, you want the truth. Go to war and you will die."
The wicked king turned to the righteous king and said: "See what I mean. This prophet has a bad attitude. He does not like me. He just likes to say things against me."
The righteous king and the wicked king took their soldiers to war. The wicked king died in battle, pierced by a stray arrow.
Four hundred false prophets were wrong.
One prophet of God was right.
Numbers do not make wrong right.
In a multitude of counselors there is safety is true only if the counselors are godly (Proverbs 24:6).
If indeed this is the end time before the Coming of Jesus it is certain that an arrogant spirit of independence/individuality will pervade our culture. The anti-Christ will not have to change the mindset of multitudes to establish himself as god. Arrogance will drive peoples and governments to the edge of anarchy. The despotic leadership of the anti-Christ will be welcomed.
The Church will be afflicted by false spirits who will prophesy blessings upon saints without any cross to bear. Self-serving spirits will prophesy easy paths to have God's favor, with privilege being a red carpet treatment in the Kingdom.
Lonely are the prophets who speak the truth. Lonely are the counselors who remind people that to follow Jesus is to carry a cross. Lonely are the prophets who speak of sacrifice, not privilege.
Jesus said: "They persecuted me. They will persecute you." He healed a man, and false counselors said: "We have to come up with a plan to kill this man. He is messing up our party."
The cross, Paul said, is the only reason to glory. Wise are those who seek counselors that point them back to the cross. At the end of the day is Christ exalted? Is life lived to self-satisfaction, or is life "a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1).
The righteous king returned his kingdom. A prophet of God met him as said: "God saw you go. Why did you go without asking God. Why did you fight a battle not your own?"
I wonder if the righteous king ever thought about all the men killed or injured, the husbands and sons dead or wounded, because he did not listen to God.
Seek wise counsel, My Friend.
Prayerfully,
Pastor Bare
Proverbs 18:17 Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.