by George | Jul 23, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
How to Be Unpopular
“But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?” The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “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.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”
1 Kings 22:7-8
I’m pretty sure that Micaiah was not on King Ahab’s Christmas card list. Also, it’s not likely that King Ahab invited Micaiah over to the palace to drink beer and watch NASCAR chariot races.
King Ahab hated Micaiah. Why? Because he always stood for the truth. He didn’t tell the king what he wanted to hear. Instead, his counsel was what the LORD gave him to say.
King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat from Judah had a meeting. King Ahab said let’s go up and fight against Ramoth-Gilead. King Jehoshaphat said sure, but let’s inquire if the LORD. So, King Ahab brings in the prophets. They tell the kings that they will be successful and win the war.
King Jehoshaphat was a godly king, and so he asked if there was a prophet of the LORD they could ask.
King Ahab said yes, but that he hated that prophet because he always prophesied evil, and not good.
They send a messenger to get Micaiah. He tells Micaiah to go along with the other prophets. In other words, don’t stir up trouble. Be like all the others and you will be ok.
Micaiah said no. “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak.”
1 Kings 22:14
So, Micaiah tells the kings that they will not win, and King Ahab will be killed.
King Ahab gets mad and throws Micaiah into prison.
Turns out, Micaiah was right. King Ahab died in battle, just like the LORD said.
It didn’t have to be this way. King Ahab had a choice. He could have heeded the warning, repented of his sins, and live. But, he didn’t.
May we be like Micaiah and speak the truth. Sometimes it may not be the popular thing to do.
The other takeaway from this is that we need to listen to, and take seriously the word of the LORD, which is something King Ahab didn’t do…
by George | Jul 20, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
A Word Fitly Spoken
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.”
Proverbs 25:11
“Fitly.” Outside of the Bible, we don’t see or hear this word very much.
Dictionary.com defines fitly as: “in a proper or suitable manner.”
The New American Standard Version may help us understand this verse:
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.”
Oh, so this means that saying the right thing, at the right time is a good thing!
Got it.
Let’s travel back to the days of King Asa. He was the great-great-grandson of King David.
In II Chronicles 14, an army of a million soldiers came up against Judah. Asa cried out to God, and He defeated an army that was much larger than Judah’s!
Right after that great victory, a prophet named Azariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke to the king.
“And he went out to meet Asa and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
II Chronicles 15:2
He then gives King Asa a reminder from history, and finishes up by saying:
“But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!”
II Chronicles 15:7
Hearing these words, the king took courage and set out to remove the idols, which led to a Spiritual revival.
Isn’t it interesting that God led Azariah to say these words right after a great victory?
When things are going well, we tend to let our guard down and get lazy.
God knew there was a lot of work for King Asa to do.
He used a little-known person named Azariah to provide a word “fitly” spoken.
Let’s ask God to use our words in the same manner- to give us the wisdom to say the right things. Maybe together, our words will become like a bushel of “apples of gold.”
by George | Jul 16, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
Speak Life
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”
Psalms 43:5
Do you ever talk to yourself? I always heard “It’s ok to talk to yourself, but if you start answering yourself, you’re in trouble!”
I think we all talk to ourselves at times. This is also known as self-talk.
Healthline.com defines it this way:
“Self-talk is your internal dialogue. It’s influenced by your subconscious mind, and it reveals your thoughts, beliefs, questions, and ideas.”
The psalmist was talking to himself. He was asking himself why he was feeling down, feeling depressed.
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?”
He felt miserable and was “disquieted” within. Clearly, he lacked peace in his soul.
Instead of staying there, wallowing in self-pity, he decides to trust God, to “place his hope in God.”
Then, he decides to speak positively, to praise God.
“…For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”
When you feel down, you can either speak negatively, or you can speak positively, praising the Lord.
Like the psalmist, we have a choice.
Toby Mack, in the song “Speak Life” says:
“So speak life, speak life
To the deadest, darkest night
Speak life, speak life
When the sun won’t shine and you don’t know why
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted
Watch ’em come alive as soon as you speak hope
You speak love, you speak
You speak life…”
Your words not only affect you, they affect others.
So “speak life” to all you come in contact with.
Praise the Lord!!!
