The last days are upon us. The enemy has poured out a renewed spirit of lawlessness upon the earth. Sexual perversions and violence fill our air waves in the daily news reports. Our governments believe that they are making history by voting in and establishing as common practice all forms of laws that spew disobedience and rebellion in the face of God. Laws are being enacted that try to silence the church and God's people. What will be our response to a total atheistic and Jezebelian advance in the world against the body of Christ?
I am deeply committed to the principle of submission to authority, and to all the principles of relationship within the Body of Christ. Therefore I am not speaking about us committing rebellion against authority. Yet, there is required of every child of God a total dependence upon the Holy Spirit and a passionate cleaving to the Lord, even when a situation might arise where it is seemingly impossible to give those closest to you an explanation they could accept or understand. When it comes to obeying God over man the Scriptures are clear about our decision.
Acts 4:18-20 ESV So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, (20) for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
Acts 5:28-29 ESV saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." (29) But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
1 Samuel 15:23-24 ESV For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." (24) Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
When Elijah was commissioned to speak to King to Ahab it can be appreciated all the more when we consider the character of Ahab. We will know when the Spirit of Elijah is in operation because it will reprove those in authority for their sins that not only affect them but also affects the nation. These Spirit-filled Spirit-lead believers will speak a Spirit of Elijah "thus says the Lord" before national leaders who have a reputation of wickedness before God such as was the heart of Ahab.
1 Kings 16:30-33 ESV And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. (31) And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. (32) He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. (33) And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
With each king we can see that Israel's departure from holiness was increased. Of all these black-hearted kings listed in 1 Kings 15 and 16, Ahab was the worst. His wife Jezebel had seen to the execution of most of God's prophets. Elijah was the only one left. It is before this evil man Ahab that Elijah stood. But prior to standing before Ahab, Elijah had to learn the art of a continual audience before the King of Glory, the Most High God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
We can see the wickedness of the days of Elijah by seeing the deeds of the evil kings leaders and Presidents of th enations of the world. Much of what happened during Elijah’s time in the Old Testament is happening today and we need people who are comfortable with standing before the Lord.
I am deeply committed to the principle of submission to authority, and to all the principles of relationship within the Body of Christ. Therefore I am not speaking about us committing rebellion against authority. Yet, there is required of every child of God a total dependence upon the Holy Spirit and a passionate cleaving to the Lord, even when a situation might arise where it is seemingly impossible to give those closest to you an explanation they could accept or understand. When it comes to obeying God over man the Scriptures are clear about our decision.
Acts 4:18-20 ESV So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (19) But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, (20) for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
Acts 5:28-29 ESV saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." (29) But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
1 Samuel 15:23-24 ESV For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." (24) Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
When Elijah was commissioned to speak to King to Ahab it can be appreciated all the more when we consider the character of Ahab. We will know when the Spirit of Elijah is in operation because it will reprove those in authority for their sins that not only affect them but also affects the nation. These Spirit-filled Spirit-lead believers will speak a Spirit of Elijah "thus says the Lord" before national leaders who have a reputation of wickedness before God such as was the heart of Ahab.
1 Kings 16:30-33 ESV And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. (31) And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. (32) He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. (33) And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
With each king we can see that Israel's departure from holiness was increased. Of all these black-hearted kings listed in 1 Kings 15 and 16, Ahab was the worst. His wife Jezebel had seen to the execution of most of God's prophets. Elijah was the only one left. It is before this evil man Ahab that Elijah stood. But prior to standing before Ahab, Elijah had to learn the art of a continual audience before the King of Glory, the Most High God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
We can see the wickedness of the days of Elijah by seeing the deeds of the evil kings leaders and Presidents of th enations of the world. Much of what happened during Elijah’s time in the Old Testament is happening today and we need people who are comfortable with standing before the Lord.
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