Friday, May 10, 2019

THE PROPHETIC WORD

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 22

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

A panoramic view from the top of the Golan Heights looking west over the south end of the Sea of Galilee.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 1 Kings 22:15

Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?”

Micaiah is a prophet worth listening to. In verse 14 he makes this statement: “Whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” For us who are believers in Jesus, we may do well to read and pay close attention to the Apostle Peter who wrote about prophets. Read 2 Peter 1:15-21 and 2 Peter 2:1-3. There were false prophets in our reading for today. There are false prophets today. How do we recognize a false prophet? They will “exploit” because they covet our approval and our money for their own advantage. How do we recognize the truth when it is spoken as New Testament believers? According to Paul, the gift of prophecy will bring “edification, exhortation, and comfort” to us (1 Corinthians 14:3). New Testament prophecy is described as “the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 19:10b). Peter has warned us that we should expect to come across “false teachers” (2 Peter 2:1). We should ask ourselves these questions:  Does a teacher stick closely to the Scriptures? Is Jesus front and centre? Is the teaching in line with the historical understanding of Christian doctrine, or is it, as Peter warned us, a “private interpretation?”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Dear Lord, please keep me true to You and to Your Word. I do want to be true to Your Word, as Micaiah said, “Whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” What You have said, Lord, is here in my Bible. I pray that I will let You speak through my Bible as Peter said, “The prophetic Word made more sure” (2 Peter 1:19a). I recognize that the written Word is “more sure.” Please continue to open the eyes of my understanding every day as I continue this Bible reading discipline. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

A while back I came across an old letter from my mother to a young man named Jim, who was interested in my teenage sister, Elaine. Elaine is almost six years older than I am. I really liked Jim and hoped he and Elaine would someday be married, but it was not to be. I was eleven at the time. Anyway, here’s some good advice for us all from Mother’s letter…

“It is an encouragement for us to know if we have helped someone heavenward. But then we remember that if we are living close to Jesus our influence is always telling for Him. If we get out of touch, we are ‘scattering abroad,’ instead of ‘gathering with Him.’ Last Sunday I had the privilege of teaching a class of girls, including Elaine [my sister]. One of them told us how she was troubled because evil thoughts would come to her mind. She never dwelt on them, but if she was right with God, these thoughts should not come. We told her that the very fact that she hated those thoughts and put them from her was proof that they had no part in her life. Christ was tempted, even to devil worship, but He resisted the devil. She surprised me in the evening service by coming and thanking me, as this which had troubled her for a long time was cleared up. And so the Lord does use each one of us to help others if we live where we are useable.”

My mother died just six months after she wrote that letter to Jim. Some years ago, when Jim became a Pastor in Hamilton, he gave me two letters he had received from my mother. I treasure these letters. I have given one to each of my two daughters, Elaine and Ellen.

Yours for reading God’s “more sure Word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19a – King James Version).

David

9 thoughts on “Friday, May 10, 2019

  1. False prophets are easy to spot if we regard them well. They deviate from God’s Word for sure and run what is called ‘cults’.

    Happy Mother’s Day to all dear mothers who are still with us. God has arranged life so beautifully.
    “If your mother “opens her mouth with wisdom” (Proverbs 31:26), thank her and thank God for her. If your mother helped you know your heavenly Father better, “forsake not your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 1:8). If God has blessed you with a godly wife, know that “she is far more precious than jewels” (Proverbs 31:10).
    If your mother is with our Father, thank him for her life and legacy. If she is on this side of glory, thank her for the gift of your life and her love.
    It’s been said that great people plant trees they’ll never sit under.” Dr. Denison

  2. Amen to the lesson in today’s scripture, message, prayer, photo and meaningful letter. Wherefore are we but without God as our light, rock, and truth? We would be lost in a world of uncertainty, temptation, and sin. On His Word, is our salvation, by which we stand, firmly rooted, and in love with our Saviour. Wishing all saints a blessed day. Heavy rain, here.

    If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
    1 Corinthians 13:2, NIV

    Let It Happen (live-lyrics) feat. Andrea Marie
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n23hkX3tyRs

  3. Ask her were false prophets in Bible days so there are false prophets today in our world they are of the word of faith Prosperity Gospel and in my eyes these preachers are often the cult they are not preaching the word of God all they preach is money and storing up wealth and people are going to hell in a handbasket without Christ my heart is burdened inside and it’s angry and one day these Faith preachers Prosperity pimps are given account for what they have said I pray for them that they will return back to the cross and preach the real Jesus and not another gospel this is my prayer amen follow blockers be blessed you know who these preachers are and they will give an account for how many people they have led astray because of their false teaching God bless you amen

    • dear Marilyn
      I also get chocked up BUT GOD will deal with all the false prophets and I would not want to be anywhere around them when this happens!
      I daily speak out loud to the Lord; I shout praises of thanksgiving to Him over and over and also remember that words of rebuke spoken in the Name of Jesus Christ are very POWERFUL and the devil flees, he is nothing, let us pray for our leaders and for the new little baby of Prince Harry and his beautiful wife, what a treasure and his name Archie will have an impact on the people, again, remember God is involved with their lives also…it all brings tears to my eyes.
      blessings to all this wonderful day; I pray Lord to bless all families; bless our neighbours, and we thank you Lord for forgiving us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us, And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever amen

  4. Thank you Lynda D. Beverlee and Marilyn for your thoughts on today’s lesson.
    I am glad you are praying for those liost souls Marilyn. We are told to pray for our enemies and this is difficult but this is what it says in the Bible. I
    I was glad to read David’’s mother’s letter. It answered my question as well I, have rare times when something comes to mind that is not good, I have always denounced it and carried on. Now I feel that this is the right thing to do.
    Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers. ???? Eleanor M.

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