"The Rights of God" # 16

Prophetic Service (continued)

According to the Word of God, man is body, soul and spirit. Christ says, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). It may be that "rebirths" have occurred in the revivals mentioned above. But there is a difference between, let us say, a psychological rebirth and a rebirth in the Spirit. The one might temporarily carry all the characteristic features of a real rebirth. And yet all of that does not necessarily have anything to do with the Spirit, and in innumerable cases it has had nothing to do with the Spirit. It is a work of man. The disastrous fruit of these often will-meant efforts are devastating. We see how successful the devil was to confuse things; how he has managed to smuggle a whole heathen system into Christianity, a system that has nothing in common with the thoughts of God.

We see the same in reference to the church. Christianity has become a system of human interpretation of the thoughts of God. Spiritual death hovers over it. It is no living testimony for God.

God has given us a burden on our hearts concerning His thoughts. We do not speak to criticize. We speak because we have to! The force of the devil operates there where the wealth of people's souls are at his disposal. He reaches his purpose through alliances available to him in the soul of man. That is why God endeavors to such an extent to save man from himself, to save him unto God.

We have said that the ministry of the prophets consisted of leading the people back to the thoughts of God. It was a ministry among the people of God. It was about the rights of God in His house.

Let us return once more to Elijah, and let us note how things started. It starts with the Lord saying to Elijah: "Go, show thyself unto Ahab!" (1 Kings 18:1). Three and a half years earlier He had said: "Hide thyself!" (1 Kings 17:3). The prophet had therefore hidden himself all this time until then. But now the word was: "Go, show thyself unto Ahab!" He stands face to face with Ahab. We remind ourselves about what Ahab said on that occasion: "Is it thou, thou troubler of Israel?" (1 Kings 18:17). People that stand without reserve for the rights of God will always be considered as enemies by those who reject the thoughts of God. There is the point of view of Elijah, and the one of Ahab. Ahab, who says: "You, the troubler of Israel." Or Elijah who can reply: "It is not I that have brought Israel into trouble, but you" (1 Kings 18:18). Where did the trouble come from in reality? Did it come from the side of those that wanted things the way that God wanted them? Did it not come from the side of those that denied God His rights?  Those who do not have the thoughts of God at heart, they are really His enemies. On which side do we want to stand? That is the real question.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 17)