Wednesday, November 4, 2015

"The Rights of God" # 17

Prophetic Service (continued)

That is what it is all about. We know how Elijah expressed himself in reference to his own life: "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts." (1 Kings 19:14). Elijah has a clear picture of what God wants. He can also see through to recognize what does not correspond to God's thought. But he himself stands outside of these matters. He is not entangled with the exterior. That is why he is able to be at God's disposal. His devotion includes the willingness to pay the full price necessary for a full restoration of the testimony of God. Wherever a religious system has come to reign, such witnesses will be fought as enemies. It will always be held against them that it is they who bring the people of God into confusion. This is what makes the ministry so difficult. This is what makes the ministry so costly.

But behind all of this was Baal. Elijah was not against Israel. It was a blinded nation. Baal stood behind it. The forces of darkness were working in the idolatry into which Israel had surrendered itself. Israel was so deceived that it thought it was doing right in its idolatry. This is the highest level of deception, not seeing that everything one does, also that which is sincerely intended, actually serves the devil. The prophet's discernment is not in the first place with Israel. His battle is with the whole spiritual system into which Israel is entangled. "Religious" people would not even rebel against the ministry of the prophet, if the enemy did not instigate them. So they become instruments of the devil. But the prophet is ready to encounter this. He is misunderstood, he is slandered and seen as an enemy; he is marked as the one who troubles Israel. But he has a vision. He does not serve himself. He knows that his standpoint leaves no room for personal ambition. But he has seen God. He is connected to God. And in the special standing which he has with God, the difference between the godly and the human has been revealed to him. With this vision he has become prepared to carry the cost that the service of God demands. How important it is that we recognize our calling. It determines our ministry. What does it consist of? Has not God revealed His secret to us? Has He not made known to us in His Word what He wants? He has surely spoken to us quietly and has unveiled His thoughts to us. Can we do otherwise but recognize the immense contrast between the thoughts of God and those of men, between that which God wanted as a testimony of heavenly things and that which men have made of it?

Let us proclaim the message of God! Let us give back the thoughts of God to His people! But let us not forget what it costs.

~ T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 18)

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