God's Words Are Sure
Looking at 1st Kings 20:13-30
By Larkland Miller & Angella Smith
31/08/2007
When The Word is Spoken Receive The Spoken WordHave Expectations From The Spoken WordObey The Spoken WordWhat He Says He Will DoApplication
-What have we Learned?
When the word is Spoken
The word of God does not take one style / format. The word can be spoken in prophecy through the prophets as we see happening in the text, scriptures, Isaiah 53: speaks of the suffering of Christ 700 years before he was actually crucified in Jerusalem or it can be spoken directly to individuals from God (Moses was commissioned by God to lead the Jews out of captivity in Exodus 4) and his angels. An Angel told Zachariah (the father of John) and Mary (the mother of Jesus) that they would each have a son, before they were born. In 1king 20:13 the word came from a prophet to a king that was in a precarious position because he had decided not to honor the demand of a second tribute to the king of
Receive the spoken word
One must receive the spoken word in order to benefit from it. King Ahab knew that it was almost an impossible situation to defeat his opponent’s army, yet he was prepared to obey the words of the prophets. In receiving the word, like King Ahab, Christians too can demonstrate their faith in the God we serve. In receiving the spoken words we make ourselves available to be used by God, in fulfilling His divine purpose on earth and in our individual lives. Verse 14 identifies the means of accomplishing the spoken word. So if Christians at time are powerless / ineffective, it is because they have not received the spoken word.
Have expectations from the spoken word
Ben-Hadad felt sure that it was business as usual but he was in for a real surprise. Thinking he was up against a defeated nation so it was a walk over, not knowing that he had offended the only God of the world. God already subdued the enemy / situation so that, what was spoken can be released into being. It only requires one to act in the timing of God. Acting outside of this timing can be very detrimental to those involved. People must also understand that self must be crucified when it comes to the work of God. He uses people in the capacity that He sees best, just being available is the only requirement for service.
Obey the spoken word
Since the act of receiving and expecting from the word is ones act of faith, one must also prove God by acting on the command of God’s spoken word. The young officers were to play a pivotal role in the defeat of the Arameans army, so they had to obey the instruction of their King, who in turn was obedient to the man of God. Obedience is critical at this time for the spoken word to manifest itself. Because we have made ourselves available for the mission to be accomplished, it is not our show, but God’s. We must be prepared to be instruments in His hands to fulfill his purpose. In verse 18, God has made provision for these officers to get in the middle of the camp to begin their work. Their command was to start the war, yet God instructed the enemy to take them alive, allowing them to find favor with the enemy.
What He says He will do
God cannot lie, that is both His name and nature, “the prophecy was I will give this army into your hands”, twice this was fulfilled in the passage (19- 21, 26-30). Because Ahab was obedient to the instructions of the prophet, God is bound by His word not because of us but because of His name. One must remember that we serve a sovereign God, and as such He has the authority to do as He says and He does. Furthermore a name means nothing if it does not honor its word He has made provisions for his people in each and every circumstance, but his people need to play the part assigned to them only. These parts can be any simple command to one that requires great faith.
Applications:
~ What have we learned? ~
(A) Recognized that the spoken word means changes are coming
(B) What one does with the spoken word will determine such changes
(C) Have expectations from the spoken word
(D) Follow Divine instructions only. Do not add or take away from it
(E) Know the God you serve
Presented by: Larkland Miller & Angella Smith
Copyright May 2007
Used with permission.
