CCF International Church

THE PROPHETIC VOICE …. THE ” TROUBLER” OF ISRAEL

1 Kings 18:17-18
Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “ Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals.

THE JUDGEMENTS OF THE LORD …. SWEETER THAN HONEY

Psalms 19:7-10
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

There is a clear difference in the way David perceived and received the Word of the Lord, and the way the house of Ahab, under the rulership of his wife Jezebel,received proceeding the  Word of the Lord.
The household of Ahab will always receive the proceeding Word from the Lord spoken through His prophet Elijah as trouble. The question to be asked this day is this:   How do we receive a proceeding Word from God?
Is it from God if it supports our erroneous ways?
The pivotal purpose of the Word of the Lord is to provide illumination so that we may not stray from God’s plans and purposes for our lives.

Psalms 119:105.  Your word is a lamp to my feet  And a light to my path.

This means if we walk in error, there will be  a proceeding Word from God to bring adjustment to our walk. We should not interpret this as “trouble”. Despising the proceeding word of the Lord will delay us in accomplishing our assignment. The authenticity of a proceeding Word of the Lord is not validated by the level of excitement experienced by the hearer.

David, on the other hand, loved the truth of the “entirety of the Word of God”. Whether it corrects, instructs,rebukes, encourages or refreshes it is “altogether” good and wholesome. David considers the Word of God more desirable that fine gold…that all the riches this world has to offer. 
Allow His Word to renew our mind to  celebrate the Word of the Lord.

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Philippians 4:10-13
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Our lives are constantly challenged by daily trials. So often we would simply quote, to encourage ourselves, the scripture:
” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

Yet we remain in a continual state of defeat. This is not the will of God for our lives. We are expected to remain confident in our Saviour and Redeemer ….this is a clear sign of where we are spiritually located.
It is in Him that we live and move and have our being.

It is this position that activates an impartation of strength. All of our “doings” must be “through Christ”…..Unless the Lord builds the house…understand?
We may be squandering valuable resources investing in systems and structures that are not sustainable over a period of time. The Lord must be a central consideration in all our plans and strategies.

Be prepared to suffer for the sake of the Kingdom. Be prepared to be abased…to be made low…to be humbled….to be made to feel that you are nothing, your grace will be despised, you will be scorned and ridiculed….learn the skill of being content in all situations. This is an acquired skill. We have to learn it. Remain rooted and planted in Christ. The enemy cannot touch you.

It is only when we have mastered the ability to sing songs of joy and praise in times of intense persecution will we be in a position to declare….
” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

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