02-08-15 I Kings 22:1-28

Don’t Hold Back      February 8, 2015
1 Kings 22:1-28 4 And he (Ahab) said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses. 5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day. 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? 8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. . . . 14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak. . . . 19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. 20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
Often it is so hard to speak the words of truth to those close to us. Why do we wait to tell someone the truth? God help us to not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Don’t be like these prophets that just said flattering words – they are deadly. Often it takes boldness to tell loved ones the truth. Full overcomers overcome always. We have been graced with the whole counsel of God. God help us to speak “what the Lord saith unto me”. Live the fullest of Christ in us with everyone. Don’t hide your light under a bushel.
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Don’t just be critical. We need to have our words seasoned with salt and honey. Truth in love. Flattering words are deadly; they are like a poison that puts people in a slumber and pacifies them where they remain a child. People need to hear the word of the Lord. Let the Lord tell it like it is. The Lord encouraged Joseph to tell it like it was to his brothers:
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Nathan told David,
2 Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.
Paul asked the Galatians,
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?
Paul also rebuked Peter. (Gal. 2:11) and he wrote, “Demas loved the world”. (2Tim. 4:10) and Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: (2Tim. 4:14). Don’t ignore things and allow ones to sleep. It’s like walking past a house on fire and doing nothing. It’s time to be quickened in the Spirit. May our lives be like Paul who did not withhold a thing.
Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,
Each one of us can press with a little more fervency, by His grace. Reach forth to the goal, the mark for the prize of the high calling. In His strong hand He shows His most tenderness.