The Truth, The Whole Truth, ANd Nothing But The Truth

SCRIPTURE: 1KINGS 22:8

“The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, ‘There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.’
      ‘The king should not say that,’ Jehoshaphat replied.”

OBSERVATION:

Jehoshaphat was asked by Ahab to partner with them in battle against Ramoth Gilead.Jehoshaphat says “It sounds good to us kings, but what is God saying through His prophets?”  They survey the prophets and the survey says... DING, all clear for battle!  But it seems that Jehoshaphat has a “gut check” and wants to make sure there are no opposing thoughts among the prophets.

Ahab says, “You know, I left this guy, Macaiah, off the list.  I really can’t stand him because he never tells me what I want to hear.  He is always prophesying against me.  He just doesn’t like me.”  At least that’s what I hear as I read this passage.

When I read the stories of people in the Bible I always try and find how my life measures up.  Is there something I can learn from this persons experience and apply to my own life.  Can I learn how to walk with God closer, follow Jesus more confidently, lead and care for people more skillfully, be a better husband and father, avoid a pitfall, or build character.  So as I read Ahab’s words, “I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me...” I have to ask the question about myself, “Do I disqualify negative voices from speaking into my life and into decision making processes?”

Nobody likes negativity.  However, we should desire truth.  Unfortunately, not all truth is fun to hear.  Not all truth feels good and nice.  Some truth is contrary to what we’d rather do and to how we are thinking.  

APPLICATION:

If I want to become the man that God has planned me to be, I need to invite words of truth into my life to encourage me in righteousness and to confront unrighteousness in me.  I need godly counsel to speak into my life and let me know when I am about to do something stupid.  I need to invite truth into the process even when it might wreck my plans.

I think we call them accountability partners rather than prophets.  However, our accountability partners need to have a prophetic place in our lives.  They should be seasoned believers who are sensitive to the Lord’s speaking and leading.  They should be people of wisdom that is born out of prayer and the Spirit not simply worldly wise.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you that you are working in me.  You are helping me to become the man you planned from the beginning of time.  Thank you for the men and women you have placed in my life.  Help me to trust you to work thru them to bring truth and righteousness to my life.  Help me to be vulnerable and transparent - knowing that you are for me and not against me, knowing that you are good and wanting to take me from death to life.  Knowing that you desire to make me whole.  I invite truth in my life.  In Jesus name, AMEN!!!