Today, we continue to meditate upon Ephesians chapter 4 vs 29 and 30. As always, we ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, to teach us and to lead us into all truth regarding these scriptures. He is the true teacher. Hallelujah!
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace into the hearers.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Ephesians chapter 4 vs 29 and 30.
In Part 1, we focused on the believer’s responsibility to filter that which we speak to others: so that our words would be “good to the use of edifying” and that they might “minister grace unto the hearers.”
In Part 2, we gave our attention to the words that the Holy Spirit gives us to speak out when the Church (Ekklessia) gathers together; by way of tongues, the interpretation of tongues and new testament prophecy. We are to speak out that which the Holy Spirit whispers to us; no additions, no deletions, no five senses wisdom that we have assimilated. We are not to corrupt the communication (words/sayings) that the Holy Spirit imparts through us in any form.
The result: words that will edify and minister grace unto the hearers, and the Holy Spirit is not grieved. Amen.
Part 3 will focus on speaking out words of knowledge and words of wisdom, both inside and outside the Church; and our responsibility not to corrupt that communication that flows through us as we are moved by the Holy Spirit.
1 Kings chapter 22 v 14.
And Micaiah said, “As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.”
What a wonderful scripture!
This verse is an energizing encouragement to those of us who seek to bless others when we receive a word of knowledge and a word of wisdom. It is our Heavenly Father’s blueprint for success in these spiritual matters(pneumatikos) and will ensure edification and a ministering of grace to those who hear.
In order to comprehend fully the magnitude of this verse, let us look at the context of the verses leading up to verse 14.
Verse 3, chapter 22.
And the King of Israel said unto his servants, “know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and that we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the King of Syria?”
Verse 4.
And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth Gilead?”
King Ahab, the King of Israel desired to claw back the city of Ramoth in Gilead from the Syrian king, and he asked king Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, to assist him.
Verse 5
And Jehoshaphat said unto the King of Israel, “Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today.”
Verse 6
Then the King of Israel gathered the “Prophets” together, about 400 men, and said unto them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” And they said,”Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the King.”
Now King Ahab was a particularly evil King and did not walk in the statutes and commandments of the Lord; his “Prophets” or supposed spiritual advisors also. These 400 advisors ‘ate at the King’s
table”: Ahab provided them with food, clothing, positions of power and authority in his court and although he asked them for the Lord’s wisdom and knowledge regarding situations that confronted his kingdom, they would invariably impart knowledge and wisdom that came by their 5 senses, that would encourage Ahab to do that which he wanted to do. That way they kept their positions and authority and consequently their heads. No surprise then that they advised him, to a man, to:
“Go up(to Ramoth Gilead) for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the King.”
Verse 7
And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?”
Ahab replied:
Verse 8
…..”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 prophecy good concerning me, but evil…”
Micaiah did not eat at the King’s table, he served the Lord. Thus when Ahab and his spiritual advisors came up with some 5 senses scheming that did not involve the Lord, Micaiah would speak out the Lord’s wisdom and knowledge, and of course it would contradict their plans. Hence Ahab did not like Micaiah. Because of Jehoshaphat’s request however, Micaiah was called.
Verse 13
“And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him saying “Behold now, the words of the “prophets” declare good unto the King with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.”
The messenger puts the pressure on Micaiah. He basically asks him to agree with King Ahab and his “prophets” and not to upset the apple cart. “Go along with us all in supporting this venture.
Verse 14.
And Micaiah said, “As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.”
What a man this Micaiah was! He was determined to speak that which the Lord gave him even though it could cost him his freedom and possibly his head. We need men and women in the Church of Christ today just like Micaiah; speaking out the Father’s spiritual wisdom and knowledge no matter what pressure comes against them to corrupt the communication from the Lord; to water down or even hide the words of the Lord; Hallelujah!
What did Micaiah do?
He spoke out the words of the Lord.
Verse 17.
And he(Micaiah)said, “I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, ‘ These have no master: Let them return every man to his home in peace.’ “
He spoke out the words of the Lord. Ahab(the shepherd) would be slain and the fighting men of Israel(the sheep) would be scattered upon the hills if they persisted with this venture.
Did Ahab heed the words of the Lord spoken by Micaiah? No! Ahab was slain, the army was scattered upon the hills by the Syrians and Jehoshaphat only survived an ambush when he cried out to the Lord. Ramoth in Gilead stayed in Syrian hands.
You may ask, “what happened to Micaiah?”
Was he lauded as a wonderful man of God, a man of integrity, a man who did not corrupt the communication that came from the Lord?
Verse 27.
…Thus saith the King, “Put this fellow (Micaiah)in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.”
This was Ahab’s last word on the matter before he departed for Ramoth.
We never hear of Micaiah again in the scriptures. Did he rot in prison? We don’t know. We just know that he was a man of integrity who despite threats and verbal and physical abuse refused to corrupt the communication that he received from the Lord.
Can I encourage you to read and reread this chapter, as always, asking the Holy Spirit for spiritual understanding?
The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 11 v 1.
“Be ye followers(imitators) of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
I believe you could add Micaiah’s name to that list. Those of us who ask the Father for words of knowledge and wisdom to bless others in the Church could do no better than to imitate this wonderful man of God: To be men and women who pray in the spirit constantly, expecting communication from the Father via the Holy Spirit to bless our brothers and sisters in Christ; that, when that communication comes, we do not corrupt it in any way, either by addition or dilution.
Those to whom it is addressed will be edified and gracefully ministered to and, Hallelujah! the Holy Spirit will not be grieved.
Have a glorious day!