Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! (James 1:22 MSG).
2 Chronicles 20 gives us an account of how King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah sought help from the Lord when they were faced with threats of war from powerful enemy nations. God, in helping them, didn’t raise an army to defend Judah against their enemies. Rather He ministered to them through prophecy. He anointed a man in their midst named Jahaziel, and he brought forth a word from God to comfort Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah saying, “… Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed…Ye shall not need to fight in this battle…to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).
King Jehoshaphat and the people received the word of prophecy gladly. They didn’t argue or try to reason out in their heads how God was going to help them defeat their enemies; they knew that if God said it, then it was done! Thus, they aligned their plans and acted on the words of exhortation, edification and comfort that came forth under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As far as they were concerned, God had spoken to them through the words of prophecy Jahaziel gave, and they ran with it and had the victory they required!
The Bible tells us not to despise prophecies (1 Thessalonians 5:20), for they’re the tools and weapons we need to fight and win in our fight of faith. Paul exhorting young Timothy said, “Timothy, my child, I entrust to you this command, which is in accordance with the words of prophecy spoken in the past about you. Use those words as weapons in order to fight well” (1 Timothy 1:18 GNB). In other words, Paul was admonishing Timothy, and of course the rest of us to act on prophecies—prophecies that you’ve judged to be consistent with the Word of God! Rejoice when you receive such words in your spirit.
When the Word of God is spoken forth in power, under the inspiration of God’s Spirit, whether by foretelling of future events, or as a “rhema-word,” it produces results. However, we must as always, mix the Word with faith to obtain the expected results.
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the power of your good and eternal Word that’s at work in me today, having embraced it as the more sure Word of prophecy—to live by, and build my life on! By the power of your Word, I fight to win in the good fight of faith today, and every day, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Rhapsody of Realities April 29, 2011
-Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
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