Time for Truth

Let’s have a “sit down”. I have some special “Raspberry Tea” I would love to share with you. Actually you can choose Jasmine Tea or a Breakfast Tea if you like. But let’s sit here at this table.

I was reading a while back in I Kings chapter 22….and this “jumped” off the page.

“For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. But in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel.” I Kings 22:1-2

The king of Israel asks Jehoshaphat if he will go with him in war against Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat replied that “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses”….then he also said…”First seek the counsel of the LORD.”

So the four hundred or so prophets were brought in to give “the word” to the king. Or the “go ahead”.

And they all tell him “what he wants to hear”.

But in verse 7 Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?” (Sounded to me like he saw straight through all the hog-wash)

So they brought out Micaiah —even though the king really didn’t want to hear what he had to say because “he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad.” (Verse 8)

I think that when all the “sounding brass” prophets began their encouragement to go to battle—it may have sounded something like “Charlie Brown’s teacher”…”wah-wah-waaaaah–wah—wahhhhh… to Jehoshaphat’s ears.

But when Micaiah was called in and gave his “Word from the LORD”…it rang clear— as truth always does. To those who want to “hear” the truth.

Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'” (Verse 17)

Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’
“One suggested this, and the other that. Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “By what means?’ the LORD asked. “‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said. “‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ “So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you.” I Kings 22:19-23 (emphasis mine)

Okay. I know you are wondering….what is up with this?

Let me finish…drink you tea.

Sit back. Rest.

We’ve got all day….well, maybe just a little while longer. But it won’t take me long.

Here—let me pass you some sugar…need some lemon for your tea?

On most week days, my sister, Aimee and I discuss whatever we read that morning or the night before in our devotionals or Bible Study. Sometimes, life enters our conversations. Okay. On most days. Life interrupts what we most enjoy discussing.

Sometime last year (I really can’t remember the month it took place), we were plagued yet again by another “family situation”—we begin to talk about the “whys”.

No clear answer—-except the “enemy of lies and deceit” has been at work. It is purely amazing who he attacks.

We have a loved one who is surrounded by bars of deceit. We both love him and have prayed for him for all of our praying lives. Little does he realize the metal that constrains his life has constrained ours as well. Not in a physical form…but in a spiritual form.

Why? Well, I think maybe because it has caused us shame. Not only shame, but pain.

The pain comes from the fact that “the loved one” cannot see what the enemy is doing. Even though this road has been traveled before. You’d think one’s eyes would be open to the ploys of the enemy. But I see now that his eyes were not opened completely—and sad to say…for many of us we don’t learn a lesson of listening to lies the first time.

I have battled telling this story. Partly due to the shame of it all. Even though it is not about us. It still affects us. Even though we didn’t cause it…we still feel it.

Do we realize that our actions have “reactions” in others? That they are affected by our actions and decisions. Parents know this is true —they know it all too well.

But kids know it as well. Kids of parents that are living with the enemy of lies and deceit.

I don’t know what you have faced. I don’t know who or what you have listened to. But know this. God is not one who would lie. Rather He will help you see the truth and deal with the truth—even though it may be painful. He is the only One who can heal, restore and bring glory to the shame filled—deceived life. If you have a wound—that has not healed due to the lies of the enemy—give it over to Him today. Don’t let it poison your entire life. Let Him heal you.

It’s okay to have a scar. A scar shows a sign that the Lord has come in and applied His ointment to our lives. We are changed. And…

We are left with a reminder of His love and mercy.

Picture from the our Women’s Tea –I was invited to sit at “Susan’s table”!