And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I AM the LORD. And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I AM the LORD. (1 Kings 20:13-14, 21-22, 28)
God gave Ahab the victory, not because Ahab was obedient or godly, but because of the people of Israel who were faithful unto God, as God had declared unto Elijah. God had judged the king of Syrian and Elijah had anointed a new king to take his place. Ahab was given victory over Syria in two different battles but spared this wicked king’s life in the face of God’s deliverance. God declared that Ahab’s life was forfeit for Benhadad’s because of Ahab’s disobedience to the LORD and His judgments. The prophets which had declared victory promised judgment upon Ahab and his house by the Word of the LORD.
The victory we have over sin and death is not our own but by the grace of God through repentance of our sins and faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. God gives eternal life unto whosoever will come to Him on His terms and we should not see that grace wherein we walk as anything else but the gift of God and the perfect miracle of His power in us. The ministry and missions we do as He directs give us opportunities to share the Good News with others that He might reach the lost through His church. We are not to be fooled by the ways of the world nor try to copy them in conformance to their systems but follow and obey the Word of the LORD in teaching the nations His Commandments and preaching the Word of God that all may learn of Him and grow in Him. God calls His people to service not for our glory but for His that He might shew Himself strong on behalf of His people and draw those who are in need of forgiveness and reconciliation unto Himself. He is our life and our strength from day to day and those who are His look to God and His Word as we continue in the work He has us to do.
For while we are here, God has commanded those of us who are His saints and know Him to go out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet