Wednesday 29 June

1 Kings 22:1-53

When Paul said we should eagerly desire the gift of prophecy he seems to have been strangely silent about the Micaiah episode.  Does this count as an act of mis-selling? Do we need to refer him to the FSA?  Maybe he put it in the small print.  According to the example of Micaiah, the prophetic gifting will make you into a bearer of bad news, a national traitor, a social outcast, a prisoner and a pauper.  Now some of that is obviously specific to Micaiah’s particular situation but we can’t deny that across the whole bible there is a sense that the more you press into the Spirit, the more you get pushed in the back.  Jesus himself said “the world will hate you because of me”.  What is going on here?  Is this just a cruel trick that a sadistic God plays on his creation?  I don’t think so.  I think the Micaiah episode exposes the truth of humanity.  The Micaiah episode shows that ever since that wretched day in Eden the serpent really has been biting mankind’s heel and Adam’s offspring really has been stamping on his head.  Battle rages.  Forces are deployed against the ways of God and they don’t take kindly to being assaulted by the truth, love and power of the kingdom.  Prophets call out sin, they speak hope, they offer life.  Prophets like Micaiah show the consequences of living against God (Israel scattered on the hills) and they issue in their words the gracious invitation of God to repent and seek his face.  The serpent tries to bite them, tries to shut up their mouths, tries to silence their appeals.  But Jesus’ death has already secured the serpent’s defeat.  Jesus has stamped on his head.  As we waiting for the final unveiling of that victory we need to cling to what Jesus has done.  We need our prophets to stay true to their calling, no matter how tough, because through their voice, through the prophetic utterances of God’s people, the scattered sheep will find their shepherd.

Acts 19:14-41

It’s about now that you begin to realise quite how momentous the spread of the Jesus message has been.  In 19 chapters the few people gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem have, through their co-operation with the Spirit, brought life and hope to thousands of people from multiple nationalities in at least 18 major cities across 6 nations throughout 2 continents.  They have done it through simply speaking about the life and hope they have found in Jesus.  They have done it through simply demonstrating the power and reality of the kingdom through casting out demons and healing the sick.  They have done it through simply sharing the love and grace of the kingdom through caring for the needy and welcoming those who come to them.  But this fruit has not been harvested at a saunter.  The Jesus followers have been rioted against, stoned, chased away, insulted, imprisoned, killed and mocked.  They have made enormous sacrifices for the sake of the One they love.  They have paid a heavy, heavy price to follow His call to the nations.  But, when I look at it, I want to emulate them more than anything.  I want our church to follow in the footsteps they have created.  I want demons to know our names, I want evil deeds to be confessed and corrupt businesses to suffer.  I want there to be uproar in the city because of the disturbance of the Way.  I want these things not just because they would be exciting to be part of, although they would, but because I love this city and I love the businesses around us and I love the people who are plagued and possessed by demons.  And the only real hope for this city and these businesses and these people is the hope found in Jesus, the hope of forgiveness and life and promise in his name.

Proverbs 15:31-16:7

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.”  What a con.  I must have committed that Euromillions ticket to the Lord at least 5 times...