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How Do I Know If The Pastor Is Being Directed By The Holy Spirit?
●Religion Has a Godly Appearance
CHAPTER 1
RELIGION HAS A GODLY APPEARANCE
In this chapter we are going to look at a story from the Old Testament that will reveal to us an area that can inhibit the pastor from being directed by the Holy Spirit.
Some of you are probably wondering, why am I presenting a story from the Old Testament if we are talking about determining whether a pastor is Spirit-filled?
While it is true that those, who believed in God as he was revealed in the Old Testament, didn’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit, they did have the on-resting Spirit. Another word the Holy Spirit was active in their life.
And while it is also true that the protocol (the way to live for God) for the New Testament saint is different from the Old Testament saint, what they both have in common is they were to follow God’s directives or plans for their life.
For the Jews this involved repenting, believing in Jehovah (Yahweh), and following the Mosaic Law.
For the New Testament saint this involved repenting to God the Father, believing in Christ, receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit, and putting on the new mind of the new person who we have become at salvation so that we are not living in any habitual manner according to the cravings or desires of the flesh, but according to the desires, spiritual qualities, and divine empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Some of the hindrances which inhibited the Old Testament saints walk with God are the same hindrances that inhibit the New Testament saints walk with God.
For the New Testament saint and in particular the pastor these hindrances hamper the filling of the Spirit.
By identifying a hindrance that occurred in an Old Testament saint we should be able to discern as to whether the pastor is being hindered in this area simply by listening to his messages and observing his behavior.
Please go to the book of 2 Chronicles.
King Jehoshaphat
Suggested Reading: 2 Chronicles 17:1-13
Asa, King of Judah, dies. His son, Jehoshaphat, becomes the next king. He is a man that walks in the commandments of the Lord.
4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
One of the first things that he does is remove the high places (the places of worship for pagan gods) and groves (sacred trees set up near an altar).
6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
Then he sends princes (laymen of high position), Levites, and priests to go into all of the cities of Judah, instructing the people in the Mosaic Law.
Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
2 Chronicles 17:7-9
As a result the fear (terror) of the Lord came upon all those kingdoms that were around Judah. In voluntary tribute they brought silver, flocks, goats, etc. to the king.
Fortified cities were built in Judah along with the amassing of a large and powerful army.
During this period of time Ahab, the king of the Northern 10 tribes of Israel asks Jehoshaphat to join him in battle against the king of Syria so that he might reclaim the city of Ramoth in Gilead. This city was at one time owned by Israel, but is now under control of the Syrians.
It’s interesting to note that these two kings were connected by a marriage alliance. Jehoshaphat’s son is married to Ahab’s daughter.
Jehoshaphat agrees to help King Ahab, and enters into a treaty with him.
2 Chronicles 18:3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
The interesting question is, just who is King Ahab?
He is a fellow Jew, who is the leader of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He had amassed a pretty strong army, thus being able to defeat some of the surrounding enemies, and was instrumental in providing military assistance for a coalition against the Assyrians.
Just looking at him from the military standpoint it would seem that he had his act together.
How many of us look to form alliances with others without checking out their spiritual credentials?
Economically, the Northern Kingdom also prospered, because of an alliance that was made with the Phoenicians, who had sea faring trading boats. However, many who came to trade with the Jews were worshippers of Baal. Baal was their chief god. Over time this religion became integrated with the worship of Jehovah (Yahweh).
Who is Baal?
"Baal" was the Canaanite name for the Syrian god Hadad, god of storms and wars1. While the Israelites fully acknowledged Yahweh as their national patron deity, some were inclined to continue to associate Baal with fertility (Dict. of soil, which is the capacity to supply nutrients in proper amounts for plant growth when other factors are favorable2) and to consult him regarding agricultural issues. Also on daily issues such as sickness and health, they sometimes chose to look for information from Baal rather than from Yahweh3.
Eventually temples of Baal were built at Samaria, the capital city of the Northern Kingdom, endeavoring to cause the followers of Yahweh and Baal to worship together. Along with this, altars of incense were built in the streets and on the flat roofs of the houses.
I wonder how any born-again Christians have compromised their beliefs with that of being involved with the practices and theology of religion?
What is the end result of compromising our faith?
We begin to influence others to engage in religion; who were at one time on the right path.
This worship of Baal eventually became the religious choice of King Ahab’s wife, whose name is Jezebel. She is so enamored with this faith that she insisted that Baal worship replace any worship of Jehovah4.
But wait, things go from incorporating the religion of Baal as the primary religion in the kingdom to ordering the slaughter of many of the Hebrew prophets.
1 Kings 18:4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
What was King Ahab’s role in all of this?
He was complicate or another word he was in agreement.
Before King Jehoshaphat entered into an alliance with King Ahab he should have not only sought counsel from the Lord, but investigated Ahab’s spiritual state as to whether the decision to go forward to battle was based on the tenets of the Mosaic Law. Following Jehoshaphat’s agreement to assist King Ahab he did mention to him that they consult the Lord in order to ensure that He was supporting them. On the one hand I commend him for seeking out God’s counsel, but he should have done his due diligence about Ahab’s walk with God ahead of time.
2 Chronicles 18:4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.
So Ahab presents himself before 400 prophets of Baal, and asks them if they should go up to war against the Syrians?
They responded with a distinct yes stating that their God, Baal, will deliver the Syrians into their hand.
I wonder what was Jehoshaphat thinking when he heard this answer?
Could he have been thinking that is there more than one God?
If he believed that there wasn’t, then why is he in alliance with religion?
Jehoshaphat doesn’t immediately comply with the answer. He asks if there is a prophet of the Lord that might be inquired of. King Ahab responds to him by saying that there is one prophet named Michaiah. However, he hates him, because when he was summoned before for a word from the Lord, he never received a good word, but always evil.
2 Chronicles 18:7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
So Michaiah is summoned before the two kings. He prophesies that Israel will be scattered and that King Ahab will be killed in battle. The message is clearly this, don’t go up and fight.
Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace. And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
2 Chronicles 18:16,19
Well there it is. The prophets of Baal say one thing and a prophet of Jehovah says another. Surely Jehoshaphat will say that he has changed his mind and has decided not to assist King Ahab.
The scriptures simply say that both of the kings went up together to fight.
How could this be?
I wonder how many Christians are made aware through the word to not go up and engage in battle with religion, and they go up anyway?
2 Chronicles 18:28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
One idea that can be taken from this story is that when we get involved with religion our mind gets cloudy and we lack discernment.
Somehow we get involved with a religious view that we believe will bring us victory.
King Ahab comes up with a scheme that he hopes will cause him to avoid the proclamation of death which was made by the prophet Michaiah. He tells King Jehoshaphat that he will disguise himself so that no one will recognize him. In the meantime Jehoshaphat is to put on the kingly garb of Ahab so that the forces of the enemy will recognize him as being the king of Israel. In this way the prophecy will not come true.
As the battle gets underway the forces of Syria recognize the kingly garb of Ahab and they proceed to surround Jehoshaphat, who cries out to the Lord. The Lord causes the forces of Syria to be lured away from him, apparently recognizing that he was not King Ahab.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.
2 Chronicles 18:31-32
King Ahab is somehow recognized and is severely wounded by an enemy’s arrow.
King Jehoshaphat returns to Jerusalem. However, when he arrives, he is confronted by a prophet of the Lord named Jehu, who says to him, should you have helped the ungodly, and loved them that hated the Lord?
I think that the king got the message.
Furthermore, Jehu says to him that there are good things that are found in him, such as taking away the groves (sacred trees set up near a pagan altar), and the fact that he has established his heart to seek the Lord.
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
2 Chronicles 19:2-3
So Jehoshaphat learned the lesson. Don’t help those that are religious, who hate the Lord.
His actions from this point on indicated that he had made a clear break from religious involvement.
He went out into various territories of land and brought the Jewish people back to the Lord.
He didn’t bring them back to the Lord and Baal.
Hopefully all of us will learn the lesson that is being taught here.
If you are Christian don’t make alliances with religion. Search it out. Do your due diligence. Religion is not difficult to discern, because it will evidence serving the Lord along with an image of an idol. This idol can be the idol of good works, the idol of water baptism, the idol of following the Ten Commandments, the idol of observing certain days of the year, etc.
If you currently are involved with religion, then break free from it and serve the Lord only.
God is ever forgiving, when we make wrong decisions and confess them to Him.
However, if after you have been made aware of your compromise and continue on in it, then chastisement will be soon to follow.
In conclusion, how do I know if the pastor is being directed by the Holy Spirit?
This is easy, find out what his belief system is.
Find out who is the God that he worships. Find out what constitutes his faith.
If when he talks about God, he doesn’t mention preaching the gospel in order to receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, but substitutes another way for gaining entrance into heaven, then he is religious.
If he says that the way to get to know God is by following certain rules; observing certain days of the year; and not committing certain sins, then he is religious.
If he talks about: preaching the pure gospel to unbelievers, the desire to want to experience God’s presence, having the assurance of eternal life; overcoming weaknesses, then welcome him with open arms.
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