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OBADIAHS NEEDED TODAY
by Kelly Gallagher
The ministry of Obadiah kept the light of the truth alive during the apostasy of the false prophets.
(1Ki 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.)
Obadiah – the name means “servant of the Lord.”
(1Ki 19:18) Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
Obadiah was strategically placed in the kingdom of Ahab and Jezebel. An almost total apostasy from the true God of Israel had taken place. The prophet Elijah believed he was the only true prophet left in the land, yet God answered him with the words above. Seven thousand people had stayed true to Jehovah and not gone after Baal, the false god of the pagan nations around Israel.
Ahab, king of Israel in the days of Elijah and Obadiah, married Jezebel, in violation of the commands to kings in Deuteronomy 17.
(Deu 17:17) Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
A king was especially not to marry a heathen woman. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, the high priest of the Zidonians. Jezebel was a religious witch and caused Ahab to sin worse than any king before him.
(Neh 13:27) Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
(1Ki 21:25) But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
Now the false prophets ate at Jezebel’s table. She supplied them with the money of the kingdom, which should have gone to support true prophets. The spirit of Jezebel is alive and well in the church today. This spirit not only inverts the authority of men, but it diverts the money of God’s people to support false prophets in their extravagant lifestyles and funds heresy and worldly mindedness among God’s people as well as idolatry, sexual sin and compromise.
The spirit of Obadiah is a serving spirit that cares more about people and souls than buildings. Notice that Obadiah did not feed the true prophets with 5 star cuisine, but with bread and water, the necessities of life. The money given to God by His children needs to be spent funding true ministries that are willing to serve God full time for just the bare necessities, if need be. These will be those who are sold out for the concept of advancing God’s true kingdom in the hearts of people and be about the task of making disciples all nations.
Obadiah put these prophets in caves to protect them from Jezebel who was killing the true prophets. No doubt these men found time to minister the truth behind the scenes and probably had something to do with the fact that there were 7,000 faithful people in the country, instead of none.
(1Ki 18:40) And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
(1Ki 18:41) And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
Notice that Elijah, the anti-Jezebel spirit, brought revival to the nation after slaying the prophets of Jezebel. We need this in the church today. We can destroy and silence the mouth of the prophets and prophetesses of Jezebel by de-funding their ministries. When God’s people get wise and gain discernment, they will not fund these false ministries nor give heed to their seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. They will no longer have millions of dollars to spend on television, radio and other media to seduce God’s people out of the money that should be going to help brothers and sisters in need and to fund true ministries of teaching, soul-winning and helping the body of Christ.
The rain is the presence of the Holy Spirit and the righteousness that He brings. Why would the Spirit of Truth want to revive and bless apostasy and error? He will certainly not do this, but rather, fight against growth of a church that is funding false prophets. The church needs to break up the fallow ground of funding and supporting false prophets and teachers in order to have the rain of righteousness God promises.
(Jer 4:3) For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
(Hos 10:12) Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Where are the Obadiah’s today? Obadiah was made governor of the entire house of Ahab, much like Joseph was made governor of Egypt. God can move on the heart of even a wicked king like Ahab to appoint a God-fearing man like Obadiah.
Today’s Obadiahs will be those with business and financial blessing who are members of the body of Christ spiritually. These people need to be reached with the challenge to be Obadiahs and not fund the harlot church. They need to be warned that if they give to the rich, they will be cursed.
(Pro 22:16) He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Ironically, by giving to ministers living a lavish lifestyle, they are actually bringing poverty on themselves.
(1Ti 6:17) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
(1Ti 6:18) That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Paul tells us to charge the rich to do good with their money, especially to the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). The Obadiah ministry will not only be blessed in business and be able to fund true ministries and help brothers and sisters in Christ that are in need, but will be persuasive (especially by example and the anointing that goes with the committed) to the rich to do likewise.
Come out from this Babylon religion that is wasting God’s money on buildings, expensive audio/visual and radio/television programs. They waste this money because they are not preaching the true gospel. They are not preaching self-denial, the cross, the coming of Christ and the need for sacrifice of time, talent and treasure to further the kingdom of God on earth and to provide for the needs of the saints.
The antichrist, an actual man, as well as a spirit already working in the church, will someday bring a form of socialism or communism on the whole world. Many who call themselves Christians will be forced to relinquish their lavish homes, cars and lifestyles because they disobeyed the Lord’s command not to heap up treasure for themselves on this earth. They will be forced to give up all and will receive no reward for it.
Those, like the wise steward, who used the money of unrighteousness to gain souls in heaven and rewards in heaven by giving to the poor (especially among the household of faith) will be glad they made this choice. The greed and money-idolatry in the professing church will ultimately damn many souls. This writer personally believes that many professing Christians will take the mark of the beast in the days ahead to avoid loss of their money. Some ministers will take the mark to keep their ministries and church buildings. Eventually, all will be forced to give them up anyway. Spiritually, many have already taken this mark and have gone too far in greed to repent. They have become spiritual castaways and reprobates. Their faith has been shipwrecked because of the cares of this world and the desire of money and other things. Be an Obadiah instead. Pray for God to give you business sense and opportunity to make money to fund good, solid ministries and help the poor among God’s elect. Great will be your reward in heaven.
Kelly Gallagher
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