Married to success or the prophetic part 1

By: TOROSBC

Amongst the gathering of the faithful in Christ, we are presently discovering that true worship exists only when the corporate body realizes and collaborates with Christ for the fulfilment of Kingdom initiatives. Christ expressly states, "if you love me obey my commandments". Whilst we possess the capabilities of receiving revelation through the Holy Spirit, we must realize that revelation is for accurate employment amongst the corporate body. Our active response to the Holy Spirit's instructions enables us to partake and participate in true worship.

Reference scriptures: Luke 1:26-56 2 Samuel 6

The life of Mary reveals such dynamics, when she accepts the truth of the word of the Lord choosing her as a vessel for the promised seed. She collaborates in this through her acceptance of the truth, and is released into the fullness of the encounter by worship.

The corporate body must learn to collaborate with the prophetic word, so as to usher in true heavenly worship. Worship in the church is the releasing of the power of God in the corporate body that has accepted and collaborated with the prophetic word.

Distinctions between success and collaboration

2nd Samuel 6:20-23 "Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" So David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor." Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death"

The tragic life of Michal reveals the consequences of being married to success rather then to the fulfilment of prophecy. The text above sets the end of a period in which the Ark of God has been returned by David to Zion so fulfilling prophecy.

During the time of apostasy Israel had lost the Ark as a result of dis-obedience and found themselves in a depraved position, barely able to defend the territory that had been so gloriously given to them. Without the Ark there was no prophetic direction for the nation. In God's mercy Samuel became the prophetic awareness for the people, and through him David would be anointed King to lead the nation into the third phase of the patriarch promise. A priestly government and dynasty in Canaan.

It is within this context that Michal despises prophesy by rejecting the bringing in of the ark through the life of David. As a result in the midst of bread Michal is left barren.

The lesson to be learned from Michal begins within the context in which she was married to David (Read 1

Samuel 18:17-30).

Michal was married to David at a time when her Father despised David and sought his death. The condition of the marriage was not in keeping with traditional dowry, due to the relentless destructive passion of Saul. David was instructed to kill two hundred Philistines and present their foreskins as dowry for marriage to Michal. Why such a request?

From a carnal standpoint, Saul seeks David's death by sending him to war against the Philistines. However inadvertently he was sending David into success. David's conquest of Goliath had opened the door for continual success against that particular enemy. By defeating Goliath individually, David had guaranteed corporate success for Israel. David even continued to keep the Philistines at bay whilst Saul was hunting him down. It is in this environment that Michal loved David, she would have heard the shouts of the women at the beginning of David's conquests praising David more then her Father. She to would have secretly desired to align herself with the successes of David. Unknown to her, these success were the trails following the prophetic. It is through the following account that we see how far her love would take her.

Read 1 Samuel 19:11-17

Hence we find the real bases of Michal's love for David. Not in the fulfilment of God's prophetic word but rather in the success which such a life may bring. At a point in time where Michal warns David of her father's intentions, she knowingly stays rather then leaving with her husband. Rather then walking with the prophetic she remains where the previous success of his life currently resides.

Michal discloses the reality of walking with success rather then the prophetic when she positions an idol where her husband would have laid. She is unaware that she has laid the foundation for what her future would become. The last words of this account suggest more of the falsehood she had created.

Both of David's relationship with Michal and Jonathan disclose the life of those who rather then walk with the prophetic remain at a distance, and die in a barren state.

Read 1 Samuel 25:1-44

The life of both Nabal and Abigail also communicate the distinctions of the success and the prophetic. Whilst David entered into the wilderness, his prophetic life provided shelter and covering for Nabal and his family. So much so that because of David and his men, the household increased in abundance and grew substantially. This is a natural fruit of those who are fortunate to dwell under the prophetic shelter of God's chosen people. Such is the church, a corporate body sheltered by the Lord throughout diverse turmoil's and hazardous conditions. Nabal benefited from this and yet, was consumed with the success rather then the divine purpose being fulfilled. There is always a time, when the prophetic word will come and place a demand on those who have been sheltered by it.

When Israel entered the wilderness with the abundance of Egyptian wealth, they soon realised that the wealth had no use outside its prophetic application to build the tabernacle. So too the abundance created under the protection of the prophetic has no other agenda then to support kingdom purpose.

When David requests Nabal's collaboration, the man filled with lust and mammon rudely rejects. The response of Abigail on the other hand discloses the individual awareness of people who collaborate with the prophetic. She unlike Michal leaves her wayward husband to meet with David's wrath, so as to appease him by providing what he needs. She also leaves to make David aware of her own personal consecration to the same prophetic agenda. She discloses to him in humility her gratefulness, and her forthrightness in supporting his conquest. She identifies with him in the fulfilment of the prophetic (by disclosing her knowledge of his future dynasty) rather then just his current successes (battles with the philistines).

By the time she returns to her house the Lord has distinctly judged the situation and married those whom are prophetic together. Her husband Nabal dies and David calls on her to marry into his prophetic future.

Abigail's response to this prophetic marriage also carries with it lessons for the church. She responds by committing herself to the service of both David and his servants. Thus her commitment to the prophetic is not temporary based upon the blessing of marriage. Her posture does not change, in regards to serving the prophetic, she is not blinded by becoming David's wife, but only sees her new identity as a requirement for greater service, not only to her new husband, but all who serve in his quest.

The closing of this account provides us with a unique understanding of the events. Whilst a prophetic women enters into a marriage governed by the prophetic. The scriptures record Michal being married by Saul to another by the name of Paltiel whom never discloses any prophetic direction. Hence we find the expression of two lives built on very different platforms. The one Abigail leaves the life of success to engage with the life of the prophetic, the other who married on the bases of success to the prophetic is married off into the life of barrenness.

An understanding of both lives provide us with clarity as to Michal's final position with regards to David and the women who followed him in celebration.

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

RESTORE ENTERPRISE LIMITED RESTORING AND EMPOWERING THROUGH GODS SOVREIGN GRACE THE TRUTH OF CHRIST'S DEATH RESSURECTION AND EXALTATION E: online@restoreonline.biz W: www.restoreonline.biz (Business site) P: www.restoreonline.info (Free subscription to magazine) T: +44 (0) 0709 287 0454 F: +44 (0) 0709 287 0454

Please Share and Bookmark this Article