Obadiah, the Church Officer of Spiritual Summit (1 Kings 18:1-4)
The Field of Answers of the 1st 2nd 3rd RUTC: 3/7/2021
Obadiah, the Church Officer of Spiritual Summit (1 Kings 18:1-4)
Although numerous curses and disasters will come in the final days, Satan’s last target is the church (Revelations 12:17). It said that he will use many tricks. Externally, various tribulations and persecutions will come, and internally, the church will drift towards what is physical and worldly and give up on gathering together (Hebrews 10:25). As a result, they will lose their spirituality (godliness) (2 Timothy 3:5). Many false prophets will arise through that opportunity. God needs to save this church and save all the 237 nations and the world. Who will be used for this work? First, it is the pastors, and then the church officers who will help the pastors and be devoted together. A representative church officer was raised at every age. There were church officers like Aaron by Moses, and Hur and the 70 elders, and Caleb by Joshua. There were also church officers of Romans 16 in the early church, and the church officer Obadiah in the age of Elijah and Elisha from the passage. Future church officers like them need to be trained among remnants from now on, and we need to actually raise church officers in our church after the pandemic. We must pray for church officers whom God blesses and uses to arise. We are examining Obadiah as our model. We added the title summit church officer. What kind of person is a summit church officer? Verse 3 said that “Obadiah feared the Lord greatly.” Obadiah confesses in verse 12, “I have worshiped the Lord since my youth.” Hence, we must give church officer training during the remnant period. The King James Version used the word “fear” but the NIV used the phrase “devout believer.” They are both the same meaning. He loved God and gave his true devotion there. It is a word that applies to everything. Devotion is possible because of love. We will consider the three kinds of love and three devotions that Obadiah possessed.
- Obadiah loved God and he gave his devotion to God with that.
1) How was Obadiah able to love God? It is the same for us.
Because God loved us first, those who have received his love can love (Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:8). How did He love us? He loved us by giving us His Son as a sacrifice for our sins and curses. The word sacrifice has the same definition as devotion. This is why I must realize and experience the cross of Calvary. I need to experience this for the Mount of Olives experience (Kingdom of God) and the Mark’s Upper Room experience (power of the Holy Spirit) to follow. Experience this within my weaknesses, failure, and problems I face. That is why Christ became my sacrifice offering in my place, and I have been delivered and become a Child of God there.
2) Five assurances will come from here. With this faith, do not be afraid and shaken in any circumstances.
Assurance of salvation (1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 John 5:11-12, Romans 8:1-2), assurance of answers (John 14:12-14), assurance of forgiveness (1 John 1:9), assurance of victory (1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Corinthians 15:57), and assurance of guidance (John 14:16-18, Proverbs 3:5-6).
3) The true devotion to God that comes from this.
You begin to love God, follow the word of the covenant that He gives, and love the church He raised through the price of His blood. That is where worship (Romans 12:1-2), thanksgiving, and prayer come from. This is the blessing of the spiritual summit. When you have this center is when you connect with God, the throne, and the world that He desires to save.
- He connected with the world because He connected with God. He could love the world and devoted.
What does it mean to connect with the world? It does not mean to be deceived by the physical things of the world and living in that (1 John 2:15). It is seeing what the world needs and seeing the spiritual problem within that. It is seeing the empty places that don’t have the gospel, abandoned places, and the places that are dying from corruption and darkness.
1) Although King Ahab worshipped idols, Obadiah helped as his servant and received his trust.
Although he was a king who worshipped idols, he took compassion of his soul and desired to live as God’s witness. Do this first in my school, workplace, and business. This is the start of evangelism.
2) How long would he have prayed there? That is the prayer of the watchman of the spiritual network.
Pray for forces of darkness and doors of evangelism to open in my workplace, school, and region even just by myself. Eventually, there was a time for King Ahab to repent before God before his death (1Kings 21:27-29). Although Elijah gave a message that gave him no choice but to repent, there was Obadiah’s prayer behind that.
3)All evidence that came to Elisha while fighting those who worshipped idols did not just come to him.
Obadiah played a role in connecting the king and Elijah. How much would he have prayed for the
Lord’s servant? Works that transcends time and space had to take place in Elijah’s ministry that was being helped by Obadiah.
- To save the world like this, He devoted for the church in secret. He loved the church and devoted.
The church needs to be strengthened for the church to do works to save the world and raise future spiritual leaders.
1) He helped all of the errands of the Lord’s servant Elijah.
He called Elijah “my lord” (1 Kings 18:7), and called himself a servant and disciple of Elijah (1 Kings 19:12). He was someone who helped Elisha become Elisha. He did works like Paul’s patron, coworker, and host of Romans 16. This is why the Lord said if you welcome a prophet as a prophet you will receive the award of a prophet. You will not lose reward if you give a cup of cold water as a disciple (Matthew 10:41-42).
2) He helped 100 prophets from behind.
He was prepared for death during those difficulties and divided the 100 prophets into 50 hid them in a cave and gave them something to eat. God knew his heart, protected him, and gave him all the blessing to manage all of that. Even the small thing I do will become evidence if I enjoy the blessing of the spiritual summit. It follows.
3) This devotion of Elijah and Obadiah opened the age of Elisha and created the works of Dothan (Remnant Age, RUTC Age).
All the devotions that we do in Christ’s name will move the flow of the next age and even the future (culture summit). Then we stand before God. Our true devotion will remain in our posterity and eternity.
Conclusion – Hold onto the love of God in Christ first. Look upon His power and authority. First, become the spiritual summit who connects with God. Then, you will connect with the world, church, and future. The church and the world have hope when church officers and future church officers come forth. Amy you hold onto the covenant of the church officer summit and enjoy the blessing of true devotion.