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882.
STUBBORNNESS.
"And it must occur
that when someone has heard the words of this oath, and he has blessed himself
in his heart, saying, 'I shall come to have peace, although I shall walk in the
stubbornness of my heart,' with the intention of sweeping away the
well-watered one along with the thirsty ones, Jehovah will not want to
forgive him". (From Deuteronomy 29:19-21 NWT).
THE STUBBORNNESS TODAY IN AHAB-TYPE SONS.
"And it came
about that, as soon as Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab immediately said to him:
"Is this you, the bringer of ostracism upon Israel?" To this he said: "I
have not brought ostracism upon Israel, but you and the house of your father
have, because you men have left the commandments of Jehovah, and you went
following the baals." (1 Kings 18:17,18 NWT). In fulfilment, the spirit
"drought" in the spiritual "land" has been due to the efforts of "Ahab"-type
'elders' (baals) in congregations ("the gods of those nations". Deut 29:18) to
sweep away "well‑watered" ones as well as "thirsty" ones. The Spirit that
operates in anointed sons of God has revealed how "Ahab" teachings
have been sweeping away God's people. But our prayers to God have been heard,
and are being answered: In accordance with the principle described in
Deuteronomy 29:21, Jehovah has separated them "for calamity from
all the tribes of Israel in accord with all the oath of the covenant that is
written in this book of the law."
OSTRACISM FROM GOD.
Ask yourselves:
How could one "man" (of lawlessness) be a "bringer of ostracism" upon the
whole of spiritual "Israel" today? The answer is revealed by those with the
spirit of Elijah that have insight from God to reveal in what ways unfaithful
members of "Israel" have left the commandments of God, and how they carried on
worshipping the baals instead of Jehovah. And in similar fashion, natural Israel
has served "the gods of those nations". (29:18). (Baals: Masters,
husbandly owners). "So Jehovah will have to separate him for calamity
from all the tribes of Israel in accord with all the oath of the covenant that
is written in this book of the law." Then is the legal case of witnesses for
God, along with the "good news" according to faith, indeed brought to a finish.
THE TURMOIL.
THE LITTLE SCROLL (SMALL CLOUD). THE DOWNPOUR (HAIL).
The spirit of
Elijah is now saying to "Ahab"-type 'elders': "Go up, eat and drink;
for there is the sound of the turmoil of a downpour." (1 Kings 18:41). What you
have 'eaten' and 'drunk' from the spirit of Elijah has now become the sound of
the turmoil. The downpour will be the "hail" of God's anger in your own
organisms (hearts), with which you stubbornly tried to sweep others away. (See
Jer 19:3,4. 1 Sam 3:11-14. 2 Kings 21:12-16 Moffatt below). The
reality of this past "shadow" is now being fulfilled by the authority of the
"Little Scroll".
THOSE HEARING NEWS OF CALAMITY.
"I am bringing a disaster on this city, that
will make the ears of every hearer ring; because the people have forsaken
me and desecrated this valley by sacrificing here to foreign gods".
(From Jer 19:3,4 Moffatt).
"I am about to do a deed in
Israel that will make the ears of all who hear it ring… against Eli... because
he knew that his sons were
blaspheming God
and yet he did not check them." (From 1 Sam 3:11-14 Moffatt).
"I bring upon
Jerusalem and Judah a disaster that will make the ears of all who hear it
ring... the dynasty of Ahab… have done evil in My sight
and vexed me… Manasseh also sacrificed many innocent people, till he filled
Jerusalem with murders from end to end". (2 Kings 21:12‑16 Moffatt).
5/9/82.
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