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I saw a picture online recently in which a woman was kneeling in front of “her prophet” in a very somber mood, with an inscription similar to:

“Does she do this before her husband?”

But I put it in another way.

“Does she do this before God?”

We are in the age of prophets, and more and more prophet spring up every day! They are on TV, radio, social media; and some actually roam parking lots! Yes, a few approached me in parking lots! They are as aggressive for “clients” as any commercial endeavor. They prophesy everywhere, with various antics and wild messages – mostly to scare you into subjugation; so that you obey and do everything they say without questions; sometimes even the most absurd and unbiblical! They come with all sorts of titles: Man of God, Seer, Apostle, Bishop, Doctor, Oracle etc. Most of them hardly acknowledge the power of God in their ministry; or give credence to God, His sovereignty, or redemption!

They focus more on branding themselves as powerful; and having all the answers! They do everything to pull crowds to themselves, and sometimes make no effort to hide their desperation for self-exaltation, attention and popularity at all.

Most of them have become “spiritual consultants” who make no secret of the various consultation fees they charge. Some have graduated their fees – so you have fees for consulting them in the church, fees for consulting them in their office, and fees for consulting them in their homes – each grade promising different levels of interaction and confidentiality!

Most of these people have churches, but don’t really care if you attend their church. They are simply consultants, who claim to tell you the mind of God! So, there are people who have their regular place of worship, but also have these prophets on the side.

Even the prophets appointed by God, are not above what God has said; not even the most powerful! Following prophets blindly can lead you stray, and even destroy you!

One of the most depressing, and tragic stories in the Bible, is recorded in 1 Kings 13. It is about a prophet who misled another prophet, resulting in his death.

READ 1 Kings 13:6-26

The king said to the man of God, “Intercede with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before.

The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me for a meal, and I will give you a gift.”

But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here. For I was commanded by the word of the Lord:

‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’”

So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.

Now there was a certain old prophet living in Bethel, whose sons came and told him all that the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to the king. Their father asked them, “Which way did he go?” And his sons showed him which road the man of God from Judah had taken. So he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And when they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it and rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree and asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”

“I am,” he replied.

So the prophet said to him, “Come home with me and eat.”

 The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. I have been told by the word of the Lord:

‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”

The old prophet answered,

“I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying to him.)

So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.

While they were sitting at the table, the word of the Lord came to the old prophet who had brought him back. He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah,

“This is what the Lord says:

‘You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.’”

When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying on the road, with both the donkey and the lion standing beside it. Some people who passed by saw the body lying there, with the lion standing beside the body, and they went and reported it in the city where the old prophet lived.

 When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard of it, he said,

“It is the man of God who defied the word of the Lord. The Lord has given him over to the lion, which has mauled him and killed him, as the word of the Lord had warned him.”  (1 Kings 13:6-26)

The reason I call this story tragic is that, prophets are expected to speak the mind of God; and are supposed to be trusted. So, for a prophet to deliberately deceive another prophet to flout God’s instructions, leading to his death, beats my mind! The speed with which he saddled his donkey and pursued the younger prophet was remarkable; but what baffles me was his reason for doing that. I still can’t get my head around what motivated him to deceive his fellow prophet, and then prophesy against him for defying the word of God after he had trusted him and strayed! Was it a test? Was it a prank? Only God can tell.

But there are great lessons we need to learn from this incident: You cannot replace God’s instructions with the words of a prophet! Every prophet, prophesying from God does not contradict God, or His word.

What we see these days is that, people believe and obey all kinds of prophets, and their prophesies, to the core! Even those prophesies that are clearly opposed to what Bible says, seem to be obeyed without questions! Some are downright absurd, others demeaning and some criminal; but they are still obeyed!

God created us in His own image, and would not embarrass, demean, or exploit us! He is the embodiment of love; and He is merciful and kind! He created all things and owns all things!  Above all, He does not contradict Himself, or His Word! 1 Peter 4:11 says:

Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. (1 Peter 4:11 NRSV)

Apostle Paul wrote, regarding orderly worship, to the Corinthians:

 “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” (1 Corinthians 14:29)

”And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,for God is a God not of disorder but of peace.” ( 1 Corinthians 14:32-33)

“So, my friends,be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues;but all things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:39-40)

But Paul knew some would still flout the rules, so to the congregation, he wrote:

Brothers and sisters,do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults. (1 Corinthians 14:20)

Next time someone prophesies, weigh what is being said; and check if the prophesies are orderly, peaceful and decent.

But above all, check if what the person says is in harmony with God’s word. Ask yourself,

“Is this person speaking the words that God would have spoken?”

Remember that God does not contradict Himself or His Word!

MEMORY VERSE

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

QUESTIONS

1. What is your attitude is towards prophesies?
2. Do you know some prophesies are not from God, and can lead to your destruction?

PRAYER TIPS

 Almighty Father, please help us to know You and Your word enough, not to be deceived by imposters claiming to be from You!

Written by:
BENNY MALM

For:
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