THE OLD PROPHET SAGA
"HE SAID TO HIM, “I TOO AM A PROPHET AS YOU ARE, AND AN ANGEL SPOKE TO ME BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, SAYING, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” (He was lying to him.)"
1 Kings 13:18 (NKJV)
READ: 1 Kings 13:1-32
A young minister who is just coming up or emerging in the ministry should be wary of whoever poses to be like the old prophet in our text.
The old prophet in Bethel deceived the young prophet from Judah, for whatever reason, he made the young prophet did contrary to what God had told and instructed him to do; the young prophet lost his life and ministry as a result.
In your calling as a young minister, having someone you submitted to, wanting to learn and receive instructions and counsel from such might be good; but such a thing would have to be done by the leading of God.
There are some old prophets who would not want the young prophets to come up, or shine, so to speak.
Probably the old prophet considered it a slight on him for God to send a young prophet from afar to correct the evil in the land whilst he was there.
He could be thinking, Why did God not assign or use him for the assignment, the speaking of truth to power, which the young prophet went there to do?
It is good to receive counsel and be mentored, but let God lead you on who to submit to or relate with: "WHERE THERE IS NO COUNSEL, THE PEOPLE FALL; BUT IN THE MULTITUDE OF COUNSELORS THERE IS SAFETY" (Proverbs 11:14 NKJV)
"WITHOUT COUNSEL, PLANS GO AWRY, BUT IN THE MULTITUDE OF COUNSELORS THEY ARE ESTABLISHED."
Proverbs 15:22 (NKJV)
Remember, let God lead you on who to relate with and submit your life and ministry to—who to receive cousel from.
What the old prophet did could be out of envy, whatever the reason, he did allow the devil to use him to bring down the young prophet and ended his life and ministry (1 Kings 13:20-26).
A minister should adhere strictly to whatever instruction given to him or her by God.
• God's word or instruction to you is not a suggestion, but a command.
• God's word to you should be unedited, you obey it raw, and to the letter.
The young prophet would have not died cheaply the way he did, If he did not fall for the scam of the old prophet.
An elder should be respected, obeyed and honoured, but no elder should be respected to the point of going against God's express command or instruction that was given to you. Whatever God told you to do comes first before your reverence or honour to any elder:
18 SO THEY [rulers, elders, and scribes] CALLED THEM [apostles] AND COMMANDED THEM NOT TO SPEAK AT ALL NOR TEACH IN THE NAME OF JESUS. 19 BUT PETER AND JOHN ANSWERED AND SAID TO THEM, “WHETHER IT IS RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD TO LISTEN TO YOU MORE THAN TO GOD, YOU JUDGE. 20 FOR WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD” (Acts 4:18-20 NKJV).
Remember, your obedience to God comes first without being rude to the elders or the authority or whoever is worthy of your honour and respect.
Peace!