and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lord said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’ ”
I Kings 13:21-22 NKJV
Hello beloved of The Lord, you’re blessed and highly favoured.
The story of the young prophet and the old prophet depicted in 1 Kings 13 gives us a lot of insight into what we should do if we want to finish strong. Basically, the young prophet had a promising career as a prophet. He declared things that happened immediately (1 Kings 13:3,5 NKJV) and we even see a remarkable healing take place (1 Kings 13:4,6 NKJV). Yet, the young prophet didn’t go further in his prophetic ministry. Why?
Firstly, because he told everyone what God had told him in the secret place (1 Kings 13:8-10, 16-17 NKJV) and secondly because he relied more on the “word of God” coming from the mouth of another prophet rather than The Word that God told him directly.
The old prophet came to the young prophet and he told him to do something contrary to what God initially told him to do (1 Kings 13:18-19 NKJV) and instead of first asking God or holding on to the previous instruction, the young prophet disobeyed God and obeyed the old prophet.
If you want to finish strong, you have to understand that there are some things God tells you in the secret place that you must not tell everyone because by giving them too much information your enemies may use it against you.
If you want to finish strong you must understand that you can never elevate the word of a so-called prophet above the Word of God. You must always go back to God first and inquire of Him.
Many people have married the wrong person because of a prophecy while God had told them to choose someone else. Many people have chosen the wrong career path because of a prophecy while God had told them to do something else.
Many anointed servants of God live in sexual immorality or other sins and they still see signs and wonders, miracles, prophetic words delivered, people’s lives changed, money multiplying and crowds coming, so they assume that they can flirt with sin and with the power of God at the same time. Notice that Samson didn’t even know when the power of God had left him. He tried to do as he usually did, yet it didn’t work.
Many people expect God to back them up while they’re living in sin and they refuse to repent. God gave a lot of time to Samson for him to repent and a lot of signs that Delilah wasn’t good company, yet he didn’t repent. If you want to finish strong, you have to live in obedience towards God and you have to practise sexual purity. Avoid meeting alone in isolated areas with the opposite sex, avoid sexual immorality.
Prayer:
Father God, I confess that at times I do things without inquiring of You. At times I listen to “prophets” or “prophecies” more than I listen to You. Lord help me to always prioritise what You told me, help me to hear clearly from You and to obey You above everyone else, in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen
Assignment :
- Examine your life, are you like the old prophet in someone’s life right now? Is there someone to whom you’re trying to impose your will instead of letting them do what they told you that God told them to do? Ask God for guidance, ask God to help you not to be a stumbling block to that person.
- Examine your life, is there someone right now who is trying to convince you to do the opposite of what God asked you to do? Ask God for guidance on how to respond to this person.
Further reading : 1 Kings 13 NKJV
Looking for a local church in Yaounde Cameroon?
I recommend to you Living Word Fellowship International Church of Bishop Christian Raymond Ngwu and Rev. Laurentine Ngwu. The Church is situated in Yaoundé Mvog-ada near Camwater, Church services on Sunday 8am to 12:30 pm. Right now we’re praying every morning from 5:30am to 7:00am during this prayer/fasting 40 days season
Looking for a local church in Douala Cameroon?
I recommend to you Four Face Center of his excellency Dr. E. Paul Mbuagbor and Rev. Leslie Mbuagbor (son and daughter of Daddy Bishop Chris Raymond Ngwu). The church is situated at “salle de fête arena Bonamoussadi” and church services hold every Sunday 5pm.
Thank you for reading and God bless you
Dr. Victoria Eyog Tang Nlend
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