“Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord and have not kept the command that the Lord your God commanded you, but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’”— 1 Kings 13:21-22 ESV
In our previous article, we learned that the man of God was deceived by the old prophet because of over-sharing of information – see 1 Kings 13: 7-9. It was this information that was relayed to the old prophet, which he used to deceive the man of God.
This Christian journey can sometimes be a collective one where you need others for encouragement, to share life experiences, be held accountable and many more. But first and foremost, the Christian journey is a personal walk and relationship with God.
All thanks be to Jesus, who made it possible for believers to have direct access to the Father through His sacrificial death on the cross. As Jesus breathed His last, the temple veil tore in two from top to bottom. The symbolic significance of this action is that there’s no more need for intermediaries or a go-between between man and God. “Jesus again gave a loud cry and breathed his last. Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom…” Matthew 27:50-51 (GNT)
While it’s okay to seek the advice and godly wisdom of leaders, the onus is still yours to ensure what you’re being told is right and aligns with Scripture. “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” Acts 17:11 (NLT)
Through the Holy Spirit, there are things God would say to you or instructions you’d be given as an individual which only you would perceive and possibly understand. This instruction or message might not make sense to others if you shared it with them. In such cases, you will need to continue trusting God and move forward in faith. This is why it is essential to develop your relationship with God and hear from Him regularly.
I have personal experience and have known people who did not make a move until they got approval from their leader. In some cases, many in the process have missed out on what the Holy Spirit communicated to them because their leaders have counselled differently. The danger with this is that too much power can inadvertently be given to leaders as the people see them as having the ear of God. Such people can also be easily manipulated, especially if the leader wants to be seen as “anointed and very spiritual”.
Since believers have direct access to God and have the Holy Spirit residing in them, why is it hard for them to approach God directly in trust and faith? Why choose to seek their leaders’ opinion over what the Holy Spirit says?
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 