"Thus says the Lord, 'Because you have disobeyed the command of the Lord, and have not observed the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but have returned and 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 grave of your fathers.'" 1 Kings 13:21-22
The 13th chapter of 1 Kings contains a fascinating story of failure. I encourage you to take a few moments to read it. In it you will find that God blessed a prophet to deliver His word to a king that was defying him. God delivered this word directly to the prophet with specific instructions not to linger after his work was done, but to go home by a different path without eating or drinking. A person claiming to be a prophet himself told him that God instructed him to bring him back to his place. Unfortunately, the prophet of God was convinced and went back with the lying prophet where he ate and drank.
Beloved, it is critically important that you know God's truth for yourself. It is available to each and every one of us in the form of the Holy Scriptures. Many of us have several copies of it lying around the house but seldom read it outside of morning worship when we are directed by the preacher to "turn in your bibles to..." Failing to know what "thus saith the Lord" subjects us to hearing it through the interpretation, filters and perhaps even the lies of others.
To be sure, it is important to attend worship and hear the preached word. It is important to attend bible classes. Preachers and teachers are a gift from God according to Eph 4:11-13. But it is also important that you "search the scriptures daily to see that the things you are being told are so," Acts 17:11. You see at judgement, "Well the preacher said," or "The teacher said," will not be acceptable excuses. God will surely ask, "What did I say?"
The prophet of God lost his life because he followed the word of man rather than God. If God instructed you directly and specifically, why would you ever let anyone tell you anything different than what He has said? Who do you trust with your eternity, God or man?
In Revival,
Lee
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