God sent a man of God from Judah to Bethel to prophesy His purpose and plan to the altar, the priest and the people. Though a prophet was in the land of Bethel but he was not relevant to God because he was ‘old’ in the things of the Spirit. Thus, a man of God from Judah came at the instruction of God to the territory/post of the old prophet to deliver God’s message.
This year ensure you are fully and daily walking in the Spirit so your territory will not be given to another person. Discharge your God’s given duty precisely, with courage and the Lord will fight your battles, even battles from high personalities like King Jeroboam just as He did for the man of God from Judah.
Be careful of people or occasions that will set a trap for your feet. Just as God instructed the man of God not to eat, drink or turn again in the same way that he came. Do not rest ‘under an oak tree’ in a strange land till you get to the finish line. We are pilgrims in this world let us run the race with patience, not with laxity and worldly pleasures.
So we are to keep moving till we finish our race.
Be careful of associates like the old prophets. Old prophets will come as though they are still relevant in the divine purpose of God. They will introduce themselves as a prophet, man of God not as one who has fallen from grace ‘old’. They will say an angel spoke to them by the word of the Lord yet they are liars. They aim to make you err from the truth of God’s word. This year test every spirit.
They will set the forbidden before you, a table for you to eat and drink, what no man can resist in a stressful journey. You cannot eat at the Lord’s table and tables of the devil. Let not your lack make you accept offers from false prophets. The devil knew Jesus was hungry after fasting for 40 days and nights and he brought Him the word of God but it was to make Him fall.
While in the very act of sin, at the table, the judgement of God came through the prophet. You can now see this old prophet is now called THE prophet. We might wonder how could God speak through the mouth of this liar. He is God and a similar experience was Caiaphas in his plot with others to kill Jesus, he prophesied not of himself, that Jesus should die for the world.
This man of God did not stop his meal to repent before the Lord but he finished his food. This year God will judge every disobedience against his Word. Repent immediately and stop that sin when the Lord rebukes and judges you.
Instead of sorrow that leads to repentance, the old prophet promoted and honoured the man of God so he would be joyful. He gave him an ass to ride on, to fill his heart with joy and not soberly reflect on God’s rebuke. Moreso, he had made him merry with food so his spirit became insensitive, his conscience did not prick him and no godly sorrow. It was a promotion and honour that would hasten him to his destruction. Perhaps if he had walked just the way he came, he might have reflected soberly and repented. He was rushed to his death through the wages of sin, the ass.
Be careful of promotion and honour that is not from God. It will hasten to destruction.
