HANDLING CONFUSION AND DIRECTION Pt.5

BEWARE OF CONFLICTING COUNSEL

The young prophet received a clear instruction from God to curse the idolatrous altar of Jeroboam at Bethel. In addition, He was instructed not to eat or drink but this young prophet met an old prophet that gave a contrary instruction: "But the old prophet answered, “I am a prophet, too, just as you are. And an angel gave me this command from the Lord : ‘Bring him home with you so he can have something to eat and drink.’” But the old prophet was lying." 1 Kings13:18. Eventually, that young prophet lost his life because he heeded the counsel of the old prophet. I am sure the young prophet was confused before he heeded the counsel of the old prophet. He heard God truly but his confusion set in when the old prophet claimed to have also heard from the same God. Out of "respect", he obeyed man's leading and he died.

Another thing that brings confusion after hearing from God is wrong counsel especially from spiritual leaders. I am an advocate of mentorship and active spiritual fatherhood. I strongly believe that every child of God should be under a pastor. However, I've also discovered that there are times God's children experience confusion because the counsel received from mentors/fathers is contrary to what the Holy Spirit has told them. This happens because we often follow our leaders sheepishly without checking with God to see if they're leading us aright. It is a big problem in the part of the world where I come from. People deify their spiritual leaders, "paparize" them and jettison the leadership of "papa" God. For instance, there are situations where Bro "A" received a leading to marry sister "B" but because his mentor has a special interest in his marriage, he decided to talk down sister "B"( probably because she doesn't belong to his church or she's not a "yes" person) and fix him up with sister "J" contrary to God's will. So many have missed God's will for marriage because they abandoned God's leading for the wrong counsel of spiritual leaders. Know this: "No human spiritual leader is sensitive and accurate at all times in every situation".

As a spiritual leader myself, I've come to know I'm a human with knowledge limitations, the best I can do in the counseling room is to counsel biblically but I'll not say"thus saith the Lord" when the Lord hasn't spoken neither will I over rule what God has told His children. When you hear from God, the duty of your spiritual leader or mentor is to confirm and counsel you but not to overrule the voice/ leading of the Spirit. The counsel of man is not superior to the leading of the Spirit. So many church leaders try to play the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of their people, this is wrong. It confuses God's children because two voices are saying different things. Great visions have died in the body of Christ because some insensitive spiritual leaders stood against it. I remember the story of Mount Zion Film Ministry. At the onset, most of the church leaders of the founder didn't believe and supported him, thank God he forged ahead without looking back. Dear reader, don't misconstrue my teaching as a reason to neglect mentors. What I'm simply saying is that the moment you recognize the leading of God on a matter clearly and spiritual authorities are saying otherwise, obey God rather than men. Don't waste your life like the young prophet. The best of man is still a man and God will always remain as God. God is not happy when spiritual leaders stand on His way by preventing His children from entering into His will. If you're a pastor, teach your members to hear God, don't play God in their lives.