Tonight's chapter is about honor. It's about recognizing the value of the healing anointing and the one who carries it. Matthew 10:41 says it best; He that receivers a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophets reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. In other words, we should highly esteem those that carry the anointing so that we may draw from the well ourselves. The best kind of gift is the one that is received well. There are many examples in scripture that describe situations where many had the chance to receive healing but did not honor the one who was sent. Basically what that translates to is unbelief in the miracle working power of God. We should always make sure to honor those who have the anointing.
There is a woman at my church that carries this type of anointing. She is a very quiet, humble woman of God that always esteems others better than herself. There have been times in my walk where she was the only one I could go to because I felt that the pain was so heavy only she could help me to rise above it. When the anointing comes on her, pain melts away at the sound of her voice. She never asks for anything and she is about at meek as you can be. There is truly a silent grace that surrounds her all of the time. I was honored with the opportunity to be able to work along side her for a short time and cannot describe the value of what that time was worth to me.
How do we honor the prophet? Well, honor in this case means "value" so what do you do to show someone you value them? I love to sit and listen to their stories. Prophets always have stories that will increase your faith and they love to tell them. Another way is to accept the advice they give. These are wise people that have history with God and their advice is worth more than gold, don't shun it. Serve them any way you can and be the first one to do it. More than anything, treat them with respect. It is a precious gift from God to be in the presence of His anointed ones so behave like you would if you were speaking to Jesus himself. It is so important to honor those that God places in your life to help guide you.
We've been in the book of Samuel for school and I'm being reminded of when Saul went to Samuel for advice about finding his donkeys. They were no where to be found and he needed to get back home. Samuel was a prophet and Saul knew he could help them. Before they went to see him they tried to find something in their sack to give to him but they were all out of food. Saul's servant had a shekel of silver to honor Samuel with if he could just tell them where the donkeys were. Little did Saul know, Israel had been asking for a king and the Lord had spoken it to Samuel that Saul was the one. Needless to say, he was pretty freaked out in the beginning but Samuel prophesied what Saul would see that day to confirm that he knew what he was talking about. Samuel told him where to go and what to do and said that he would see him in a week and then Samuel would make a burnt offering. Well, right after that, a really nasty guy named Nahash came with some threats to take out the eyes of all the Israelites. Saul got filled with fury and decided to take matters into his own hands and go and burn the offering himself. When Samuel found out, it confirmed to him that things weren't going to be good for Israel with the new self-sufficient king and all.
The picture that's being painted in the book of Samuel shows us how much we need the anointed in our midst and that we should also honor them with gifts or acts of service for their ministry. We must remember that the Lord has a purpose for us all and that His timing isn't always our timing as in the case with the burnt offering. Because Saul took matters into his own hands and didn't do what the prophet said, all of Israel would suffer. We too need to heed the words of the wise so that we don't get bound up in our own folly. Here are some prayers that we can pray to release this into a reality. I encourage you to read them out loud. God spoke you into existence and that same creativity dwells in your voice.
I declare that the man of God in this city is honorable, and all that he says comes to pass. he will show us the way to go. When I go to him for direction, I will bless him with valuable gifts.
I will go everywhere to borrow vessels to accommodate the endless flow of anointing that the man of God has spoken into my household. This anointing will bring prosperity to my children and me.
God forbid that I do anything out of line to the Lord's anointed. I will not stretch my hand out against him, seeing that he is anoint of the Lord.
God has anointed the man of God with the Holy Spirit and with power. He will go about doing good and healing all who are oppressed by the devil, because God is with him.
I will rise before the gray headed and honor the presecense of an old man.
Wisdom brings her honor when he embraces her.
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor.
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