A Young Prophet Killed by A Lion–Discernment Has Two Dimensions

Discernment, essentially, is the ability to discern what is from the Lord and what is not.

The young prophet was not allowed to eat during this time.

The old prophet lied, claiming he had heard a message from an angel who told the young prophet to eat.

The young prophet believed the old prophet and disobeyed God.

Then, suddenly, God spoke through the old prophet that the young prophet would surely die.

The young prophet was killed by a lion after leaving the old prophet’s house.

Yet, the lion didn’t eat his carcass but stood beside it, sending a clear message that this death sentence was from God.

That’s the story.

I know there are a million question marks racing through your mind, and with the fear of God, I might also address what isn't.

“To whom much is given, much is required.” Luke 12:48

In this article:

• You got the whole “false prophet” idea wrong

• Two dimensional discernment—the message & the messenger

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You got the whole “false prophet” idea wrong

If what the prophet prophesied didn’t happen, then that is a false prophet.

That’s the common misunderstanding of a “false prophet.”

And people will point out this very verse to you without understanding it, too:

“And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”
Deuteronomy 18:21-22

This scripture is talking about when a prophet speaks presumptuously; what he says will not come to pass. This verse is NOT saying that he is a “false prophet.”

Now, let’s look at another verse regarding prophecy, also in Deuteronomy:

“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto thee, saying, let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

Though shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God…”
Deuteronomy 13:1-5

So what do we know about false prophets from these two paragraphs?

• False prophets can be accurate.
• False prophets serve false gods.

If you have dabbled in the occult, you know what I’m talking about. Fortune-telling can come to pass. Baal has many prophets. Those are the real “false prophets.”

True or false, a prophet prophesies by a spirit. It is the spirit that prophesies. What determines whether a prophet is true or false is the spirit they prophesy from.

True prophets prophesy by the Holy Spirit. False prophets, the witches and warlocks, prophesy by demonic spirits.

Why true prophets make mistakes?

I've got people telling me, “I can’t imagine a prophet of the Lord making mistakes.”

First of all, your imagination is your limitation.

Second, let’s figure out why true prophets can make mistakes.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 tells us the main reason: if they speak presumptuously.

What does speaking presumptuously mean?

It’s when a true prophet goes beyond his authority and calling, speaking what the Lord has not spoken to him.

A prophet must, first of all, heed God’s voice, knowing what He has spoken, and then be sent—which means they only prophesy when sent. If the Lord does not send the prophet, yet the prophet prophesies simply because they have the gift, their prophecy may not come to pass, for they have spoken presumptuously.

This is why “Let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.” (Romans 12:6) Faith determines prophecy. How well a gift functions is also determined by the amount of faith a person has.

What causes a true prophet to speak presumptuously?

"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part." 1 Corinthians 13:8-9

Since we prophesy in part, mistakes are expected.

So why do we only prophesy in part?