Honor, Discernment, and the Protection of the Flock

Dr. Gilbert

Tuesday, August 18

7:00 am

Dr Daniel & Mary Beth Gilbert

A Series on Restoring Biblical Order to the Prophetic

True biblical honor requires discernment — silence is not the same as respect.

By now, most of you have likely seen the distressing reports involving a widely recognized prophetic voice. His exposure has sent shockwaves through the full-gospel community and left many of us grieving a significant breach of trust. 

He has been exposed; his “words” the result of studying social media accounts and online records. 

I am sad.

Oh how many sincere believers have been misled, making life-altering decisions based on what they believed was a word from God. 

It was calculated deception. Like you, we are blown away by his boldness and audacity to dare speak his words as God’s. 

This exposure is painful, but it also presents a necessary moment for us to reflect on how we, as the body of Christ, have allowed such things to flourish.

“Culture of Honor”

One of the primary reasons these deceptions take root is an unbalanced “Culture of Honor.”

In our desire to be respectful and spiritual, we have sometimes mistaken “honor” for “silence.” In many circles, we have been taught that to question a leader’s teaching, to vet their words, or to challenge their conduct is to be “dishonoring” or “rebellious.”

But friends, we must understand that honor without discernment is not biblical and dangerous.

True biblical honor is not a blank check for a leader to operate without accountability. In fact, the highest form of honor we can show one another is “iron sharpening iron” (Proverbs 27:17). 

When honor is divorced from the command to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1), it creates a vacuum where error, manipulation, and fraud can hide behind a title.

As a leader in the Body of Christ, my primary responsibility is not to protect the reputation of a platformed leader or to maintain the comfort of a “clique.” My primary responsibility is to protect the sheep God has entrusted to my care.

Protecting the flock from deception is the highest form of honor a shepherd can provide. And in the local church, here or in Africa, there is no higher authority than the appointed shepherd. 

My title can NEVER give me more authority than the appointed leader in their church. 

I have been in so many meetings where a stranger with a title was allowed to take over and squander precious holy moments. 

EVEN APOSTLES AND PROPHETS MUST SUBMIT TO THE LOCAL PASTOR’S AUTHORITY.

I would never expect a local pastor who had no knowledge of who I was to allow me to even introduce myself to his congregation. 

Selah,

Dr. Daniel & Mary Beth