THE LORD’S ANOINTED ONE

“So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. AND Abner and the people lay all around him.
Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once [one time] with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!”
But David said to Abishai, “DO NOT DESTROY HIM; FOR WHO CAN STRETCH OUT HIS HAND AGAINST THE LORD’S ANOINTED, AND BE GUILTLESS?” ”
1 Samuel 26:7-9 (NKJV)

• Every believer should have a Bible sense on how to relate or handle anointed servants of God.

In the passage above, David had an opportunity to kill Saul who had been on his trail, in hunting for his life; but he did not kill him.
David said: “For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one?” (1 Samuel 26:9).
In other words, under no condition or circumstance should you attack God’s anointed servant—if you do, you will not be guiltless.
THEY should not be touched physically, or with your tongue: speak or think ill of them—to say or think bad things about them.

“Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.”
Psalm 105:15 (NKJV)

• If you are offended by a minister, let God judge between you and him: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to WRATH; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

David being a man of wisdom, knew what the consequences or repercussions of it could be if he did kill Saul the king. He gave the matter to God to avenge for him (1 Samuel 26:23,24).

“MAY THE LORD REPAY EVERY MAN FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS FAITHFULNESS; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
“And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”
1 Samuel 26:23,24 (NKJV)

• Some people think they have the right to correct their pastors without any regard.

It is believed by some that since we have equal standing, right, before God, no one is higher than another, we are all priests (1 Peter 2:9); thus they can be assertive, express their opinions or desires strongly, and with confidence before their pastors—whereas what they called assertiveness is rudeness.
Being discourteous, impertinent, or impolite does not befit a professed believer (Philippians 2:3; Romans 13:7; 14:4).

“Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”
Romans 14:4 (NKJV)

• God has set order in the church, where there is no order, there would be chaos—anarchy.

Some have been set up as leaders in the church of God. Jesus gave ministry gifts to the Church—the ministry gifts are men and women who stand in the ministry offices given by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11,12).

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ."
Ephesians 4:11,12 (NKJV)

Those who are called by God to operate in the ministry offices mentioned in the above Bible passage did not put themselves there: "And no man takes this honour to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was” (Hebrews 5:4).
Those who operate in ministry offices were put there by God, they represent Jesus the head of the church. Thus if you are rude to them, you are rude to God who put them there.

• That said, it does not mean ministers of God have licence to misbehave, do whatever they like, and be Scot free without being corrected or reproved by God.

God is not partial, He is thorough, but He has not given anyone the responsibility of correcting His servants (Romans 14:4; James 4:11,12).
It is not boldness to talk to your pastor openly and rudely. You need wisdom to handle your erring leader.
David knew that what Saul was doing is not right, yet he still honoured the oil on him—he acknowledged that Saul was of God, one cannot stand against him and be guiltless. In other words, the man, Saul, was at backsliding state, yet one cannot remain innocent after attacking him (1 Samuel 26:9).

• Take note:

If your leader is doing anything wrong, pray for him and handle his wrong with wisdom—it is not a thing of backbiting, a thing to badmouth about.
If you are led to talk on it, prayerfully bring it to his notice with respect and honour, and without being rude.
Do not speak ill of your Pastor or other Ministers of God. Do not join others to criticize him or say any negative thing about him (Acts 23:4,5).
Defend him in his presence and while he is not there. You should avoid eye service whereby you praise him in his presence and badmouth him behind him—while he is not present (Colossians 3:22; 1 Peter 5:5).
Do not allow familiarity in your relationship with him, it may breed contempt—it may cause you to lose admiration and respect for him.

"AND WE URGE YOU, BRETHREN, TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO LABOUR AMONG YOU, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
AND TO ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE FOR THEIR WORK'S SAKE. Be at peace among yourselves."
1 Thessalonians 5:12,13 (NKJV)

• When Paul mistakenly spoke against the high priest, although what the high priest did was bad, yet he did apologize when he got to know he was a high priest.

"Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?"
And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"
Then Paul said, "I DID NOT KNOW, BRETHREN, THAT HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST; FOR IT IS WRITTEN, 'YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.' "
Acts 23:1-5 (NKJV)

If you also have unknowingly spoken against any Minister of God, you need to repent and if you have an opportunity to get to such, do, and apologize.

• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!