In Jeremiah 38, Ebed-Melech befriends the messenger of God and, as a result, he makes himself a friend of God.

In Romans 10:14-15, the Holy Spirit of God uses the apostle Paul to give three very important responsibilities that the church has to the messengers of God. “...how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

First, God says that His messengers should be looked upon at being vital to His work.  “...how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (vs 14)

Second, the Holy Spirit says that His messengers are worthy of support. “...how can they preach unless they are sent?” (vs 15)

Third, God says that His messengers are worthy of honor and admiration. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (vs 15)

As the “Jeremiah Generation”, most of you are called to be an Ebed-Melech.  You are asked to fulfill the responsibilities mentioned above.  Do you look upon God’s messenger as being a vital part of the work or is he seen as a disposable member of the team?  Do you send him out with ample funding and support or is he expected to make due with second-hand supplies?  Do you honor the work that he does and the authority that he has or is he used for target practice after every message he presents?  To receive the blessing of an Ebed-Melech, you must be a blessing to the messenger of God.

In Mark 9:41, Jesus provides a wonderful principle about all the Ebed-Melechs of the world. “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

In an election year, you often hear analysts being asked if a President has coat tails long enough to help others get elected. In Christ’s eyes, it seems that the same principle applies to those who would help his messengers accomplish their task. The coat tails of God’s man spread wide and, if you stand close, you are likely to feel his impact. Consider a few examples.

Standing Close Can Bring a Blessing

Joseph - ln Genesis 37-41, God’s man is sold into Egyptian slavery.  While there, he brings a blessing on Potiphar’s household. “...the Lord blessed the Egyptian because of Joseph.” (Genesis 39:5)

From there he is cast into prison. Yet even there he is blessed of God and his “coat tails” bring a blessing to the prison.

From there he is promoted from a prisoner to second in command over all Egypt. In the process, he saves his family and Egypt from one of the greatest world disasters of that day.

Two important lessons should be learned from this story for those who want the blessing of being an Ebed-Melech. First, don’t judge a man’s value by the way the world treats him. Joseph was a servant and a prisoner, but he was still God’s man.

Second, Potiphar’s house was not blessed because he was such a great administrator or because he had such a moral wife. Potiphar’s house was blessed because God’s man was in the house. The prison system and the country of Egypt were not blessed because the Egyptians were righteous people. The prison was blessed because God’s man was in the prison. The country was blessed because God’s man was in the country. Honor the man of God and God will honor you.

Elisha - In 2 Kings 4:8-37, a caring couple actually built an addition on to their house so that, when the man of God was travelling through, he would have a place to stay. Later in that chapter, the couple was miraculously blessed with a child, even though the husband was old.

In 2 Kings 6, Elisha and his servant are surrounded by the Aramean army. "’Oh, my lord, what shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don't be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.’” (2 Kings 6:15-17)

Again, the “coat tails” of God’s man bring a blessing to those standing close to him. First, it should be seen that the friend of God’s man gains God’s protection. Read 2 Kings 6:18-23 and the marvelous intervention of God.

Second, the friend of God’s man benefits from seeing God’s power with his own eyes. Read again verses 15-17, then consider the following poem that I wrote about this marvelous blessing.

A teacher can do many things,
To show the worth his vision brings.
With eloquence he can explain,
In speech or song with sweet refrain.

But often words cannot embrace,
The vision he’s seen face to face.
He needs a way to show them more,
He wants to make their spirit soar.

When teachers want their vision caught,
Sometimes the best way it is taught,
Is not with props or fancy talk,
But invitation for a walk.
They reach the place to see the view,
The teacher takes position new.
The two now stand there side by side,
The leader is no longer guide.

With open hand he points ahead,
To lessons that are best unsaid.
As teacher he’s thought very wise.
‘Cause students see with their own eyes.

One of the greatest blessings that an Ebed-Melech can receive is the first-hand experiences brought on by his relationship with God’s messenger. Stand close. Support the man of God. Protect him.

The Seventy-two - In Luke 10:8-12, we find a New Testament example of the “Ebed-Melech principle”. Jesus said, "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.”

In the first part of the passage above, it is easy to see the blessing that is given to all those who support God’s messenger. But did you also notice the stern warning that fell on all those who did not support them? Just as it is wise to stand close to the man of God, it is equally unwise to oppose him.

But that raises an interesting question. How is one to decide who is a true messenger of God and who is not? Many men have gone out into the world claiming they have been commissioned by God, but their end clearly proves that they were little more than imposters. How is one to know?

Judge Not By Worldly Values

First, you must never judge the worth of the messenger by the value that the world places on him. Remember Joseph. He was a slave and a prisoner, yet he saved an entire nation and preserved the blood-line of Christ.

The proof is not in a worldly position. Moses was a slave child. Rahab was a harlot. Peter worked the fishing boats. Look for someone whose inheritance is in Heaven.

The proof is not in earthly titles. For too long, the church has blindly followed college Bible professors with worldly degrees and gullibly accepted all that “educated” men would suggest. The “Jeremiah Generation” must look past the diplomas and worldly accolades. Look for someone who seeks only the praises of Heaven.

The proof of a genuine man of God does not come from this world. The proof is in the working of God in his life.

Judge By Heaven’s Values

Consider the words of 1 John 4:1, 5, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world... They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.”

In this revealing passage, the Holy Spirit of God gives us three ways to “Test the spirits” of “false prophets”.

1. “They are from the world” - Messengers who have never divorced themselves from the priorities of the world are not the messengers of God. (Examples: Television evangelists who beg for money yet wear expensive jewelry, cake their faces with make-up and display elaborate back drops for their viewing audience. Church leaders who spend more on their lavished buildings than they do on evangelism.)

2. “They... speak from the viewpoint of the world”- In 1 Corinthians 2:13-14, Paul says this about the true messenger of God, “...we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.   The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  Messengers who attract an audience with a worldly viewpoint are not the messengers of God. (Example: Those who would teach the politically correct view that “We are all going to Heaven just by different routes.”)

3. “...the world listens to them.” - Perhaps the greatest evidence of a true messenger of God is the crowd that gathers around him. Does he gather to himself deeply passionate, spiritual students of Christ or is he surrounded by the spiritually superficial who are devoted to religious performances?  As was said in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.” Spiritual truths are not often popular with the world.

Before leaving this final evidence, it should also be noted that spiritual truths are not always accepted within the church either.  Many of the “spiritually superficial” that I mentioned in the paragraph above are the false teachers who hide behind religious titles and positions even within the church. They are the ones who would bind human laws as if they were divinely given. They are the ones who would strain at a legalism and swallow the false doctrine that perfect performance is more important than passionate surrender. Yes, false teachers can even be found  within the church. The legalist likes to point to the liberal and the liberal does the same for the legalist. But in truth, they are both imposters of the messenger of God.

So, Who is the Man of God?

Find the man who struggles, but never gives up.  Find the one who speaks with a powerful tongue, but loves with the heart of a servant. Find the one whose life journey demonstrates a God-given purpose. Find the man who inspires repentance, change and spiritual growth and you will have found the man of God.

Once you have found him, support him. Stand close to him. Defend him. Honor God. “Protect My Man!”