Last week I talked about the error of our ways. This was based on this verse, Mark 12:24 “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” This verse sums up the problem for most in the church today. This lack of knowledge happens because most people listen to the person at the front of the church or on the internet, to the guru of the masses, to the person who sells best sellers or to the intellect who teaches, yet in all of these, power is missing and the reason why is that most are in error as they have not tested the spirits. 1 John 4:1 “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.” When someone says, “hear the word of the Lord” (even what you are reading here), be very careful by confirming / testing the words you hear with scripture. It’s not just the charismatic who calls themselves a prophet who say, “hear the word of the Lord.” Churches are filled with men and woman who use their own words yet say they speak for the Lord and the church remains in desolation.
Although there are many verses that describe this, here are a few to ponder.
Lamentations 2:14 “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.”
Jeremiah 29:8 “Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 5:30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
Jeremiah 23:20 “In days to come you will understand it clearly. 21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
Instead of listening to the true words of God, the church has chosen to be led astray by the delusions of men and woman who say they speak for God. You must be able to discern between a false prophet / teacher and a prophet / teacher of truth. Malachi describes both. Malachi 2:6 “True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. 7 For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.” Make sure you seek instruction from the right person. God will make this distinction as Malachi goes on to say Malachi 2:8 “But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty. 9 “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.” The teaching of these many false prophets / teachers have caused millions to stumble and they will be accountable before God just as those who listen will be held accountable. Jeremiah 7:23 “I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you. 24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again I sent you my servants the prophets. 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors.’28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.”
Make sure you are following truth, as you do not want to find out the truth when it is too late. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”
