Jesus the Light 29 Judging the Prophets 2
Let him who has My Word, speak My Word in truth – Jer.23:28
False prophets abound with their dreams, visions, and boasted revelations. We are to pay no attention to them. They pretend to be prophets of the Lord, but they speak from the deception of their own hearts, not from the mouth of the Lord. They are fake.
Jer.23:16-36 makes this very clear: “Thus says the Lord Almighty, ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They make you worthless. They speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the Lord.
“’I did not send these prophets, yet they ran around claiming to speak for Me. I did not speak to them but they prophesied. I have heard these prophets say, “Listen to the dream I had from God last night!” And then they proceed to tell lies in My name.
“’How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets? They are prophets of the deception of their own hearts. By telling these false dreams they are trying to get My people to forget Me. But let him who has My Word, speak My Word in truth!
“‘Therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from Me. I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, “This prophecy is from the Lord!”
“‘I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead My people into sin. I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all.
“‘Stop using this phrase: “Prophecy from the Lord.” For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the Words of our God, the living God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’”
Dear Listener, how do you know a false prophet? He tells stories but does not teach the Word of God. He speaks about himself and not about Christ. Smooth words roll from his lips to flatter evil doers. The delusion of dreams and visions fill his messages.
He promises blessings and breakthroughs to self-centered men who live in sin and error. He preaches, “It is well!” “You shall be the head and not the tail!” “Today is the day of your divine destiny!” “You are blessed!”
False prophets do not rebuke evil. They do not speak the Word of God to the conviction of sinners. They rather speak positive words of deception in order to gain from tithes and offerings. They are lovers of money.
Dreams, visions, and stories are the substance of their messages, but not the truth of the Scriptures. This is how you will know the deceivers.
The true prophet of God speaks the Word of God in truth. He reproves, rebukes, and exhorts in sound doctrine, calling men to repent and serve the Lord in sincerity and truth. He compromises with no sin and does not look at the faces of men. His message is one and the same for all.
Micaiah was such a true prophet. He stood alone against all the wicked nonsense of the deceiving prophets in his day. So bold was his prophecy that the evil king Ahab had him imprisoned.
Ahab hired 400 false prophets to speak smooth words: to tell him only what he wanted to hear. When summoned to come before the king, a servant told Micaiah: in 2 Chron.18:12,13: “Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably. But Micaiah said, ‘As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak!’”
O that we had more Micaiahs today! More valiant men to stand fearlessly and speak the whole Word of God to put an end to this prophetic madness!
But how did it come about that 400 prophets spoke lies? 2 Chron.18:18-22 tells us: “The Lord said, ‘Who will go and deceive Ahab to go into battle so he can be killed?’ A spirit came forward and said, “I will deceive him.” And the Lord said to him, ‘How?’
[And the spirit said], “‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ “You will succeed,” said the Lord. “Go ahead and do it.”
“Now therefore, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of these your prophets, for the Lord has proclaimed disaster against you.”
Ahab knew the truth, but chose 400 deceivers as his advisors. And we are no different. In our hearts we know that these false prophets, GOs, and self-proclaimed men of God are telling us lies, but we love it. We welcome it. We want to be deceived. We are as wicked as they are.
Jer.5:30,31: “An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests rule on their own authority, and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?”
Isa.30:8-11: “Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the Lord’s instruction. They tell the seers, ‘Stop seeing!’ They tell the prophets, ‘Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us smooth things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your Holy One of Israel!’”
But what will guard you from being deceived by these imposters? Blessed be the Lord who has not left us without His Divine protection and assistance.
1 Jn.2:26,27 speak these wonderful words: “These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”
The Word of God is there to inform you of the truth and the Holy Spirit is your portion who will guide you into that truth. He will not allow you to be deceived if you listen to Him. Abide in Him; abide in the Word.
Dear Listener, you must judge the prophets. The Word of God commands it: 1 Cor.14:29: “Let two or three prophets speak and let the others judge.” Tit.1:10,11: “For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception. They must be silenced because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they should not teach, which they do to get rich by cheating people.”
Now hear this you self-appointed ministers! 2 Cor.2:17: “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the Word of God for profit. But as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ, knowing that God is watching us.”
Beware when you mount the pulpit this Sunday! Fear to open your mouth! Tremble before the God of glory who is listening to your every word. Christ is paying close attention. The Holy Spirit is assessing your entire speech.
You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses: Moses is hearing, Isaiah as well, and Paul and Peter. What you are saying must pass all of their approval before you ever dare to say “Thus says the Lord.” May you fear to take the Name of the Lord in vain!
The eyes of the brethren are now open, the Bible is in their hands, and the anointing of the Spirit is upon them. You will deceive them no longer; they will judge you according to the Word of the Lord.
Copyright Steve Phillips 2020