Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Prophets

Photo by Pr. Judy Mattson

The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?

When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." 
                                                                           (Deut 18:15, 18-22 KJV)

There appear to be a lot of false prophets speaking in the Lord's name what the Lord has not told them to speak today. Most of those prophets have spoken words of doom. Many have like "Chicken Little" declared the sky is falling. Who knows? It may yet fall! But, take note; the sky did not fall and the world did not end when they said it would. 

Why would anyone prophesy falsely in the name of the Lord except to advance their own egos and agendas and maybe their pocketbooks? Do not fear them. The only one we should fear is the Lord.

"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul..." (Deut 10:12)

The word of the Lord to Moses was that we should not fear the false prophets. We should not fear their prophecies.  We should; however,  listen to the prophet that God sent to us. Listen to the words of Jesus!  

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." 
                                                                                      (Matt 7:15-17)

Listen to the words of Jesus. Do not worry about or fear the words of false prophets. Listen to the words of Jesus! According to St. John we are to test the words of those who claim to be prophets. 

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 
                                                                                       (1 John 4:1-3)

Be very careful who it is that you are listening to. Be careful who you follow and do not waste your energy fearing the false prophets or their words.

May God grant us the wisdom; the courage; and the strength; by the power or the Holy Spirit, to always listen to and follow Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

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