Jeremiah 23:32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness: yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit these people at all, saith the Lord.
Oh Friends, it’s Monday morning! Banish those blues, get dressed in your godly armour and step out strong to battle the evil forces of Beelzebub to victory! As promised, we’ll continue talking about false prophets and teachers that continually crop up over the ages to lead God’s people astray. We saw yesterday that during Jeremiah’s time, one of their false teachings was for the Israelites not to serve the king of Babylon, though the Lord specifically commanded it. ‘For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.’ (Jer.27:10) That was the Lord’s declaration against those supposedly serving His purpose. My people, sadly, not much has changed from then to now, except in terms of greater numbers, for many of those to whom we look for godly direction are really charlatans, doing the same things today as those in Jerry’s time; they ’cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness (recklessness).’ Now here’s Zephaniah’s take on the subject. ‘Her prophets are light (insolent) and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted (profaned) the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgement (justice) to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.’ (Zep.3:4-5) And isn’t that the living truth my Friends? The wicked and unjust have no shame or scruples whatsoever! Meanwhile Hosea says: ‘The days of visitation (punishment) are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad (insane), for the multitude (greatness) of thine iniquity, and the great hatred (enmity) (Hos.9:7) Yes mih breddren, the same can be said of too many of those who currently profess to be godly leaders. Too many of them are bathed in sin, selfish pride, greed, anger and resentment. Consequently, the churches, or the flocks they lead are getting inappropriate advice and information, leading them to make wrong, ungodly decisions. Unfortunately my people, it’s not easy these days to know whom to trust. A whole host of spiritual bodies have sprung up during the last half century, possibly more than in the first nineteen hundred and sixty years of the church’s existence, and they all claim to be doing God’s work, showing the way, the truth and the light. And Friends, many are doing admirable work, really taking the Word seriously and leading their followers aright. Hn! But it’s the false ones, those who are only in it for themselves, for their own private enhancement, that are causing the problem. And sadly there are too many of them. But the Lord declared; ‘yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all…’ Oh Friends, even one false prophet is too much. Just like one bad apple can spoil a whole basket, one false prophet can cause too many people to go astray. And nowadays, ministry, like almost everything else has become big business, and anywhere business is prevalent, so too are evil, crooks and scamps. Just check out all the nattily dressed preachers, with their expensive jewellery, cars, houses and lifestyles, while most of their people are struggling to make ends meet. My people, I’m not advocating poor ministers of God, for Jesus said that He came for us to have abundant life, but certainly not the great division we see in some instances. Then, when the scandal erupts, it’s the poor people who suffer. It’s always the majority, usually the innocent ones who suffer the most, bear the brunt of most disasters, while the real perpetrators oftimes get away scot-free. And in this instance we surely haven’t profited because, ‘Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.’ (Jer.7:8) We listened to all the ‘know-it-alls’ who were just crooks and parasites, ungodly doers of the enemy’s will, who made us turn away from the One True God and lust after the world’s filthy lucre. And what did it profit us eh? Nothing: just damnation and destruction! Jeremiah puts it so well: ‘Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish (false and deceptive) things for thee: and they have not discovered (uncovered) thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens (false and misleading prophecies) and causes of banishment.’ (Lam.2:14) Oh Friends, our world is so full of falsehood and deceit that one hardly knows where to turn to hear the truth, or whom to trust. Conspiracy theories, both real and imagined, abound like never before. That’s why it’s so important for each of us to intimately know our God and what He stands for, so we can tell the thief from the shepherd. And the only way to do that my people is to immerse ourselves in the Good Book, that fount of everlasting knowledge, wisdom and truth. If we don’t have a strong knowledge of it ourselves and rely too heavily on others to guide us, then it’s very easy for us to be lead astray. And we certainly don’t want or desire that outcome. So please, I implore us, let’s study the Good Book every chance we get, so that we can be more aware of the truth and be able to glean more of it from amongst the numerous lies and deceit that’s currently enveloping our world. Much LOVE!…the truth shall set us free…find it in the Good Book…
Oh Friends, it’s Monday morning! Banish those blues, get dressed in your godly armour and step out strong to battle the evil forces of Beelzebub to victory! As promised, we’ll continue talking about false prophets and teachers that continually crop up over the ages to lead God’s people astray. We saw yesterday that during Jeremiah’s time, one of their false teachings was for the Israelites not to serve the king of Babylon, though the Lord specifically commanded it. ‘For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.’ (Jer.27:10) That was the Lord’s declaration against those supposedly serving His purpose. My people, sadly, not much has changed from then to now, except in terms of greater numbers, for many of those to whom we look for godly direction are really charlatans, doing the same things today as those in Jerry’s time; they ’cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness (recklessness).’ Now here’s Zephaniah’s take on the subject. ‘Her prophets are light (insolent) and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted (profaned) the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgement (justice) to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.’ (Zep.3:4-5) And isn’t that the living truth my Friends? The wicked and unjust have no shame or scruples whatsoever! Meanwhile Hosea says: ‘The days of visitation (punishment) are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad (insane), for the multitude (greatness) of thine iniquity, and the great hatred (enmity) (Hos.9:7) Yes mih breddren, the same can be said of too many of those who currently profess to be godly leaders. Too many of them are bathed in sin, selfish pride, greed, anger and resentment. Consequently, the churches, or the flocks they lead are getting inappropriate advice and information, leading them to make wrong, ungodly decisions. Unfortunately my people, it’s not easy these days to know whom to trust. A whole host of spiritual bodies have sprung up during the last half century, possibly more than in the first nineteen hundred and sixty years of the church’s existence, and they all claim to be doing God’s work, showing the way, the truth and the light. And Friends, many are doing admirable work, really taking the Word seriously and leading their followers aright. Hn! But it’s the false ones, those who are only in it for themselves, for their own private enhancement, that are causing the problem. And sadly there are too many of them. But the Lord declared; ‘yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all…’ Oh Friends, even one false prophet is too much. Just like one bad apple can spoil a whole basket, one false prophet can cause too many people to go astray. And nowadays, ministry, like almost everything else has become big business, and anywhere business is prevalent, so too are evil, crooks and scamps. Just check out all the nattily dressed preachers, with their expensive jewellery, cars, houses and lifestyles, while most of their people are struggling to make ends meet. My people, I’m not advocating poor ministers of God, for Jesus said that He came for us to have abundant life, but certainly not the great division we see in some instances. Then, when the scandal erupts, it’s the poor people who suffer. It’s always the majority, usually the innocent ones who suffer the most, bear the brunt of most disasters, while the real perpetrators oftimes get away scot-free. And in this instance we surely haven’t profited because, ‘Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.’ (Jer.7:8) We listened to all the ‘know-it-alls’ who were just crooks and parasites, ungodly doers of the enemy’s will, who made us turn away from the One True God and lust after the world’s filthy lucre. And what did it profit us eh? Nothing: just damnation and destruction! Jeremiah puts it so well: ‘Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish (false and deceptive) things for thee: and they have not discovered (uncovered) thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens (false and misleading prophecies) and causes of banishment.’ (Lam.2:14) Oh Friends, our world is so full of falsehood and deceit that one hardly knows where to turn to hear the truth, or whom to trust. Conspiracy theories, both real and imagined, abound like never before. That’s why it’s so important for each of us to intimately know our God and what He stands for, so we can tell the thief from the shepherd. And the only way to do that my people is to immerse ourselves in the Good Book, that fount of everlasting knowledge, wisdom and truth. If we don’t have a strong knowledge of it ourselves and rely too heavily on others to guide us, then it’s very easy for us to be lead astray. And we certainly don’t want or desire that outcome. So please, I implore us, let’s study the Good Book every chance we get, so that we can be more aware of the truth and be able to glean more of it from amongst the numerous lies and deceit that’s currently enveloping our world. Much LOVE!…the truth shall set us free…find it in the Good Book…
SCRIP-BITS 