It is easy today to openly defy God and claim to live your life by your own standards. That said many realize the lack of credibility inherent in the platform "Because I said so." So, many who would live by their own standards and decrees do so but they make the claim "Thus says the Lord." Now they can still be god of their own little universe and reach into other peoples universe with some sort of credibility. Many who claim Christ, wrap themselves in religious talk, and quote Bible verses but twist all of these things to say only what they want to be said. To these people, what God actually said is less important than what they can make you believe He said."
Sometimes these people have good intentions and will be legitimately surprised by Christs condemnation. This is an alarming thing. Jesus is speaking in: (Mat 7:21-24) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' (23) And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (24) "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock..."
Sometimes these people have good intentions and will be legitimately surprised by Christs condemnation. This is an alarming thing. Jesus is speaking in: (Mat 7:21-24) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' (23) And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (24) "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock..."
Scripture also records utter blasphemy on the lips of the religious leaders and teachers. Good intentions or not, these teachers do a great deal of harm to the people they are supposed to be helping. One of the grossest statements in the Bible is spoken by the Pharisees interviewing a man Jesus had healed of lifelong blindness and they say of Jesus (John 9:24)... "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." To call Jesus a sinner is the furthest thing from giving glory to God, but talk is cheap. Many today claim Christ as they utter falsehood on such a repulsive level.
Satan himself twisted Scripture when he was tempting the Lord Jesus. (Mat 4:5-7) Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple (6) and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" (7) Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" It is so important for you to know the Scriptures and to test all things by them. Oh how subtle are the Satanic messengers of our day!
Eze 13:2-8 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: 'Hear the word of the LORD!' (3) Thus says the Lord GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! (4) Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel. (5) You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the LORD. (6) They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, 'Declares the LORD,' when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they expect him to fulfill their word. (7) Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, 'Declares the LORD,' although I have not spoken?" (8) Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD.
These are prophets who "prophesy from their own hearts," "follow their own spirit," "have seen nothing," "see false visions," and "utter lying divination." All the while they say "Thus says the Lord," and "declares the Lord." They have done nothing to reconcile a people living rebelliously against the Lord "They have not built a wall" or "gone into the breaches." When a true prophet of God gives the gospel of hope and reconciliation they are quick to smear it. (Eze 13:10) Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, 'Peace,' when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash..." We live in similar times. For the sake of influence, popularity, wealth, or whatever else the lying prophets give the easy false message and lead the people to dismiss the hard but true gospel of the Lord. (Eze 13:22) "... you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life."
Hear the word of the Lord. Be discerning. That false teacher wants to be rich and well liked so much, he does not care if it costs you everything. He will come under the wrath of God and if you listen...you will too. Your preferences aside, what does the Bible say? Don't murder!- don't hide behind words like fetus and choice to do what you want to do. A man shall hold fast to his wife!- or any alternative partner of his choosing. Jesus is the way the truth and the life!- or is he a way, a truth, a life? On and on and on it goes.
God give us ears that can hear.
No comments:
Post a Comment