I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. — 1 John 2:26-27 NLT
Towards the end of each year, people make predictions of what they believe will happen in the new year. A lot of the predictions are pure speculation, while a few turn out to be spot on.
In the book of Ezekiel, God was critical of false prophets who follow their own imagination to give false hopes of peace and prosperity to the people: “… they have told lies and made false predictions. They say, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ even though the Lord never sent them. And yet they expect him to fulfill their prophecies! Can your visions be anything but false if you claim, ‘This message is from the Lord,’ when I have not even spoken to you?” Ezekiel 13: 6-7 (NLT)
In recent times, these types of predictions and prophesies have become common even at church meetings. Just like the false prophets in Ezekiel’s day, many preachers preface their prophesies with the words “God said” or “Holy Spirit said”. By prefacing their prophesies with these words, it gives the hearers no room to question the authenticity of the prophecies for fear of disobeying and rebelling against God.
In many cases, these prophesies are purely the imagination, ideas, and thoughts of the preacher, not the word of God. Sadly, many use these prophecies, which sometimes can bring hope, anxiety, or even confusion, to control, manipulate and in some cases enslave their members.
I recently watched a TV drama in which a young man testified to his pastor about a new job offer he received. The job offer came with a fantastic salary package. The pastor was full of joy and said they must offer thanksgiving to celebrate God’s goodness. Then the young man said the job was in another state and he would be relocating there with his family. The pastor’s countenance changed with disappointment written all over. He then suggested they pray about it. After a couple of minutes, he said God had told him the job was a trap and that the young man should think carefully before accepting the offer. To keep the man and his family in the church, the pastor prefaced his words with “God said” just to scare and confuse the young man.
Not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, it is important to test every spirit and weigh every prophecy. Rather than seeking God’s face directly, it is common for believers to seek the approval of “men of God” before making crucial decisions, such as starting a project or embarking on a trip. The problem with this is that you become susceptible to false prophecies and dishonest or prejudiced advice.
As today’s scripture says, believers have the Spirit of God, we know the truth, and we really do not need anyone teaching us what we already know. Choose to develop your relationship and fellowship with Christ.
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 