Thoughts: What is a Prophet?

 

Truth

There were prophets in the OT, not so much in the NT. Perhaps because once the Holy Spirit was given, God could and would speak to individual believers. The office of prophet was not entirely eliminated however, since it is listed as one of the five ministries. Today I see several "prophets" arise. The question is, "Do they all speak for God?" How do we know which do and which do not? How do they compare to the OT prophets? Think about the OT prophets, Moses, Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha, to name a few. What did they all have in common?

1. They all were not particularly liked by the nation's leaders and the religious leaders.
2. Most, if not all experienced some type of persecution.
3. Their message focused on repentance and returning to the Lord and the consequences of not returning more than what might happen tomorrow.

If we were to line up those who profess to be prophets today, how would they line up?

1. Does what they say come to pass?
2. Have they been persecuted for their message?
3. What is the focus of their message? Is it repentance and returning?
4. In Jeremiah, the people only wanted to listen to the prophets that gave hope. Are we doing that?
5. I have heard a few of today's prophets talk about Christ consciousness. How many people would recognize that for New Age teaching?
6. How many people would prefer to listen to these prophets than to read or study their Bibles? Wouldn't that make the prophet almost operate as a medium?

Don't be fooled, in the last days many prophets will arise. Be careful who you listen to. Realize that the dark side has their prophets too.

We need to be able to discern double agents. Those who profess one thing but hide the fact they are working for the enemy. It disturbs me that a recent poll shows only 37% of church leaders have a Biblical worldview. That would mean almost 60% of our church leaders are double agents. Where do you think they are leading their people?

Antidote: 

• Watch to see or hear a message of repent and return. 
• Study your Bible to know if you are following the right path and pray for discernment.
•  Remember the dark side is skilled at fake news.

Thoughts: Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain

 

What does it mean to take the name of the Lord in vain? Most of us have been taught that means we should not swear. True, but there is much more to it. The Jews neither speak nor write God's name, choosing to avoid any chance of using it in vain. Christians, on the other hand, bandy God's name around without much thought. They even risk using it as a magical incantation. What thought is given to the phrase, "In Jesus' name" when it is tacked on the end of a prayer? If we would be honest, it comes off as a type of listing our requests and since the Bible says, "If you ask anything in My name, believing, you will receive", we think we can blackmail God into giving us what we want because we asked in His name.

At marriage, a woman takes her husband's name. As a result, from then on everything she says and does reflects on her husband. The same thing is true for a nation's ambassador. He is operating under the authority of the nation, but his words and actions also reflect on the nation. As Christians we are ambassadors for Christ, operating under His authority. 

How often do we think upon how our words and actions reflect upon Him?

 If we took our respect for His name seriously, wouldn't we be more careful how lightly we use His name?

 Would that change the flippant way we use the phrase, "In Jesus' name"? 

How can we use God's name more respectfully?

  Are we offended when someone doesn't show proper respect? 

Are we really any better than those who use God's name as a swear word, if we use it disrespectfully?

Are we so vain that we choose to speak for God? How would that look?

Don't Be a Rock, Be a River

 

I've been considering Moses. He was known for his humility which made him an asset to God. The times he stepped out of his humility put him in a lot of trouble. The event of striking the rock to get water instead of speaking to it, as he was told to do, got him banned from the promised land. Moses also dealt with a group of frustrating people, yet he also acted as a mediator between God and them when God wanted to get rid of them.

The idea of "don't be a rock, be a river" opens the door to better understand humility. The rock sticks up in the river, not moving, but causing the river to go over or around it. Sometimes the rock seems to impede the water's flow. We are like the rock when we insist on our own way. The river on the other hand, doesn't allow the rock to stop it. It gently flows over or around obstacles. There are times you can hear the river crying as it encounters a group of rocks. Rapids or waterfalls may impact the river, yet it continues on its course. The rock stubbornly remains in its place while the river moves on to create power, beauty and life, eventually making its way to the sea. The river uses the rocks in its way to enhance its beauty and increase its force.

If given a choice, I would be a river. The river doesn't fight the rocks it encounters it uses them. If I were a rock, I would want everything to be about me and would find forgiving and moving on near to impossible. I would impede other's lives and sometimes be the source of hurt to them

Which would you choose to be? A rock or a river?

In the Last Days there will be Prophecies, Dreams, Visions...

 "In the last days there will be those who prophecy, dream dreams and see visions." We read this both in Joel and Acts. There is no question we are in the last days, but there are some questions about the prophets, dreams and visions. The Old Testament prophets had a strong bent toward calling the people to repentance and returning to following God. Those who claim to be prophets today mostly resemble reading a horoscope or getting a "reading" from a medium, those things we are warned to avoid. I am not saying that God doesn't tell us what to expect, but where is the call to repentance? If Jeremiah were alive today, I'm sure he would have some strong words for the church. I'm also sure there are some of the prophecies/dreams/visions that truly are from God, but it has almost become a fad to say, "God gave me this word." Why are there suddenly a plethora of those "hearing from God?" When we become filled with the Holy Spirit God said He would speak to us directly. Why do we seek out these "prophets" to get a "word from the Lord"? Are these people a smoke screen sent by Satan to distract us from what the Holy Spirit is actually saying to us? Maybe like in Jeremiah's day, we would choose to listen to the false prophets over the true because they speak words we want to hear. "Repent and return to Me" is not a comfortable thing to hear as we would rather hear wonderful things are coming. Refusing to hear truth doesn't make it any less true. Believing a lie over truth because we don't like the truth can get us into so much trouble.

Having A Form...

                                     

"Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof." 

What is a form? An empty shell that is used to build something around such as a dress form or the edges put up to pour concrete to produce a particular shape. It also can be a type of empty mold that serves to contain a substance perhaps like a form used to make an image. The problem with having a "form of godliness" is that you are trying to create God in the image you choose instead of allowing God to create you into the image of His choosing. The image you create has no power while the one God creates in you is filled with His presence. Your image is like a robot, all action and no substance. The robot may go through the actions but there is an emptiness there. How much more fulfilling it is to allow God to mold and fill us!!

The Giant We Face Called Fear

 Of all the giants we face in life, fear is the biggest. If you remove fear all the other giants are easier to control. Why do you think that the verse that says, "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (self-control)" only mentions fear? God wants us to be clear that fear is not from Him. "Perfect love casts out fear". God is love and He works to remove fear. Now, that doesn't mean you should jump off a building to show you have no fear. When Satan told Jesus to jump off the Temple roof because the Bible says, "He gives His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways", Jesus did not jump. To jump would have been arrogance. As soldiers we should go into the battle confidently, yet we still need to wear our armor. Having no fear does not mean we should not be prepared. 

We cannot defeat the giant of fear on our own. We need to take the power, love and self-control that God offers. The opposite of fear is faith. The question we should be asking is why it is easier to fear than to have faith?

Think about this, psychologists will tell you that 90% of all illnesses are psychosomatic (in our mind), now if I wish to control you, I introduce a suggestion, perhaps as a TV ad for a certain drug that "cures" a relatively unknown illness. You see this ad several times over the course of watching TV and after each ad it mentions that "doctors recommend". They do not, however list which doctors. Sure, they may list several side effects, but those are sandwiched between the "good" parts. It won't be long before lots of people are being diagnosed with whatever this drug purports to cure. Sometimes people specifically go to their doctor to try to obtain the drug, convinced that they have the mystery illness. The ad has introduced fear and then "just happened" to have the cure. It most likely will be packaged as being "good" for you. Little by little you can be convinced to take poison, under the impression it is helping, while it is actually killing you. We don't ask questions because we think the doctors, government and Big Pharma are working for our good. Granted, sometimes it really is for our good, but in many cases, they are conditioning and controlling us through fear toward the goal of another agenda which may be mind and population control. Those who don't die become enslaved mentally and/or physically, some believing they must have their particular drug. What if I threatened to take the drug away? What might the person do to get the drug? Anything. 

Are we being controlled? You bet!!

One Way

The children were on their way to school for the first time that year. There was a whole group of them. The mom had told them how to get to the school building and that there was only one way to get there. Into the journey a couple of the kids began talking about a shortcut they had heard about. Sally insisted there was no shortcut, yet Dan was persuasive and was able to convince most of the others the shortcut would be easier and faster. Even some of those who were hesitant became reluctantly convinced the shortcut would be better and would allow for extra play time. Sally and George kept to the original path and eventually arrived at the school. the teacher asked where the others were, and being told the others took a shortcut responded, "There is no shortcut. The only way to get to the school is the way you came." The others had become lost and ended up being taken prisoner by an evil man who was the one that had spread the rumor of a shortcut. He intended to trap as many as he could. He didn't want them to discover the true path.

There is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus. No matter who tries to convince you otherwise, you will only get there through Him. Satan, like the evil man, spreads rumors about shortcuts to encourage people to take a different route only for them to find a trap at the end of the way he directed them. A few escape, and return to the right path, but most stay on the wrong path because it is easier and /or more fun at the time. What path are you on?