BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU HEAR

 WHAT IS HAPPENING?

If you watch social media, perhaps you've noticed that there has been a recent uptick in the words that many people are calling "prophetic." "Something big is coming, God told me, I had a dream, watch out for a specific date" are some examples. Some of these people have even labeled themselves "prophets," or maybe someone in their stream has called them that. This begs the question, "How do we separate the tares from the wheat?" How do we tell the false from the true?

You may sense, as I do, that we are at a crucial time in the  history of our nation, perhaps even the world. Democracy is being attacked. Violence and crimes are rampaging. People lacking character and integrity are being supported and elected to high governemental offices, even by persons that call themselves Christians. Some leaders use lies, fear and intimidation in their attempts to control citizens, and even in attempts to control the leaders of other countries! Natural disasters are greater in magnitude and more frequent. Hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires are bringing devestation to cities and countries. Wars are escalating. Political differences are turning neighbors, family members and religious bodies against one another. 

Some may say this has been going on for decades, and they probably would not be wrong! Still, it seems the pot is reaching boiling temparature. You know the old story: the frog was put in the pot when the water was cool and did not notice the gradual increase in temperature until he "croaked!" We must be aware and alert!

IS GOD SURPRISED?

Of course not! In fact, all this must happen for the end to come. So, are we at the end of this age? Scripture says no man shall know the day or hour of Christ's second coming, only that we should pay attention to the events preceding His coming. So as we begin to see these events, what are we to do? Build our supplies of food, water, fuel and other necessities? Maybe some, but most importantly we must be ready to hear God's voice to trust and obey Him as difficult times come. We must each be able to discern between the deception and the truth while guided by the Holy Spirit, not by what other men or women say.

SO, WHAT'S THE PLAN?

When Jesus died on the cross, He cried out "It is finished." While He was speaking of His death, mainly He was focused on the New Covenant established through His death on the cross. He provided for us, Scripture says, "all things for life and godliness." Therefore, because I have prayed a prayer to receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior I am equipped to discern between the deception and the truth. Right? Perhaps, but probably not!

In Mt. 16:24, Jesus said His disciples must "deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." He goes on to say that we must lose our life to find it. While we may each have an interpretation of the meaning of these verses, it is clear we have to die to our self life, trust and obey God and walk in His ways. In fact, He has given us the Holy Spirit in Christ to be able to do just that. We can choose to conduct our lives in His light, His grace, His power and His truth in Him!

WHAT ABOUT TODAY'S PROPHETIC VOICES?

In Mt. 7:15-23, Jesus tells us we will know them by their fruit, i.e., what are their motivations, the results of their words and their effects of their lives? True prophecy can be either foretelling a future event or forthtelling of things that need to change. While there may be prophetic warnings, all true prophetic words must align with Scripture and edify, comfort or exhort hearers. Yes, Ephesians 4:11 makes it clear there are true New Testament prophets and other ministry offices ordained by God. Scripture also says we are not to despise prophecy, but we are supposed to test the spirits. Here are some possible test questions:

• Are these people dead to themselves and serving God, or are they gathering reognition for themselves? Do they put on a show as they share or exalt themselves? Do they advertise their words by using phrases like urgent prophecy, the word of the Lord, shocking revelation, etc.?
• Do they seek to profit from their gift? Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet in the Old Testament, learned the hard way not to try to do so...from a donkey!
• Do ministers manipulate congregants and others while exalting themselves by saying "God told me" or "God told the elders?" This is ungodly control!
• Does one group that considers themselves prophets publicly call out what they think is error spoken by another individual or group? This is hypocrisy and slander, not matter what the motivation!
• Did a group of people called prophets meet and pray together, afterwards supporting a position or word that turned out to be blatantly wrong? In the Old Testament, they would be stoned! Did they admit their error and receive accountability? If not, this is a cover-up of a false prophetic word!
• Does a minister regularly present dreams, visions and words from other people in their "stream," instead of having and sharing their own current spiritual experiences? Many would call this a "con!"

I could continue but the truth is that bad fruit just tastes bad! Some believers possess a gift of the Spirit called "discerning of Spirits" to identiy the good and the bad. For most of us, however, it will be our common sense, wisdom and spiritual intution that protects us.

WHAT ABOUT OUR OWN LIVES?

The answer here is simple, but rarely as easy as we would like it to be. 2 Cor. 10:6: "And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete." Have I picked up my cross and trod the long road to Golgotha? Or am I judging others by their fruits and myself by my good intentions? Have I died to my old life which was governed by my soulman, and have I gained my new life by seeking to live and walk in the Holy Spirit of Christ? Does the light of Jesus, His love, His ways and His life, shine into the darkness in the world around me? 

We are all a work in process, but our goal  should always be to answer a resounding YES to these questions! Receiving the forgiveness for our sins, gaining the revelation that our old man died with Christ on the cross, and participating in the blessings of Christ's resurrection CANNOT be fully experienced without first allowing the Holy Spirit to put our self life to death! To live abundantly, we must die!