Learn to Discern*

Like last week's message, "Be Not Deceived", this message is important in these times in which we live. The prophet Malachi wrote regarding the need to properly discern: "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." (Mal. 3:18). In the New Testament, there were those in Berea who would search out the scriptures to confirm what was being taught to them. Before we accept anything from anyone who "comes down the pike", we need to compare it to scripture and decide whether it lines up or not. God raises up prophets, putting His word in their mouths, and He expects us to heed what the prophet of God is telling us, or it will be required of us (Deut. 18:15-19). The LORD also spoke of the judgment that would come against any prophet who claimed that he spoke in the name of the LORD, but spoke words that the LORD had not commanded him, or if the prophet spoke in the name of others gods, that prophet shall die (v. 20). This is how important God considers the truth and integrity of the prophetic word to His people. The LORD told His people how to determine a prophet who is not speaking the word given to him by the LORD: "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." (v. 22). The test of a prophet is if the word they prophesy comes to pass. Many of those who have called themselves prophets have said that we are not to fear the Corona virus, yet some of them have sickened and died. The LORD warned of prophets who speak out of their own hearts and spirits, seeing vanity and lying divinatios, saying the LORD had said it, when He had not. These lying prophets seduced God's people saying "Peace" when there was no peace. The LORD compared them to bulders of a wall who use faulty mortar. The wall can't help but fall. The LORD would bring down these walls built upon vanity and divination, and the prophets would be consumed in the midst of the destruction (Ezek. 13:1-9). Ezekiel again warned the people to discern the prophets. In another example, the LORD dealt with the elders whose hearts were filled with idols, yet they sought out the prophet of God for the word of the LORD. To those who do this, the LORD said, "...Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations." (Ezek. 14:2-6). The LORD speaks of pouring out His fury and sending famine, beasts, sword, and pestilence upon the land of His people who refuse to hearken to Him, having been told to turn away from their abominations. God's word tells us that if we obey His commandments and statutes, He will bless us. If we disobey, the curse comes. For a long time now, America has been experiencing the curse of disobedience to the Word of God, and to the warnings of His prophets. Racism, armed violence against the those who are unarmed, and child murder have become the daily events and the wickedness imbedded in our society. It has become systemic, rather than isolated events. In scripture, the prophets of God called His people to repentance, but the people would not listen to the word of the LORD. The anger of the LORD came upon them: "And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets...but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt." (Jer. 25:4-7). Ignoring the prophets who speak the word of the LORD, and relying instead on false gods and our own strength and efforts, leads to our own hurt. False gods today include Mammon, the corrupt and worldly system of money and wealth. The sacrificing of our own children in abortion is like the worship of the god Molech, or Ba'al. The Word of the LORD to His people today, through the mouths of His servants, is again a call to repentance. The 2 Chron. 7:14 repeated message to God's people is very similar to the message that the prophet Jeremiah brought to the people of God long ago. Will we heed that message, or turn instead to the gods we have made with our own hands? Again, through Jeremiah the prophet, the LORD asks His people, "...Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD...Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend his doings, and go not after other gods to serve them...but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me." (Jer. 35:12-15). The prayer of the porphet Daniel, for God's people in the midst of their captivity in Babylon, applies very much to the confusion that we are surrounded by today. He prayed, "O LORD, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the LORD our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him; Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him." (Dan. 9:8-11). The prophet Amos wrote that God does nothing without first revealing it to His servants the prophets, who sound the alarm of warning to God's people (Amos 3:6-8). Paul's letter to Timothy includes the warning that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." However, Paul wrote that Timothy should continue in the things of the scriptures tht he had been learning since childhood. It is scripture, which is inspired, that corrects us and instructs us in righteousness so that "the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:13-17). He also warns Timothy of the time when people will not endure sound doctrine, but accumulate teachers who appeal to their lusts..."And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:1-4). As the scriptures close in the Book of Revelation, John is assured that the things that he has been told are true. The LORD God of the holy prophets sent His angel to reveal these things to come to His servants. concluding, "Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book." (Rev. 22:6-7). There is a blessing in heeding and keeping the words of the prophets of God. God expects His people to rightly discern His true prophets, and listen and obey the Word of the LORD. If you would like to heed the prophetic warning of God's servants, and join in repentance, turning away from sin, and turning back to God, join us in prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to learn to discern Your voice. Forgive me for refusing to hear Your prophetic word, and for disobeeying the scriptures. As Daniel said, there are mercies and forgiveness in You for a people who will turn and repent. I want to abide in Your Word so that You will abide in me. I believe that You died for me, and that You were raised from the dead. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to lead me in truth and obedience to Your voice and Word. I ask this in Your name, Amen. *Based upon Dr. Stevenson's 11/8/20 message to the church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com