Whose Report Will You Believe?*

Not all who claim to prophesy or minister in the name of the Lord are really doing so. In this time, we are hearing from many various people who say that they have a Word from the Lord. How do we know what to believe? Jesus described this situation: "Not every one who saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Mt. 7:21-23). Jesus pointed out that the people were listening to the wrong voices, and ignoring the voice, Himself, that was sent to them from the Father, and in whose name He came. The Father attaches His honor to those who truly represent Him, and not themselves, Jesus said (see Jn. 5:43-44). Prophecy from the flesh or the will of men does not represent the will of God. The Apostle Peter warned the church: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." (2 Pet. 2:1-3). By these words of Peter's we learn that we must be careful of what we speak, that our words must represent the truth of God, and not of ourselves. There are those who teach doctrines regarding how one must be saved. Keep in mind, that Jesus died for all. He was crucified between two thieves. One mocked Him, but the other asked Jesus to "remember me". There doesn't have to be a set sinner's prayer according to a denomination or doctrine. The thief cried from his heart with just two words, and Christ assured him that his request would be given to him. The Lord knows how to reach hearts. Paul wrote to Timothy regarding the importance of truth versus falsehood: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim. 4:1-2). We are to be always ready to teach God's Word, not doctrines of men or denominational precepts that do not line up with the Word. We are to deliver correction according to the Word, even if it is not popular. Paul wrote that we would see the time come when the Word of God would not be welcome: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (v. 3-4). There is a limited amount of time when the true Word of God will be received when spoken. We are already seeing it. Ezekiel wrote the Word of the LORD concerning false prophets, and their lying reassurances given to the people of God: "Prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD...Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!...mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and divine lies...Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar...the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the LORD God." (Ezek. 13:1-16, excerpt). Prophets were assuring Jerusalem that the LORD sent a Word of "Peace" towards it, but that was not the case, and the people were misled. Prophets were not prophesying upon the direction of the LORD. What men think will bring peace, especially concerning Jerusalem and Israel, which is a division of Jerusalem or the nation, is not what the Lord says. Jeremiah also brought the Word of the LORD concerning the false prophets and a nation that was happy to be misled into believing that their enemy would not overcome them: "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" (Jer. 5:30-31). In the end times, we need the Word from God, not man. Jeremiah also wrote that the people wandered from God, preferring the lies of the false prophets. Because of this, the LORD would not hear their cries to Him, or accept their offerings. They would suffer instead: "...I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence." (Jer. 14:12). We are also experiencing this in our own nation now. Jeremiah sadly pointed out to the LORD that the people had followed the false prophecies saying that the LORD had assured them of peace. The LORD then said regarding the false prophets: "The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart." (v. 13-14). The Lord said to Jeremiah and Ezekiel the same Word of truth. To Jeremiah, the LORD promised that both the false prophets, and the people who listened to them would be consumed and disposessed by the same sword and famine that they refused to believe would happen: "I will pour their wickedness upon them." (v. 15-16). Preferring to believe false prophets because they seem to bring a more desirable word brings consequences. In another part of Jeremiah, the LORD gave His Word concerning the strengthening of evil and lack of healing repentance as a result of believing the false prophets: "I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah." (Jer. 23:14). Are we also rushing to Gomorrah? The LORD said that the false prophets say to those who walk after their own imaginations, "No evil shall come upon you." (v. 17). Haven't we seen evil growing stronger, and a complete lack of repentance in this age? The LORD said, "Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD has gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind...The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days, ye shall consider it perfectly." (v. 19-20). In the latter days in which we live now, we will see the culmination of the anger of the LORD, and we will understand its cause because He has warned us with this Word to His true prophets. However, the LORD also spoke to Jeremiah regarding what the people can do, what we can do. Even as these false prophets are not uncovering our iniquity as they should, which would turn away our captivity, Jeremiah remembers that there is a hope: "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him....both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD." (Lam. 2:14, 3:21-26). The Word of the LORD promises that if His people, who are called by His name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways; then He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14). False peophets discourage people from repenting of their sin, but the people who believe the true Word of the LORD, are still given the promise in hope that the LORD will receive a humble and contrite heart of repentance, and work healing because of it. Whose report will you believe? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/22/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and theshroudofturin.org.