With the year ending, we Christians look forward for New Year’s Eve where promises, prophecies and assurances overflow from the pulpit. Mostly the promises and prophecies are about becoming famous, rich, happy and prosperous, exciting all of us. It’s about owning a car, getting a new career break, financial abundance that will be shouted out by pastors and prophets to the promise-hungry congregation. This deception is an age-old trick carried out through ages and people still fall for it looking forward to lead a comfortable life.
If we were to draw a parallel incident that resemble this event in the Bible, it would be in 1 Kings 22 where Ahab's 400 prophets speak the same language of happiness, success and prosperity like all the Pastors, prophets and leaders of today. The Bible records the words of these 400 prophets which said, “Go up and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king” (1 Kings 22:12). This was the beginning of disaster and confusion for the king and the people. The same falsehood has seeped into the Churches so deep that it has robbed the purpose of its existence.
As we read the story we know that Micaiah son of Imlah was called at Jehoshaphat’s insistence. Micaiah' truth was hard and was from the Lord. I would like to point here that he was not rewarded for speaking the truth but rather was slapped across the face by one of the officers, Zedakiah (1King 22:24). Sadly, history is repeating itself in today’s times. Most of the Christian celebrities, pastors and leaders are going to dish out false prophecies and happy promises to make the hearts of the people glad.
Some notable blessings and prophecies are as follows:
· You are going to be head and not tail
· The barn house will always be full
· All that you desire will be fulfilled
· God will give you double.
· You will not run out of dough and oil
We are so ignorant of the fact that Jesus never taught such things. His promises given by Him were as follows:
> You will have sufferings in this world
> You will be persecuted
> You will be hated by people
> You may be thrown in prison
>You will be brought before kings and Governors. (but that will be an opportunity to bear witness Luke 21:12-13)
> Many will be killed for His name’s sake.
> Will be betrayed by own family members
· The end days is going to be so difficult even for His elect to bear the birth pangs as recorded in the gospels.
Yet we prefer to walk through the broad gate claiming hand picked promise verses and deceive ourselves. It never disturbs us that we have not influenced even one person with the gospel. As long as we pay our tithes and offerings to the Church we are good to go. The New year prophecy scam is robbing people of their purpose for existence. People's obedience to the Great Commission is not going to matter to many Churches at all as long as they are overfed, which they name it as blessing from the Lord.
We camouflage our disobedience with fun and frolic in the Churches and abound with false promises and prophecies. Remember the warning from the Lord through Ezekiel, “Since they have led my people astray by saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, when a flimsy wall is being built, they plaster it with whitewash, therefore, tell those plastering it with whitewash that it will fall. Torrential rain will come, and I will send hailstones plunging down, and a whirlwind will be released.". Ezekiel 13:10-11 CSB. There was no mincing of words by the prophet.
Ponder over these following questions:
· How many people this year have led someone to Christ?
· Beside speaking to the Christian crowd, have you connected with non-Christians?
· How many people this year heard the gospel by some means through you?
It is good to retrospect. Stop listening to false promises and prophecies that gives you a sense of security but destroys your soul and robs your purpose for Missions. Let us all strive to be the carrier of the gospel rather than wanting to become a dead fish comfortable in the four walls of the Church.
No comments:
Post a Comment