Ezekiel was told by God of those who preached error, prophesying "from their own inspiration"; "following their own spirit"; "false visions", and "lying divinations" rather than LISTENING "to the word of the Lord". The devastating effect upon those who heard such false doctrine was seen from the words of another prophet, Zechariah. He opened his message by reminding the people of what had happened to their ancestors when THEY refused to LISTEN to the "word of the Lord" by the prophets:
Chapter 1:2-6
“The Lord was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord. “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? THEN THEY REPENTED and said, ‘As the Lord of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us."
“The Lord was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord. “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? THEN THEY REPENTED and said, ‘As the Lord of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us."
Their ancestors refused to repent; however, THEY REPENTED!
God's words will still "overtake" all who refuse to "give heed".
God's words will still "overtake" all who refuse to "give heed".
As there was a message of truth and a message of error THEN, so likewise today, both truth and error are being proclaimed.
Who is proclaiming the correct message? How important is it that we "take heed 'WHAT' and 'HOW' we hear? (Mark 4:24; Luke 8:18)
There is the gospel that is the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42); it was given to them by Christ, which He was given by His Father (John 17:8).
It is the standard by which ALL messages are to be compared to, to determine whether the message is "of heaven or of men".
There is the gospel that is the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42); it was given to them by Christ, which He was given by His Father (John 17:8).
It is the standard by which ALL messages are to be compared to, to determine whether the message is "of heaven or of men".
Audiences are responsible to hold preachers to this standard, as is seen from the words of the apostle John:
1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
The condemnation of God still stands upon all who preach AND accept error:
Gal. 1:6-9 - "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
Gal. 1:6-9 - "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
Clearly, as in Ezekiel's day, they who questioned NOT the error, along with those who preached "falsehood" and a "lie", will perish together.
Ezekiel was told expose them AND their false doctrine! Such would be done by teaching accurately, the "word of the Lord". It was not a popular message.
Here is an excerpt from Chapter 13:
1 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord! 3 Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing. 4 O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. 7 Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’” 8 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,” declares the Lord God.
1 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord! 3 Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing. 4 O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. 7 Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’” 8 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,” declares the Lord God.
Such is still needed and true today. There IS such a thing as false doctrine that is being proclaimed. Those who proclaim "from their own inspiration"; who follow "their own spirit"; along with those who refuse to reject it and demand a "thus saith the Lord" will perish on the Day of Judgment.
Truth is no more popular today than it was in Ezekiel's day. There is no place for cowards in the pulpit. Truth calls upon those in sin to cease from their sinning and crucify self in baptism, arising a new creation, purposing to serve a new Master--Christ, who gave them a hope of eternity in heaven for doing so. As Paul said in Acts 26:20: "repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance."
The servant of God who would proclaim God's message must be prepared to preach an unpopular, yet unchanging message, to bring people to repentance.
As Paul told Timothy, the servant of God is to, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."
As God told the prophet Jeremiah, only a message of truth will open one's understanding, giving a "heart to know me, that I am the LORD..."; so that wayward people will "return" to God, "...with their whole heart." (Jer. 24:7)
The blessing of God upon the preacher is only as was told to Jeremiah:
If you utter what is precious,
and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
but you shall not turn to them.
- chapter 15:19
If you utter what is precious,
and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
but you shall not turn to them.
- chapter 15:19
If you allow God's words to 'overtake' you NOW, in repentance and fruit unto righteousness; THAT DAY, i.e., the day of the Lord will not overtake you as a thief.
copyright 2018
rdb
No comments:
Post a Comment