Tell Us Nice Things

These people are stubborn rebels

who refuse to pay attention to the LORD'S instructions.

They tell the seers, "Stop seeing visions!"

They tell the prophets, "Don't tell us what is right.

Tell us nice things. Tell us lies.

Forget all this gloom.

Get off your narrow path.

Stop telling us about your

'Holy One of Israel.'"

Isaiah 30:9-11, NLT

For the last couple of months I have been reading in the Prophets, the 16 prophets of God who really matter. I make that distinction because of all the self-appointed, self-anointed charlatans who are running around our world today saying, "I'm Prophet So-And-So, listen to me." And having heard so many of them, I have come to the conclusion that many of them are neither prophets, nor the sons (or daughters) of prophets. I'll tell you this much: I don't need somebody to tell me they are a prophet; I need somebody to prove to me they are a prophet.

Some would scoff in my face and tell me they have no need to prove anything, because God has ordained them a prophet. My response is still the same. Basically, I think prophets is as prophets does.

Some would try to tell me about myself. About my past, my present, and my future. Like some carnival fortune teller or back alley palm reader. Spread out the cards, throw the chicken bones, spit in the wagon, and read from the signs what the otherworld is trying to show me. Hello!?! The Bible calls it divination, and they use to stone people for it.

Some would spout a new revelation, with claims of angelic visitations, out-of-body trips, and pizza-induced dreams. But as the preachers of old used to say: If it's true, it ain't new. And if it's new, it ain't true. God has given us the Bible as the Divine Revelation of His Word and Will to mankind. It tells us everything we need to know about Him and His universal plan for our lives, it gives us all the instructions we need for life and for godliness. And until we start living by it, why do you think God would waste His breath giving us something new?

These false prophets of today don't want to hear the true prophetic voice proclaiming the unadulterated Word of God. Preaching the truth is not very popular today, in the world or in the church. Isaiah's words have come true in our lifetime. For the false prophets and those who follow them tell those who truly do hear from God:

"You don't know how to really hear from God. Let me teach you how..."

"You're not seeing good things in your visions and dreams. Think more positively..."

"All that talk about holiness and sanctification was just legalism, and we're past that now..."

"Don't bring me down with talk about sin and judgment and repentance. People need to feel good when they leave the presence of God..."

"You're message is too negative. Tell me something nice, because I want to be happy when I come to church..."

"Stop being so rigid and narrow. Break off that religion and be free..."

"Jesus was a guy that lived 2000 years ago. Let's talk about what's important right now..."

If you want to know if you're listening to a prophet, compare their prophecies to the Word of God. Do they deliver the good news and the bad news with equal authority? Do they speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Do they speak it in love? If they predict the future, are their predictions coming true? If they are giving words of knowledge, are they 100% accurate 100% of the time? If they are truly spiritual, do they follow the guidelines of God's Spiritual Gifts Manual in 1 Corinthians 12, 13 & 14?

People, beware! If they're only telling you what you want to hear, something is definitely wrong. But the true will make it alright.