4. They Make The People To Forget The Name Of The Lord Jer 23:27“… Who devise that men may forget my law by their dreams.”
The ministry of the false prophets makes the people to forget the Name of the Lord. They always promote themselves and their ministry. They want to show from the pulpit that they are more spiritual and are equivalent to Christ Himself. They give an impression that they can pray for people and it would be heard. They indirectly say, ' I am Christ.' We should not forget that there is no mediator apart from Christ Jesus. What we need is not another Church to go? What we need is not another ' Great Man ' of God? What we need is Christ Himself! We need to seek Him directly and turn to His Word. But sadly, we find idolatry among the Christians.
5. They Are Dreamers Jer 23:28“ The prophet who has a dream, let him tell his dream; and he in whom is my word spoken to him, let him tell my word truly: what is the chaff to the corn? So are my words, says the Lord.”
The false prophets are vivid dreamers. Although God sometimes speaks through dreams and visions, we should not forget that it was never meant to impress people, to be spoken from the pulpit. In the Book of Acts, we find God speaking to apostle Paul through dreams on more than one occasion. But it was all for guidance and not for pulpit preaching. During Jeremiah ' s days, there were scores of prophets who were dreamers. God compared those dreams to chaff whereas His Word was like a hammer and fire. Today we need prophets like Jeremiah who can speak God ' s Word and not just dreamers.
6. They Speak Lies Jer 23:26“ How long shall these things be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies, when they prophesy the purposes of their own heart?”
The false prophets speak lies from the heart. What they think to be true, they preach it as if it is the Word from the Lord. Today, we find this kind of lying spirits operating from the pulpits. A minister may have a desire for a new project. But when he says to the congregation,
he says that it was God who told him to do. All such lies needs to be discerned and exposed.
Some believers seek after prophets to predict the result of an exam; to know God ' s will in their marriage, business etc. These so called prophets gladly say that they would pray and reveal God ' s will. We should be aware that nowhere in the Bible we can find such practices. The prophets are God ' s agents to bring God ' s Word for a particular situation. They are not soothsayers. What a pity today we find Christian soothsayers everywhere!
7. They Are Of No Use Jer 23:32“ So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.”
The ministry of the false prophets will be more beneficial to themselves rather than for the people of God. People will be neither edified nor encouraged through their ministry. They will not lead a holy and pleasing life before the Lord. If they sin, they would continue to sin. They will not produce fruits of repentance and righteousness. They will be a burden to the Church and the ministry. Hence, ' Watch Out.'
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