Whom Do We Listen To?

https://odb.org/MY/2022/05/27/the-forecasters-mistake

Today’s ODB highlights a pertinent point especially in these last days, these end times of whom do we listen to? Through Jeremiah, God told the Israelites that they must stop listening to prophets who proclaimed peace and prosperity but they were not sent by the LORD for they proclaim peace despite the disobedience and rebellion of the people. They proclaimed no harm will come although the people had switched their allegiance to Baal and worshipped Baal and other gods, clearly an abomination in the eyes of God.

We, in these modern times, live in perhaps less crude and blatant circumstances. If we are worshipping other gods, then we are no longer believers and we are who we are. But there are probably among us believers who are genuine and sincere in our hearts but may be led astray by false prophets and teachers like in the days of Jeremiah. These modern day prophets claim they prophesy and teach in the name of the LORD and thus there lies the complexity and subtlety of the false messages they may be proclaiming. How do we tell the difference between lies propagated by these false prophets and truths proclaimed by true men and women of God who hear and listen to the heartbeat of God?

I think at the basics, we should be wary of people who carry big titles like prophets or prophetess or apostles as though they are somehow special before God and thus much better than us, normal believers. I find those titles strange and out of place in the Kingdom of God as Jesus had taught that those who are first shall be last and those who are last shall be first (Matthew 20:16). Always check the fruits of their lives. Are they living out their words?

Going deeper, whatever these people proclaim, prophesy or teach – always verify their words against the Word of God, contextually and as a whole. The Bible must form the basis of any teaching or prophecy as it is the Word of God. Whatever that is not there in the Bible, we should not accept and whatever is not clearly spelt out in the Bible, we should take with a pinch of salt.

Ultimately, we know that the end times will be filled with false teachers and prophets proclaiming things for their own selfish reasons in the name of God. So be conservative and super cautious lest we lose our way in the process. Nothing is more valuable than our relationship with God and our salvation, thus protect them at all cost! Keep our faith intact as in the end, we want to be able to say like Paul, I have fought the good fight, completed the race and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7)!