tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015147464184225573.post5038805310610840362..comments2023-06-07T08:22:13.268-05:00Comments on Savvy Sheep: Test Your Prophets (and Your Teachers)Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18289899048471322587noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015147464184225573.post-30337799631783191892009-02-06T16:55:00.000-06:002009-02-06T16:55:00.000-06:00Thanks for the comment! I agree with you that some...Thanks for the comment! I agree with you that some people claim that their actions (or words) are a mandate of God, when they really have human origins. Thank you for backing me up with more scripture on this subject. The Bible really has a lot to say about this, if people are willing to study it.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18289899048471322587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5015147464184225573.post-42187170477941107802009-02-06T14:21:00.000-06:002009-02-06T14:21:00.000-06:00Jim, somewhat of an impulse buyer, came home with ...Jim, somewhat of an impulse buyer, came home with a new Corvette. It was the envy of his friends for a few weeks, but then, one day, Jim had to trade it in for a less expensive, more fuel-efficient vehicle. <BR/><BR/>His wife wanted to know why. “Honey,” said Jim, “I realized that car was a gas guzzler, and we couldn’t really afford it. I guess I just came to my senses.”<BR/><BR/>Later that evening, Jim’s neighbor came over. “Hey old pal,” said the neighbor, “I’m glad to see you got rid of that Corvette. With the way you drove that souped-up sports car, I was afraid you might lose control on a curve, and make your wife a widow.”<BR/><BR/>Jim’s wife was upstairs vacuuming, so Jim said grudgingly, “It was people like you that caused me to give up on my dream car. You spoke a spirit of fear into my life, and I panicked.” <BR/><BR/>Sunday morning Jim brought the family to church in their station wagon, only to be greeted by his pastor in the parking lot. “Good morning, Brother Jim,” said the Pastor. “What happened to your Corvette?” <BR/><BR/>Jim dawdled until his family was out of earshot, then confided piously, “Oh, Pastor, the Lord spoke to my heart. He told me it was time to stop being so prideful, and to get a less-showy automobile, so I could better witness to my less-wealthy neighbors on their level.” <BR/><BR/>A once-familiar hymn proclaims, as evidence for the resurrection of Christ, the fact that He must be alive if He speaks to men today: “He lives. He lives. Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.” (He Lives, Alfred H. Ackley)<BR/><BR/>Certainly Christ Jesus does speak to His people today. But what does He say? The answer may be different for each and every person, but we must beware of the temptation to justify our own actions by rashly claiming out loud that the Spirit of the Lord gave us a special private instruction.<BR/><BR/>This was a big problem in the Jeremiah’s day. Jeremiah was a true prophet, and he was faithful to repeat exactly what God told him. The false prophets spoke lies and then attempted to give them credence by claiming they came from God. However, God put an end to their party when He proclaimed: “Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD. And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.” (Jeremiah 23:30-34)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com