Daily Inspirational Newsletter

RUSSELL SANDERS

9-8-2022

OUR 21^ST CENTURY PROPHETS

JEREMIAH 23:16, 21, 36

Much of what the Old Testament prophets spoke from the LORD applies also to us today. Such is the case as God spoke to us through the prophet Jeremiah. Let us examine Jeremiah chapter 23 to see what God is saying about a multitude of many prophets and the messages they were speaking today. I will use the New International Version (NIV) although I do have some problems with parts of this version. It speaks clearly and is easily understood in these verses. It speaks truthfully from God.

In Jeremiah 23:16 God said, “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you. They will fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.”

Verse 21: “I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message. I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.”

Verse 36: “But you must not mention (or say it is) ‘a message from the LORD’ again, because each one’s word (burden) becomes their own message. So you distort (change, alter) the words of the living God….”

Folks, we are on the cusp of the end times. Biblical prophecy is clear about the hard times and the end time persecutions that shall come with the emergence of Antichrist. It is clear about the apostacy of the church. Even now, many so-called Christian ministers deny the deity of Jesus. “Just do good, and you will be okay” is their message.

Conservative evangelical Christians in America have already been classified by DHS as potential terrorists. We have been marginalized at best, branded as enemies of our own government.

The prophesied apostacy means that much of Christendom (the Church as a whole) has already turned its back on God and His Word.

So, what about today’s prophets (and there are many) who have prophesied that a great revival is yet coming? They prophesy a great (very large) end time harvest of souls. How does that fit with God’s Word about the apostate state of the church? Can a dead church (apostate) bring forth a large harvest of souls to be saved? I think not.

Yes, there will be a remnant that will rise up. That remnant will do miracles, signs, and wonders in Jesus’ name. It will not be a large harvest of souls, but a small harvest, one on one. It will not be a nationwide or worldwide revival that will take place. It will be a display of God’s power, but most of the church will continue with a hardened heart towards those that warn about the hard times coming, including persecution, and martyrdom.

Examine the word (message) of these prophets who claim to have a word (or vision or dream) from the Lord. Study their prophetic word or dream from the light of God’s written word, the Bible in its entirety. If their so-called “word from the Lord” is not verified from the bible, then consider that it is a word from their own human spirit, and not from Holy Spirit. They are speaking what they desire to see, and not what God would say. Do not follow them or their false words of hope.

Test the prophetic words given by the bible, ask Holy Spirit for guidance. It must line up with the word. Does Holy Spirit give you peace about their word? (Not just a feel-good emotion.) Does it leave you with an unsettled feeling or uncertainty about it, which could be construed to mean do not listen to it? If that is the case, then dismiss it as coming from their own minds and not from God’s Holy Spirit.  

HELEN SANDERS

9-8-2022

THE BLAME GAME

Adam and Eve had walked with God in the Garden of Eden. We don’t know how long it was before they were tempted by Satan to sin, but they had no excuse for what they had done.

God was their creator. He had instructed them what would happen if they disobeyed by eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He told them they would die.

Did they know what it meant to die? Surely not, because they were covered with the glory of God and had not been ashamed of their nakedness. (Genesis 1:25.) They had no knowledge of sin at that time. Now here they were ashamed of themselves. How do I know they were ashamed? Because they would not have covered themselves if they weren’t. Sin always causes us to want to “hide” it and blame someone else for it.

Adam and Eve had sinned and hid themselves from God. They saw their nakedness and covered themselves with fig leaves. They must have thought it would keep God from knowing what they had done, but they were wrong.

Then they heard the voice of God calling out to Adam (which is both the male and female) saying, “Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9.) Now there is no question in my mind that God knew where they were because he knows everything.

I truly believe that God was giving them a chance to confess their sin, but that did not happen. Instead, they blamed the blame game. Adam blamed God for giving him Eve, and he blamed Eve for giving him the fruit to eat. Then Eve blamed the serpent. Neither of them took the blame for what they had done. The choice they made was of their own free will, just like hiding after they sinned was of their own free will. 

The blame game goes on down the centuries. We see it in lives today. Instead of “owning” our sin, and repenting we blame others for our actions. We cannot stand before God and plead not guilty when we give in to sin. We cannot blame others for “enticing” us, and we cannot even blame the devil. Yes, he tempts us like he did Adam and Eve. Yet, just like Adam and Eve, no once forces us to give in to the temptation. We do it voluntarily.

Many will say “It’s so hard not to do such and such.” Others said, “That is the way I have always been.” These are just excuses, my friend. We are to live a disciplined, "crucify the flesh life."There is no room for the “blame game” in a Christian’s life. If you are doing this, then you need to repent from your actions, own your sin, and then choose not to do it anymore.

It cost Adam and Eve a life in a perfect garden with purity and innocence. It will cost us too. Don’t choose the path of sin and death. Choose the path of repentance and life. Don’t play the blame game!