Thursday, February 10 2011
Ezekiel 13
Verse of the Week: V2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;”
1. The True Prophet (V1-2)
V1 “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”
The true prophet is one who preaches what God says to the people. In the Old Testament, God spoke directly to the prophets, and in the New Testament, God speaks to the pastors through the Bible, and both the prophets and pastors must speak to the people exactly what God says.
V2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;”
2. The Foolish Prophet (V3-16)
V3 “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!”
In order to win the hearts and minds of the people, the false prophets distort the truth of the Word of God and preach what the people like to hear. God through Prophet Ezekiel described these false prophets as foolish prophets as they thought there were wise in the eyes of the people, but in the eyes of God, they were foolish prophets and shall be severely judged and condemned for their false teachings and lies.
V13 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.”
3. The Lying Prophet (V17-23)
V19 “And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?”
The worst sins are committed by these lying prophets and pastors who, instead of leading the people to know God and His Word, are guilty of lies, deceit, hypocrisy and selfish gains and misleading them from knowing God and His Word.
V23 “Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”
Prayer of the Week
Dearest God, please help me to discern the true preachers from the false ones.
