Have You Been Misled By God?- Part One

Beloved, believe not every spirit. Have you been misled by God?

I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Jer 17:10 10 NKJV

Did you know that God himself tests you and gives to you according to your ways. I am convinced that when false teachers claim that God gave them some truth or God showed them this or that, they are being truthful. It was God showing them. He was just giving unto them according to their ways. Would you like a confirmation of that?

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them. Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Ezek 14: 3-5

Think about what you’ve just read. God says he will answer you according to your idols. The answer is coming from God but He is leading you according to the way you want to go.
For example if you have a heart full of covetousness, you will see the scriptures according to your idol of covetousness. You will see scriptures that promise abundant life and prosperity through the prism of that idol. You will see prosperity only in the sense of material things, things of the world. You will ignore all the scriptures that warn of the deceitfulness of riches. Scriptures that warn of the emptiness of materialism and that warn against friendship with the world will be cast aside. You will have no understanding of true prosperity.

Maybe your religious tradition has taught you that some of the Bible has passed away or is not for today. Has your tradition taught you that God no longer does things the way He used to. Do you believe that laying on of hands for healing was only for certain disciples and God uses different means to heal today? If so, then your religious tradition has become an idol in your heart. And just like He promised, He will answer you according to that idol. You will see the scriptures only through the prism of your idol.

Would you like a New Testament confirmation of this. You really shouldn’t need one because God doesn’t change. He’s the same now as He was in the O.T. but here you go anyway.
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2 Thes 2:11-12

God Himself promises to send strong delusion. Why? Because you refused to love the truth. You’d rather believe a lie. You’re more comfortable with that lie. You don’t have to change. You don’t have to lay down that part of your life and follow Him. You claim that Jesus is your Lord but in this area you refuse to follow Him.

There is a fascinating story in 1 Kings 22. This was during the time that Israel was split into 2 kingdoms. Jehoshaphat the king of Judah had come to see Ahab, the King of Israel. Ahab wanted to get Jehoshaphat to enter into a military alliance with him so that he could go and take back Ramoth Gilead from the Syrians.

Jehoshaphat said, before we do this shouldn’t we inquire of the Lord. So Ahab gathered together 400 prophets and asked them. Every one of them told Ahab what he wanted to hear. “Go up”, they said, “For the Lord will deliver Ramoth Gilead into your hand.”

Now apparently Jehoshaphat had some discernment because even after the 400 prophets agreed he still wasn’t sure. He said “Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?” Notice that Jehoshaphat specifically asks for a prophet ‘OF THE LORD”. The prophets Ahab brought forth were not referred to as prophets of the Lord, only “prophets”.

But try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

So Ahab answers and says, well, there is one prophet we could ask but I don’t like him because he never says anything good about me. Jehoshaphat says, let’s hear him anyway, so Ahab reluctantly calls for the prophet Micaiah.

While they are waiting for Micaiah, the false prophets continue to prophecy falsely. They are telling Ahab all the wonderful things that God is going to do through him. How that God will deliver the city and strike down the wicked Syrians by the hand of Ahab. Man, they were really going to town.

Sounds kind of like many of the so called prophets of today doesn’t it. ‘Peace and safety!’ they say, ‘great revival is coming’, they proclaim. God will restore America! A fresh anointing, a new move of God!

Have you ever noticed that the alleged prophets of so called Christian television never seem to have any warning to give from God. Whether it’s a personal word to some church leader or a prophecy concerning the nation or the church in general, it’s always a message of how great and wonderful things are going to be.

False prophets never change. They are great flatterers. They love the praise of men rather than the praise of God so they always tell people what they want to hear.

That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. Ecc 1:9 NKJV

Part Two coming your way tomorrow.