May 2011
I have learned that often times the Holy Spirit gives revelation in His timing for His Church. He reveals these things to humble men that are searching the Lord’s heart and searching the scriptures. Their purpose is not to glorify themselves, but point always back to Jesus. They are considered trailblazers to some, as the Holy Spirit has also put this in other’s hearts, and it bears witness to them. To others they are seen as “trouble makers”, because they go against some ideals the Church as taken on. But then a phenomenon takes place. Teachers/pastors that lack discipline, that are worried about their attendance numbers and their offering plates are desperate for something new; a fresh word. They have not been on their knees seeking God’s council, but they are noticing the numbers dwindle. So they grab onto a new teaching, yet because revelations of the Holy Spirit do not tickle the ears of man, they do not promote man, but instead they come against man made ideas; never promoting man, never promoting riches and wealth, or the "easy life". They twist the revelation, possiby on purpose or by simply not understanding because it never lay hold in their own heart. They never allowed the Spirit of Truth to work, convict, cause repentance. They instead pervert the teaching, fearing if they teach the way they heard it that people will leave. When the arrogant, undisciplined or unyielded teachers take it for themselves and teach the congregation they put God's people in bondage. The very revelation that was meant to bring unity, peace, conviction, revelation and relationship with the Lord has brought deception wrapped in a bow of “ tell the people what they want to hear”. The motive is either of fear or greed. Fear they may lose their congregation if they speak such “hard truths” or greed of power, money, and being successful in the world’s eyes.
But is this problem of tickling ears solely the teachers, pastors, and prophets who are speaking falsely? I suggest not. As we can see in scripture that the Lord will allow false teachers and prophets, bad kings and rulers because that is what His people demanded. When Jesus went into the temple and overturned tables, He drove out the sellers AND the buyers. As Israel demanded a king to rule over them so they could be like the rest of the World, the Lord gave in.
Jeremiah 5:31 "The prophets prophesy lies, The priests rule by their own authority, And my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?"
2 Peter 2:1 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”
Here in America we have become an instant gratification nation. In all aspects of life we can see that so many want this relationship with God, they want to hear God speak in their lives, and mostly want the blessings of the Lord. But they fail in desiring the process of attaining that. They may have even heard true and correct teaching but only heard the promises of the revelation but closed ears to the “IF” portion of the “If….then” statement.
I can assure you teachers that replicate the way of the World are not teaching as they should. If they are tickling your ears with teachings of prosperity, wealth and no coming judgment they are teaching false things. I have noticed more and more a fear among the Christians. It’s not just the Church who knows we are living in end times; the whole secular world is beginning to sense this too. The Hollywood movies and headlines all scream about it. I have closely watched different interpretations of this. There are some involved in new age spiritualism that can feel a “shift” going to happen. Their remedy? To become more enlightened and all about SELF.
In the Church it is clear to see that the people do not want to hear about end times; they only want to hear about “God will heal the land”, forgetting the “14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
There is a lot more IF in that statement then the Church cares to emphasis. Sure I have heard them say it but the emphasis is on the “heal their land.” What is the requirement though? Let me restate: “IF MY own people will humble themselves, IF they will pray, IF they will seek MY face (does not say My hand or blessing) IF they will TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS….then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive them their sin and heal their land.
Church that is not happening. In fact we see just the opposite, we see “super apostles” setting up their own “Kingdom of Heaven” here on this Earth. We see prosperity being taught in ways to defile the Words of the Bible. We see SELF SELF SELF. That is what people want to hear…”you’ll be rich and always healthy if you give me your money. Don’t worry about hearing from God yourself, I will do that for you and will tell you what to do.” They tickle each others ears and when someone comes along and says “This can’t be right because the Bible says…” Then they are ostracized or kicked out from the congregation. They’re considered rogue and doom and gloom speakers. Thus the cycle continues. The Church doesn’t truly want to hear what the Lord says, they want someone else to do the “work” for them, and they don’t want to hear correction or discipline. They treat learning like making a box of instant mashed potatoes.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 “1I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
I wonder if the reason of fear of the future is because we think about what we want in our own lives; we want our children to get married, we want to have that career we have been working toward, we want our business to flourish…while all those things are good and occupy the time we had better make sure they are not put before our God. Over and over in scripture we hear the words “Watch and Be Ready”.
Let us really take Peter’s word in (2 Peter Chpt 3) and allow these words to soak into our hearts and minds today.
Purpose of This Letter
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
The Coming Day of the Lord
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
A New Heaven and Earth
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen
