Thoughts for another day

Oct. 19, 2012.

Today's verse: Matt. 15:13. But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When we reach unto the Divine, we learn that all things are decided by God even to the choice of following Jesus Christ for Jesus said, 'No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him', Jn. 6:44.  God decides, based on your response even before the foundation of the world, who is to be His and who isn't.  In this background, our Scripture verse makes for very interesting reflection for remember, there're many out there going in the Name of our Precious Lord, but don't have a mandate from Him.

Only the man who is planted by God has His message and only his message comes to pass for God gives him the message and accomplishes all that He says. But, as to the man who goes without God's ordination, well, whatever he says is of no consequence for it is of him and not of God.  I recall in the Bible, at the time when Jeremiah prophesied evil on the Jews, there was this prophet Hananiah who prophesied relief in contrast to Jeremiah.  God commands Jeremiah to tell him and the people that because Hananiah has prophesied relief, their punishment will be more severe; and Jeremiah also tells him, Jer. 28:15, 16, 'Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, yet you've persuaded this nation to trust in lies. Therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.'  Hananiah dies in the same year.

Many people wish to serve the Lord and their intentions may be sincere, but in their eagerness to please people who're suffering etc. they resort to false words of comfort, even using God's promises in His Word to do that.  There's nothing wrong in using God's promises to encourage people; but standing as a prophet of God, and telling them their maladies have vanished as of that moment, is impersonation of God's man and perhaps, violation of His will.  Punishment can be drastic; maybe even, death.  I've learnt over time that impersonation of the prophet of God, (even if ordained by God but your time hasn't come), can have harmful consequences.  It's better to wait for God to raise you up if He has set you for Ministry and then move.  Then the results will follow and then will the people of God praise Him for His work, even done on your word.  On the other hand if you're not chosen by God to do His work, don't even think about it for it may cause you much harm; in this case you can just pray, for in that you'll be able to please God.