Ahab had a host of "people-pleasing-prophets" around him - he had lulled himself into a false sense of security, believing that he had the word of the Lord and the approval of wise counselors. PEOPLE ARE IN A DANGEROUS PLACE WHEN THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH "YES" MEN ! Note those words of Ahab concerning the godly prophet Micaiah - "he never prophesies good concerning me". Also note that Micaiah had to be sent for - he was not kept at the king’s side - Ahab didn’t like what he had to say.
People are always looking for "flattering prophets". Those who will say just what they want to hear. There are those kinds of folk who go around from person to person, even to every preacher in town, they buy books and tapes, looking for someone who will say what they want to hear. If you search long enough you’ll ALWAYS find someone who is willing to agree with you - even if you say the moon is made of cheese ! (Sure, you may have to go to an institution to find them; but you can ALWAYS find someone who’ll say what you want to hear.)
The world laughs at the caricature of "fire & brimstone" preachers - they mock and scorn such men. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHY? Because they don’t want to hear a message of judgment - a message that makes them uncomfortable and demands a decision. So they laugh, and run off to their flattering prophets who say "BE AT PEACE, ALL IS WELL !"
There is no shortage of people who are willing to say what you want to hear. In fact, if there is a shortage it’s of those who will tell you what you need to hear.
Some ‘preachers' are prepared to preach such a one-sided half-truth gospel; not wanting to offend. These are the kind of men who would sell their own soul for the sake of popularity. (Someone once said - "the theatre gives people what they want - the church gives people what they NEED!")
The wise man’s prayer is "I would rather a word of rebuke at Thy mouth, Oh Lord, than rivers of praise from the lips of men."
Ecclesiastes 7:5 says : "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools."
Amid all the plethora of voices that want to offer us advice today, how do we determine what voices are from God, and what are carnal, or even devilish voices?
We can be like KING AHAB, and surround ourselves with people who tell us things we want to hear - listen to teachers that are pleasing to the ear - BUT at the end of the day we don’t do ourselves any favors. At BEST it will lead us into bondage; WORST STILL it could lead us to complete destruction!
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