Nobody likes to be told they're wrong.
"15 Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel? 18
“I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals." 1 Kings 18:15-18
God has a tendency to send prophets when people are going the wrong direction. Elijah wasn't a popular man during his day -- much disliked.
3 reasons we don't like to be told we are wrong according to Dr. Tim Sharp (this is the world's view, not God's):
1. Being wrong means we are unworthy.
2. Not admitting fault means we are stronger.
3. Truth doesn't matter as much as being right.
All of that is bunk! That isn't God's perspective. That isn't truth.
People in authority need tto say they're wrong when they are wrong. Society -- we look away from truth because it's uncomfortable. God has sent his prophets throughout history to correct us when we're wrong. They are never popular.
Prophets vs False Prophets
Oracle at Delphi
Oracle of Google
Journal of Internet Research Study found out that less than 1/2 of searches are not correct.
Oracles of today are the people with the most internet followers. We can be easily led astray -- the more we see something the more we begin to believe it.
Litmus Test for Prophecy (to figure out if it is true or not):
Is it consistent with God?
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." Malachi 3:6
"The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8
Beware of false prophets!
"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." 2 Peter 2:1-3
Consistent Truth #1 Discipline is love.
"Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
but the one who heeds correction gains understanding." Proverbs 15:32
“Blessed is the one whom God corrects;
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a] Job 5:15
"5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]" Hebrews 12:5-6
It's a good thing to be corrected. We make mistakes because we're sinners. Be sensitive -- the more you listen and obey the voice of God the more sensitive you will be to his voice.
Consistent Truth #2 God knows our weaknesses
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
"My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
Consistent Truth #3 Hold onto the Love of God
"Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10
Consistent, unmovable love.
"37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers," Romans 8:37-38
The Final Word
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood." 1 John 4:1-6
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1
Hold the world up to the Word. Hold all things up to the Word. Jesus told us we are for him or against him. My thoughts, actions and words -- I am responsible for them. You are responsible for your thoughts, actions and words.