WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27
Jeremiah 14:13-16
Acts 2:14-21

God’s Word is
the best soul cleanser

VISIONS AND PROPHECIES (II)

The following report appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, February 9, 1987: “Oral Roberts raises $1.6m. TULSA, Oklahoma, Sunday: The evangelist Oral Roberts, who told viewers of his Expect a Miracle television program that he would die unless he raised US$4.5 million (A$6.76 million) for medical missionary scholarships by March, has received US$1.6 million…” This same self-acclaimed prophet is also reported to have seen a vision of Jesus, 900 feet tall, and that he had a long talk with the Lord who told him to build a medical school and to discover the cure for cancer. Other Charismatics have claimed having taken a trip to heaven and back, or having taken the Lord for a ride in their automobile!

The Charismatic scene blooms with visions, prophecies and “new revelations” and “direct communications” from God. What do you say when someone claims, “The Lord spoke to me last night”? Jeremiah encountered a similar situation and brought the matter to God. Read what the Lord said unto him in Jeremiah 14:14.

Modern prophets claim divine authority from Acts 2:17-18. Now these “Spirit-filled” Charismatics give their “prophecies” the Scriptural seal of “Thus saith the Lord” by which they extract donations from their followers by the tens of millions yearly. Many see them as prophets of the last days, receiving revelations even as the prophets of old (men like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Peter and Paul), but with a difference: the biblical prophets did not extract money from their people, neither did they live in luxury apartments and travel like millionaires. All of them were poor suffering servants of God, burning out their lives for the Lord, even suffering death. Believers today may still receive visions and prophecies, but from the Holy Scriptures – inerrant, infallible, without ulterior motives.

THOUGHT: Young man to young lady: “I had a dream, the Lord told me to marry you!” What do I say to that?
PRAYER: Lord, give me visions from Thy Holy Book.