I feel like I've addressed this before. Yet, I will continue to impart as the Holy Spirit leads
Whomever you allow to counsel you, to the point that you carry out their instructions, becomes a prophet to you. If you still don't trust the words that I speak as God's representative, at least engage His irrefutable Word for yourself. Be honest with yourselves. What is your counsel saying to you? Has it been consistent with God's view?
Micah 2:6:11 (NLT)
Whomever you allow to counsel you, to the point that you carry out their instructions, becomes a prophet to you. If you still don't trust the words that I speak as God's representative, at least engage His irrefutable Word for yourself. Be honest with yourselves. What is your counsel saying to you? Has it been consistent with God's view?
Micah 2:6:11 (NLT)
True and False Prophets
⁶“Don’t say such things,” the people respond. “Don’t prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!” ⁷Should you talk that way, O family of Israel? Will the LORD’s Spirit have patience with such behavior? If you would do what is right, you would find my words comforting. ⁸Yet to this very hour my people rise against me like an enemy! You steal the shirts right off the backs of those who trusted you, making them as ragged as men returning from battle. ⁹You have evicted women from their pleasant homes and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them. ¹⁰Up! Begone! This is no longer your land and home, for you have filled it with sin and ruined it completely. ¹¹Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!” That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!
Several times throughout the scriptures, God repeats this scenario. But because the people's response remains the same, His process remains the same. In this passage God was speaking about Israel. But, no matter the targeted audience, this scripture affirms that not only is the right spirit necessary in giving, but likewise in listening. In other words, it's one thing to hear; but, as verse 7 asserts, it's another thing altogether to actually listen to what God is saying, with a spirit of belief. Punishment is never God's intention for prophecy, warning is. But, be not deceived, where there is continued wrongdoing and disobedience, there is punishment.
Several times throughout the scriptures, God repeats this scenario. But because the people's response remains the same, His process remains the same. In this passage God was speaking about Israel. But, no matter the targeted audience, this scripture affirms that not only is the right spirit necessary in giving, but likewise in listening. In other words, it's one thing to hear; but, as verse 7 asserts, it's another thing altogether to actually listen to what God is saying, with a spirit of belief. Punishment is never God's intention for prophecy, warning is. But, be not deceived, where there is continued wrongdoing and disobedience, there is punishment.
"Obedience is better than sacrifice"
As foretold by God himself, many will not listen and even demand my silence: unfortunately that continues to be true. As much as I would prefer that all would listen, that would mean that God's prediction was inaccurate. Not only has the prediction of refusal to listen been true, true also are the behaviors predicted. Still free will affords you the consequential option to be dismissive.
Recommended Reading: Micah Chapter 2
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