Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Isaiah 8: 19-20
8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.
Matthew 7: 15-16
7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
In Isaiah 8:19, 20, is a prophecy of the familiar spirits of the present time, and the law is given as a test: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to This word, it is because there is no light in them.” Why say, “If they speak not,” if there was to be no true spiritual manifestation or prophesying at the same time? Jesus says, “Beware of false prophets.... Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15, 16. This is a part of the sermon on the mount, and all can see that this discourse has a general application to the church through the gospel age. False prophets are to be known by their fruits; in other words, by their moral character. The only standard by which to determine whether their fruits are good or bad, is the law of God. Thus we are brought to the law and to the testimony. True prophets will not only speak according to this word, but they will live according to it. One who speaks and lives thus, I dare not condemn. {EW 138.3}
Yes, we know them by their fruits. Self- proclaimed pastors, so called men of God, portraying themselves as holier than thou, are no more than just ravening wolves coveting your money for their own benefit. Self-serving, yet call their ministries self-supporting, though they do not have jobs to support their ministry or their families, so they pocket all the tithes and offerings that should be going to the church. They do not feed or clothe the homeless, instead pass them by as if they were not even there. We know them by their moral character. They are wizards that peep, stutter, and mutter, who have no light in them. Jesus has warned us of false prophets, teachers, and preachers. A true prophet lives by the Word of God. People should seek God, and not the charlatans that are without the moral character to be called a Christian. Let us pray that they repent of their evil ways before it is too late for them, and grieve away the Holy Spirit.
Dear God,
We thank You for giving us Your Word. We pray for the outpouring of Your Holy Spirit for all to receive. We pray that You do not take Your Spirit or Light away from us. We pray that all Your people confess and repent of their sins and follow the example of Your moral character before they grieve away the Holy Spirit. That they may do what is right, favorable, and well pleasing in Your sight. Create a clean heart in us, oh God, and renew a right spirit within us. We pray that You keep us from following wolves that gather thorns and thistles but instead keep our eyes on Jesus. Help us speak according to the law and to the testimony and to live a life according to Your moral character. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers. This we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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