“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Are we hearing God? Are you hearing God? And before you answer too quickly, I want you to understand that many don’t hear him but they think they do. Many—thousands upon ten thousands—will sit in churches across our land this morning assuming that they are hearing God, convinced that they are doing the right thing, because someone is standing in the pulpit of their church preaching from the Bible. But the problem is that even though the Bible is used, and a lesson is taught, God is not being honored as God. And the word of God is not being honored as the word of God.

How could this be? Is this even possible? In church, all dressed up and looking good, message from the Bible. How could this not be a good thing?

Let’s look at some precedent, an example of this very thing which is available to us in the biblical record in the OT. As crazy or unlikely or preposterous or outside of your religious box as it may sound, we will see from your Bible and mine, that the preacher, the prophet, picks up God’s word, tells lies and … the people love it.

Is that wild or what? But listen to the prophet Jeremiah:

• (Jeremiah 5:31 NIV84) The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?

You may have noticed, probably have noticed, that people love having things their way, whether it is how their burger is prepared or their morality or immorality, as it may be, or their life direction. People love to choose what they believe is right for themselves. Some love to choose what is right for everyone else. People love to have things their way. But Jeremiah asks, what will that person do when the end comes? What will you do when the choice is in God’s hands and no longer yours?

We are in a time of turmoil as a nation, and we will have people, both liberal and conservative, many of them standing in pulpits, telling us what we should do, who we should believe, even who we should vote for. Some will, in the name of God, call us to certain choices. They will quote and misquote Bible verses and demand that we listen to God, telling us that God says this, and God says that. And what you had better do if you are a good person, or a good Christian, or a good whatever their context calls for.

But here’s the thing about speaking for God. If you say that God said it, then you better make sure that he did, or what will you do in the end when God calls you to account? What will you do in the end when God calls you to account for the words and agendas that you pushed in the name of God?

We can collect everyone’s opinion and analyze the data from the news services or from Gallup polls or examine the latest from George Barna, follow Breitbart on the web. Whatever suits your fancy. We can talk to all of our Christian friends and share opinions and read books and attend seminars and listen to all of our favorite preachers.

You’ve heard “last man standing”. Well, how about “last information standing”? Will our information stand up to the judgment of God?

We will not be ready if we are not hearing God!

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

God is talking to us now. Are we listening? What happens in the end is all about being prepared and ready for the end, having the right information, God’s information, before it is too late. The book of Revelation, really the entire Bible, is about preparation, and Revelation is the final chapter in the Book of Divine Preparation, the Bible.

REVELATION MESSAGE 4 –
Revelation-The Final Chapter of Preparation / Revelation 2 / 100916 AM