“Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing with false visions, and divining lies for them, saying “Thus says the Lord God when the Lord had not spoken.” Ezekiel 22:27-28 (NKJV)

The central message in our devotional text is tailored to teach us the unique parallel that exists between this historical episode in the life of Israel and the present 21st century environment in which we live. God’s indictment is not only against the false prophets of that day, but against society as a whole. However, the prophets, those who spoke on behalf of God, those who carried the word of the Lord, were involved in a conspiracy to take advantage of the people of God. It is here that we must take specific care and caution to insure that those of us who believe are not misled and seduced in the midst of severe economic hardship by those who erroneously declare to speak a word from the Lord. “The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.” Ezekiel 22:25 (NKJV)

This is clearly a time when we must be extremely discerning concerning those who declare that they are speaking a precise and specific word from the Lord. People are desperately seeking relief from hardship, encouragement from loss, and deliverance from despair. In some cases individuals are willing to obey and adhere to almost anything that may provide them a better opportunity than they now face. Please be careful. Just because someone concludes their message with “Thus saith the Lord”, doesn’t necessarily mean that God has said it. We cannot be led to receive a word without properly testing the spirit of the message and the messenger. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” I John 4:1 (NKJV) Since we are living in a time where many cultic and heretical teachers are claiming to be spokespersons for God, we must test the spirits to determine their origin.

We can ill afford our society to become a microcosm of the society that existed during the time of Ezekiel’s prophecy. Not only must we test the spirit of a prophecy, but it is incumbent upon every believer to passionately and persistently pursue truth. Numerous winds of doctrinal error are currently blowing across the landscape of our times. If we seek truth, we will not be misled by prophets who seek to profit by words that are void of the power of God. Truth will always dispel error, but most importantly it will clearly establish our relationship with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 (NKJV)

Prophets that prophesy for profit will not prosper. Believers who deductively discern truth will not be deceived. “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” I John 4:6 (NKJV)