Following the Crowd…
I am continually amazed at how many seem to follow the crowd these days.
In speaking of this, I am referring to those who follow after various words of prophecy and teachings that speak of the one who is to come; namely the man of perdition.
But this principle of following the crowd has application to a boundless array of various beliefs and hearsay among us.
If one was to use an analogy, the principle of how dominoes fall when they are set-up next to each other, would offer one a good illustration.
One begins to propose a belief, a viewpoint, and even a supposed word of prophecy, and then this domino, this message “touches” another person, and then the effect becomes full blown. In time, a very long range of dominoes has touched each one, and then the rhythm begins.
The blind then leads the blind and as we know then, all will fall into the ditch. Isaiah was right when he said,
“Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and concert, and be healed, “ Isaiah 6:10.
But no, everyone wants the miraculous and the seemingly sublime. Greeks seek wisdom and Jews seek a sign. So what sign would be given in this hour?
Well, as Jesus so aptly said, “The only sign given — will be the sign of Jonah. “
The fear of going against the grain is so prevalent today among believers and non-believers alike, that anyone going against popular belief will be shunned and thrown out of town.
But we are told to be students of the word so that we would show ourselves approved by God. But where have the students gone?
Evidently the school room of The Spirit and The Word hasn’t seen anyone showing up for class lately.
Everyone is on a long-extended Spring Break.
And some speak of discernment that is needed, and they are so right in this statement. But what is the discernment that they are so lightly referring to?
Do they think that this comes so quickly to one, as they haphazardly leaf through various messages and teachings?
Do they think that one can grasp this by sitting down in a class and pouring through their notes…. and then seeing the errors?
No! I’ll tell you something, the word “discernment” is thrown around much too lightly in this hour. Now, it has become such a common commodity that now it may well rest in the hands of the opinions of some, and not as the true gift from God that it should be.
Now, when some speak of discernment, which more rightly said should be “discerning of spirits,” it becomes something that one would disagree with rather than the spiritual quality and insight from God that it should be.
And actually perhaps this is the state of affairs that much of the Body of Christ has come to in this hour.
However, now it seems that many are throwing around phrases and tidbits of sayings, rather than investigating these things in the light of scripture through the Holy Spirit.
So, who has the courage to stand up in this hour and go against the grain of popular belief?
Who is willing to stand alone with God, even when it means separating yourselves from the group?
And by group, I mean some of your fellow Christians who somehow think that they have a corner on the truth and that they may well shun you in the process….
We all are perhaps aware of how the Amish treat those who have left their practices to explore the world around them. These are then shunned and not spoken to, and may well not even be considered to exist.
Now one doesn’t simply go against mainstream thought just for the sake of doing it. One must be convinced in their heart that what they will do or say must come out of a genuine stance of truthfulness to do these things.
And of course when it is time to stand with others who speak or write things that you know are true, then don’t divorce yourself from them.
When it is time to stand with others then stand, but when it is time to stand alone, then stand alone.
In closing, don’t be afraid to swim upstream even as the salmons do as they attempt to reach the waters that they are called to.
We aren’t here to please man but rather to fulfill the calling that He has placed upon each of us. Amen.
Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson
Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?
Beautiful. Thanks Brother.
You mentioned discernment of spirits, I was taught and trained by the Holy Spirit only to operate in this gift. The Body of Christ has no understanding of this gift, especially in the Pentecostal Ministries, with few exceptions. It is the most unpopular and rejected of all the gifts. But without discernment the Body cannot tell good from evil, especially if the antichrist shows up, they will follow everyone else and the religious people will fall in a hole praying for someone to pull them out and he comes as an angel of light ready to grab them, only to discover they were deceived and forced to bow to the antichrist and worship him or be killed. I rather have discernment above all the other gifts, because it will save your life. The Word says, my people perish for a lack of knowledge.
You have mentioned the gift of discerning of spirits and the Holy Spirit taught and trained me alone in this gift and I cast out demons in the name of Jesus, but one thing I noticed; that the body of Christ has no interest in this gift, especially in the Pentecostal moment. It is the most unpopular gift and most rejected with very few churches receiving this gift. But without discernment, they will not be able to discern good from evil and the antichrist when he comes. All the religious people will follow every wrong teaching and false prophetic word and they will fall in a hole, ready for some evil enemy disguised as an Angel of light to deceive them and pull them out; only to discover they were deceived and the antichrist will capture them and force them to bow before him or be killed.
Thank you and may the Lord Protect.