Are You Prepared for What Lies Ahead or Just Another Beautiful and Lovely Message?

”The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore, this is what Yahweh says about the prophets who are prophesying in My Name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword,” (Jeremiah 14:10-16).

I notice different “camps” if you will, of prophetic people and prophets, who write and speak things that are certainly from The LORD, but they follow a certain path or framework, if you will.

They tend to be “Safe Words” that don’t go beyond edification, exhortation, and comfort. These Words instill hope and encouragement, and insight into the workings of what God wants to do in His people.

These words are very needed and helpful to us today, but they are like the ocean, in that they don’t go beyond the waters next to the shoreline. While at the same time, it is prudent and wise not to go beyond our calling or anointing.

I do believe though, that God is speaking to some in this hour in very specific ways of what is going to happen to certain cities, nations, and peoples.

He still wants to show His encouragement and hope to us as these days draw near, but at the same time the details of His plans are to be unfolded as well to His Church.

It is perhaps only natural for people to want to hear good and wonderful things. It can perhaps cause some to be fearful and to question strong words from The LORD.

But actually when God speaks to us in this way, it is actually out of love because He wants us to be prepared and ready.

What father would not want to alert his children of impending danger?

I asked The LORD this question quite a while back about why certain prophets and prophetic people, don’t seem to prophesy about catastrophic events that will be coming upon the earth.

He told me that:

• Some prophets don’t believe these things will happen,
• Some don’t talk about it, and pretend that they won’t happen, and
• Others bury their heads in the sand.

I don’t think that it’s any different today than it was during the time of Jeremiah.

Many today prophesy things from their own minds and spirits. They speak what others “want to hear.” They just want to speak Comforting Words to the people.

To be sure, God does want to encourage us and to give us hope, even in the midst of a world that is full of darkness and without hope. But He doesn’t want to “tickle our ears.”

He wants us to know the truth. For when we know the truth, then the truth will set us free.

We can’t be truly free when we are hearing reports about how lovely God is going to make everything around us. He wants to bless us, but he also wants to prepare us for the days that are ahead.

We have laws that protect us so that we do not go too fast on the highway or run through a red light. If we didn’t have these laws then our world wouldn’t have any order — we would have anarchy.

So, having said these things, then we would be wise to hear what the Father would say to us in this hour so that we would be prepared and ready for what lies ahead.

Renewal of Ezekiel’s Call as Watchman

“The word of The LORD came to me: “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’
Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.” Ezekiel 33:1-9.

However, most that heard Ezekiel’s message wanted to hear “beautiful things” spoken to them. They wanted to hear a beautiful symphony of passages that would lull them to sleep.

They didn’t want to hear about tragedy. They didn’t want to be warned. This is what was said of them later on in this chapter:

“As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from The LORD.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
When all this comes true — and it surely will — then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 33:30-33.

A Word from this evening April 27, 2011.

“Behold, these things are true, for all around you there are voices that are speaking lovely things.

Most of my body is being lulled to sleep. But I tell you that it is time to arise from your slumber. For the hour is getting late.

Most want to join in for the parade. Most want to partake of the festivities. All the world’s a stage it is said, and you are but its actors.

But I tell you that it is time to stop acting. It is time to take off your masks. It is time to know the truth.

It is time for my prophets to stop speaking things that others want to hear. It is time to start speaking boldly in My Name. It is time to put away childish things.”

First published November 5, 2013.

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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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?

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