TITLE: BE CAREFUL OF PROPHETS WHO SPEAKS DECEIVING DREAMS AND PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE.

TITLE: BE CAREFUL OF PROPHETS WHO SPEAKS DECEIVING DREAMS AND PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE.

SCRIPTURE:                                                      

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.  10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”  (Jeremiah 29:4—14 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

            God’s plans are not our plans.  God’s ways are not our ways.  His plans and ways are so much higher and eternal.  Our plans and ways are shortsighted and temporal.  The children of Israel were desperate to get back to their homeland.  But God told them something different.  God said, I carried all of you into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.  The prophet Jeremiah warns the children of Israel saying, “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you.  Please do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.  They are prophesying lies to you in my name.  I have not sent them, declares the Lord. 

            So many believers today are following deceiving dreams from prophets and diviners who say they speak for God. Often, these dreams only offer what people want to hear but not what they need to hear. God had set his plans for those whom he carried into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. Until God changes the season, the people will not listen to any prophets or diviners offering them false dreams and futures.

            God’s plans are not our plans.  We may want to escape a desperate situation, but we will be deceived if God is not in it.  God’s plan for the children of Israel, even though they were in captivity, was to; “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.  Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.  Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city where I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”     

            The plans and dreams the prophets and diviners offered starkly contrasted to what God told the captivities.  God said, when the 70 years are over, I will return and take you back.  The Israelites were to stay put until God’s timing was done.  God knows his plans for the Israelites.  As for the prophets plans, they are deceiving at best. 

            What a great warning for me not to seek to get out of God’s plans for my life even if it involved difficulties and challenges.  The best place for me is to be at the center of God’s will and plans.  God’s plans for me gives me a hope and a future.  God’s plans for me is to prosper and not to harm me.  His plans for me is to prosper me even in difficult times.  God said, to keep seeking and praying and trust in him and he will bring all his promises to pass.  When I call, he will listen, and he will act to fulfill all his plans in my life. 

APPLICATION:

            I am so grateful for this reminder that God’s plans will be fulfilled in God’s timing, even in the face of challenges and difficulties.   I am so thankful that his plans will prosper me and not harm me even when I face unpleasant times.  Today, I choose to seek him and to know his will and purpose in my life despite the difficulties that I may face.  I will trust his timing and purpose of why I am where I am today, whether it is a difficult challenge or my life is in smooth sailing. 

PRAYER:

            Father, I think you for reminding me that your purpose, plans and will is the best at all times.  There is no season that will cancel your will for my life.  Please help me to know that no matter what I face, despite the difficulties it presents that I will always be in your care and guidance.  Please teach me to trust you will all of my heart.  I love you, in Jesus name, Amen!