“Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not
unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits .”
(Isaiah 30:10)
Today the churches are filled with people who do not want to hear the truth but
would rather listen to fables, lies, and deceits. The only possible reason for
this is found in what Jesus said in John 3:20: “For every one that doeth evil
hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be
reproved.”
They do not want to hear the truth because they know that it will condemn their
ungodly lifestyles. Instead they will search out preachers who will not offend
their sensibilities. No wonder our churches are full of entertainers and
comedians that cradle the congregation into a state of spiritual slumber. No
wonder there are so many different translations of the Bible, each one further
watering down the purity and holiness of God’s word.
Why did the people of Israel in Isaiah’s day try to quieten the prophets of
God? I believe that it is for the very same reason that today’s believers
object if they hear a pastor or preacher speaking about sinfulness and
worldliness. In fact God Himself gives us the reason for their desire to hear
“smooth things” ~ “That this is a rebellious people, lying children,
children that will not hear the law of the LORD.” (Isaiah 30:9)
These people did not want to hear God’s word anymore. Few are the places where
the living word of God is being preached in these days. The preachers and
pastors have compromised with “the lying children” and so preach “smooth
things” and fables to them. They will preach a social, humanistic gospel that
Mother Teresa would have been proud of. They will entertain them with
exaggerated stories of exploits in others lands and with silly jokes. They will
condone wine bibbers and drunkards amongst them, but will never stand up for the
faithful word of God. The pulpit has become a stage for “playing to the
gallery” instead of the place where the Scriptures are upheld and rejoiced
over. This is the very reason why few see anything wrong with the Toronto and
Pensacola phenomena. Christians are no longer able to discern when they are
being deceived by crooked preachers and foolish pranksters in the pulpit. They
fall into every “new wave” abomination hook, line and sinker because they do
not know what the Bible says. A missionary in Albania recently said to me that
if every Christian took their Bibles off the shelf it would result in the
biggest dust storm in history.
The new breed of Christians today have an insatiable desire for that which is
not according to God’s word. Since they only want to hear “smooth things”
they expect every preacher they meet to go along with the false teachings they
love so much. What a surprise it is to such people when they come to a place
where the Scriptures are not compromised and the teaching is solid,
Christ-exalting, sin-destroying, and Holy Ghost anointed. Such God given words
offend them. What reaction do they have to the purity of God’s word? Bow their
knees to the only Lord and Saviour? No. They have to stoop to calling men of God
legalists and judgemental. These “lying children” do not know that the Bible
teaches that “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is
judged of no man.” (1 Corinthians 2:15). As a result they have less an
understanding of the things of God than had Balaam’s donkey.
The prophet Micaiah had to face up to the false teachers of his day who said to
him, “And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.” (1 Kings 22:13). But
Micaiah refused this Old Testament ecumenical
movement. He was not going to compromise his faith in God just to please King
Ahab with “smooth” words. God had put “a lying spirit” into the mouths
of the prophets (1 Kings 22:23), because they had rejected His holy word.
People’s hearts are being hardened against the truth through the flattering
words of such false teachers today. They are believing that which is not
according to the word of God because they love to hear things that please the
flesh. Lying spirits are ministering to many since they have rebelled against
the Bible. The apostle Paul said, “And for this cause God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned
who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2
Thessalonians 2:11-12). This is God’s judgement upon a people who would rather
have “smooth things” instead of truth. A preacher who is a mere man-pleaser
is a soul-destroyer. Do these people not care that they are being led to
damnation? They do not want to hear about righteousness and holiness because
they are enjoying themselves with the “pleasures of unrighteousness.”
The gospel of “smooth things” will pave the way for the antichrist one world
religion in the last days. Paul warned us that the antichrist would be he
“whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). He will be someone who will be empowered by
Satan to deceive the world. He will no doubt use flattery and “smooth
things” to capture the hearts and lives of people. Paul even tells us who will
fall for the antichrist’s lies; “And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the
truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).
Few want to know the sure word of God today. They have traded it in for what
appears to be a better model, one that is “smooth” and showy. They desire
health, wealth, exaggerated stories, and down-right lies.
For those who are faithful preaching the word of God despite what the false
teachers, ecumenists, and other deceivers are saying, keep on doing what God has
called you to do. The Holy Spirit told us that such times as these would come,
but He never commanded us to give up and throw in the towel. Regardless of the
cost we must continue to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they
shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But
watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make
full proof of thy ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:2-5).
Many Christians who appear to be worshipping God will not tolerate sound
teaching, instead they want to be entertained. No wonder they will seek
themselves out preachers and teachers that tickle their ears. God is raising up
a people today who will preach about sin, repentance, separation from the world,
and holy living. They get persecuted, mocked, and boycotted, but they know where
the blessing of God really is. They will not preach “smooth things” to those
who want to be reassured that they can still be Christians while living in open
rebellion to the word of God. They have the Sword of the Spirit in their mouths
not a hot searing iron that makes their listeners spiritually brain-dead; “Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking
lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy
4:1-2). In a Bible-illiterate society we must be faithful ministers of God
declaring the good, faithful, soul-saving, delivering, and powerful word of
truth.
“And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.”
(John 8:32)
Pastor Gary J. Hall