10/4/18 – Deuteronomy 13, Deuteronomy 14 Luke 13:1-30 Proverbs 9:1-12
Deut 13:1-3
“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
This is describing someone who is trying to lead the people of God astray. Someone who even works in signs and wonders – someone who even can use prophecy and be correct. There’s something in us, that would take that evidence and assume, if the miracles work and what they have said has come to pass, then they must be from God.
Not so.
Miracles are not a sign that someone’s ministry is true. Neither is the prophetic. Both of these are good, but if they are from someone who takes your eyes of God and takes you away from the truth they are not to be trusted or believed.
Prov 9:8
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Some people can take correction. They will take it gladly because they want to improve. They are wise. Some people… will come at you – no matter how polite or helpful or loving you are. You probably won’t know who these people are until the first time you lovingly correct them.
So it’s wise to avoid doing so. If someone won’t take your advice no matter what, then don’t offer it. Instead invest your time into wise people, people who you can build up and speak into. The journey will be easier and the fruit better.
