“All the prophets were prophesying before them. Then Zedekiah…said, ‘Thus says the LORD, “With these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed.”’ All the prophets were prophesying thus.”1 Kings 22:11-12

Zedekiah understood what it meant to be a prophet. He knew the vocabulary and the phrases, the gestures and how to deliver a prophecy. And he had contemporaries who also were thought to be prophets of God. When Zedekiah spoke to the kings of Israel and Judah, he did all the expected things, appearing to be a genuine prophet. But King Jehoshaphat wasn’t convinced, and he decided to summon another prophet, Micaiah. Micaiah revealed that he had seen a vision of “the LORD sitting on His throne.” He asked, “Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” One spirit offered to entice the king by being “a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” Zedekiah reacted angrily, but Micaiah knew he had heard from God. His words were proven to be true, and Zedekiah was proven to be a false prophet. Today, many people claim to understand the issues of our time and know the answers. The opinions of celebrities and politicians can seem so convincing! Many people simply believe what they read in books or are persuaded by the standards presented on TV programs and films. If we don’t have discernment, we easily can be deceived. This is why we must have God’s wisdom, which comes from having our lives grounded in His Word. Brothers & Sisters today, make sure you don’t believe everything you hear, even if it sounds convincing. Instead, live according to God’s timeless Word. Let it be your guide and standard. Be filled with the Holy Spirit, and become more sensitive to His guidance. In everything, commit your decisions to God. Let Him show you what is genuine and what is just an imitation.