MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD - by Paul M Hanssen

MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED

FOR THE LORD

By Paul M Hanssen

…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:17)

These words were spoken to Zacharias, the priest, about the son that his wife, Elisabeth, would bear, namely the prophet John. In summary, John’s ministry was to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus and to ready them to hear, receive, and believe in the one he would proclaim.

To “make ready” connotes those who go before kings and dignitaries to implement necessary changes, adjustments, and suitable preparations. Today, as in centuries past, kings, queens, presidents, and dignitaries send special envoys ahead to specific destinations in preparation for their arrival. My question this Christmas season is, “Where is the “special envoy” that prepares the people of God for the imminent coming of Jesus, the King of the Kingdom?” Where are the voices crying out in the wilderness of men’s hearts, “He is coming; get ready for Him?” Where are those sent ahead to prepare the people for His appearance? I hear many voices in the “church world,” yet few are causing hearts to be prepared for the Lord.

As I ponder this matter, my heart feels heavy. A deep yearning and cry stir within me. I literally sigh and mourn in the depths of my being over the condition of the Church. My heart is troubled because the “special envoy” of voices and preparers (namely the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) has gone astray; closely following them are the people who are gullible, lost, confused, hurt, spiritually lukewarm and lethargic. Instead of focusing on the Lord, His presence, and His soon return, the special envoy has become preoccupied with all manner of mysteries, time calculations, and meaningless predictions. The eyes of the people have been directed to “prophetic utterances” that do not originate from the heart of God. Various “prophetic” statements are made regarding politics, the coming year, and “the blessings that God is about to pour out on the Church.” Additionally, these false prophets draw crowds who financially support them and who bolster their ministries, while the “truth speakers” are widely rejected, frowned upon, disdained, and mocked. It is much easier to follow a lie rather than the truth.

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 29:8-9)

Jeremiah may as well have been speaking to the church of this generation. His warning states, ‘Do not let the prophets and diviners deceive you; furthermore, do not be misled by your own dreams.’ What a warning! Deception is the atomic weapon used by the enemy in the end times; it will lead to the downfall of multitudes.

I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. (Jeremiah 23:25-27)

The church of God is concentrating on various topics unrelated to preparing a way for the Lord. In his day, Jeremiah stated that the focus had shifted from the LORD to Baal. Baal means Lord, master, husband, owner, chief, and captain. This same shift of focus is happening today. I assure you that when a prophetic word or dream diverts attention from the Lord, His Word, and His presence, God is not the author of the prophecy or dream. The sad reality today is that the special envoy sent to guide the hearts of the people toward the Lord and His imminent return is failing miserably in their mission. After listening to these so-called prophetic voices, we must ask ourselves, what has become the primary focus and master of our attention? To whom or what are the prophetic voices directing our admiration and devotion?

I consider myself a tolerant, patient person. However, there comes a time when a violent pushback is warranted in response to the falsehoods, lies, divination, and witchcraft occurring within the Church. False prophets have flooded online platforms and pulpits, delivering deceptive messages that are distracting the hearts of God’s people from preparing for the Lord. This article is my meager attempt to sound the alarm.

At this time of year, on the brink of a New Year, the prophets and diviners emerge, spewing all sorts of predictions and prophecies which they claim to have seen in a dream or heard from the Lord. Many make bold declarations that capture the hearts of the gullible as they aim to generate “views, likes, followers, and financial support.” I am in no way opposing the true prophetic voices in today’s world. I thank God for the few true prophets. But how do we know what is true and what is false? Beyond simple discernment, how do we determine what to embrace and what to reject? True prophecy will always—I reiterate, always—turn the hearts of the people toward the Lord God, not toward false masters and chiefs.

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the Lord with all your heart. (1 Samuel 12:20)

The people in Samuel’s day sinned against God by requesting a king, which greatly displeased the LORD. As a result of God’s displeasure, He sent thunder and heavy rains during the harvest, which threatened the loss of all their labor. However, Samuel, whilst recognizing the people's sin, redirected their hearts toward the LORD! Hearts turned toward the LORD exemplify the effect of true prophetic utterance. Prophetic utterances that originate at the throne of God will always guide the heart toward the true Master and Lord of all creation! Before Jesus came to earth for the first time, born of a virgin in a stable in Bethlehem, God sent a special envoy—his name was John. John came to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. He was a prophet of prophets, preparing the way for one whose shoe latchet he was not worthy to unloose. He directed the people toward the Lamb of God, who came to open the door to God’s Kingdom.

What voices are you listening to? Are the utterances of dreams and ‘prophetic voices' directing you to the Lord, or do you find yourself bound to another master before whom your heart has bowed? Stop listening to false prophets. Do not let yourself be drawn into the ‘excitement of mystery’ and knowledge that bypasses the Tree of Life. The result of false prophetic utterances is death.

Make ready and be prepared for the coming of the Lord! This is what matters. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!