Before we start I want to look the roll prophet; they are to bring the divine word of to the people. Second They are to confront the people of God when they are out of steep with the will of God. Thirdly They are to confront the general population, the ruling class, government, kings ect. when they have walked away from Gods laws, outright broken Gods laws, and when they are mistreating the people under their rule or authority. This is the same roll of a pastor today. I do understand that there differences in the roles of pastor, preacher,teacher, elders ect. You will find me putting them all together in places a people that are to be teaching the Word of God as written and the traditions of men that make void the Word of God. This also applies to church doctrine.
Ezekiel 13
1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Make sure you notice whose word came unto Ezekiel
2Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; You have heard the old saying what is good for the goose is good for the gander. That applies here, what was good for Israel then is good for us today. We do have a lot of pastors, preachers, teachers that do prophesy out of their own hearts and minds and not the true Word of God.
3Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! Anyone that clams to be bringing you truth about Gods word “I put myself in there” better make sure they are teaching the truth of God word and not their own doctrine or traditions.
4O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. This is the little foxes that get into the vineyard and spoil it, run through it and knock off the blossoms so that the vineyard can't produce fruit.
5Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. There is a lot said in that verse. Remember God is talking about false prophets, pastors, preachers etc. What have they failed to do?They have failed to make a strong wall or fix holes and gaps in the hedge that is surrounding the vineyard. Is your church, Sunday school class small group surrounded by a strong wall being built on the foundation of Gods word.
6They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made
others to hope that they would confirm the word. Jesus had the same problem that Ezekiel is writing about in His day. Matthew 23 is a whole chapter about their hypocrisy, and the same thing goes on today. There is nothing new under the sun.
7Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith
it; albeit I have not spoken? You say the Lord said, the bible says, and they have not said it.
8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I
am against you, saith the Lord GOD. You don't want God against you. This not only applies to leadership, as a member of the congregation you need to be going home and studying to show yourself approved unto God. Don't take my word for this, or any mans word without checking it out in God's word.
9And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I
am the Lord GOD. God is talking future here. He is talking about the New Jerusalem and if your name is not in the book of live you will not be their. Whole different bible study but you need to ear the fruit from the right tree.
10Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and
there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered
morter. Untempered morter: plain clay it has no real strength to it no protection. Just like the false teaching of some like the rapture it provides false protection. It will not stand in the end.
11Say unto them which daub
it with untempered
morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend
it. Build your house on the rock which is Christ and it will stand and provide you protection.
12Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where
is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed
it? You have whitewashed the wall and the rains came and washed it away and now the people what to know why.
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend
it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in
my fury to consume
it. God is saying He will bring a storm against that false teaching and show it for what it really is. Worthless words!
14So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered
morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I
am the LORD. I thank that about says it all.