Copyright 2010 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Parts I & II are also available on this website.
Jeremiah had been through such an ordeal on this day. He’d been mocked openly, assaulted and figuratively spit on before Kings, priests and the congregation. No one came to his rescue. No one stood on his behalf. Yet, not once did he complain. Why? Well, Jeremiah had the Lord on his side. This is the place Father is constantly calling us into.
From our previous discussion, you know that Jeremiah walked away from lying prophet after he was assaulted.
Because Jeremiah didn’t say anything right away, we can believe that this false prophet, Hananiah, thought he had gained victory over him. When people walk hard in self-righteousness, pride and arrogance, they will always be justified in their own sight — even when they’ve made some of the worse decisions a person could ever make in one’s life. In truth, he probably thought he’d gained “one-up” on this prophet of the Lord.
As a discerning people, the Lord will often have us pull back. Many times, this sudden pulling back is for our own protection. After experiencing something like this, you want to be sure that every response you make is blown by the spirit and not by any personal offense or human emotion. Then there are times when we must step away and allow Holy Spirit to strengthen our spirit and minister to our soul. It’s better to walk away in wisdom, than to fight with a fool…
Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.”
Proverbs 26:4 says, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.”
People really become angry when you refer to them as fools. I’m not talking about name calling — that’s one thing. I’m speaking specifically of what the scriptures describe, and I tell you, there were quite a few fools in the bible. Come on… people of God! We’ve got to get to a place in the Father in which we are not afraid to call things what they are. Jeremiah was walking out Proverbs 26:4 in every possible way in this situation. He ALLOWED THE LORD TO KEEP him so he would not become a fool before the very people he was assigned to.
WHEN CONFRONTING A LYING PROPHET, you’d better be sure that you walk out WISDOM.
Take a look at what happens next.
Jeremiah 28 says, “12 Shortly after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 13 Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the LORD says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.”
Now, pay close attention to this. Jeremiah DID NOT DO THIS OPENLY. This is very, very important. The Lord said, “GO AND TELL HANANIAH…” He didn’t say, “Go tell Ray-Ray or do it before the congregation as an open show.” He gave Jeremiah very specific instructions. What I want you to see here is that Jeremiah’s first assignment which was to deliver the word about the people of Babylon WOULD JUSTIFY HIM BEFORE MEN and REVEAL the true identity of the false prophet.
I want you to see that the fate of Hananiah was now between him and God. Again, our Father doesn’t need a crowd! He specifically wanted Hananiah to know his judgment. Believe me, when the words spoken by Jeremiah the people will know who is on God’s side, and when they hear of the judgment of Hananiah they will know who the false prophet was.
After releasing that personal prophesy, the Lord reiterates through the following through Jeremiah in verse 14: “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.’ “
Then IMMEDIATELY after reinterating the word of God, Jeremiah began prophesying to Hananiah again.
Jeremiah 28:15 says, “Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. 16 Therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’ “
When the Lord is ready for you to confront the LYING PROPHET, it will happen. But get ready… because he will send you with SPECIFIC directives — not shallow warning. You see, there is not time in Heaven’s time-line to PLAY AND PRETEND AND BEAT AROUND THE BUSH with Kingdom affairs. When a people have been warned of their sin and they choose not to repent, they move closer and closer to a day of judgment and death.
When confronting lying prophets, the LORD WILL SEND YOU. If he doesn’t send you — don’t dare go on your on behalf. When Jeremiah was finally released to address this prophet, the word that came forth was very, very specific. He will send you a specific word, full of understanding and truth…
Jeremiah 28:16 then says, “…and in that same year, Hananiah died.”
Saints, we don’t have to chase down the lying prophets. We have to make sure WE ARE NOT THE LYING PROPHETS and FALSE TEACHERS. I know that is a harsh word but it is the truth. Many people are running around speaking on behalf of the Lord and they have not been sent.
Days are coming for the true prophet in which your office will be put to the test MANY, MANY times. Will you know how to respond to Hananiah when he comes? He will come! The greatest weapon you have against this kind of confrontation is wisdom and humility when you walk with the Lord. Learn how to respond FROM WISDOM — not emotion, frustration, anger, etc. Those types of responses are traps…. and the Hananiah’s of this world are counting on you falling pray to your feelings.
When you walk with God, you will be vindicated… and in due season all the Hananiah’s of this world will reap what they have sown. Seek the face of ABBA and you will never be blindsided, but prepared when the enemy comes.
