I Can't Tell You That!

Ezekiel 12:24
For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel.

President Obama mustered up as much enthusiasm he could as he talked in the Rose Garden about the economic situation in America, “Every single day, I’m pushing this economy forward, repairing the damage that’s been done to the middle class over the past decade and promoting the growth we need to get our people back to work. I’ve got confidence in the American economy and, most importantly, I’ve got confidence in the American people. We’ve just got to start working together to get this done.”

As a leader you want to keep telling the people the “glass is half full” but sometimes we do them a disservice when we don’t tell them the water is about to run out. Just like the President, Pastors, spiritual leaders, have the responsibility to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth even as we try to inspire. There is a fine line between the truth and spin. We want to make sure we are always giving a balanced dose of truth and inspiration. Truth in itself is liberating for Jesus said, “If you know the truth, the truth will set you free.” Truth by itself is not always inspiring but it is sobering.

More than ever we must make sure we are in sync with what God is saying because people are hanging on to our every word as they try to get an answer to the question, “is there a word from the Lord?” I wish I could say the recession will end next year but I don’t know when it will end. One thing is for sure the sooner we turn back to God and stop being divided the quicker this recession will end.

Whenever there was a drought or famine in the bible it was often tied to disobedience and idolatry. When we get up and prophesy prosperity without social justice and righteousness we are “white washing’ corroded walls that will soon crumble in the time of storm. You can’t preach division, Glen Beck, and then “white wash’ the walls of America with rhetoric of “removing the poison of hate.” We’ve got to call it like it is. We are on the brink of implosion. As Dr. King said, “If we do not come together as brothers we will perish together as fools.”

1. We can’t be lying prophets just for profit. Telling people what they want to hear doesn’t help anybody. We are going to be in the recession longer than anybody wants and we must make spiritual and economic preparations for this drought. We’ve got to modify our lifestyles to keep up with the devastation of this drought.

2. No more false visions. Before we share our egos, we need to get out of the way and speak only what we hear from God. We have some long and difficult days ahead of us but if we can come back to God, joy will come in the morning.

3. We need to write the vision and make it plain so that the people may run with it, though it may take a while we need to wait on it for God’s vision will come to pass.

Dear God, let me speak only what you want me to share with your people. We need to hear from you. Just one word, for I know you’ll see us through. We are your people and we will not move until we hear from you.

In Jesus Name,

Amen