Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, "Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us." Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height. - Micah 3: 11-12 (ESV)
The Word of the Lord is being made merchandise of by the wolves who brazenly stand in the pulpit lying about hearing from God just to fleece the flock. The sheep are being led to slaughter down the broad path that leads to destruction. Biblical illiteracy, worshiping pastors instead of God, and a love of this world are all elements to make the church today as the heap of ruins referred to in the key verses. Littered across Christendom are false teachers and wannabe prophets making money off of the gullibility of God's people. As it was in the days of the Prophet Micah, the "prophets" do not work in the realm of prophecy at all. They cannot because they are liars or perhaps so deceived themselves.
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. - 2Timothy 3: 12-13 (ESV)
Realize what this warning tells us. Those that are of evil intent or impostors will only go from bad to worse in their deceiving of others and their being deceived as well. I hear all the time from pastor/prophet worshiping Christians that I cannot know their hearts or intents. Beloved, we are not charged by Christ with knowing the hearts or intents of people - only their fruit. It does not matter if Joel Osteen truly believes he is doing the will of God. It does not matter if TD Jakes builds 100 orphanages. What matters at the end of the day is if what they preach lines up with the Word of God and what they prophesy came from the Lord.
No, instead of practicing actual prophecy, they are practicing divination. That means they try to tell the future by means of hidden knowledge. I was approached by an Indian man the other day who instantly knew things about me that were true. That doesn't make him holy. That makes him a sorcerer. That is the realm he operates in. There is a real spiritual world out there and outside of the Holy Spirit, none of these entities are on our side. But look at what the Prophet Micah says here. They practice divination for money by promising platitudes and niceties. They are selling lies and promising that God said it.
IS NOT THE LORD IN THE MIDST OF US?
NO DISASTER SHALL COME UPON US!
JULY IS PROPHETICALLY DESIGNATED FOR VICTORY OVER ENEMIES FOR THOSE WHO ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH ME IN THIS SEASON! DO NOT HESITATE!"
That last one came from Paula White to her supporters in this week's newsletter. Proclaiming that this is a season of victory for His people, White unashamedly lied through her teeth by declaring that God told her that a $229 "seed" sown into her wallet will be a "breakthrough seed" for the month of July. How did she come up with such an odd number? Well it comes from 1Chronicles 22:9 of course!
Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. - 1Chronicles 22: 9 (ESV)
If you are looking at this and wondering what it has to do with sending Paula White $229 give yourself a pat on the back for discernment! This verse of course has nothing to do with sending money to anyone. It is strip mining the Bible for a point where God promises rest from your enemies and falsely applying it for everyone to make some money. Look I can do it too!
starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. - 2Samuel 7: 11 (NLT)
Now, why didn't Paula White use this verse? Because then she could only charge you $7.11! This kind of nonsense goes on every day in the church with far too many sheep falling for it. It has similar characteristics to be watchful for. First of all, it is always the result of a direct revelation from God to the false prophet. Why? Because the Bible never supports deception so they must lie and say that they heard it from God. Here is another portion from White's newsletter:
"As I went deeper in the Spirit the Lord revealed that before the breakthrough comes, certain things must be dealt with. Specifically, there must be a complete defeat of your enemies! I need to explain the importance of this to you, so do not let this email go unread,"
Uh-huh. As she went deeper in the Lord He revealed to her how to rob His own people? I do not think so. Secondly, there is always an offer appealing to our flesh:
"This Email Will Change Your Life! YOU are on the verge of complete breakthrough in every area of your life. Spiritually, Financially, and Relationally God has shown me that this is a season of victory for His people."
Well! Sign me up! You must realize the sheer lunacy of this "prophecy. " That EVERYONE is on the verge of complete and total breakthrough. Thirdly, they throw a little Bible in it for show:
"1 Chronicles 22:7-8 reveals that King David was unable to fully realize his dream of building the Temple because "he only secured complete victory over his enemies at an age too old to build!"
It is too bad she did not actually READ those Scriptures because they spell out in no uncertain terms that the reason David was denied building the temple was that he was a man of war who shed too much blood! There is no mention of his age! The false prophet however relies on your biblical ignorance. White continues that you "must know how to legally engage the enemy for his unconditional defeat" and that part of that legality involves "following prophetic instruction." The implication being that if you do not send her cash, you are being disobedient to the prophetic instruction you are receiving and are giving legal right to the enemy to run wild in your life. How disgusting.
Lastly there is usually some form of numerology involved to make it appear more spiritual. I remember Mike Murdoch selling a Psalm 139 blessing if you sent him $139. It is usually pretty transparent. White at least realized that not everyone can afford $229 so she offers a knock off version of this bogus prophecy. The newsletter says if you cannot produce the $229 seed then you should send her a $31 seed because there are 31 days in July and because 22 + 9 = 31. I kid you not. Yet despite the crass obvious nature of her falseness she still has over 1.7 million likes on Facebook. I see well grounded Christians constantly repost her status every day.
Do we understand what this means? Paul White is lying about hearing from God. She is lying about it in order to steal money from the people of God. I do not care if her next post is biblically accurate - stop drawing people to her. She is a con artist and a charlatan who practices divination for money. Do not try and find excuses for her. Do not pass go. Do not collect $229.
Rev. Anthony.
