Haggai 1:12

New International Version (NIV)

Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai because the Lord their God had sent him.

For Meditation

1. Who wants to be deceived? Who takes delight in disappointment, failure, or loss?
2. But, don’t we invite and embrace these things when we fail to check the sources of information we receive every day?
3. Don’t you agree that knowing the source of every piece of information is critical for authentication and validation purposes?
4. Why then would anybody believe something and move on it with vigor without validating the source?
5. Why would anyone move blindly into a situation and enjoy it until Mr. Disclaimer walks in from the supposed source to ruin the party?
6. But, isn’t that what we do sometimes with the news we hear from the news media these days?
7. Don’t we do the same with what we read every day from books and magazines, and hear from the people around us?
8. In the same manner, don’t we regrettably treat what we hear from our pulpits and read from the countless number of books and commentaries coming out these days?
9. Do we stop to check their sources? Do we check whether they are in conformity with the written word?
10. Do you see how our negligence has contributed to the rising and popularity of the prophetic ministry in our day?
11. Don’t you think the enemy loves our itching ears and the careless manner in which we treat prophesy (2 Tim. 4:3-4)?
12. Do you see Zerubbabel and the other leaders discerned the authenticity of the prophetic word from Haggai (Haggai 1:12)?
13. Do you see why the Spirit of God calls the Jewish congregation in Berea, noble (Acts 17:11)?
14. How about you? Are you noble when it comes to discerning prophetic declarations?

I pray that you pay better attention to the messages you hear these days and to make time to review them in the light of God’s written word; for, the sound and oratory of a message do not constitute the word, but the Spirit of God who delivers it!

So, may “the eyes of your heart…be enlightened” for understanding and authentication of the messages you hear, and may you grow in confident assurance in His promises in Christ Jesus, amen (Eph. 1:18)!

Shalom