Don’t Fall for It This 31st December

31st December is here again, and as usual, Watch Night services will be taking place all across Ghana later this evening. Self-proclaimed apostles and prophets will make pronouncements about breakthroughs and material blessings their followers should expect in the New Year. These rituals take place every year, never mind that no one takes stock of the pronouncements made in the previous years to verify whether these so-called prophets are worth their salt.

It is only a matter of common sense that when a prophet gives a prophecy, it is validated whether it actually comes true or not. This was the barest litmus test Moses gave to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 18:22, 

When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.”

Sometimes you kind of feel for these followers, some of whom part with hard-earned money to ‘sow seed’ in the hope that they might receive some prophecies for the coming year. However, as you think of it, you realise that these followers are as guilty as the self-proclaimed prophets. Paul spoke of these followers in

 2 Timothy 4:3, “for the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” According to Paul, these followers are in on this whole scheme.

Scripture makes it abundantly clear that you can only be deceived after you have deceived yourself. The devil only deceived Adam and Eve after they had deceived themselves into thinking they could actually become “God.” According to one count, there are 53 places in the Bible where believers are warned against self-deception. These self-styled apostles and prophets are only offering what the itching ears of their followers want to hear. That doesn’t in any case absolve them from blame. But what do I know, this circus will be going on across Ghana this evening. Followers will be piling up preachers to preach what they want to hear.

Having said all this, is there a proper place for reflection and planning for the coming New Year? The answer is a resounding YES! As believers, we must constantly, especially at the end of the year,reflect on the receding year and praise God for his providential care during both the good and bad times, with a strong belief that all things have worked together for our good in accordance with his purpose (Roman 8:28). As we reflect and praise God, we should also pray and commit the coming New Year into his almighty hands. As Isaac Watts wrote in his hymn, the God who has been our help in ages past, is also our hope for the years to come. There shouldn’t be any gimmicks or presumptions about this exercise. It must be fully rooted in God’s revealed Word. 

In Deuteronomy 29:29, Moses told the Israelites, “the secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” This verse tells us that there are things God has revealed, which are for us and our children for our obedience. And there are things which are not revealed that solely belong to God. Theologians call these the two parts of God’s will:his Revealed Will and Secret Will.

As Christians, we should preoccupy ourselves with the revealed will of God, which is the 66 books of the Bible. The verse says that the things that are revealed are given to us and our children forever, that we may do them. On the other hand, the secret will of God, according to Wayne Grudem, “usually includes his hidden decrees by which he governs the universe and determines everything that will happen. He does not ordinarily reveal these decrees to us…so these decrees really are God’s “secret” will.” Regardless of the antics used by these so-called prophets and apostles, the secret will of God is kept for God.  

As you look forward to the year 2023, there is so much God has already revealed concerning you in his written Word that should occupy your attention and obedience. Don’t go looking for any supposed prophecy or word from self-appointed prophets and apostles. Follow the example of David when he says, “LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” Be content with the clear and sure revelation in God’s Word. Don’t fall for the lies and deception this 31st December!