Wicked Kings, Wicked Advisors And The Praise Of Man.

When the people cannot bring themselves to ever once say anything at all critical about a leader in their own sphere, it eventually leads to cult-like behavior, which we are witnessing today.

1st Kings 22:6/8

Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?” So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”

• The current sitting president of the United States has openly stated that he only enjoys people who 'speak well' or 'speak good' about him, and no wonder, he is surrounded by known heretics and hypocrites of the highest measure (some of these hypocrites being people who openly criticized and condemned him a few years prior). This has been a long-standing pattern throughout history, where when a leader only has advisors who speak well of them, and not anyone who can be critical or give wise judgement, that leader will turn out to be crooked, puffed up, and eventually become lawless in nature (as we are witnessing today).

• Do you only have people around you who say nice and pleasant things? Jesus Himself warned us: "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26). Jesus was reminding us that when people place you into a position of fame or praise or spotlights, this will not end well. The true follower of Jesus is able to BOTH, accept criticism, correction and accountability from brethren, and to never believe that they are 'good enough' or 'have all of the answers', because when you end up in a such a position, you live a lie in the name of God. You take the tickling of the ears far more than the loving criticisms or firm rebukes of those who speak the truth in love when it is required.

• Do not surround yourself only with those who love you, but be able to take it in a mature manner when people DO NOT speak well of you, whether speaking it in brutal truth, or in hypocrisy and hatred.