“Then the LORD said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and delusions of their own minds'” (Jeremiah 14:14).
The Prophet Jeremiah was called to deliver a word of judgment to Judah and Israel. As words of judgments go, the words of the Prophet Jeremiah was not very popular. Judah and Israel had sinned repeatedly by worshiping other gods and putting their trust in their political alignments with other nations rather than placing their trust in God.
While the Prophet Jeremiah was the only one proclaiming judgment so that Judah and Israel would repent and return to God, all the other prophets were prophesying peace and prosperity. While the message of the other prophets were very welcome and popular, it just wasn’t true. It wasn’t God’s word.
So, the million dollar question is, “How do you know who’s speaking the truth? Who’s prophesying on God’s behalf? Who’s just prophesying the delusions of their own minds?”
False prophets are nothing new. There are many false prophets today. Today’s false prophets fill the faculty positions at seminaries and pulpits in America’s churches. They have fancy titles and book sales that “prove” their popularity, but what is proclaimed by these professors and pastors is nothing but their own fancy. It certainly is not God’s truth.
How do you know?
God’s word. God’s word is the standard by which you measure all teaching.
If what is being proclaimed and taught is contrary to God’s word, that teaching is not coming from God. It doesn’t matter what titles they hold and how they are esteemed by the world. If what they are proclaiming is contrary to God’s word, they are false prophets.
I am so glad that you invest the time to read these Verses of the Day, that you are in small groups to grow deeper into God’s word, that you commit to hearing God’s word proclaimed every Sunday. The study of God’s word is the key.
Keep at it. Measure and check to ensure that what is being taught is consistent with what God’s word clearly proclaims.
Praxis: Faith in Action 