Eighth Sunday after Trinity (2023)
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Jeremiah 23:16-29
Jeremiah 23:16-29
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this morning we hear the words of the prophet Jeremiah, who brought God’s word to the people during a difficult time. But he did not shrink back from declaring the Word of God but proclaimed it faithfully to God’s people even though it was a message that they did not want to hear. There were many in his time that were preaching to itching ears that they might hear what it was that pleases them. So let us learn the danger of these false prophets, who Jesus describes as ravenous wolves that are dressed in Sheep’s clothing.
The Minds and Hearts
Their message is not from God, but from within.
This is a hallmark of the those who come preaching. They don’t look to the word, they don’t rely on the Word of God, but rather build their messages around their own personal preferences.
False teachers encourages those who despise the Word.
But what does it mean to despise God’s word? It means that they live contrary to it, they don’t believe according to the Scriptures, but rather they....
They promise that you can follow your own heart.
They focus on personal feelings, and desires, and have you look inside yourself for the answer. What did Jesus say comes from the heart? Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander. A false prophet affirms all these things.
It’s a message fit for itching ears.
Now to preach them message boldly would not persuade the people, but they twist the word by acknowledging that these things are bad, but you aren’t really doing as bad as others. It’s going to be ok, because God doesn’t care about your sins, and you can live your life how you want.
They Deceive God’s people
They claim to speak for God, but speak lies.
This is tragic, you might wonder well how bad could this be? What could be the problem? To understand it let’s imagine if someone else were to do this and deceive us.
If a doctor did this, what would happen?
If the doctor knew the truth of their patient’s blood work, a test, or a procedure but ignored what the medical text books said, because they didn’t want to hurt their patient’s feelings, or cause them difficulty. They wanted their patients to do what felt best to them. So they would lie and tell them they were in good shape.
Would you want this happen to friend, or family?
Then you find out later that it was not only treatable, but there was a cure for it. So they lied to them about what was killing them, and let them die. When they could have spoken the words that would have saved their life.
The Prophets are to speak God’s Word which gives eternal life.
This is why God so angry here, He has given His prophets, the Word that save His people, and instead they preach their own dreams instead of the Word of God. So God’s people perish because they listen to liars instead of those who have the words of eternal life, that not heal his people, but bring them into His kingdom.
The Blessing of God’s Word
The Bible is the Word of God.
From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22.21 It is all God’s Word, it was written down over the course of 1500 years, but God speaks through the Word to the World. Well how could that be?
The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and apostles.
That is how they were able to speak prophecies and perform miracles, it wasn’t that they as men were special by themselves, No God gave to them His Spirit that they might speak to His people. Those Words were written down for you, for you are God’s child.
Jesus is the Word made flesh.
Look at the blessings that came through Christ our Lord. He healed the sick, made the blind see, feed thousands, cast out demons, brought the dead back to life, and rose from the dead Himself, and gave up HIs life as a Sacrifice for the world.
What blessings has He given you?
Were you made God’s child by the word in the water? Did the Word bring to you forgiveness, life, and salvation? Did the Word win for your eternal life? When the Words are added to bread and wine, does He give to you the body and blood that were offered up in sacrifice for you, so that you might know you have peace with God?
Holding to the Word
This is why we’re stubborn about our beliefs.
It isn’t just about being German, it’s because we know that if we forsake the Word of God or change the Word of God, that we lose the blessings that have come to us through Christ. It is wrong to shape Jesus according to our own desires.
We need the Law that convicts, and the Gospel that forgives.
God has given both of them through His Word. It is through the Law that comes the knowledge of our sin, or that we are desperately in both body and soul, and that we shall die if we continue following our heart. But the Gospel tells us that Jesus picked up our sinful hearts and washed them clean by his blood, that we might have life and have it to the fullest.
We also hold fast to what it teaches about history.
We cannot deny what was in Genesis about the creation of the world, and then assume there will be no issue believing in the resurrection.
Identifying False Prophets
First, you must know the Word.
If you are going to identify the false words, you need to know what is genuine. Some will come quoting the scriptures just as satan did to Christ in the Wilderness, and you must know the word to be able to tell the difference.
Second, look at their works.
Do they adorn their lives with works that befit the Scriptures, this is not to say they are perfect, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but do they recognize their sins, do they repent, and do they flee from them or do they embrace them, live in them, and encourage others to do the same.
Third, does their message sound like the world.
If their message sounds like what you are hearing on TV, or in movies, if they sound like your favorite political party, you should do some digging. For the Scriptures say, Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
So my brothers and sisters in Christ, be on guard against false prophets, and wolves who wear sheep's clothing for they come to deceive and destroy. They will lead you away from the Word of God. So you cling to the Word above all else, there are times when it will taste bitter as the Word reveals your sinfulness, but wait for the Gospel will follow not long after, and restore you to life. Do not listen to those who encourage you to follow your heart, rather fix your eyes on Jesus in whom we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing. In Jesus name. Amen.