What steps can we take to ensure our hope aligns with God's true promises? Listening to Jeremiah’s Warning “Then I said to the priests and to all this people, ‘This is what the LORD says: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, ‘Look, very soon now the articles from the LORD’s house will be brought back from Babylon!’ They are prophesying a lie to you.” (Jeremiah 27:16) Spotting False Promises • God’s people were tempted to cling to an easy, immediate return of temple vessels—something God had not promised. • Any message that contradicts God’s revealed word, however optimistic, is a lie. • Compare with Deuteronomy 18:21-22: true prophecy always happens exactly as God states. Anchoring Hope in God’s Word • Measure every hope by Scripture: Psalm 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19. • Check context—Jeremiah had already spoken of seventy years of exile (Jeremiah 25:11); shortening that period would violate God’s explicit timeline. • Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans for testing messages daily against the Scriptures. Trusting God’s Character and Timing • Numbers 23:19—He cannot lie or change His mind. • Lamentations 3:25-26—waiting quietly for His salvation is good. • Romans 8:28—He works all things for the good of those who love Him, even prolonged exile. Practicing Discernment • 1 John 4:1—test the spirits. • James 1:5—ask for wisdom; He gives generously. • John 16:13—the Spirit guides into all truth, never contradicting Scripture. Walking in Obedience While We Wait • Jeremiah 29:7—seek the welfare of the city where God has placed you. • James 1:22—be doers, not hearers only. • 1 Peter 1:13—set your hope fully on the grace to be brought at Christ’s revelation. Summary Steps to Keep Hope on Target 1. Search the Scriptures before embracing any promise. 2. Compare teachings with the whole counsel of God, not isolated verses. 3. Weigh every voice—including our own desires—against God’s unchanging word. 4. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment and wisdom daily. 5. Submit to God’s timing, confident His character guarantees every true promise. |
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