How can we ensure our spiritual leaders align with Jeremiah 23:18's guidance? Anchoring in the Text “ For who has stood in the council of the LORD to see and hear His word? Who has paid attention to His word and obeyed? ” (Jeremiah 23:18) Jeremiah rebukes prophets who ran without being sent and spoke without hearing. The verse calls every spiritual leader to (1) stand in the LORD’s council, (2) see and hear His word, (3) pay close attention, and (4) obey. Everything below flows from those four mandates. Marks of a Leader Who Truly “Stands in the Council of the LORD” • Saturated in Scripture – Ezra 7:10: “Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD and to do it.” – 2 Timothy 2:15: handles the word “accurately.” • Evidences a life of prayer and dependence – Acts 6:4: “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” – Colossians 4:12: laboring “earnestly in prayers” for the flock. • Walks in obedience before teaching obedience – 1 Timothy 4:16: “Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching.” – James 1:22: not merely a hearer but a doer. • Displays godly character that matches biblical qualifications – 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9. – Not perfection, but observable patterns of holiness. • Speaks what God has actually said, not what people wish to hear – 2 Timothy 4:2-4: preach “in season and out of season,” refusing ear-tickling messages. – Acts 20:27: declares “the whole counsel of God.” Practical Steps for the Congregation • Know the Word yourself (Acts 17:11). A Bible-literate church is the best protection against deception. • Evaluate teaching against Scripture, not charisma or credentials (1 John 4:1). • Observe lifestyle: humility, transparency, repentance when wrong (Hebrews 13:7). • Expect doctrinal clarity on core truths: the authority of Scripture, the gospel of grace, the deity of Christ (Galatians 1:8-9). • Listen for God-exalting, Christ-centered emphasis rather than self-promotion (2 Corinthians 4:5). • Encourage plurality of elders; shared leadership reduces the risk of one voice going unchecked (Proverbs 11:14). Structural Safeguards Churches Can Build • Public, regular reading of Scripture (1 Timothy 4:13). • Transparent financial and moral accountability policies. • Mandatory rest and sabbatical rhythms to guard leaders from burnout. • Ongoing theological training and peer review of sermons. • A membership process that teaches these expectations up front. Personal Discernment and Accountability • Pray for your leaders daily (Ephesians 6:19). They must stand in the council of the LORD before they stand before people. • Practice Matthew 18 lovingly when concerns arise. • Refuse gossip; address issues directly and biblically. • Stay teachable yourself. A critical spirit can blind just as surely as undiscerning admiration. Encouragement to Leaders • Your highest qualification is time spent in God’s presence; guard it. • Let the text shape the message; let the message shape your life; let your life illustrate the text. • Remember Hebrews 13:17—you will give an account. • Delight that God’s council is open to all who draw near through Christ (Hebrews 4:16). By rooting leadership evaluation in Jeremiah 23:18’s fourfold pattern—standing, seeing, hearing, and obeying—we keep the church aligned with God’s heart and protected from voices that run but are not sent. |
    |