How can we avoid trusting in deceptive words like in Jeremiah 7:4? The Trap of Deceptive Words “Do not trust in deceptive words, chanting, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!’” (Jeremiah 7:4) • Judah’s confidence was in a slogan, not in the God who dwelt among them. • The phrase gave a false sense of security that excused disobedience. • Deceptive words still work the same way today—offering comfort without repentance, blessing without obedience, and religion without relationship. Grounding Ourselves in God’s Unchanging Word • Daily intake of Scripture keeps us anchored. “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) • Examine every message by the Word. “They… examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” (Acts 17:11) • Embrace the whole counsel, not favorite verses. “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16) Pursuing Wholehearted Obedience “For if you really correct your ways and deeds… then I will let you live in this place.” (Jeremiah 7:5-7) • Obedience protects from self-deception. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you deceive yourselves.” (James 1:22) • Practical steps: – Right relationships (justice, honesty, mercy) – Repent quickly when the Spirit convicts – Refuse compartmentalized faith—God wants all of life Cultivating Discernment through the Spirit • The Spirit is the built-in truth detector. “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) • Stay sensitive: confess sin, keep a soft heart. • Pray specifically for discernment whenever you hear teaching, read articles, or scroll social media. Practicing Biblical Tests for Teaching 1. Gospel test—does it exalt Christ’s finished work? (Galatians 1:8-9) 2. Fruit test—look at the messenger’s life. “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-20) 3. Scripture test—does it align with the clear teaching of the Bible? (Acts 17:11) 4. Christological test—does it confess Jesus as the risen Son of God come in the flesh? (1 John 4:1-3) Staying Anchored in Godly Community • “Encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13) • Invite accountability—friends who will lovingly challenge unbiblical ideas. • Sit under sound, expository preaching that walks verse by verse through Scripture (Ephesians 4:11-14). Regular Self-Examination • “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5) • Beware the heart’s tendency to deceive. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” (Jeremiah 17:9) • Ask: Am I resting in rituals, slogans, or social identity instead of a living relationship with Christ? Living Alert in an Age of Myths • Paul warned that people would “turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4) • Holding fast to Scripture, obeying it, depending on the Spirit, and walking with discerning believers keep us from trusting in deceptive words and secure us in the unshakable truth of God. |
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