How can we discern true messages from God in today's context? Setting the Scene: Jeremiah 23:38 “ ‘But if you claim, “This is the burden of the LORD,” then this is what the LORD says: Because you say, “This is the burden of the LORD,” and I have sent to you saying, “You must not say, ‘This is the burden of the LORD,’ ”’ ” (Jeremiah 23:38) False prophets in Jeremiah’s day slapped God’s name onto their own ideas. The Lord’s rebuke shows that any true word from Him must meet unmistakable standards. Those same standards guide us today. The Unchanging Foundation: God’s Written Word • Psalm 119:89 — “Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.” • Isaiah 8:20 — “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no dawn.” Principle: God never contradicts Himself. Any message—dream, impression, prophecy, teaching—must square perfectly with Scripture. If it departs from the Bible, it’s counterfeit. Christ-Centered Alignment • John 10:27 — “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” • Colossians 1:18 — “He is the head of the body, the church.” Principle: The authentic voice of God always exalts Jesus’ lordship, draws us to follow Him, and glorifies Him rather than the messenger. The Gospel Test • Galatians 1:8 — “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!” Principle: Any revelation that alters or adds to the finished work of Christ, the sufficiency of grace, or the call to repent and believe is immediately ruled out. The Holy Spirit’s Inner Witness • Romans 8:16 — “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Principle: When the Spirit speaks, He brings genuine peace, conviction, and clarity, not confusion or coercion (1 Corinthians 14:33). The Fruit Inspection • Matthew 7:16 — “By their fruit you will recognize them.” Look for: – Consistent holiness in the messenger – Humility, not self-promotion – Lasting, Spirit-produced fruit in listeners (love, joy, peace, etc. — Galatians 5:22-23) The Confirming Fellowship of Believers • Proverbs 11:14 — “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” • Acts 17:11 — The Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were true.” Principle: God often uses mature, Bible-anchored believers to affirm or correct what we think we’ve heard. Providential Consistency • Revelation 3:7 — Christ “opens and no one will shut, and shuts and no one opens.” Principle: Doors God opens align with His word and His timing; forced or manipulative shortcuts expose human schemes. Practical Discernment Checklist 1. Compare the message, word-for-word if possible, with clear biblical teaching. 2. Ask: Does this magnify Jesus Christ and His gospel? 3. Examine the messenger’s life and fruit. 4. Seek confirmation from trusted, Scripture-saturated believers. 5. Watch for the Spirit’s inner assurance and for confirming circumstances God alone can arrange. Walking Forward in Confidence Jeremiah’s audience heard empty claims, “This is the burden of the LORD,” and God denounced them. Today, we anchor every claimed revelation to the unchanging Scriptures, the character of Christ, and the Spirit’s witness. When those plumb lines agree, we can move ahead boldly, assured we are not mistaking human words for the voice of the Living God. |
    |