Words of Inspiration - Who told you that?

Social media floods us with self-proclaimed apostles, prophets, and evangelists claiming to speak God's word. Be careful who you listen to. Study God's Word enough to recognize when you're hearing man's words, not God's.

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  Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host, Elgin Kerelock. The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, and learning how to apply it to our daily lives. You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast, and now here's Elgin.

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  Brothers and sisters, I welcome you, in the name of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, to another edition of Words of Inspiration. And today, we're continuing in our journey through the book of Jeremiah with episode 2: Who Told You That? We're examining Jeremiah 23, verses 28 through 29, and reading from the New Living Translation. It reads, "Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain.

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  Does not my word burn like fire, says the Lord? Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?"

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  In Jeremiah's day, false prophets flooded the streets. Today, they flood our screens. Through social media and other platforms, we're constantly being bombarded with those who call themselves apostles and prophets, or even evangelists, and claim to be speaking the Word of God and giving you advice on how to live a victorious life. Instagram prophets, YouTube apostles, TikTok teachers, all claim divine authority for their messages. Some promise health and wealth, others declare personal prophecies for a donation. Many twist Scripture to fit cultural trends or personal agendas.

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  The title sounds spiritual, the language sounds biblical, but something doesn't align with God's Word. We have to be careful who we listen to.

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  Not everyone who uses God's name speaks God's truth. Not everyone with a platform has a calling. Not everyone with spiritual language has spiritual authority. Let us pray. Give us discernment to distinguish between straw and grain, between human dreams and your faith. Help us study your Word deeply enough to recognize false teachings. Make your Word like fire and hammer in our lives, destroying lies and establishing truth. In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen.

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  We must study God's Word enough to recognize when we are hearing the Word of man and not God. This requires more than casual Bible reading. 2 Timothy 2 and 15 instructs, "Work hard, so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed, and who correctly explains the Word of truth."

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  You can't discern false teachings if you don't know true teachings. You can't recognize counterfeits if you're unfamiliar with the original. The Bereans in Acts 17 and 11 searched the Scripture day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. If they tested Paul's teaching against Scripture, how much more should we test modern voices?

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  Here are three tests for any teaching that you hear. Number one, what are their motivations? Jesus warned in Matthew 7 and 15, "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are actually really vicious wolves." Are they building their own kingdoms or gods? Seeking their own glory or his? Enriching themselves or serving others? Follow the money, follow the focus, and follow their fruit. Number two, does it align with God's Word? Isaiah 8 and 20 says,

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  "Look to God's instruction and teachings."

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  People who contradict His Word are completely in the dark. If the message contradicts Scripture, it's false, regardless of how charismatic the messenger or how large their following.

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  And finally, does it reflect Jesus's teaching and the Holy Spirit's character? Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God's character. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ, convicts of sin, and leads into truth.

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  Any prophecy that contradicts Jesus's character or the Spirit's work is counterfeit. Jeremiah adds, "There is a difference between straw and grain." Straw looks substantial, but has no nutritional value. It fills you without feeding you. False teaching may sound impressive, feel encouraging, or appear popular, but it doesn't nourish your soul or transform your life. True teaching is grain. It may be harder to digest, less immediately appealing, but it sustains life and produces growth.

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  It may challenge rather than comfort, confront rather than confirm, but it builds you up in genuine faith. When we do this, God's Word becomes like a hammer that smashes false teachings, so that we may live lives that are pleasing to Him and serve others with the same clarity. Notice, it's not your argument or cleverness that defeats false teachings. It's God's Word itself, wielded properly. Like a hammer smashing rocks, Scripture destroys false doctrine when applied faithfully.

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  The lies that seem solid crumble under the weight of truth. The deception that appeared reasonable shattered when confronted with God's revelation. But this hammer isn't just defensive, it's constructive. As false teaching is smashed, truth is established. As lies are destroyed, you're free to live authentically for God and serve others with clarity rather than confusion. If it fails these tests, it's straw, not grain. It's dreams, not God's Word. It's false prophecy, however spiritual it may sound.

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  Heavenly Father, protect us from false teachers who flood our screens with messages that sound spiritual but contradict Your truth. Give us hunger to study Your Word deeply enough to recognize counterfeits. Help us test every message against Scripture, Jesus's teachings, and the Holy Spirit's character. Make Your Word like fire that burns away deception and like a hammer that smashes false teaching. Help us distinguish between straw and grain, between human dreams and divine truth. Give us clarity to live lives pleasing to you and serving others without confusion.

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  Protect us from being deceived by impressive titles, large followings, or charismatic personalities. Help us follow your word above all other voices. In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen. I thank you for spending time with me on today, and I look forward to our time together on tomorrow. Until then, God bless.

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  The Bible Speaks is sponsored by C Squared Realty and New Gen Construction Group to help spread the gospel to the corners of the earth. If anything you've heard poured into your life, please share it with someone. You can find The Bible Speaks on Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, and many more. Follow us on YouTube at The Bible Speaks Online. You may contact Elgin at PO Box 5582, Ocala, Florida 34478, or by email at [email protected].