Sermon text: Jeremiah 23:16-29 Preacher: Olaf Latzel / Ev. St. Martini Congregation Bremen (Schlachte) Homepage: https://st-martini.net/ Mp3 download: https://st-martini.net/audio/2024/202... St. Martini Congregation Donation account: Bank: NORD/LB IBAN: DE04 2505 0000 1070 1400 09 BIC: NOLADE2HXXX Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you! They deceive you, for they tell you visions from their own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord. They say to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It will be well with you,’ and to all who walk in their own stubborn hearts they say, ‘No evil will come upon you.’ But who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, to see and hear his word? Who has listened to his word? Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD is coming in wrath, and a terrible tempest is coming on the head of the wicked. And the anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has done and accomplished what he has in his mind; and you will know it in the last days. I did not send the prophets, but they ran; I did not speak to them, but they prophesied. For if they had stood in my counsel, they would have spoken my words to my people, to turn them from their evil way and from their evil deeds. Am I a God who is near? says the LORD? And not a God who is far off? Can you think that anyone can hide himself so secretly that I cannot see him? says the LORD? Am I not he who fills heaven and earth? says the LORD. I hear the prophets who prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. When will the prophets cease to prophesy lies and prophesy the deceit of their own heart, and make my people forget my name by their dreams which they tell one another, as their fathers forgot my name by Baal? Let the prophet who dreams tell dreams, but he who has my word let him speak my word truthfully. How can straw and wheat be reconciled? says the Lord. Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:16-29) Six characteristics of false prophets 1st characteristic: They are not commissioned by the Lord I did not send the prophets, yet they run; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesy. (Jeremiah 23:21) 2nd characteristic: They abandon the word of the Lord as their sole source Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, for they deceive you; for they tell you visions from their heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:16) 3rd characteristic: They preach a prosperity gospel They say to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It will be well with you’; and to all who walk in the stubbornness of their own heart they say, ‘No evil will come upon you.’ (Jeremiah 23:17) 4th characteristic: They make the name of the Lord forgotten Do they want my people to forget my name because of the dreams they tell one another, as their fathers forgot my name because of Baal? (Jeremiah 23:27) 5th characteristic: They do not call for repentance For if they had stood in my council, they would have preached my words to my people, to turn them from their evil way and from their evil deeds. (Jeremiah 23:22) 6th characteristic: They proclaim their own dreams and feelings Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, for they deceive you, for they tell you visions from their own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:16) Homework: Monday: Psalm 1:1-6 Tuesday: Matthew 23:1-38 Wednesday: 2 Chronicles 18:1-34 Thursday: Philippians 3:1-21 Friday: Ezekiel 34:1-31 Saturday: 2 John 1:1-13 May the Lord God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless you and keep you! Streaming of church services, devotions and Bible studies: Information about GEMA & VG Musik under the following link: https://www.ekd.de/informationen-zur-... © This YouTube channel is operated by the Evangelical St. Martini Congregation (Martinikirchhof 3, 28195 Bremen).