False Prophets on SermonAudio

From Israel to China, from Trump to Talarico, here's a sample of stories from the first quarter hour of this week's News Round-Up & Comment: --5 Israeli's were wounded, including 2 in critical condition, after two terrorists opened fire at a checkpoint at Judea Junction. That's near the Palestinian controlled city of Hebron. --16 people were killed and homes were destroyed after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit China's Tibet region last evening. --A ruptured chemical tank in Ohio billowed a white plume into the air for hours Wednesday, forcing hundreds of residents out of their homes due to fears of toxic release and the possibility of another explosion. --First Lady Melania Trump has successfully negotiated a temporary cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine to allow humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations in the Russian occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky. --Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed, in principle, to resume U.S. mediated peace negotiations with Ukraine next month. --Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he is open to freezing the front lines of the war with Russia in an effort to bring the long running conflict to an end. --Federal prosecutors are planning to use DNA evidence to try and prove that Representative Ilhan Omar committed immigration fraud as part of the sprawling investigation into the congresswoman. --The federal search warrant against Ilhad Omar lists her under a different name which indicates that the Justice Department believes she's present in the U.S. under a false identity. --A winery co-owned by Omar's husband was shut down amid the fraud claims according to House Oversight Committee Chairman

This sermon explores the pastoral letter Jeremiah sends to the exiles in Babylon, emphasizing that their displacement is the sovereign hand of God rather than mere historical accident. The central instruction is to settle into their circumstances by building homes, planting gardens, and seeking the welfare of the Babylonian city, thereby rejecting rebellion and embracing a life of obedience in a hostile culture. The text warns against false prophets who promise immediate return, urging believers to test spirits and rely on God's true word rather than charismatic lies. By connecting this exilic experience to the New Testament concept of Christians as sojourners, the message highlights the call to live as a new creation people who bring peace and hope to the world around them. Ultimately, the sermon encourages trust in God's appointed timeline, affirming that His promises are sure and that waiting upon Him in faithfulness leads to a future filled with divine purpose and restoration.

The sermon explores the prophetic narrative in Hosea 2, where God pursues, betroths, and ultimately marries His unfaithful bride, Israel, as a typology for the church. It outlines three stages of this divine relationship: the initial alluring of the people through comfort and restoration, the formal betrothal based on God's righteousness, justice, lovingkindness, and mercy, and the final consummation at the Second Coming. The preacher emphasizes that this covenant is not merely historical but is currently fulfilled in the lives of believers who are being sanctified by the Word of God. The message contrasts the temporary nature of false idols with the eternal, unbreakable bond of Christ's love, urging the congregation to view their present worship as the preparation for the eternal marriage supper of the Lamb.

In this message I want us to think together about how Elijah went about to do this; how he confronted Ahab with the evil that he was doing. 1st of all – He straightforwardly showed Ahab that he and his fathers were responsible for all of the trouble in Israel. 2nd – He straightforwardly presented the case to Ahab and all the people that Baal was a false god. And 3rd – He straightforwardly proved to the people that only God is God by calling down fire from heaven. Let us see if we can learn from this marvelous demonstration of the power of God, how we might better learn how to confront evil in our society and generation as well.

This sermon examines Deuteronomy 12 and 13, emphasizing the command for Israel to destroy pagan worship sites and establish centralized worship at the place chosen by the Lord. The central theme is the exclusivity of God's claim on His people, illustrated by the repeated phrase "the Lord your God," which highlights a personal and possessive relationship rather than a distant deity. The text warns against the human tendency to drift into idolatry or follow false prophets, even if they perform signs, by illustrating the severe consequences of turning away from the true God. The preacher connects these Old Testament laws to the New Testament reality of Christ's ultimate sacrifice, noting that the blood of sacrifices foreshadowed the atonement for sin. Ultimately, the message calls for a life of reverent obedience, where believers guard their hearts against sin and rejoice in the grace and holiness of the one true God.

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through [b]the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) [c]withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time."

This sermon explores the narrative of the young prophet in 1 Kings 13 to illustrate the principle that spiritual accountability is determined by the amount of divine revelation one has received. The preacher argues that the young prophet's severe judgment, despite his sin appearing less egregious than that of King Jeroboam or the older prophet, highlights that disobeying direct commands from God carries the highest weight. By connecting this account to Galatians 1:8, the message emphasizes that no messenger, however authoritative or convincing, can override the clear instruction of Scripture. The tone is convicting and instructional, urging believers to recognize their high responsibility to obey God's Word rather than relying on human counsel or personal feelings. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a life of active obedience, warning that those who have heard the truth are held to a stricter standard than those who have not.

John writes to a church under pressure from false teaching. Do not believe every spirit. Test them. Many false prophets have gone out. The test is clear: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. Every spirit that denies this is of the Antichrist. The church is not defined by walls. It is defined by souls God has joined together. It will always face attack, but it will not be overcome — because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. We test by Scripture. We hold fast what is good. We watch over one another in love. We do not need a new revelation. We need the old, sure Word — and the Spirit who confirms it.