Can you discern the one who carries the Word?

Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship, Scotland on
27th August 2006

How do you discern who is speaking the word of God today?

Trusting in Man’s word

Trusting in God’s word

Ps 118:8

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Jeremiah 17:5-11

Jer 17:5 thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.
6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; who can know it?
10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
11 “As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, so is he who gets riches, but not by right; it will leave him in the midst of his days, and at his end he will be a fool.”

He who trusts in man

He who makes flesh his strength

He whose heart departs from the Lord

• He shall be like a shrub in the desert
• He shall not see when good comes
• He shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness
• In a salt land that is not inhabited

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord

Blessed is the man whose hope is in the Lord

• He shall be like a tree planted by the waters
• He shall be like a tree which spreads out its roots by the river
• He shall be like a tree which does not fear when heat comes
• He shall be like a tree whose leaves are green
• He shall be like a tree who is not anxious in the year of drought
• He shall be like a tree who will not cease from yielding fruit

How important it is to make sure you are trusting, and hoping in Him.

In order to set you thinking on this important issue let us look at two passages.

First

Jeremiah 28:1-17

Jer 28:1 And it happened in the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3 'Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
4 'And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD, 'for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'"
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the LORD,
6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! The LORD do so; the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD'S house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.
7 "Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
8 "The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms-of war and disaster and pestilence.
9 "As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent."
10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it.
11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'" And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.
12 Now the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, 'thus says the LORD: "You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron."
14 'for thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also."'"
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
16 "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.'"
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

You are in the crowd that day.

Who are you going to side with?

Haniniah or Jeremiah?

Two prophets proclaiming the word of the Lord

Two sets of words which both claim to be the Word of God

Notice this was done in the presence of the Priests and of all the people! It was a public event.

Let’s see what can be drawn out of this passage.

Haniniah claims that God says:

• V2 I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon
• V3 Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
• V4 'And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD,
• V4 'For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'


Jeremiahs says:

• V6 "Amen! The LORD do so; [interesting that Jeremiah does not silence the prophet, or criticise him] the LORD perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the LORD'S house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place. [Amen! Haniniah]
• V7 "Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
• V 8 "The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms-of war and disaster and pestilence. [notice Jeremiah reminds the people of the historical words that have already been spoken]
• V 9 "As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent."

Haniniah Says:

• V 10Two years and we are going home.


Haniniah takes the wooden yoke that Jeremiah had on his shoulders and breaks it.

V11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, "Thus says the LORD: 'Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.'"

• Jeremiah just walks off and leaves him to it.

• Later Jeremiah hears the Lord saying to him


V13 "Go and tell Hananiah, saying, 'thus says the LORD: "You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron."
14 'For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also."'"
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
16 "Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.'"
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

The Lord says:

V15 Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, but you make this people to trust in a lie.

Can you see what Jeremiah is doing?

• He refers the people back to what God has already said to His people
Can you see what Haniniah is doing?

• His point of reference is ‘what he is saying’

Today you will find men and women who appear saying ‘thus saith the Lord’

I have the word of the Lord, I have this word!

Their point of reference is themselves. They prophecy out of their own heart

Jeremiah’s point of reference is what God has been saying to his people already.

In fact Jeremiah will go on to give the people more detail saying

Build houses, plant vineyards, take wives for your sons and wives for their sons, settle down you are going to be hear for seventy years!

Some of my friends I hear cry, ‘I have the witness of the Holy Spirit and that is enough for me’

Well it’s just not enough.

Jesus had the witness of the Father and the witness of the Spirit, and the witness of the water and the blood

2 Chronicles 20:20b

Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."

• Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established
• Believe in His prophets, and you shall prosper

You have believed

You have been established

How?

By believing

Do you want to go on and prosper as a believing, established Son of God?

Then believe His prophets!



Amos tells us

Am 3:7 surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets.

Paul tells us how desirable it is to hear the prophetic voice and to bring it forth.

2 Corinthians 14: 1

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

• Pursue love
• Desire Spiritual gifts
• But especially that you may prophesy

Why desire prophecy, Paul?

V 3 but he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

• Edifies
• Exhorts
• Comforts

Men!

Look at V4

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Prophecy edifies the Church

That is why Paul exhorts us to

• Desire prophecy

It is in order that men will be

• Edified
• Exhorted
• Comforted

In the Church!

Look at V12

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

Paul says in Romans 14:19

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Can I suggest one thing that you mighty like to pursue?

Prophecy


Now our second passage which is found in Acts:

Acts 21:8-14

Ac 21:8 on the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."

V10 Agabus is a prophet of God. Acts 11:28 He has recognition in the church.

He takes Paul’s belt and bound his own hands and feet, and said

Thus says the Holy Spirit. So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

Now when we, [notice the word ‘We’ this means that the author of the book of acts was in the crown that day] heard these things both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem!

Don‘t go Paul!

What do you mean breaking my heart!

For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus

Paul has the attitude that compelled Jesus to set his heart towards Jerusalem.

You see brothers and sisters there comes a moment in every one of your lives when you must be willing to die at your Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

If it brings to you bonds and afflictions then so be it, but you have set your heart on pilgrimage, and your own Jerusalem in the Lord Jesus.

The whole church and some of the leadership were against Paul going up to his Jerusalem and they tried to compel him not to go.

Paul was determined!

How determined are you to meet your bonds and afflictions which await you at Jerusalem?

More importantly when all the voices come to you who claim God’s author ship

Can you discern the one who carries the Word of the Lord?

Jeremiah looked back to what God had said previously, he was able to know the genuine word of the lord because he referred to a source out side of him self; The historical revelation of Gods people. The word of the Lord Jesus was not self sourced in Jeremiah, but confirmed by what God had already been doing in history.

But what about Paul, how does he keep his focus, in the midst of a leader like Luke, and the whole church trying to persuade him other wise?

How does Paul keep his heart set on Jerusalem?

Look at Acts 20:17-35

Ac 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,
19 "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me
24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 "For I know this that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock
30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel
34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 "I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Look at Verse 22 and 23




Acts 20:22-23.

Ac 20:22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me

Every where Paul went in his daily travels in his care for the church, he had confirmation of the word in his heart by the Holy Spirit.

He did not know what would happen to him at Jerusalem, and neither do you in your Jerusalem!

Paul is bound in the spirit of God to go, he cannot go anywhere else, he is bound to the spirit of God!

Jeremiah looks back to test the prophetic word that is being spoken today! What has God always been doing?

I’ll tell you!

He is calling his people to keep on their pilgrimage to their Jerusalem!

Paul knows and keeps his focus on his Jerusalem by looking back to what the Holy Spirit is testifying to him in every city!

Would you believe it? God is consistent!

He is still doing the same thing today.

When the true prophet speaks there will be an exhortation to you to set your heart on pilgrimage, and set your heat to go up to Jerusalem

I feel this in my heart; I just know that this word is from the Lord.

That’s too dangerous! Adam tried to be God like! You are not God!

Only God can be self sourcing.

We as human benign need the testifying of the Historical Word, the Holy Spirit, and the Body of Christ to keep us form being deceived by the false prophets.

You need to read it in the word, by the spirit!

You need to hear it in your heart, by the Spirit!

You need to hear it from your fellow brothers and sisters in the body.

These will stop you trying to be a God.

I feel this in my heart; I just know that this word is from the Lord.

Haniniah just self sourced himself, tried to break the yoke of God’s prophet!

You can’t do it.

Let the Word the Spirit and the Body of Christ The church keep you in your call to press on to your Jerusalem


All prophecy is God breathed, and it lines up with what the Holy Word of God the Bible already contains. The Spirit witnesses to it, and the church in the end has to come around and say

14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."


Amen! Press on brothers!