The Bible warns against false preachers and teachers who distort the message of the Gospel. In Jeremiah 23:21, God declares, “I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.” Preachers who are not sent by God may take on the role of spiritual leaders, but their message does not originate from God. Instead, they preach their own ideas, personal opinions, or culturally popular themes that lack the truth of God’s Word.
One hallmark of preachers who are not sent by God is their focus on worldly desires rather than spiritual truth. They appeal to people’s desires for wealth, health, success, or comfort, often promoting a “prosperity gospel” that promises blessings without repentance or submission to God. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul warns, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” These preachers prioritize popularity over truth, leading their congregations astray.
Preachers not sent by God often fail to preach about sin, repentance, and salvation through Jesus Christ. Instead of addressing the heart of the Gospel, they offer motivational speeches, self-help advice, or vague spiritual concepts. Their messages lack the power of conviction because they avoid the uncomfortable truths that are essential for salvation. Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of repentance, saying, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:5). A preacher who does not confront sin cannot guide people to genuine salvation.
Another sign of preachers not sent by God is their lack of a transformed life. A true preacher of the Gospel must live a life of obedience, humility, and submission to God. However, false preachers are often driven by selfish ambition, greed, or a desire for recognition. In Matthew 7:15-16, Jesus warned, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” Their lives and ministries bear the fruit of pride, dishonesty, or immorality, exposing their lack of genuine calling.
A clear example of preachers not sent by God can be seen in the story of the Pharisees during Jesus’ time. These religious leaders had knowledge of Scripture but lacked a true relationship with God. They burdened people with legalistic rules and sought personal power rather than leading others to God’s grace. Jesus rebuked them in Matthew 23:13, saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
The danger of preachers not sent by God is that they deceive many, leading them away from the truth. Their followers often remain unrepentant, spiritually dead, and unaware of their need for salvation. In Matthew 15:14, Jesus said of the Pharisees, “Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Similarly, false preachers today lead people into spiritual ruin by neglecting the true Gospel.
In contrast, preachers sent by God faithfully proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. They preach the truth of God’s Word, even when it is unpopular or difficult to hear. Their lives demonstrate humility, brokenness, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:14-15 emphasizes the importance of God-sent preachers: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are SENT?”
True salvation requires hearing the Gospel from preachers sent by God, who faithfully proclaim repentance, grace, and the lordship of Jesus Christ.
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