“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who steal My words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets,” says the Lord, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’ Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says the Lord, “and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:30-32)

Stealing The Word Of God

Truth is older than error, and false teachers have existed since the beginning of time. Satan is the father of lies and the greatest thief of God’s word. The world in the days of Noah was destroyed because the hearts of men believed the lie more than the Creator. Israel was warned not to trifle with the word of God to add or take away from its holy commandments. They were destroyed when they began to be like the nations around them. Rejecting the word of God, the Jews followed after false gods promoted by false prophets. As Israel sank further into the mire of apostasy, men like Jeremiah warned of the consequences of neglecting the commandments of the Lord.

Jeremiah spoke the word of the Lord in truth, but many prophets tickled the ears of the people. Through deception and deceit, the prophets stole the pure word of God from the hearts of the people, leading them to believe in themselves. Apostasy comes from denying the word of God. The prophets stole messages from others, claiming they had divine revelation. Jeremiah calls them smooth-tongued prophets, falsely claiming what they said was from the Lord. Their flagrant lies led the people of God into sin and destruction. As a result of false prophets, Israel was destroyed. God would not tolerate a people who turned away from His words to heed the doctrines of men.

Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God on earth which was accomplished on the Day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem. The twelve apostles preached a sermon of repentance to a crowd of devout Jews who were convicted that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, the Son of God. In response, three thousand people were baptized and had their sins washed away in the blood of Jesus. Luke writes that the Lord added those who were saved to the church. The church of Christ began to grow and prosper under the teachings of the apostles, who were led by the Holy Spirit. Congregations of New Testament saints began establishing themselves throughout the Roman Empire until Paul wrote to the church at Colosse the church that the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven.

The Holy Spirit began to warn the early disciples of a coming apostasy. Men began to have itching ears to heed the doctrines of men rather than the teachings of God. In the past two thousand years, doctrines differing from the word of God have turned souls away from the truth and seen the creation of many churches that are not found in the New Testament. False preachers and teachers have stolen the word of God away from the hearts of the people, leading them into the path of apostasy. Many believe in false doctrines because of the glitter and entertainment of men and women preaching a foreign gospel that God never approved.

Like in the days of Jeremiah, the Lord is against those who preach a perverted gospel, who steal the words of God for their personal gain. Many smooth-tongued preachers convince the people they are preaching from the Bible. God is against them as they lie to the people and lead people into perdition. As in the days of Jeremiah, the challenge is to test whether the spirits are from God. Everyone can read and understand the Bible. God did not give the world a message they could not understand. If there is religious division, it is not a creation of God but man. There is only one book of divine knowledge, one church, one Savior, one Lord, one faith, one path to eternal life, and one hope found in Jesus Christ. Read the Bible. Learn the one truth from the one and only Lord God Almighty. Do not allow men to steal your soul from truth and the hope of eternal life.