How do you know if your pastor is speaking for God?<\/p>\n
A title, a platform, a large following, or even the ability to quote Scripture does not automatically mean someone is faithfully representing God.<\/p>\n
That is the question on RIOT Podcast \u2014 Real Issues. One Truth.<\/strong> \u2014 Episode 302. Pastor Pete, Pastor Bill, and Bob continue through the Book of Micah with one of its strongest warnings about spiritual leadership. Watch the conversation on YouTube<\/a> or on Rumble<\/a>.<\/p>\n Micah Chapter 3 confronts rulers, judges, priests, and prophets who had been entrusted with influence but gradually turned leadership into something that benefited themselves. Justice became distorted. People became resources to use. Money influenced the message. And some leaders continued claiming to speak for God even though they had stopped listening to Him.<\/p>\n That raises a question every Christian needs to consider: How do we know when a pastor, teacher, prophet, or Christian leader is actually speaking according to God\u2019s Word?<\/p>\n Leadership is not simply position or authority. It is stewardship. Whether you are a pastor, parent, business owner, ministry leader, or someone others look up to, greater influence brings greater responsibility.<\/p>\n James writes, \u201cMy brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment\u201d (James 3:1). Jesus said, \u201cFor everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required\u201d (Luke 12:48). Influence is never a free pass. It is a trust.<\/p>\n Micah describes leaders who stopped asking, \u201cHow can I serve these people?\u201d and began asking, \u201cWhat can I get from these people?\u201d<\/p>\n Jesus gives the opposite model: \u201cFor even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many\u201d (Mark 10:45). Real spiritual leadership looks like service, not extraction.<\/p>\n Micah exposes prophets who proclaimed peace when people supported them but changed their message when there was nothing to gain.<\/p>\n A faithful messenger cannot allow money, applause, politics, popularity, or fear of people to determine what God\u2019s Word says. Paul warned Timothy that people would gather teachers to suit their own desires and turn from the truth (2 Timothy 4:3\u20134). The pressure is real. The standard does not change.<\/p>\n Micah gives a sobering warning about leaders who continued claiming spiritual authority while becoming increasingly insensitive to God\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n Intimacy with God must always come before ministry for God. Jesus said, \u201cNot everyone who says to Me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven\u201d (Matthew 7:21). Religious activity can keep moving after the heart has drifted.<\/p>\n Micah gives the contrast in Micah 3:8: \u201cBut truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.\u201d<\/p>\n Micah was not powerful because of personality, education, platform, or position. He was surrendered to the Spirit of God. Zechariah says it plainly: \u201c\u2018Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,\u2019 says the Lord of hosts\u201d (Zechariah 4:6). Jesus told His disciples, \u201cBut you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you\u201d (Acts 1:8).<\/p>\n Real spiritual influence does not come from becoming more impressive. It comes from becoming more surrendered.<\/p>\n The people believed that because the temple was in Jerusalem, God must still be with them. Micah exposes the danger of confusing proximity to God with intimacy with God.<\/p>\n Jeremiah warned the same false confidence: \u201cDo not trust in these lying words, saying, \u2018The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these\u2019\u201d (Jeremiah 7:4). We can attend church, know Scripture, serve in ministry, and speak Christian language while still allowing our hearts to drift from Him.<\/p>\n What is leading me?<\/p>\n Money? Power? Recognition? Popularity? Personal benefit? Or the Spirit of God?<\/p>\n Micah 3 is not only a warning for pastors and church leaders. It is a challenge for anyone who has influence over another person\u2019s life. Before we speak for God, lead for God, or attempt to accomplish something for God, we must first learn to listen to Him.<\/p>\n Jesus asked, \u201cFor what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?\u201d (Mark 8:36). That question still lands.<\/p>\n RIOT Podcast is hosted by Pastor Pete, Pastor Bill, and Bob. New episodes drop on Thursdays. Know Jesus. Love His people. Live it out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How do you know if your pastor is speaking for God? A title, a platform, a large following, or even the ability to quote Scripture does not automatically mean someone is faithfully representing God. That is the question on RIOT Podcast \u2014 Real Issues. One Truth. \u2014 Episode 302. Pastor Pete, Pastor Bill, and Bob […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3335,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[60,8,15,14,67,12,9,11,7,13,5,18,61],"class_list":["post-3334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian-podcast","tag-apple-podcast","tag-best-christian-podcast","tag-christian-android-podcast","tag-christian-apple-podcast","tag-christian-discipleship-podcast","tag-christian-podcast-about-marriage","tag-christian-podcast-for-men","tag-christian-podcast-on-spotify","tag-encouragement","tag-funny-christian-podcast","tag-righteous-invasion-of-truth","tag-riot-podcast","tag-the-riot-podcast"],"acf":{"photo":"","about_podcast":" How do you know if your pastor is speaking for God?<\/p>\r\n A title, a platform, a large following, or even the ability to quote Scripture does not automatically mean someone is faithfully representing God.<\/p>\r\n That is the question on RIOT Podcast \u2014 Real Issues. One Truth.<\/strong> \u2014 Episode 302. Pastor Pete, Pastor Bill, and Bob continue through the Book of Micah with one of its strongest warnings about spiritual leadership. Watch the conversation on YouTube<\/a> or on Rumble<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n Micah Chapter 3 confronts rulers, judges, priests, and prophets who had been entrusted with influence but gradually turned leadership into something that benefited themselves. Justice became distorted. People became resources to use. Money influenced the message. And some leaders continued claiming to speak for God even though they had stopped listening to Him.<\/p>\r\n That raises a question every Christian needs to consider: How do we know when a pastor, teacher, prophet, or Christian leader is actually speaking according to God\u2019s Word?<\/p>\r\n Leadership is not simply position or authority. It is stewardship. Whether you are a pastor, parent, business owner, ministry leader, or someone others look up to, greater influence brings greater responsibility.<\/p>\r\n James writes, \u201cMy brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment\u201d (James 3:1). Jesus said, \u201cFor everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required\u201d (Luke 12:48). Influence is never a free pass. It is a trust.<\/p>\r\n Micah describes leaders who stopped asking, \u201cHow can I serve these people?\u201d and began asking, \u201cWhat can I get from these people?\u201d<\/p>\r\n Jesus gives the opposite model: \u201cFor even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many\u201d (Mark 10:45). Real spiritual leadership looks like service, not extraction.<\/p>\r\n Micah exposes prophets who proclaimed peace when people supported them but changed their message when there was nothing to gain.<\/p>\r\n A faithful messenger cannot allow money, applause, politics, popularity, or fear of people to determine what God\u2019s Word says. Paul warned Timothy that people would gather teachers to suit their own desires and turn from the truth (2 Timothy 4:3\u20134). The pressure is real. The standard does not change.<\/p>\r\n Micah gives a sobering warning about leaders who continued claiming spiritual authority while becoming increasingly insensitive to God\u2019s voice.<\/p>\r\n Intimacy with God must always come before ministry for God. Jesus said, \u201cNot everyone who says to Me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven\u201d (Matthew 7:21). Religious activity can keep moving after the heart has drifted.<\/p>\r\n Micah gives the contrast in Micah 3:8: \u201cBut truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Micah was not powerful because of personality, education, platform, or position. He was surrendered to the Spirit of God. Zechariah says it plainly: \u201c\u2018Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,\u2019 says the Lord of hosts\u201d (Zechariah 4:6). Jesus told His disciples, \u201cBut you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you\u201d (Acts 1:8).<\/p>\r\n Real spiritual influence does not come from becoming more impressive. It comes from becoming more surrendered.<\/p>\r\n The people believed that because the temple was in Jerusalem, God must still be with them. Micah exposes the danger of confusing proximity to God with intimacy with God.<\/p>\r\n Jeremiah warned the same false confidence: \u201cDo not trust in these lying words, saying, \u2018The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these\u2019\u201d (Jeremiah 7:4). We can attend church, know Scripture, serve in ministry, and speak Christian language while still allowing our hearts to drift from Him.<\/p>\r\n What is leading me?<\/p>\r\n Money? Power? Recognition? Popularity? Personal benefit? Or the Spirit of God?<\/p>\r\n Micah 3 is not only a warning for pastors and church leaders. It is a challenge for anyone who has influence over another person\u2019s life. Before we speak for God, lead for God, or attempt to accomplish something for God, we must first learn to listen to Him.<\/p>\r\n Jesus asked, \u201cFor what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?\u201d (Mark 8:36). That question still lands.<\/p>\r\n RIOT Podcast is hosted by Pastor Pete, Pastor Bill, and Bob. New episodes drop on Thursdays. Know Jesus. Love His people. Live it out.<\/p>\r\n","content":" Thanks for listening and don't forget to:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Follow us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\r\n Follow us on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\r\n Follow us on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\r\n Subscribe to our Youtube Channel<\/a><\/p>\r\n Follow us on Rumble<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMicah 3 confronts leaders who stopped listening<\/h2>\n
Why God holds leaders to a higher standard<\/h2>\n
When leadership becomes exploitation<\/h2>\n
Can money, popularity, or politics change the message?<\/h2>\n
Intimacy with God must come before ministry for God<\/h2>\n
Where does genuine spiritual power come from?<\/h2>\n
False security: proximity is not intimacy<\/h2>\n
The question Micah 3 leaves with us<\/h2>\n
How to listen this week<\/h2>\n
\n
Micah 3 confronts leaders who stopped listening<\/h2>\r\n
Why God holds leaders to a higher standard<\/h2>\r\n
When leadership becomes exploitation<\/h2>\r\n
Can money, popularity, or politics change the message?<\/h2>\r\n
Intimacy with God must come before ministry for God<\/h2>\r\n
Where does genuine spiritual power come from?<\/h2>\r\n
False security: proximity is not intimacy<\/h2>\r\n
The question Micah 3 leaves with us<\/h2>\r\n
How to listen this week<\/h2>\r\n
\r\n