Date: Saturday, August 20, 2016
Chapters: Jeremiah 41-45
Message: Keeping God’s Moral Standards
Hello My Friend,
The more you read the Bible the more you begin to understand how God works and that many of the calamities we face today are a result of judgments placed on nations who turn their backs on God. A lot of people will discredit, hate, or even deny God exists because they do not agree with what the Bible teaches. Can I tell you that you do not need a Bible to tell you that some things are just wrong? Sadly, the wrong things are such a norm that they are seen as good, while the good things are seen as bad, and who are we to question a persons lifestyle when they are within their own moral standards. So, how do they go from being morally good to morally bad? They forgot God.
“For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them; for God hath shewed it
unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of
the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even
his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without
excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him
not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their
imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
- Romans 1:18-21.
I am not the only one that takes a look at the diseases, floods,
and fires destroying life and wonders how much more God will afflict
us before He has had enough. I am also not the only one who wonders
why no one gets it and makes God angrier with their false religions
and corrupt lifestyles, claiming to be Christians. I was looking for
a simple quote yesterday and got all kinds of garbage about
Christians being hypocrites and haters, we are at a war here, and the
real target is those who follow Christ. Now, with Nebuchadnezzar
taking charge of Judah it did not take long for a group of people to
start causing problems. Things were getting out of hand, they were
conspiring against each other and being killed left and right. It all
began with a ruthless man named Ishmael, who not only killed Jews,
but Chaldeans as well who got in his way.
“Now
it came to pass in the seventh month, that
Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal,
and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread
together in Mizpah. Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the
ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the
son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon
had made governor over the land. Ishmael also slew all the Jews
that were with him, even
with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there,
and
the men of war.” - Jeremiah 41:1-3.
“of the seed royal,”
Ishmael, thinking he was
next in line to the throne took it upon himself to eliminate anyone
who got in his way, this is the object of
every person who is against those who are faithful in following
Christ. Now, with everyone in a panic, they want to go to
Egypt, some of the remnant found Jeremiah and asked him to help them
get a hold of God. The people are telling Jeremiah that they want God
to give them direction and they would do whatever He tells them,
Jeremiah prayed to God and ten days later got an answer.
“Then
Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you;
behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words;
and it shall come to pass, that
whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it
unto you; I will keep nothing back from you. And it came to pass
after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah. Then
called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the
forces which were
with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, And
said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye
sent me to present your supplication before him; If ye will
still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you
down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you
up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you. Be
not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not
afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am
with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.”
- Jeremiah 42:2,7-11.
“If ye will still abide
in this land,” We may not always understand God’s
judgments, but He has a reason for why He does what He does, to rebel
against Him only causes our own hurt. Those who actually live their
lives with Christ and seek His will try to follow the moral standards
listed in the Bible, we are not under the law to follow commands
given specifically to the Jews, but we ought to be wise enough to
know that when God called it an abomination for the Jews to do, He
calls it an abomination for the Christians, who are supposed to be
Christlike. We are to love one another, not be judgmental, but make
good judgment, not to be one with them, but be separate.
“Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall
be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” -
II Corinthians 6:17,18.
All you need is an election year to discover just how divided and
cruel people are, including those who call themselves Christians. You
truly know who the faithful are when being told of judgments from God
and how to avoid them. The news that Jeremiah gave to these proud men
did not go so well, they not only rejected God’s blessings, they
rebelled against Him.
“Then
spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and
all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the
LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn
there: But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for
to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us
to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon. So Johanan
the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the
people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of
Judah.” - Jeremiah 43:2-4.
“Thou speakest
falsely:” How many times have you heard something
like this when giving the Gospel or teaching someone the Bible? It is
much easier to call us names and talk against us than actually listen
to what God has to say. All the afflictions, calamities, trials,
deaths, and sorrows we face are a direct result of our sinful nature.
I do not know why through one man God passed down all these evils
onto us, why innocent lives are lost in these battles, or why God
allows such cruel things to happen to people, but I do know that we
bring them upon ourselves. We would not suffer half as much if we
just did what God asks. Christ does not stop us from living life, He
gives us a life that is worth living through God’s standards. If
you are going to suffer affliction for living with Christ, it is
better t do it in the will of God rather than suffer in the world.
“If
ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are
ye; for
the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is
evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none
of you suffer as a murderer, or as
a thief, or as
an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any
man suffer
as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on
this behalf.” - I Peter 4:14-16.
Because of their revolt, not only will they suffer, but everyone
that got pulled into the mess too. God reminds them of their
worshiping false gods, which was the reason He allowed the
destruction of Judah, and that they cannot run, yet, they still did
not listen, this time telling Him that they are in the mess they are
in because they stopped worshiping their gods and turned to Him.
“As
for the
word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will
not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing
goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of
heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done,
we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of
Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then
had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since
we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out
drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things,
and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.”
- Jeremiah 44:16-18.
“for then
had we plenty of victuals,” The typical response to
anyone not really wanting to follow Christ, “Everything was going
great until I came to you.” The truth is, everything was not going
great, and anyone who tells you that their wicked, immoral, profanity
filled life is the greatest is deceiving themselves. We cannot expect
things to change if we remain living sinful lives, and there is a
difference between someone who follows Christ and sins through life’s
daily challenges, like frustration, anger, and worry, and someone who
lives in sin, like adultery, fornication, and drug use. It all comes
with consequence, and effects everyone around us, our only option to
overcome sin is Christ.
“The
sting of death is
sin; and the strength of sin is
the law. But thanks be
to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- I Corinthians 15:56,57.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.” - Jeremiah 42:11. All who put their hand in Christ’s will be safe.
Today's Prayer: God, The world is getting more and more corrupt, we are fighting over things that have no merit, and innocent people are getting caught up in it all. Lord, soften some hearts, help them to let go of their pride, and turn to You. Be with those who are caught up in the middle of this battle, bring them to safety, and let them know You are near and will take care of them. Give us Your power, wisdom, and guidance to go where You tell us to go, help us reach some who are in the midst, and give us Your strength to endure the trials we face. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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