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Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #34~Stand Strong in the Storm

11/30/2016

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Jeremiah 26 the message of Jeremiah was not simply you are sinners and need to repent; the message included God’s deep desire to demonstrate mercy; repentance and humility and dependence upon God’s grace would mean the people escape God’s judgment. If the people did not obey God; their capitol would be destroyed, the temple demolished, and the people displaced. Shiloh was the place where the Tabernacle was located and where the people worshipped the Lord (see Joshua 18:1); but the Philistines were allowed to destroy it around 1050 B.C. The people of Jeremiah’s day were welcome to see the evidence of that destruction. Jeremiah uses Shiloh as an illustration of the coming judgment on Jerusalem and the Temple. After Judgment fell the Temple would be an object lesson for the watching and wondering world. The lessons of judgment are lost on the world. We are familiar with the statement that those who will not learn from history are destined to repeat it. Eve was tempted to believe that God’s statement “you shall surely die” was not really true. Humanity is tempted to believe the flood never happened. Sodom and Gomorrah were not really destroyed by fire from heaven.
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Those who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. We will be singled out for ridicule, or ignored, or discriminated against or abused or killed. Few people desire their sins, their mistakes, their shortcomings exposed. Most people are unwilling to hear God’s demands for righteousness. “Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (Matt.5:11). Christians face torture, intimidation, and even death. Christians all over the world face severe hostility and deprivation of justice. Christians are denied an education, barred from all but the most menial labor; and told by corrupt officials to pay impossible fines. They are charged with crimes; denied building permits and forbidden opportunities to meet. Ronald Boyd-MacMillan has written; “The meaning of life does not consist in what we make of it, but in what God makes of it.” Sometimes weakness is a direct path to power and sometimes overcoming is greater than deliverance. Sometimes extreme hurt requires extreme forgiveness. In Jeremiah’s life he will go through several stages of persecution; opposition, personal slander, injustice (discrimination); mistreatment. How will Jeremiah stand strong in the storm? How will you?

Action Step: To find your purpose you must find what your weakness is and then find your strength to persevere in the strength of Christ rather than your own.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) "9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

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Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #33~Repent or Perish

11/29/2016

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We have been studying Jeremiah’s prophecies for some time now and I believe for many of us it has resulted in a much better understanding of the Old Testament in general, and the history of the Jews in particular.  Oftentimes Christians think the Old Testament has very little to offer us beyond the first three chapters of Genesis and some disconnected stories about slingshots and giants and lion’s dens and big fish and a boat filled with cute animals.  But in our study we have found out much about the nature of God and men in these pages.  One thing that stands out most prominently from these pages is God’s holiness and His absolute hatred for sin.
Jeremiah has preached the same message to the people of Judah for many years, a message that could be summed up in three words: Repent or perish.  But he is not the only one who has preached this.  Others before him preached it as well and still many of us are continuing to preach it today.
Jeremiah 25:5-6 "..''Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
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Jeremiah 25:7 "Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,"
Just like the days of Jeremiah the Lord is speaking to His Prophets and also just like in the days of Jeremiah people turn a deaf ear to the words the Prophets speak.  God's desire is to bless us and fellowship with us and yet we choose a path we think is better for ourselves.  What makes us think we know what's best for ourselves?  We know we have a limited and fallen perspective yet we still go our own way and therefore most often times we suffer the consequences.  

The Lord lists several reasons for the captivity; the people had disobeyed God’s Law; the people had deliberately worshiped false idols; and the people had rejected the persistent warnings of the prophets to turn from their sin and return to their Savior. The people’s persistent and unrepentant sin had provoked God to anger--and the day of His wrath had come.

​When we read History we can choose to make different decisions than those who have gone on before us or we can opt to make the same mistakes.  Finding our purpose always begins in knowing and obeying the word of the Lord.  In order to find our purpose we must know and understand the reason for which our Creator created us.  To know God is to know truth but to live truth we must choose to obey the truth we know.  

Action step for today:  Do the last thing He told you to do.  If you do not know your purpose ask God.  He will tell you.  Deliberate disobedience begins by ignoring what we know to be right. 


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Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #32~ Two Types of People

11/28/2016

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Jeremiah 24:6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
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Jeremiah 24:8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the Lord, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.
As a Prophet I am so enjoying this book of Jeremiah.  It has helped me to understand myself more and it explains that what I see has to do with what God wants to say.  You may think this weird but it also lets me know I am not weird.  I see then I say.  Jeremiah was the same. So Jeremiah encourages me in my gift.  If you operate in the prophetic I pray this series has done the same for you.  Let me know in a Facebook private message or a reply to this Blog how this series has helped you.

​This short chapter helps us to understand that 
though God’s people share with others in the same calamity, it is not the same to them that it is to others, but is designed for their good and shall issue in their good. To the good the prophecy is a correcting rod in the hand of a tender Father, while to bad it is an avenging sword in the hand of a righteous Judge. 

True to the character of the Word of God it has two sides like the Sword it is referred to.

For a deeper revelation on this chapter check out this web site:  
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/jeremiah/24.html​
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Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #31~Divine House Cleaning

11/25/2016

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In Jeremiah Chapter 23 the spotlight of judgment is focused on "the shepherds." While actual shepherds were among the poor and lowly in ancient Near Eastern societies, "shepherd" was also a term used to refer to a king. It is kings -- specifically the kings of Judah -- who are the objects of judgment in Jeremiah 23:1.

Shepherds are responsible for protecting and providing sustenance for their flocks, keeping peace within the flock, defending against attackers, searching for sheep that have gone astray, and rescuing those who are in danger. The shepherd, and by analogy the king, is expected to act for the well-being of the sheep. Yet the opening verse of Jeremiah 23 accuses the shepherds of destroying and scattering God's sheep!
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He is the Great Shepherd. John 10:11 (NIV) ""I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
God's anger is aroused by the "evil doings" of the descendants of King David who ruled Judah. These shepherds likely include:
  • Shallum/Jehoahaz (ruled 3 months in 609 BCE; Jeremiah 22:11-12)
  • Jehoiakim (ruled 609-598 BCE; Jeremiah 22:18)
  • Coniah/Jehoiachin (ruled 3 months in 597 BCE; Jeremiah 22:24-30).
  • Zedekiah (ruled 597-587 BCE; Jeremiah 21:3-7)

  • Each king has failed in his duty to "execute justice in the morning and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed" (Jeremiah 21:12a). In contrast to King Josiah (640-609 BCE) who "judged the cause of the poor and the needy" (Jeremiah 22:16), the "eyes and heart" of Josiah's heirs are set on "dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence" (Jeremiah 22:17).

God's "Woe!" is out of compassion for the victims of these self-serving shepherds.

God vows to attend to the shepherds who have failed to attend to God's flock (Jeremiah 23:2). Injustice, inequity and oppression have become the way of the land and now shape the behavior of God's people. Divine judgment is presented as a necessary response to an intolerable situation.


One would expect God's condemnation of the shepherds to be followed by an announcement of consequences -- some description of how God will "attend to" the current leadership -- but none is mentioned. Instead, God vows to assume the role of shepherd personally and "gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them" (Jeremiah 23:3).

Need not worry when others do you wrong. God will take care of things.  He will settle the score.  God is the just judge.  He is not silent forever.


The chaos of injustice under the shepherds who cared only for themselves will be removed. God will be their shepherd, and then God will raise up shepherds who will care for the people.

Under new leadership the people will no longer fear or be dismayed. In these verses, through judgment and promise God announces "regime change" in Judah. The passage does not depict nor does it ponder the death, destruction and massive dislocation of the Exile. It attributes the Exile to royal malfeasance and to divine house-cleaning.

In verse 4, God promises to raise up new shepherds for the fold. Where will these leaders come from? Indeed, where will the shepherds come from in our own time? How will these shepherds be different from the former shepherds?

There is no special breed of human shepherd. It is ordinary men and women who must choose to be good shepherds. And it is up to ordinary men and women to flock to those shepherds whose attentiveness to justice, protection, mercy, and righteousness mirror God's shepherding.


God promises to continue working through the ages to raise up shepherds who will "deal wisely and ...execute justice and righteousness in the land" (Jeremiah 23:5). God promises the good shepherd for us all, His name is Jesus. We celebrate His birth this season.  

Action Step:  Remember the "Reason for the Season."


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Happy Thanksgiving

11/24/2016

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Psalm 107:1 (NIV) "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
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Take time to enjoy family and friends today.  Remember it's not about a perfect table and just right menu it really is about being thankful for who is at the table and that we have food to prepare and enjoy.  So take time before eating to let each person say what they are thankful for.  Then hold hands with everyone and pray.  Sure some people at the table may be uncomfortable but I guarantee they will feel the love.
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Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #30~Build it Right

11/23/2016

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Jeremiah 22:13-17 – “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his countrymen work for nothing, not paying them for their labor. He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.’ So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in red. “Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD. “But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.”

​Godly leaders see POWER AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE, NOT TO SEEK PERSONAL GAIN. Godly leadership must be for the benefit of the followers not the enrichment of the leader.
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It is getting harder and harder in our day to find those, even Christians, who live according to the standards of holiness and righteousness. ​John Maxwell has put the contrast between godly and ungodly leadership very well. Godly leadership pursues love and service to others rather than power and prestige; seeks to improve the welfare of the people rather than their own welfare; sees others as brothers and sisters rather than as enemies and competitors; determines to meet needs and grow the cause rather than remove or kill the opposition.

​A television news camera was on location in southern Florida filming the widespread destruction of Hurricane Andrew. In one scene, amid the devastation and debris, stood one house on its foundation. A reporter went up to the owner and asked how he managed to escape destruction. The man replied, “I built this house myself. I also built it according to the Florida state building code. When the code called for 2x6 trusses, I used 2x6 roof trusses. I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane. I did, and it did.” So let us vote for godly leaders and let us be godly leaders and our nation will withstand all that comes against her and rises up within her. Indeed, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” (Ps. 127:1)

​Action Step:  Help the Lord build our nation. Let Him begin in us.

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Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #29~Choices

11/22/2016

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Jeremiah 21:1-10 "​When the siege had begun, Zedekiah sent to ask of Jeremiah respecting the event. In times of distress and danger, men often seek those to counsel and pray for them, whom, at other times, they despise and oppose; but they only seek deliverance from punishment. When professors continue in disobedience, presuming upon outward privileges, let them be told that the Lord will prosper his open enemies against them. As the king and his princes would not surrender, the people are exhorted to do so. No sinner on earth is left without a Refuge, who really desires one; but the way of life is humbling, it requires self-denial, and exposes to difficulties."~Matthew Henry's Commentary
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So many people of the world want covenant mercy and promises without covenant faith and faithfulness! In the days of Jeremiah as is the case many times today people want others to pray for them and go to God for them based on the mediators relationship with God rather than their own relationship with God.  God is a God of individuals as well as nations.  God wants a relationship with us personally. 

In times of war food, water and sanitation all become compromised.  All of these three God had specific rules, laws and regulations about because he cares for us and wants us to have a good life.  

Jeremiah 21:8-10 (NASB) "8"You shall also say to this people, 'Thus says the Lord , "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 He who dwells in this city will die by the sword and by famine and by pestilence; but he who goes out and falls away to the Chaldean's who are besieging you will live, and he will have his own life as booty. 10 For I have set My face against this city for harm and not for good," declares the Lord . "It will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon and he will burn it with fire."'

This portion of scripture is all about covenant.  If you do this then I will do that. This is the wording of a covenant.  Deut. 30:15 "I have set before you today life and prosperity or death and adversity" Even covenant Israel had to choose! This is referring to the blessing and cursing (cf. Deuteronomy 27-28). Remember the choice is set in a covenant of grace. This is very similar to Wisdom Literature's idiom of the "two ways" (cf. Pro. 4:10-19; Jer. 21:8; Matt. 7:13-14). Our choices show who we are! How we respond to life's inexplicable "in and outs" reveals our spiritual orientation!
Action step: Make good choices today. Start by doing one thing when you get up that you know is the right thing to do.  Changing one thing can be the catalyst to chain your life.
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Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #28-When things come against us while doing the work of the Lord keep the faith!

11/21/2016

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​Jeremiah 20:1 Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. 2 Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the Lord. 3 The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord does not call your name Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side. 4 For thus says the Lord: Behold, I will make youa terror to yourself and to all your friends. They shall fall by the sword of their enemies while you look on. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. He shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall strike them down with the sword. 5 Moreover, I will give all the wealth of the city, all its gains, all its prized belongings, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies, who shall plunder them and seize them and carry them to Babylon. 6 And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house, shall go into captivity. To Babylon you shall go, and there you shall die, and there you shall be buried, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied falsely.”
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Jeremiah 20:11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
Time has a way of revealing truth.  Speak the truth in love but speak the truth. It does not matter that people speak ill of you or even that they bring harm to you because God will work it out.  It may take time but God is faithful who called you.  If God called you then God will protect you. Yes, you may suffer but not more than you can bear.  Do not go by the way things look but only obey and watch God perform a miracle on your behalf.

Action for the day:  Be brave! Obey God. Do what He tells you to do.  
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Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #27-Stiff Necked

11/18/2016

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Jeremiah Chapter 19:11 "... ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter’s jar is smashed and cannot be repaired..."
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verse 15 "...because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words."
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The best medicine for a stiff neck is to obey God quickly and fully.  God is a merciful God and long suffering. Here is how Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines stiff necked:
(a.) Stubborn; inflexibly obstinate; contumacious; as, stiff-necked pride; a stiff-necked people.
Rebellion is identified in a variety of ways, but the Lord often associates it to someone with a stiff neck. Society should find this concept easily grasped. A stiff neck impedes the head from bowing. Moses directly associated the stiff neck with rebellion when he said, “For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck” (Deuteronomy 31:27). Like Moses, the Lord identified the rebellion of the children of Israel when He stated that they were “a stiffnecked people” (Exodus 32:9). Isaiah likewise attested to this truth by stating that rebellious people had a neck of iron sinew and a brow of brass (Isaiah 48:4). These descriptive terms demonstrate that rebellion is exemplified by an individual who refuses to bow and allow the mind to be changed. He has an unyielding spirit.
The next time you think about being stiff necked remember the words of the prophet Jeremiah here in Jeremiah chapter 19.  God wants us to obey for our sake not just for His. HE loves us and wants the best for us.
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Finding Our Purpose from Jeremiah #26-The Potter and the Clay

11/17/2016

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Jeremiah Chapter 18:1-2 (NIV) "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
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Notice you have to hear to be able to obey instructions.  However, you also have to take action. Get up and go!  A lot of people I know hear and then do nothing.  They hear and do something other than what they heard.  They hear commands as suggestions--suggestions that can be ignored.
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We have two ears.  We have one mouth.  We are to listen two times more than we hear.  However hearing is not enough! What have you heard that you need to take action on today?
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    Rena Perozich is a wife, mother, nonna, mentor, author, and encourager. Her life's purpose is to become all God has called her to be and to encourage others to do the same. Learn more. 

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