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Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #25 ~A Wicked Heart

11/16/2016

Jeremiah 17:1
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Jeremiah has come to the knowledge of God about the depravity of man. Like any man of God who gets to know God--they get to know themselves and others in a new light.

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Who can know it? - It even hides itself from itself; so that its owner does not know it. A corrupt heart is the worst enemy the fallen creature can have; it is full of evil devices, - of deceit, of folly, and abomination, and its owner knows not what is in him till it boils over, and is often past remedy before the evil is perceived. Therefore trust not in man whose purposes are continually changing, and who is actuated only by motives of self-interest.

Challenge for today. As you read the word of God follow the example of David and ask the Lord to search your heart. Once He exposes it--don't deny it. Ask Him to cleanse you.

Psalm 51:10 (NIV) "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #24~The Dragnet

11/15/2016

This morning I am studying and want to share a commentary to introduce Chapter 16 of Jeremiah:

Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The scattering of the people is to be like that of hunted animals, of which but few escape, the ancient method of hunting being to enclose a large space with beaters and nets, and so drive everything within it to some place where it was destroyed. The destruction of the whole male population was one of the horrible customs of ancient warfare, and the process is called in Herodotus "sweeping the country with a drag-net." The same authority tells us that this method could only be effectually carried out on an island. Literally, understood, the fishers are the main armies who, in the towns and fortresses, capture the people in crowds as in a net, while the hunters are the light-armed troops, who pursue the fugitives over the whole country, and drive them out of their hiding places as hunters track out their game.

When we refuse to obey the Lord we open ourselves up to captivity and the snares of the devil. Just as God has called us to be fishers of men for the kingdom of God so too the devil fishes; one for captivity the other for freedom.

When you look at this diagram you can see that it is all but impossible to escape the snares of the devil.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 (ESV) "24 And the Lord's servant[a] must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Today when you start to quarrel, get all stirred up and want to start a verbal battle remember this little illustration and realize the devil has set a trap for you and that his desire is to capture you and destroy you.

John 10:10 (BBE) The thief comes only to take the sheep and to put them to death: he comes for their destruction: I have come so that they may have life and have it in greater measure.

Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #23~

11/14/2016

Jeremiah chapter 15 begins with a list of the suffering caused by the terrible draught (vv.1-3); a supplication as the people cry out to God because of their affliction and a description of their sin (v.10). It continues with a dialogue between Jehovah and Jeremiah. The Lord has asked Jeremiah “do not pray for these people anymore” (vv.11-12). The prophet describes a severe draught that effected the whole nation. The people cried out to God confessed their sin and their backsliding; but the Lord replied that He rejected their cry and their pleas; they were guilty of loving their sin and had no intention of turning from sin.

What is God’s response? The Lord will not tolerate the people’s sin; The Lord refuses to indulge the nation’s fleshly desires; and refuses to give them a license to sin. The people were guilty of the worst kind of unrepentant persistent sin. And so they would bear the punishment for that sin.

Jeremiah 15:1 Then the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth.

Intercessory prayer would not save them. Judgment was certain.

We continue the thought--you run from God--where will you go? Run hard--run fast--run long-- and you run right into judgment. As the people of Judah and Jerusalem run from God--they run towards destruction; this stark verse communicates an important truth; every road that leads away from God and Jesus Christ leads to destruction and death.

Jeremiah 15:4 I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.

The Hebrew name Manasseh means “one who causes to forget”. In one sense Manasseh creates a form of spiritual dementia.

Jeremiah 15:17 I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, Nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, For You have filled me with indignation.

Jeremiah lived a life of spiritual separation and self-denial. He refused to participate in the lifestyle of the wicked. Jeremiah chose to live a lonely and isolated life because he was filled with indignation over the people’s sins. Jeremiah voluntarily separates himself from human companionship for intimacy with God! In the midst of persecution he experiences a feeling that God has abandoned him.

The message Jeremiah preaches lasts over 50 years. The net result--most of Jeremiah’s life was spent in isolation, rejection, pain, persecution, suffering. His own family turned against him. The other priests and prophets turned against him. It may be a stretch, it may be hyperbole, but in a real sense Jeremiah stands alone in his generation. The pain of rejection; the gnawing emptiness that comes from being misunderstood and not believed; and the knowledge--the vision of the impending judgment and destruction--was bound to way heavy on the soul of the prophet.

But he will remain firm--faithful--in spite of the opposition--in spite of the persecution--in spite of the rejection. He will faithfully proclaim the Word of God until the end of his life. The warning is repeated in the New Testament. Those who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be wise as serpents, and harmless or gentle like doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. For it is not you who speaks; but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child;and the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt.10:16-22).

Conclusion We will be persecuted. We must be faithful.

Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #22~Paying the Price and Wait

11/11/2016

Jeremiah 14:22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.

A famous preacher John Henry Jowett said, “Preaching that costs nothing accomplishes nothing”. Jeremiah’s preaching has cost Jeremiah dearly; he is pained by his people and unpopular by his message. The theme of his messages has been judgment.

Do you ever struggle as you try to reconcile the concept of God’s love and God’s judgment? Then you are not alone. Jeremiah struggled as well. The Lord will discipline and correct us. Not because He hates us--but because He loves us! The reason God seeks to correct us in part is so we can avoid hurting ourselves or others.

Knowing Our Purpose From Jeremiah #21 ~ Being a Clean and New Temple of God Rather than an Old Broken Down Building Where Once Dwelt God's Presence.

11/10/2016

From Jeremiah chapter 11 Matthew Henry's Commentary gives us these words: Those that will not be ruled by the grace of God shall be ruined by the justice of God. And, if disobedient nations shall be destroyed, much more disobedient churches from whom better things are expected.

We come from chapter 11 into chapter 12 of Jeremiah and we read: "16 And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people. 17 But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it,” declares the LORD."

In the book that got me started on my journey in Jeremiah called, "Running With the Horses" by Eugene S. Peterson the man who translated the Bible version of the Message I became one with the heart of Jeremiah and learned more about the heart of God. That hunger lead me to return to my love of Matthew Henry's Commentaries. Here is a portion of what Matthew Henry shared on Chapter 13 of Jeremiah.

Dirt contracted may be washed off, but we cannot alter the natural colour of a hair (Mt. 5:36 ), much less of the skin; and so impossible is it, morally impossible, to reclaim and reform these people. They had been long accustomed to do evil. They were taught to do evil; they had been educated and brought up in sin; they had served an apprenticeship to it, and had all their days made a trade of it. It was so much their constant practice that it had become a second nature to them.

Their prophets therefore despaired of ever bring them to do good. This was what they aimed at; they persuaded them to cease to do evil and learn to do well, but could not prevail. They had so long been used to do evil that it was next to impossible for them to repent, and amend, and begin to do good. Note, Custom in sin is a very great hindrance to conversion from sin. The disease that is inveterate is generally thought incurable. Those that have been long accustomed to sin have shaken off the restraint of fear and shame; their consciences are seared; the habits of sin are confirmed; it pleads prescription; and it is just with God to give those up to their own hearts’ lusts that have long refused to give themselves up to his grace.

Sin is the blackness of the soul, the deformity of it; it is its spot, the discolouring of it; it is natural to us, we were shapen in it, so that we cannot get clear of it by any power of our own. But there is an almighty grace that is able to change the Ethiopian’s skin, and that grace shall not be wanting to those who in a sense of their need of it seek it earnestly and improve it faithfully.

Lord, help us to repent and come to you to cleanse us from all wickedness. Amen.

Pray for America!~ Don't stop because the election is over.

11/8/2016

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

I am taking a break in our study of Jeremiah to remind this great nation to pray today and to continue to pray for this great nations. Prayer has the power to change the course of history, raise the dead, extend the life of a human, heal the sick, stop a storm and that's just a few Biblical examples of the power of prayer.

The God of Jeremiah and all the prophets, the God of Abraham and all the patriarchs, the God of Joshua and Caleb and all the young people everywhere allows us --His children to pray to Him and hears our prayers. We the people of God have an audience with God. The God who made the universe and you and I hears the whisper of His name and responds to us as a father responds to His child. Why? Because of love.

John 3:16 (NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #20~Do Your Part To Uphold This Great Nation.....Vote!

11/8/2016

Jeremiah 10:6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

Jeremiah 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

How do you vote you say? Vote the Bible! Make God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give God the glory due His name. Vote for the freedom He died for. Vote for life. I do not care how many pastors or men and women of God vote contrary to the word I will stand for God and His word.

Jeremiah 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

Jeremiah 10:23 O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.24 O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.25 Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

Today the direction of our nation will be decided. As I sit with the religious leaders of this great nation we gather and we pray. We gather and we listen for His voice. It has been said the only thing good men need to do in order for evil to prevail is nothing. Do not sit home and let the devil tell you your vote does not matter. One man's voice makes a difference. Jesus was one man!

Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #19~Know God and Know the Difference

11/7/2016

Jeremiah 9:23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

In the last few days we have been getting deeper and deeper into the chapters of Jeremiah that are dark and gloomy. There doesn't seem to be an end to the bad news and horrible things that are to happen to the inhabitants of Israel , Egypt, Judah, and Edom among other people groups. God had warned them and sent prophets to warn them and still they forged in deeper to the depravity of man.

We serve a merciful and loving God. We repent He forgives. Why is it we refuse to do what's right?

Today as I am sitting here in the Pittsburgh airport I go through security and have to throw away perfectly good unopened bottle of water, cookies (homemade and my favorite) all because of a few bad people who made bad decisions. Now we all suffer. TSA Pre-Check, first-class, and coach alike are herded through lines like cattle. Oh the routine varies as to whether you get to leave your shoes on our off but none the less we all have a life change because of others wrong decisions.

Matthew 13:24-30 (KJV) "24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

We are all in this world together. We need to do our best to obey God because He really does know what's best. Make a great day and take the presence of Heaven wherever you go. We never really know what others are going through.

Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #18~Prayer

11/4/2016

I am so enjoying Jeremiah and we are only in chapter 10 so I am thinking about switching things up and doing an email on Jeremiah to those that want to follow me on in my journey through Jeremiah and returning to my normal Blog material which is more about my normal day and how God speaks to me in my everyday activities. What would you like to see? Please send me a comment with your email.

Jeremiah 10:1-2. Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

For the next few chapters Jeremiah talks about false gods and false prophets but then he brings it backa round to the God.

Jeremiah 10:16. The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.

What a blessed name that is for God: “The portion of Jacob”! And the other side of the truth is equally blessed: “Israel is the rod of his inheritance.” God belongs to his people, and they belong to him, if we can but realize that these blessings are ours, we are building on the solid foundation of the richest possible happiness.

God is not a God made with hands. He is real and He desires only good for us. As we go into all the holidays don't get so caught up in all that man has made but remember the real purpose of life is to journey with those you love and end up in the right place with all those you journeyed with.

Jeremiah 10:22-24. And a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons. O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
What a suitable prayer this is for a sick man, for a tried believer, for the child of God in deep despondency of soul; I scarcely know any better words that any of us could use. The suppliant does not ask to go unchastised, but he says, “O Lord, correct me, but with judgment: not in thine anger; lest thou bring me to nothing.”

Again let me remind you to go vote! Vote the Bible. Pray and ask God for mercy on our great nation.

Jeremiah 10:25. Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.
So he asks God, instead of smiting his own children, to smite his enemies, and knowing what we do about the Babylonians, we do not wonder that Jeremiah put up such a prayer as that.

What is on your prayer list?

Finding Our Purpose From Jeremiah #17~The Weeping Prophet

11/3/2016

To find your purpose ask yourself what makes you cry? What makes you mad? What is it that touches God's heart that also touches yours? My spiritual father, Dr. John Polis said, "When God squeezes your heart, water runs out your eyes." Do not harden your heart but allow God to squeeze your heart and then do the thing He asks you to do.

So many words in this chapter got my attention. The craftily in verse four of chapter 9 comes from the same root word that the name Jacob comes from. The people were acting like Jacob at his worst. I am writing a book called, "Rising Spirits in a Fallen World" and one of the spirits that is rising in the world is the spirit of Jacob; people slandering one another.
"Deceit" so typified their environment that it prevented them from having much of a relationship with Yahweh. They did not know God ( Jeremiah 9:3), and they refused to know Him. Even while they devotedly studied deception ( Jeremiah 9:5), they refused to "know" Him.

The verb "yada", "know," denotes much more than intellectual knowledge but rather that deep intimate knowledge that follows on the personal commitment of one life to another, which is at its deepest in the commitment of a man to God. It actually means to become one with. The culture was one with evil not with good. This is why I say that we are living once again in the days of Jeremiah.

The tongue of this "daughter" was as deadly as an arrow (Jeremiah 9:3). Her words appeared to be peaceful, but she was really setting a trap for her neighbors. People greeted their neighbors amicably on the streets, but in their hearts they intended to harm them. The tongue can only bring up out of the heart what is in the heart. If we let people talk long enough we find out what is in them. God sees our hearts and knows the wickedness that dwells inside of us. Becoming one with God and living a life of obedience to Him purifies our heart.

Yahweh asked, rhetorically, if He should not punish such a nation for their deceits. His nation had become like all the other nations (Jeremiah 9:24-25). Should He not avenge Himself by punishing Judah for violating His covenant commands? The grief of God is caused not only by what the people have done to Him but by what they have done to each other. When we speak ill of one another it is like poisoness arrows directed into the person to assassinate them. Selfishness and pride can kill any people.

In verse thirteen Yahweh tells them the land will lay desolate. Instead the people had followed their own desires and the Baals, just like their ancestors. "Stubbornness" was one of their chief sins. "The threat of "stubbornness" still exists today. It has been described as "atrophy of the will". When people stubbornly refuse to do right, the time comes when they cannot do right. Judgment then comes in the form of living in the prison you have erected for yourself.

At the end of this chapter the Lord tells Jeremiah to hire mourners. People shouldn't take pride in neither their wisdom or their youth and that our only hope comes from our relationship with God. To me chapter 9 here of Jeremiah is so timely. We need to pray that our nation turn back to God especially during this election. Please exercise your right as an American citizen to vote and when you do--vote the Bible! our nation depends on it.