Tag Archive - Jeremiah

Jeremiah 27-29

August 22, 2007 in Other with 0 Comments

Other than the sheer weight of having to prophesy against his beloved homeland and Temple, Jeremiah’s biggest problem had to be the false prophets that were rampant across Israel at that time.

It seems like every other verse is a “prophet” making up stuff to get on the good side of the people - everything will be OK, the captivity will be short, etc.  Jeremiah must have looked like a sadistic jerk.  All of his prophecies were about “war, famine, and disease” (27:8, 13; 29:17, 18).

But he didn’t quit.  They couldn’t scare him off, they couldn’t shut him up.

Actually, he wasn’t as bad as some people thought.  He had good news for those who would, but sometimes good news is harsh.  In order to be saved from the “war, famine, and disease” they had to surrender to Babylon.  Everyone who surrendered would be saved (27:17)

I have good news today.  Everyone who surrenders to Jesus Christ – gives up the fight against God, waves the white flag toward heaven – will be saved from sin, death, and hell.

No one likes to surrender – it’s humiliating, the sign of defeat.  But it’s the only way to gain life.  Jesus already battled death and won – why would you want to do it and lose?

Surrender to Jesus today – and live!

Until next time,

Dan’l

Jeremiah 26

August 21, 2007 in Other with 0 Comments

In this chapter Jeremiah has a lot of great parallels to Jesus.  It is a story chapter, rather than a prophecy chapter.  You should read it for yourself and find your own parallels, but look at a few that I found:

1) They knew where their message came from.

The LORD gave me every word that I have spoken.
Jeremiah 26:12

For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. John 12:49

2) They stood out from the crowd of false teachers.

Then the officials and the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.” Jeremiah 26:16

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” … One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself– and us, too, while you’re at it!”  But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?  We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Luke 23:35, 39-41

3) They were not afraid to tell it like it was.

“Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you, and if you will not listen to my servants, the prophets– for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them– then I will destroy this Temple as I destroyed Shiloh, the place where the Tabernacle was located. And I will make Jerusalem an object of cursing in every nation on earth.’” Jeremiah 26:4-6

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.  And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.  For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”  As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings.  But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” Matthew 23:37 – 24:2

Jeremiah was a Christ-follower.  And if he could imitate Jesus, before Jesus was even born, we have no excuse.  Following Him begins with knowing Him.  How well do you know Him?

Until next time,

Dan’l

Jeremiah 22:13-16

August 9, 2007 in OTCC with 0 Comments

For those of you who know of our church’s situation with the airport, you can probably imagine that is on my mind quite a bit, as I try to lead our church forward in God’s best path for us.

One of those things that I think about often is our future meeting place.  Will it be our own, or will we have to rent it?  How much will it cost to build a new building?  If we build, will we be able to include everything we want right away, or will we have to “make do” for a while?

And then my reading in Jeremiah today brings me to chapter 22.  I’m reading in the New Living Translation (2nd ed.):

And the LORD says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor. He says, ‘I will build a magnificent palace with huge rooms and many windows. I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar and paint it a lovely red.’ But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king! Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” says the LORD. Jeremiah 22:13-16 (NLT2)

How appropriate!  “A beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!”  A beautiful meeting place does not make a great church!

“He gave justice and help to the poor and needy… Isn’t that what it means to know me?”

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27 (NLT2)

I have several meetings over the next four weeks.  I believe that it will be in these meetings that God is going to show His future for our church.  Please pray with me that I won’t be slow in picking up His signals.

No matter the outcome of our discussion with the airport, no matter what building we may or may not have, our mission and focus cannot change:

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;” Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

Until next time,

Dan’l

Jeremiah 29:5-7

August 2, 2007 in Other with 0 Comments

Even though I haven’t gotten to this chapter in my reading through Jeremiah, God thought it was important enough to have someone else point out to me today.

The section is a letter that Jeremiah sent to Israelites who were in exile in Babylon.  It was actually a letter from God.  Check this out:

“Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.” Jeremiah 29:5-7

The captives thought they would just repent and get to go back home soon.  God said, “Don’t get your hopes up.  You’re going to be there for a long time.”

There’s a whole message in these three little verses, but the one that was especially significant to me today was verse seven.  If God really means that for us, think of the implications:

  1. We are in South Bend because God put us here.
  2. Because God put us here, we are to work AND pray for South Bend and its people.
  3. When we work AND pray for South Bend, God will change South Bend, and we will benefit along with everyone else.

I don’t know what that does to you, but that fires me up!  Let’s do it!

Until next time,

Dan’l

A Timely Reminder

August 1, 2007 in Other with 0 Comments

I’m under a lot of stress at the moment.  And stress tends to lead to worry and mistrust, which are sin.

As I’m reading through Jeremiah, there was a very timely message from God to me today:


“If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!” Jeremiah 15:19 (NLT)

Jeremiah was worried about what was happening in Israel and had accused God of not taking care of him.  God’s reply was one of rebuke and encouragement.  Here is my paraphrase (what I heard this morning):

“Those are some foolish accusations – you need to repent immediately!  When you do, we’ll be able to pick up where we left off.  You do what you know I want you to do, and you will continue to speak for Me.  Don’t let other people and circumstances drive you; your job is to lead.”

What was God’s message to you today in your reading?

 

Until next time,

Dan’l

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