Good day Saints in Christ Jesus. You are all welcome to another new day. Glory to God for the gift of life. It is a joyful new day for us all. No one here will be stranded in any form. You are far from oppression. Sickness and diseases will not turn your body into a place of abode, in Jesus name.
In our today’s episode 504 of studying and understanding the Bible, we shall be looking into Jeremiah Chapters 14 & 15 titled:
Lying In God’s Name, Jeremiah Last Man Standing, Famine Looms
Chapter 14 begins with predicting a period of famine, a long period without rain that would greatly torment the land of Judah, because of their continuous disobedience and rebellion against God. We will see this in verses 1-6.
Thereafter, in verses 7-9, Jeremiah tried to plead with God on behalf of the people so they could be forgiven, but unfortunately, the people were not even ready to be forgiven. They didn’t show any sign of remorse and neither did they show any sign of belief in God. In other words, Jeremiah was only wasting his time.
Even the priests and other prophets available at that time deserted God and were busy lying in the name of God. They twisted God’s message of warnings and were busy preaching messages contrary to God’s Word. They were turning people’s hearts against Jeremiah and God’s Word, that they have nothing to worry about, that no enemies would come and invade the land, that there is nothing like war or famine. Read Jer 14:14
14 But the Lord replied, “The prophets are telling lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I give them any orders or speak one word to them. The visions they talk about have not come from me; their predictions are worthless things that they have imagined.
Apparently, only Jeremiah was on the Lord’s side – The Last Man Standing.
Consequently, God declared their judgement both the false prophets and their gullible followers or listeners would be caught unawares by war, starvation, and eventual destruction since they have refused to repent.
This is just a typical of what is going to happen on the last day when the end shall come. Those that have been preaching false Gospels and even their supporters and followers, doing all kinds of evils to the body of Christ and humanity, will all be judged with eternal destruction. They may appear to be doing well now, but then their days have been numbered.
So, if you patronise false prophets, pastors, evangelists, apostles etc, be careful and repent now in order for you to avoid sharing in their punishment on the last day apart form the consequences of their actions they would face here on earth. Be careful always! Read verses 13-16.
Because Prophet Jeremiah had already seen the terrible outcome of their actions, he started weeping for them, according to verse 17-18.
The remaining verses in chapter 14 contains Jeremiah’s prayers of supplication, but then it’s a waste of time just like God had told him initially. Why? Because the people he was praying for have made up their minds to rebel against God and live in continuous disobedience. They kept on sinning, worshiping idols, committing all forms of atrocities. That is why his prayers in verses 19-22 had no effect on them.
Now, looking at chapter 15, we will see the same problem persisted.
God even told Jeremiah in verse 1 of chapter 15 that even if Moses and Samuel were to pray for these people, it won’t make any difference, because the people have made up their minds and have refused to change, the prayers won’t make any sense at all.
God had already seen the end from the beginning. That’s why He was telling Jeremiah what would happen in the end.
Why would God hate idolatry or any form of sin, Is He jealous truly?
The fact is that God is more concerned about us than Himself. When He says we should not sin, He is not saying it for Himself. He is actually saying that to protect us and prevent us from destroying ourselves and others. So, it’s more about us than it is about God.
Even of the whole world should say NO to God, it does not reduce His Sovereignty, neither does it change the fact that He is God. In fact, Jesus told some of the Pharisees who asked Jesus to command His disciples to keep quiet when people were praising God, during His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, did you know what His reply was? Let’s read…Luke 19:39-40 (GNT)
39 Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “command your disciples to be quiet!”
40 Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.”
In essence, if you decide not to serve God or listen to the Gospel of Christ, God will raise several others, who will effectively and joyfully do that.
It’s so sad today to see many people who don’t want to obey God, they don’t want to receive the true Gospel, they don’t want to stop sinning, they don’t want the eternal gift of salvation offered in Christ, but they want God’s blessings. They want God’s favour. It does not work that way. Eternal life is not automatic, you’ve got to receive Him by faith and let Him change the way you think (repentance), which will then transform you in a way that will produce and project God’s true nature to those around you.
Even if no one serves God anymore, let the last man standing, who have decided to serve God no matter the situation, be you. You can serve God anywhere, in your house, under the three, in a church building, by connecting with other believers online and in so many other ways. Whatever you do, let your life preach love to people around you.
God loves and has blessed the whole world. But if you refuse to believe and receive, then you are to blame.
16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let us pray:
- You have put your trust in God, you have determined to serve Him all the days of your life, He will not disappoint you. He will bless you beyond your wildest imagination, in Jesus name.
- I declare, in the time of famine that is looming, you will not be stranded. You will be well fed. You will not lack any good thing. Even during hot or cold weather, you will remain refreshed. You will be firmly rooted in Christ Jesus, in Jesus name.
- I declare fear will not take root in your life. Sickness will not turn your body into a place of abode. You will continue to enjoy peace of mind all the days of your life, in Jesus name.
- I declare you are found worthy of God’s eternal Salvation already. Receive the capacity to live pure lives always, without blemish and filled with eternal peace. You have this already in Christ Jesus, so, walk in it till He comes, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Reflection time on all the chapters you have read so far from the past six days and covering of missed chapters.
I call you blessed now and always.
Friday August 14, 2020 (DDMI)
