Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "walk-by-sight"
Whistling Dixie – Part 1
But the Lord said to him (i.e., to Ananias), “Go, for he (i.e., Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15-16]
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
I remember the time I accepted the Lord’s call to ministry. It was a process because I needed time to weigh the consequences and determine whether or not I was prepared to make the sacrifices necessary. After bowing to the Lord’s will—and that with the greatest relish—I announced it to the church.
Some folks were congratulatory, but others expressed words of discouragement to me. The discouragers were looking out for my best interests, at least in their own eyes. Trouble was, they viewed the matter according to the flesh. They based their conclusion on my background and things of that nature. They didn’t see the Lord’s hand in the call because they walked by sight in making their judgment.
The Lord’s call to ministry is based on His own purpose and grace, dear friends. It is NOT based on man’s worthiness or background. The Lord chooses the weak things, the beggarly elements of mankind, in order to show His own power and worth. If He depended on the worldly strong or wise or wealthy or high class folks to accomplish His goals, then it would appear they achieved success by their own abilities.
I’m discussing this issue because today’s study is about the Apostle Paul’s call to ministry. Paul was originally known as Saul. I’ve read in books and heard in sermons that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Therefore he should not have gone to Jerusalem to the Jews. It is claimed that the Holy Spirit even told him as much on his way there. But Paul was too determined to reach the Jews, when all along his ministry was to the Gentiles. Consequently Paul was imprisoned and his ministry hampered.
To support such a position Scripture is quoted. Let’s read a sample together, shall we?
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” [Acts 21:10-11]
And then with glee it is alleged, “See! The Holy Spirit told Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul wouldn’t listen. He was too stubborn to obey the Holy Spirit because of his blindness for the Jews.”
In our next study we will investigate these claims. For now let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve discussed today.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
I remember the time I accepted the Lord’s call to ministry. It was a process because I needed time to weigh the consequences and determine whether or not I was prepared to make the sacrifices necessary. After bowing to the Lord’s will—and that with the greatest relish—I announced it to the church.
Some folks were congratulatory, but others expressed words of discouragement to me. The discouragers were looking out for my best interests, at least in their own eyes. Trouble was, they viewed the matter according to the flesh. They based their conclusion on my background and things of that nature. They didn’t see the Lord’s hand in the call because they walked by sight in making their judgment.
The Lord’s call to ministry is based on His own purpose and grace, dear friends. It is NOT based on man’s worthiness or background. The Lord chooses the weak things, the beggarly elements of mankind, in order to show His own power and worth. If He depended on the worldly strong or wise or wealthy or high class folks to accomplish His goals, then it would appear they achieved success by their own abilities.
I’m discussing this issue because today’s study is about the Apostle Paul’s call to ministry. Paul was originally known as Saul. I’ve read in books and heard in sermons that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Therefore he should not have gone to Jerusalem to the Jews. It is claimed that the Holy Spirit even told him as much on his way there. But Paul was too determined to reach the Jews, when all along his ministry was to the Gentiles. Consequently Paul was imprisoned and his ministry hampered.
To support such a position Scripture is quoted. Let’s read a sample together, shall we?
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” [Acts 21:10-11]
And then with glee it is alleged, “See! The Holy Spirit told Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul wouldn’t listen. He was too stubborn to obey the Holy Spirit because of his blindness for the Jews.”
In our next study we will investigate these claims. For now let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve discussed today.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Whistling Dixie – Part 2
But the Lord said to him (i.e., to Ananias), “Go, for he (i.e., Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15-16]
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
In our last study we paused after hearing the claims against Paul’s ministry to the Jews. Now let’s beging with our investigation of these claims.
All I can say is, “Wow! Let’s all go home and throw in the towel. No need to pursue this discussion any further, with such formidable and indisputable evidence quelling any other understanding.” But no, I don’t want to go home and throw in the towel. I don’t concede any such evidence exists to show that Paul was doing his own thing, when he took the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem.
Two different portions of Scripture are recorded to start this study. The first one records Paul’s call to ministry from the Lord Jesus. Read it again at this time, please. I’ll wait a second for you to do so… Okay. What did the Lord declare Paul was to do? Let’s use a bulleted list to itemize Paul’s ministry. He was to bear My name,
• before the Gentiles
• before kings
• before the sons of Israel
When Paul performed his ministry before those three categories of persons, there would be consequences to pay. Listen to the Lord express them: for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake. Let us be aware that, as Paul proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of the world to each category of persons, he would suffer from each category for bringing Jesus to them.
Category #1, “The Gentiles”: this refers to every human being who is not a Hebrew by birth or by proselytism. When Paul went to the Gentiles with the Gospel, he was routinely persecuted by both the Jews and the Gentiles.
Category #2, “Kings”: As he went throughout the Roman world preaching the Gospel, Paul appeared before kings as well as other public officials. Sometimes he was received agreeably, at other times with indifference, while on still other occasions he endured extreme persecution.
Category #3, “the sons of Israel”: this refers to those whose forefather was Jacob/Israel, as well as to those Gentiles who converted to Judaism and were thereby incorporated into the Lord’s covenant with Israel. Paul preached to his fellow Israelites both in Israel and in the diaspora (i.e., the Jews who were dispersed in locations outside of Israel).
In every town he entered to share Jesus Paul went to the synagogues first before going to the Gentiles. He wanted to allow his fellow Jews to have their chance to receive their Messiah before the Gentiles did. Paul said unabashedly that the Gospel is to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16). Whether he preached the Gospel to the Jews in Israel or to the Jews in the diaspora, Paul faced extreme persecution for doing so—just as he did when he proclaimed Jesus to the Gentiles and to kings.
You see, the Gospel provokes hostility and violence from sinners. It doesn’t matter one whit whether they be Jews or Gentiles, dear friends. God called Paul to take the Gospel to three categories of people, and God warned Paul of what he would encounter when he did so. Paul wasn’t doing wrong when he went to all three categories. He was obeying the Word of God. Had he not done so, he would have been sinning. He said, “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel!”
We will conclude this analysis in our next study. In the interim weigh the evidence for yourself. Be in prayer and meditate on the matter. And may the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
In our last study we paused after hearing the claims against Paul’s ministry to the Jews. Now let’s beging with our investigation of these claims.
All I can say is, “Wow! Let’s all go home and throw in the towel. No need to pursue this discussion any further, with such formidable and indisputable evidence quelling any other understanding.” But no, I don’t want to go home and throw in the towel. I don’t concede any such evidence exists to show that Paul was doing his own thing, when he took the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem.
Two different portions of Scripture are recorded to start this study. The first one records Paul’s call to ministry from the Lord Jesus. Read it again at this time, please. I’ll wait a second for you to do so… Okay. What did the Lord declare Paul was to do? Let’s use a bulleted list to itemize Paul’s ministry. He was to bear My name,
• before the Gentiles
• before kings
• before the sons of Israel
When Paul performed his ministry before those three categories of persons, there would be consequences to pay. Listen to the Lord express them: for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake. Let us be aware that, as Paul proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of the world to each category of persons, he would suffer from each category for bringing Jesus to them.
Category #1, “The Gentiles”: this refers to every human being who is not a Hebrew by birth or by proselytism. When Paul went to the Gentiles with the Gospel, he was routinely persecuted by both the Jews and the Gentiles.
Category #2, “Kings”: As he went throughout the Roman world preaching the Gospel, Paul appeared before kings as well as other public officials. Sometimes he was received agreeably, at other times with indifference, while on still other occasions he endured extreme persecution.
Category #3, “the sons of Israel”: this refers to those whose forefather was Jacob/Israel, as well as to those Gentiles who converted to Judaism and were thereby incorporated into the Lord’s covenant with Israel. Paul preached to his fellow Israelites both in Israel and in the diaspora (i.e., the Jews who were dispersed in locations outside of Israel).
In every town he entered to share Jesus Paul went to the synagogues first before going to the Gentiles. He wanted to allow his fellow Jews to have their chance to receive their Messiah before the Gentiles did. Paul said unabashedly that the Gospel is to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16). Whether he preached the Gospel to the Jews in Israel or to the Jews in the diaspora, Paul faced extreme persecution for doing so—just as he did when he proclaimed Jesus to the Gentiles and to kings.
You see, the Gospel provokes hostility and violence from sinners. It doesn’t matter one whit whether they be Jews or Gentiles, dear friends. God called Paul to take the Gospel to three categories of people, and God warned Paul of what he would encounter when he did so. Paul wasn’t doing wrong when he went to all three categories. He was obeying the Word of God. Had he not done so, he would have been sinning. He said, “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel!”
We will conclude this analysis in our next study. In the interim weigh the evidence for yourself. Be in prayer and meditate on the matter. And may the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Whistling Dixie – Part 3
But the Lord said to him (i.e., to Ananias), “Go, for he (i.e., Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15-16]
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
Let’s continue our rebuttal of those who claim Paul should not have taken the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem. We will begin by going to the beginning of this study and rereading the second portion of Scripture recorded there… Okay, we’ve reread it. Now let’s present additional evidence to support Paul.
Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would be ridiculed and tortured and put to death. This didn’t detour Jesus from going there anyway. He wasn’t being stubborn against the Holy Spirit because of His blindness for the Jews! Jesus even chastised Peter when Peter said, “Far be it from you to go to Jerusalem and die, Lord!” And when some Pharisees tried to dissuade Him from going there, you just read in the second portion of Scripture what His response was.
The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Agabus that, if Paul persisted in going to Jerusalem, he would be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. This was prophecy, a foretelling of what was about to be, not a command to cease going there. I see nothing in the prophecy about not going to Jerusalem: I see a foretelling of what was to transpire there.
Jesus repeatedly foretold to His disciples what would transpire when He reached Jerusalem, in order to prepare them for the impending harsh events. In that way they could recognize God’s hand in the affairs, rather than think Jesus had failed. In the same way the Holy Spirit made it clear that what befell Paul in Jerusalem was the Lord’s doings, not Paul’s sinning. Paul expressed this quite eloquently to Agabus and the other Christians in his response to them. They pleaded with Paul not to go, and Paul answered,
What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus [Acts 21:13].
Let’s be sure we are walking by faith when we study the Bible, and when we make determinations about ourselves and others in life. The way of the world is to look at worldly success and think it proves God is for us. If we face struggles and failures and aren’t appreciated, well, then that proves God is against us because we did our own thing.
Dear friends, such a viewpoint is NOT spiritual reality. It is worldly delusion. It is whistling Dixie. Let’s talk to the Lord Jesus about this issue for a spell. We will be blessed by our time spent with Him.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
Let’s continue our rebuttal of those who claim Paul should not have taken the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem. We will begin by going to the beginning of this study and rereading the second portion of Scripture recorded there… Okay, we’ve reread it. Now let’s present additional evidence to support Paul.
Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would be ridiculed and tortured and put to death. This didn’t detour Jesus from going there anyway. He wasn’t being stubborn against the Holy Spirit because of His blindness for the Jews! Jesus even chastised Peter when Peter said, “Far be it from you to go to Jerusalem and die, Lord!” And when some Pharisees tried to dissuade Him from going there, you just read in the second portion of Scripture what His response was.
The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Agabus that, if Paul persisted in going to Jerusalem, he would be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. This was prophecy, a foretelling of what was about to be, not a command to cease going there. I see nothing in the prophecy about not going to Jerusalem: I see a foretelling of what was to transpire there.
Jesus repeatedly foretold to His disciples what would transpire when He reached Jerusalem, in order to prepare them for the impending harsh events. In that way they could recognize God’s hand in the affairs, rather than think Jesus had failed. In the same way the Holy Spirit made it clear that what befell Paul in Jerusalem was the Lord’s doings, not Paul’s sinning. Paul expressed this quite eloquently to Agabus and the other Christians in his response to them. They pleaded with Paul not to go, and Paul answered,
What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus [Acts 21:13].
Let’s be sure we are walking by faith when we study the Bible, and when we make determinations about ourselves and others in life. The way of the world is to look at worldly success and think it proves God is for us. If we face struggles and failures and aren’t appreciated, well, then that proves God is against us because we did our own thing.
Dear friends, such a viewpoint is NOT spiritual reality. It is worldly delusion. It is whistling Dixie. Let’s talk to the Lord Jesus about this issue for a spell. We will be blessed by our time spent with Him.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Keep Your Eye on the Ball – Part 1
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness [Lamentations 3:21-23].
I’ve had my fair share of personal tragedies in my lifetime. In fact I’d venture to say that I’ve endured some of yours too! Some of these tragedies were difficult, not to understate the matter. Others were excruciating, in some ways crippling me for life.
Often I’ve looked around and wondered why I have to face so many trials, so many insurmountable obstacles. Why, Lord, can’t you let someone else enjoy them for a while? Why me, Lord? I didn’t volunteer to be a punching bag. I don’t qualify for the “He-man of the Year” award, that I should be considered strong enough to bear such a multitude of beatings! Why me?
You know, the longer I carried on suchlike verbiage, the worse off I became. It never failed. When I crawled on my belly and whined incessantly, things only became worse. And here I thought they couldn’t get any worse! Nothing constructive ever comes of pity parties, dear friends. And if they’re not constructive, guess what? They’re destructive! This is why things only got worse when I employed that approach. It is destructive.
But you know, there is much more to be garnered from these observations. When I whined to the Lord and felt sorry for myself—and it doesn’t matter whether or not, or how much, truth was involved in my complaints—but when I behaved in such a fashion, I had my eyes fixed on the problems and on myself. This is known in Biblical parlance as walking by sight. I determined reality based on what my eyes told me was real.
If anyone ever had real trials and tribulations to endure, Jeremiah sure qualified! He was badgered and beaten and abused pretty much his entire adult life, and this by his own countrymen. In fact the citizens of his own town, Anathoth, were the worst lot amongst his antagonists. You would think he could at least catch a break in his hometown!
Jeremiah had to bring the Word of the Lord to the Israelites during one of the most depraved periods in their history. Consequently they were about as virulent and vengeful as any apostate people could ever be. They contemned Jeremiah for speaking the true words of God because the Lord condemned them for their outrageous sinning, and they had no intentions of repenting!
Oh, dear. Out of time again. We will continue this topic on the morrow. Enjoy some time alone with Jesus now, why don’cha?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I’ve had my fair share of personal tragedies in my lifetime. In fact I’d venture to say that I’ve endured some of yours too! Some of these tragedies were difficult, not to understate the matter. Others were excruciating, in some ways crippling me for life.
Often I’ve looked around and wondered why I have to face so many trials, so many insurmountable obstacles. Why, Lord, can’t you let someone else enjoy them for a while? Why me, Lord? I didn’t volunteer to be a punching bag. I don’t qualify for the “He-man of the Year” award, that I should be considered strong enough to bear such a multitude of beatings! Why me?
You know, the longer I carried on suchlike verbiage, the worse off I became. It never failed. When I crawled on my belly and whined incessantly, things only became worse. And here I thought they couldn’t get any worse! Nothing constructive ever comes of pity parties, dear friends. And if they’re not constructive, guess what? They’re destructive! This is why things only got worse when I employed that approach. It is destructive.
But you know, there is much more to be garnered from these observations. When I whined to the Lord and felt sorry for myself—and it doesn’t matter whether or not, or how much, truth was involved in my complaints—but when I behaved in such a fashion, I had my eyes fixed on the problems and on myself. This is known in Biblical parlance as walking by sight. I determined reality based on what my eyes told me was real.
If anyone ever had real trials and tribulations to endure, Jeremiah sure qualified! He was badgered and beaten and abused pretty much his entire adult life, and this by his own countrymen. In fact the citizens of his own town, Anathoth, were the worst lot amongst his antagonists. You would think he could at least catch a break in his hometown!
Jeremiah had to bring the Word of the Lord to the Israelites during one of the most depraved periods in their history. Consequently they were about as virulent and vengeful as any apostate people could ever be. They contemned Jeremiah for speaking the true words of God because the Lord condemned them for their outrageous sinning, and they had no intentions of repenting!
Oh, dear. Out of time again. We will continue this topic on the morrow. Enjoy some time alone with Jesus now, why don’cha?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Keep Your Eye on the Ball – Part 2
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness [Lamentations 3:21-23].
We left off yesterday by noting how Jeremiah had to endure the most raucous belligerence from the Israelites. He was the Lord’s prophet to them during a time of utter apostasy, and they hated him with a vengeance for proclaiming the Lord’s judgment on them. Jeremiah was daily beleaguered by his fellow Israelites.
That much in and of itself sufficed to make Jeremiah’s ministry unenviable. But then there came the cherry on top. After the Lord dispersed the Israelites into Babylonian exile, the remnant of the people kidnapped Jeremiah and forced him to hie off to Egypt with them.
This was in direct violation to the Lord’s express command to them to remain in the land of Israel and not go to Egypt. Consequently the Israelites were continuing in their rebellion against the Lord. This could only result in the Lord’s curses alighting on them…and Jeremiah was with them! Ergo, Jeremiah had to suffer God’s wrath right along with them.
Jeremiah is often referred to as “the weeping prophet”. He had to endure the sight of his people suffering the Lord’s vengeance for their outright apostasy. The people were conquered by the Babylonians and taken as slaves to Babylon. The city of Jerusalem was leveled and the temple ransacked and burned. Jewish women were raped in public, and Jewish babies were seized by the feet and their heads dashed against the rocks. Nothing was left of the Lord’s witness in Israel.
If anyone deserved to wallow in self-pity, Jeremiah qualified! But it wasn’t Jeremiah’s style. He was a true man of God, a prophet of the Lord who fearlessly proclaimed the true Word of God to his people, regardless of the consequences. Jeremiah succeeded at this without losing heart and becoming demoralized because of one thing: he didn’t walk by sight but by faith. He believed the Word of God which cannot fail, rather than eyesight which usually does fail.
Read the words quoted at the start of this study. Jeremiah didn’t look at how bad everything was and resign himself to helpless, hopeless defeat. He looked at the Lord and took Him at His Word. He knew the defeat was temporary. The Lord promised him that the Babylonian exile would last for seventy years and no longer. Then the Lord would return Israel to the land and rebuild the temple and city.
All around Jeremiah the temple was aflame and the city of Jerusalem a smoldering ruins. It didn’t deter Jeremiah. He looked away from the temporality of the world and turned his gaze to the Lord to see eternal reality. He ejaculated, “I have hope! The Lord never leaves me or forsakes me. He is faithful, even when I am not. His mercies never fail. They are new every morning.”
I learned a lot from Jeremiah, and I’m much the better for it. Permit me to encourage you to open your heart to the Word of the Lord through Jeremiah. You too will be better equipped to face life’s ordeals.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We left off yesterday by noting how Jeremiah had to endure the most raucous belligerence from the Israelites. He was the Lord’s prophet to them during a time of utter apostasy, and they hated him with a vengeance for proclaiming the Lord’s judgment on them. Jeremiah was daily beleaguered by his fellow Israelites.
That much in and of itself sufficed to make Jeremiah’s ministry unenviable. But then there came the cherry on top. After the Lord dispersed the Israelites into Babylonian exile, the remnant of the people kidnapped Jeremiah and forced him to hie off to Egypt with them.
This was in direct violation to the Lord’s express command to them to remain in the land of Israel and not go to Egypt. Consequently the Israelites were continuing in their rebellion against the Lord. This could only result in the Lord’s curses alighting on them…and Jeremiah was with them! Ergo, Jeremiah had to suffer God’s wrath right along with them.
Jeremiah is often referred to as “the weeping prophet”. He had to endure the sight of his people suffering the Lord’s vengeance for their outright apostasy. The people were conquered by the Babylonians and taken as slaves to Babylon. The city of Jerusalem was leveled and the temple ransacked and burned. Jewish women were raped in public, and Jewish babies were seized by the feet and their heads dashed against the rocks. Nothing was left of the Lord’s witness in Israel.
If anyone deserved to wallow in self-pity, Jeremiah qualified! But it wasn’t Jeremiah’s style. He was a true man of God, a prophet of the Lord who fearlessly proclaimed the true Word of God to his people, regardless of the consequences. Jeremiah succeeded at this without losing heart and becoming demoralized because of one thing: he didn’t walk by sight but by faith. He believed the Word of God which cannot fail, rather than eyesight which usually does fail.
Read the words quoted at the start of this study. Jeremiah didn’t look at how bad everything was and resign himself to helpless, hopeless defeat. He looked at the Lord and took Him at His Word. He knew the defeat was temporary. The Lord promised him that the Babylonian exile would last for seventy years and no longer. Then the Lord would return Israel to the land and rebuild the temple and city.
All around Jeremiah the temple was aflame and the city of Jerusalem a smoldering ruins. It didn’t deter Jeremiah. He looked away from the temporality of the world and turned his gaze to the Lord to see eternal reality. He ejaculated, “I have hope! The Lord never leaves me or forsakes me. He is faithful, even when I am not. His mercies never fail. They are new every morning.”
I learned a lot from Jeremiah, and I’m much the better for it. Permit me to encourage you to open your heart to the Word of the Lord through Jeremiah. You too will be better equipped to face life’s ordeals.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Whistling Dixie – Part 1
But the Lord said to him (i.e., to Ananias), “Go, for he (i.e., Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15-16]
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
I remember the time I accepted the Lord’s call to ministry. It was a process because I needed time to weigh the consequences and determine whether or not I was prepared to make the sacrifices necessary. After bowing to the Lord’s will—and that with the greatest relish—I announced it to the church.
Some folks were congratulatory, but others expressed words of discouragement to me. The discouragers were looking out for my best interests, at least in their own eyes. Trouble was, they viewed the matter according to the flesh. They based their conclusion on my background and things of that nature. They didn’t see the Lord’s hand in the call because they walked by sight in making their judgment.
The Lord’s call to ministry is based on His own purpose and grace, dear friends. It is NOT based on man’s worthiness or background. The Lord chooses the weak things, the beggarly elements of mankind, in order to show His own power and worth. If He depended on the worldly strong or wise or wealthy or high class folks to accomplish His goals, then it would appear they achieved success by their own abilities.
I’m discussing this issue because today’s study is about the Apostle Paul’s call to ministry. Paul was originally known as Saul. I’ve read in books and heard in sermons that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Therefore he should not have gone to Jerusalem to the Jews. It is claimed that the Holy Spirit even told him as much on his way there. But Paul was too determined to reach the Jews, when all along his ministry was to the Gentiles. Consequently Paul was imprisoned and his ministry hampered.
To support such a position Scripture is quoted. Let’s read a sample together, shall we?
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” [Acts 21:10-11]
And then with glee it is alleged, “See! The Holy Spirit told Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul wouldn’t listen. He was too stubborn to obey the Holy Spirit because of his blindness for the Jews.”
In our next study we will investigate these claims. For now let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve discussed today.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
I remember the time I accepted the Lord’s call to ministry. It was a process because I needed time to weigh the consequences and determine whether or not I was prepared to make the sacrifices necessary. After bowing to the Lord’s will—and that with the greatest relish—I announced it to the church.
Some folks were congratulatory, but others expressed words of discouragement to me. The discouragers were looking out for my best interests, at least in their own eyes. Trouble was, they viewed the matter according to the flesh. They based their conclusion on my background and things of that nature. They didn’t see the Lord’s hand in the call because they walked by sight in making their judgment.
The Lord’s call to ministry is based on His own purpose and grace, dear friends. It is NOT based on man’s worthiness or background. The Lord chooses the weak things, the beggarly elements of mankind, in order to show His own power and worth. If He depended on the worldly strong or wise or wealthy or high class folks to accomplish His goals, then it would appear they achieved success by their own abilities.
I’m discussing this issue because today’s study is about the Apostle Paul’s call to ministry. Paul was originally known as Saul. I’ve read in books and heard in sermons that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Therefore he should not have gone to Jerusalem to the Jews. It is claimed that the Holy Spirit even told him as much on his way there. But Paul was too determined to reach the Jews, when all along his ministry was to the Gentiles. Consequently Paul was imprisoned and his ministry hampered.
To support such a position Scripture is quoted. Let’s read a sample together, shall we?
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” [Acts 21:10-11]
And then with glee it is alleged, “See! The Holy Spirit told Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul wouldn’t listen. He was too stubborn to obey the Holy Spirit because of his blindness for the Jews.”
In our next study we will investigate these claims. For now let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve discussed today.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Whistling Dixie – Part 2
But the Lord said to him (i.e., to Ananias), “Go, for he (i.e., Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15-16]
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
In our last study we paused after hearing the claims against Paul’s ministry to the Jews. Now let’s begin with our investigation of these claims.
All I can say is, “Wow! Let’s all go home and throw in the towel. No need to pursue this discussion any further, with such formidable and indisputable evidence quelling any other understanding.” But no, I don’t want to go home and throw in the towel. I don’t concede any such evidence exists to show that Paul was doing his own thing, when he took the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem.
Two different portions of Scripture are recorded to start this study. The first one records Paul’s call to ministry from the Lord Jesus. Read it again at this time, please. I’ll wait a second for you to do so… Okay. What did the Lord declare Paul was to do? Let’s use a bulleted list to itemize Paul’s ministry. He was to bear My name,
• before the Gentiles
• before kings
• before the sons of Israel
When Paul performed his ministry before those three categories of persons, there would be consequences to pay. Listen to the Lord express them: for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake. Let us be aware that, as Paul proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of the world to each category of persons, he would suffer from each category for bringing Jesus to them.
Category #1, “The Gentiles”: this refers to every human being who is not a Hebrew by birth or by proselytism. When Paul went to the Gentiles with the Gospel, he was routinely persecuted by both the Jews and the Gentiles.
Category #2, “Kings”: As he went throughout the Roman world preaching the Gospel, Paul appeared before kings as well as other public officials. Sometimes he was received agreeably, at other times with indifference, while on still other occasions he endured extreme persecution.
Category #3, “the sons of Israel”: this refers to those whose forefather was Jacob/Israel, as well as to those Gentiles who converted to Judaism and were thereby incorporated into the Lord’s covenant with Israel. Paul preached to his fellow Israelites both in Israel and in the diaspora (i.e., the Jews who were dispersed in locations outside of Israel).
In every town he entered to share Jesus Paul went to the synagogues first before going to the Gentiles. He wanted to allow his fellow Jews to have their chance to receive their Messiah before the Gentiles did. Paul said unabashedly that the Gospel is to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16). Whether he preached the Gospel to the Jews in Israel or to the Jews in the diaspora, Paul faced extreme persecution for doing so—just as he did when he proclaimed Jesus to the Gentiles and to kings.
You see, the Gospel provokes hostility and violence from sinners. It doesn’t matter one whit whether they be Jews or Gentiles, dear friends. God called Paul to take the Gospel to three categories of people, and God warned Paul of what he would encounter when he did so. Paul wasn’t doing wrong when he went to all three categories. He was obeying the Word of God. Had he not done so, he would have been sinning. He said, “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel!”
We will conclude this analysis in our next study. In the interim weigh the evidence for yourself. Be in prayer and meditate on the matter. And may the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
In our last study we paused after hearing the claims against Paul’s ministry to the Jews. Now let’s begin with our investigation of these claims.
All I can say is, “Wow! Let’s all go home and throw in the towel. No need to pursue this discussion any further, with such formidable and indisputable evidence quelling any other understanding.” But no, I don’t want to go home and throw in the towel. I don’t concede any such evidence exists to show that Paul was doing his own thing, when he took the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem.
Two different portions of Scripture are recorded to start this study. The first one records Paul’s call to ministry from the Lord Jesus. Read it again at this time, please. I’ll wait a second for you to do so… Okay. What did the Lord declare Paul was to do? Let’s use a bulleted list to itemize Paul’s ministry. He was to bear My name,
• before the Gentiles
• before kings
• before the sons of Israel
When Paul performed his ministry before those three categories of persons, there would be consequences to pay. Listen to the Lord express them: for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake. Let us be aware that, as Paul proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of the world to each category of persons, he would suffer from each category for bringing Jesus to them.
Category #1, “The Gentiles”: this refers to every human being who is not a Hebrew by birth or by proselytism. When Paul went to the Gentiles with the Gospel, he was routinely persecuted by both the Jews and the Gentiles.
Category #2, “Kings”: As he went throughout the Roman world preaching the Gospel, Paul appeared before kings as well as other public officials. Sometimes he was received agreeably, at other times with indifference, while on still other occasions he endured extreme persecution.
Category #3, “the sons of Israel”: this refers to those whose forefather was Jacob/Israel, as well as to those Gentiles who converted to Judaism and were thereby incorporated into the Lord’s covenant with Israel. Paul preached to his fellow Israelites both in Israel and in the diaspora (i.e., the Jews who were dispersed in locations outside of Israel).
In every town he entered to share Jesus Paul went to the synagogues first before going to the Gentiles. He wanted to allow his fellow Jews to have their chance to receive their Messiah before the Gentiles did. Paul said unabashedly that the Gospel is to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16). Whether he preached the Gospel to the Jews in Israel or to the Jews in the diaspora, Paul faced extreme persecution for doing so—just as he did when he proclaimed Jesus to the Gentiles and to kings.
You see, the Gospel provokes hostility and violence from sinners. It doesn’t matter one whit whether they be Jews or Gentiles, dear friends. God called Paul to take the Gospel to three categories of people, and God warned Paul of what he would encounter when he did so. Paul wasn’t doing wrong when he went to all three categories. He was obeying the Word of God. Had he not done so, he would have been sinning. He said, “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel!”
We will conclude this analysis in our next study. In the interim weigh the evidence for yourself. Be in prayer and meditate on the matter. And may the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Whistling Dixie – Part 3
But the Lord said to him (i.e., to Ananias), “Go, for he (i.e., Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15-16]
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
Let’s continue our rebuttal of those who claim Paul should not have taken the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem. We will begin by going to the beginning of this study and rereading the second portion of Scripture recorded there… Okay, we’ve reread it. Now let’s present additional evidence to support Paul.
Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would be ridiculed and tortured and put to death. This didn’t detour Jesus from going there anyway. He wasn’t being stubborn against the Holy Spirit because of His blindness for the Jews! Jesus even chastised Peter when Peter said, “Far be it from you to go to Jerusalem and die, Lord!” And when some Pharisees tried to dissuade Him from going there, you just read in the second portion of Scripture what His response was.
The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Agabus that, if Paul persisted in going to Jerusalem, he would be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. This was prophecy, a foretelling of what was about to be, not a command to cease going there. I see nothing in the prophecy about not going to Jerusalem: I see a foretelling of what was to transpire there.
Jesus repeatedly foretold to His disciples what would transpire when He reached Jerusalem, in order to prepare them for the impending harsh events. In that way they could recognize God’s hand in the affairs, rather than think Jesus had failed. In the same way the Holy Spirit made it clear that what befell Paul in Jerusalem was the Lord’s doings, not Paul’s sinning. Paul expressed this quite eloquently to Agabus and the other Christians in his response to them. They pleaded with Paul not to go, and Paul answered,
What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus [Acts 21:13].
Let’s be sure we are walking by faith when we study the Bible, and when we make determinations about ourselves and others in life. The way of the world is to look at worldly success and think it proves God is for us. If we face struggles and failures and aren’t appreciated, well, then that proves God is against us because we did our own thing.
Dear friends, such a viewpoint is NOT spiritual reality. It is worldly delusion. It is whistling Dixie. Let’s talk to the Lord Jesus about this issue for a spell. We will be blessed by our time spent with Him.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
Let’s continue our rebuttal of those who claim Paul should not have taken the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem. We will begin by going to the beginning of this study and rereading the second portion of Scripture recorded there… Okay, we’ve reread it. Now let’s present additional evidence to support Paul.
Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would be ridiculed and tortured and put to death. This didn’t detour Jesus from going there anyway. He wasn’t being stubborn against the Holy Spirit because of His blindness for the Jews! Jesus even chastised Peter when Peter said, “Far be it from you to go to Jerusalem and die, Lord!” And when some Pharisees tried to dissuade Him from going there, you just read in the second portion of Scripture what His response was.
The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Agabus that, if Paul persisted in going to Jerusalem, he would be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. This was prophecy, a foretelling of what was about to be, not a command to cease going there. I see nothing in the prophecy about not going to Jerusalem: I see a foretelling of what was to transpire there.
Jesus repeatedly foretold to His disciples what would transpire when He reached Jerusalem, in order to prepare them for the impending harsh events. In that way they could recognize God’s hand in the affairs, rather than think Jesus had failed. In the same way the Holy Spirit made it clear that what befell Paul in Jerusalem was the Lord’s doings, not Paul’s sinning. Paul expressed this quite eloquently to Agabus and the other Christians in his response to them. They pleaded with Paul not to go, and Paul answered,
What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus [Acts 21:13].
Let’s be sure we are walking by faith when we study the Bible, and when we make determinations about ourselves and others in life. The way of the world is to look at worldly success and think it proves God is for us. If we face struggles and failures and aren’t appreciated, well, then that proves God is against us because we did our own thing.
Dear friends, such a viewpoint is NOT spiritual reality. It is worldly delusion. It is whistling Dixie. Let’s talk to the Lord Jesus about this issue for a spell. We will be blessed by our time spent with Him.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Keep Your Eye on the Ball – Part 1
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness [Lamentations 3:21-23].
I’ve had my fair share of personal tragedies in my lifetime. In fact I’d venture to say that I’ve endured some of yours too! Some of these tragedies were difficult, not to understate the matter. Others were excruciating, in some ways crippling me for life.
Often I’ve looked around and wondered why I have to face so many trials, so many insurmountable obstacles. Why, Lord, can’t you let someone else enjoy them for a while? Why me, Lord? I didn’t volunteer to be a punching bag. I don’t qualify for the “He-man of the Year” award, that I should be considered strong enough to bear such a multitude of beatings! Why me?
You know, the longer I carried on suchlike verbiage, the worse off I became. It never failed. When I crawled on my belly and whined incessantly, things only became worse. And here I thought they couldn’t get any worse! Nothing constructive ever comes of pity parties, dear friends. And if they’re not constructive, guess what? They’re destructive! This is why things only got worse when I employed that approach. It is destructive.
But you know, there is much more to be garnered from these observations. When I whined to the Lord and felt sorry for myself—and it doesn’t matter whether or not, or how much, truth was involved in my complaints—but when I behaved in such a fashion, I had my eyes fixed on the problems and on myself. This is known in Biblical parlance as walking by sight. I determined reality based on what my eyes told me was real.
If anyone ever had real trials and tribulations to endure, Jeremiah sure qualified! He was badgered and beaten and abused pretty much his entire adult life, and this by his own countrymen. In fact the citizens of his own town, Anathoth, were the worst lot amongst his antagonists. You would think he could at least catch a break in his hometown!
Jeremiah had to bring the Word of the Lord to the Israelites during one of the most depraved periods in their history. Consequently they were about as virulent and vengeful as any apostate people could ever be. They contemned Jeremiah for speaking the true words of God because the Lord condemned them for their outrageous sinning, and they had no intentions of repenting!
Oh, dear. Out of time again. We will continue this topic on the morrow. Enjoy some time alone with Jesus now, why don’cha?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
I’ve had my fair share of personal tragedies in my lifetime. In fact I’d venture to say that I’ve endured some of yours too! Some of these tragedies were difficult, not to understate the matter. Others were excruciating, in some ways crippling me for life.
Often I’ve looked around and wondered why I have to face so many trials, so many insurmountable obstacles. Why, Lord, can’t you let someone else enjoy them for a while? Why me, Lord? I didn’t volunteer to be a punching bag. I don’t qualify for the “He-man of the Year” award, that I should be considered strong enough to bear such a multitude of beatings! Why me?
You know, the longer I carried on suchlike verbiage, the worse off I became. It never failed. When I crawled on my belly and whined incessantly, things only became worse. And here I thought they couldn’t get any worse! Nothing constructive ever comes of pity parties, dear friends. And if they’re not constructive, guess what? They’re destructive! This is why things only got worse when I employed that approach. It is destructive.
But you know, there is much more to be garnered from these observations. When I whined to the Lord and felt sorry for myself—and it doesn’t matter whether or not, or how much, truth was involved in my complaints—but when I behaved in such a fashion, I had my eyes fixed on the problems and on myself. This is known in Biblical parlance as walking by sight. I determined reality based on what my eyes told me was real.
If anyone ever had real trials and tribulations to endure, Jeremiah sure qualified! He was badgered and beaten and abused pretty much his entire adult life, and this by his own countrymen. In fact the citizens of his own town, Anathoth, were the worst lot amongst his antagonists. You would think he could at least catch a break in his hometown!
Jeremiah had to bring the Word of the Lord to the Israelites during one of the most depraved periods in their history. Consequently they were about as virulent and vengeful as any apostate people could ever be. They contemned Jeremiah for speaking the true words of God because the Lord condemned them for their outrageous sinning, and they had no intentions of repenting!
Oh, dear. Out of time again. We will continue this topic on the morrow. Enjoy some time alone with Jesus now, why don’cha?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Keep Your Eye on the Ball – Part 2
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness [Lamentations 3:21-23].
We left off yesterday by noting how Jeremiah had to endure the most raucous belligerence from the Israelites. He was the Lord’s prophet to them during a time of utter apostasy, and they hated him with a vengeance for proclaiming the Lord’s judgment on them. Jeremiah was daily beleaguered by his fellow Israelites.
That much in and of itself sufficed to make Jeremiah’s ministry unenviable. But then there came the cherry on top. After the Lord dispersed the Israelites into Babylonian exile, the remnant of the people kidnapped Jeremiah and forced him to hie off to Egypt with them.
This was in direct violation to the Lord’s express command to them to remain in the land of Israel and not go to Egypt. Consequently the Israelites were continuing in their rebellion against the Lord. This could only result in the Lord’s curses alighting on them…and Jeremiah was with them! Ergo, Jeremiah had to suffer God’s wrath right along with them.
Jeremiah is often referred to as “the weeping prophet”. He had to endure the sight of his people suffering the Lord’s vengeance for their outright apostasy. The people were conquered by the Babylonians and taken as slaves to Babylon. The city of Jerusalem was leveled and the temple ransacked and burned. Jewish women were raped in public, and Jewish babies were seized by the feet and their heads dashed against the rocks. Nothing was left of the Lord’s witness in Israel.
If anyone deserved to wallow in self-pity, Jeremiah qualified! But it wasn’t Jeremiah’s style. He was a true man of God, a prophet of the Lord who fearlessly proclaimed the true Word of God to his people, regardless of the consequences. Jeremiah succeeded at this without losing heart and becoming demoralized because of one thing: he didn’t walk by sight but by faith. He believed the Word of God which cannot fail, rather than eyesight which usually does fail.
Read the words quoted at the start of this study. Jeremiah didn’t look at how bad everything was and resign himself to helpless, hopeless defeat. He looked at the Lord and took Him at His Word. He knew the defeat was temporary. The Lord promised him that the Babylonian exile would last for seventy years and no longer. Then the Lord would return Israel to the land and rebuild the temple and city.
All around Jeremiah the temple was aflame and the city of Jerusalem a smoldering ruins. It didn’t deter Jeremiah. He looked away from the temporality of the world and turned his gaze to the Lord to see eternal reality. He ejaculated, “I have hope! The Lord never leaves me or forsakes me. He is faithful, even when I am not. His mercies never fail. They are new every morning.”
I learned a lot from Jeremiah, and I’m much the better for it. Permit me to encourage you to open your heart to the Word of the Lord through Jeremiah. You too will be better equipped to face life’s ordeals.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
We left off yesterday by noting how Jeremiah had to endure the most raucous belligerence from the Israelites. He was the Lord’s prophet to them during a time of utter apostasy, and they hated him with a vengeance for proclaiming the Lord’s judgment on them. Jeremiah was daily beleaguered by his fellow Israelites.
That much in and of itself sufficed to make Jeremiah’s ministry unenviable. But then there came the cherry on top. After the Lord dispersed the Israelites into Babylonian exile, the remnant of the people kidnapped Jeremiah and forced him to hie off to Egypt with them.
This was in direct violation to the Lord’s express command to them to remain in the land of Israel and not go to Egypt. Consequently the Israelites were continuing in their rebellion against the Lord. This could only result in the Lord’s curses alighting on them…and Jeremiah was with them! Ergo, Jeremiah had to suffer God’s wrath right along with them.
Jeremiah is often referred to as “the weeping prophet”. He had to endure the sight of his people suffering the Lord’s vengeance for their outright apostasy. The people were conquered by the Babylonians and taken as slaves to Babylon. The city of Jerusalem was leveled and the temple ransacked and burned. Jewish women were raped in public, and Jewish babies were seized by the feet and their heads dashed against the rocks. Nothing was left of the Lord’s witness in Israel.
If anyone deserved to wallow in self-pity, Jeremiah qualified! But it wasn’t Jeremiah’s style. He was a true man of God, a prophet of the Lord who fearlessly proclaimed the true Word of God to his people, regardless of the consequences. Jeremiah succeeded at this without losing heart and becoming demoralized because of one thing: he didn’t walk by sight but by faith. He believed the Word of God which cannot fail, rather than eyesight which usually does fail.
Read the words quoted at the start of this study. Jeremiah didn’t look at how bad everything was and resign himself to helpless, hopeless defeat. He looked at the Lord and took Him at His Word. He knew the defeat was temporary. The Lord promised him that the Babylonian exile would last for seventy years and no longer. Then the Lord would return Israel to the land and rebuild the temple and city.
All around Jeremiah the temple was aflame and the city of Jerusalem a smoldering ruins. It didn’t deter Jeremiah. He looked away from the temporality of the world and turned his gaze to the Lord to see eternal reality. He ejaculated, “I have hope! The Lord never leaves me or forsakes me. He is faithful, even when I am not. His mercies never fail. They are new every morning.”
I learned a lot from Jeremiah, and I’m much the better for it. Permit me to encourage you to open your heart to the Word of the Lord through Jeremiah. You too will be better equipped to face life’s ordeals.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
