One Year Bible - October 8, 2010

JEREMIAH 10:1 - 11:23                                                                                                  
"THE WAYS OF THE HEATHEN":  When threatened, people start casting around for something to hang onto! Sometimes any old thing will do if it looks secure.  Don't be trained in the lifestyle or ways of thinking of non-believers.   Valuing the things that they value is "vain" - useless, worthless, empty, a waste of time and a waste of money.  Are v 3-4 talking about a Christmas tree?  I hope not!  Just remember: v.5 says that it intrinsically cannot do either evil or good.  Just don't allow it to become a substitute for God.  V. 10 "The Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting king..."  Any substitute of counterfeit for God that we are depending on, that has never created anything on earth or in heaven, cannot save us because they are perishing too (v.15).

EXILE IS CERTAIN: To be in exile is to be in a hostile environment, thrown entirely on the Lord for safety and for provision of every kind.   If you are not part of God's remnant, (those who come through, not escape or "survive intact") then you will be nothing but the world's slave.  But God's remnant are still under God's watch, still able to perform His purpose.  Which will we be?   No one can direct his own steps.   You can be God's servant or the servant of sin.

WARNINGS & REBUKES (chap 11-23)!!!

CHAP 11: OBEY GOD OR DIE:  The prophet must walk up and down the roads and streets and call out to people and hold out the "constitution" by which the nation was formed (their covenant with God).   Compare yourself with the original agreement and see how you've failed. Obey God and be blessed.  Disobey God and be cursed.  Those were the terms under which God gave them the Land (living in the care and presence of God).  V.8 says they breached the agreement and now they are subject to the curses.

CONSPIRACY:  They conspired to overthrow God!  They did all they could to subvert the authority of Scripture.  They tempted people to follow their gods (themselves).  Who did this? People inside the church!   Remember Rev 13 shows us two beasts: a "world" beast and a "church" beast!  The church-beast looked like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon! (13:11).  It looked like a Christian, but was beastly (antichristian) in nature and in purpose.  It's plan is to put its followers under the power of the world-beast.  So we blend in.  Then there will be no more witness to Truth.   BUT - - - the punishment has already been set in motion, and God won't change His mind.  Their prayers won't be heard.  Their gods(substitutes and counterfeits) can't save them.  Jeremiah's prayers can't help them.

What did they think they were doing?  God's "wife" was practicing lewdness in His house! He will no longer shelter her in His house.  They partook of the holy flesh from the Temple offerings, threw a pinch of incense to Baal's altar, and then rejoiced like nothing was wrong. (covering all their bases?)

MISUNDERSTOOD:  Jeremiah was a priest, from the priestly family, living in a town of priests - - - Anathoth.   Those are the people who are plotting to kill him for prophesying in the Name of the Lord.   Silence him or slay him.  God decided He would "visit" them.

RESPONSE:   There is a conspiracy afoot in America today.  A conspiracy to overthrow God. When I put it into writing, the very idea looks stupid.   But in practice, it isn't even subtle any more.  How does it work inside the church?   With people refusing to hear the Truth of God's Word.   With Christians too intimidated to practice their beliefs in public, outside their home or outside their churches.   Silence us or slay us.  That's their plan.

COLOSSIANS 3:18 - 4:18                                                                                                 
HOUSEHOLD OF "AGAPE":  "Agape" characterizes the core of our personality as Believers.   "Agape" is an ATTITUTE and ACTION WORD for "love" in the NT.  It means to give up one's self-interest to serve and care for another.  It is neither grudging or demeaning.  The testing ground for our new walk of faith is the home.  The goal here is to do what the Lord expects, not what our society accepts.  Men are to hold their wives in highest esteem, viewing them in the same way Christ views the Church!  Just as men "agape" their wives, the wives "hupotasso" their own husbands (to place herself at the disposal of another - much like "agape").  What is interesting is that neither word means "affection"!  The point being that knowing Jesus transforms all our relationships.

WISDOM TOWARD "OUTSIDERS":  Everything we do, we do it in gratitude to God.   When we react to what is going on around us, we do it God's Name, because that's Who we represent.   Our lives are dead, and hidden in Christ.   He indwells us and wants to express Himself through us, so we must live WISELY - navigating through a fallen world like Jesus would.  Use our influence where we can, interfere when we must, and intercede always.  We must "redeem the time" - use every opportunity.  If we give ourselves to prayer, then we can recognize the opportunities when they come.  Otherwise, it is difficult to know an open door when it's there.  The important thing to remember is that ALL OF LIFE IS LIVED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.  Our lives must be integrated - all of one piece. Because of the Cross (sufferings, death and resurrection) of Jesus, both FOR us, and AS us, we can strip away our old disgusting behaviors and live like He would.

RESPONSE:  I know that there are some things that I would ONLY do for Jesus!  In fact, many of the things I do every day, are things I wouldn't do if He weren't looking!  But, because I love Him, I get the dirt in the corners too.   Because I don't want to do a sloppy job for Jesus, I chop the onions real small in the casserole.   Because I want to please God, I am always gentle and uncondemning with vulnerable people when I help them.   I don't take shortcuts when I clean Mom's feet and clip her toenails. I think about the woman washing Jesus' feet with her tears because of her gratitude.  Jesus rescued me, set me free, healed me, washed me, loves me, is faithful to me ... gave me His grace, His Spirit, His power, His Word, His Name.   I want to do a "BANG-UP" job at whatever He gives me to do!

PSALM 78:56-72                                                                                                              
When Israel disobeyed and forgot their history, God chose Judah instead.  He forsook the tabernacle in Shiloh, gave the Ark of His Presence to our enemies, burned the town and the people in it, and started over in Jerusalem.  "Moreover" He abandoned the tribe of Joseph and Ephraim, and set His love and affection on Judah and Mt. Zion.   And DAVID the faithful shepherd of the sheep, became the faithful shepherd of the nation.

PROVERBS 24:28-29                                                                                                    
As an immature Christian, I could stay mad at someone for several weeks - even years!   If an opportunity opened up to get even with them, I'd take it!   And you know what?  It never satisfied anything.  It was never enough, never "evened things up".  This is because with "fairness" doctrine, the goal keeps moving.  There are a lot of emotions involved and so the bottom line keeps scooting around.   Jesus said "resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Mat 5:39)   This means that when someone offends us, we continue to be vulnerable enough that he can do it again.