Obey And Live… Or Not

Jeremiah 37, 38, 39

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Obey And Live… Or Not?” Starring, Jeremiah the prophet, King Zedekiah, the Wicked Princes, and Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

*Being a prophet in Bible times was always associated with unjust treatment from those who refused to accept the truth of God’s words, spoken by the prophet. In our text, the prophet Jeremiah had lived, and served under two wicked kings, but was now given a measure of respect, from king Zedekiah. Unfortunately, those who were close to this king, refused to accept and hearken to the prophecies God spoke through Jeremiah, and chose to make life hard for the prophet.

(During the reign of king Zedekiah, the land of Judah was was attacked by the Chaldeans, who’s onslaught was hindered for a moment, after the people of God received temporary assistance from Pharaoh Hophra and his army.)

King Zedekiah: Messengers, come forth! I need you go unto the prophet Jeremiah, and request that he send prayers unto the LORD our God for us.

(Jeremiah arrives before the king.)

Jeremiah: Oh great king, may thy reign be forever. The word of the Lord came unto me saying, “Pharoah’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land, and the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire. Thus saith LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.”

(During the commotion and dispersal after battle, Jeremiah then left Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself from the people.)

Captain of the Ward: (Sees Jeremiah approaching.) Halt! Who goes there? Are you with the Chaldeans, those who fought against God’s people?

Jeremiah: Absolutely not! That is false.

Captain of the Ward: I don’t believe you. Come with me.

(Jeremiah is taken before the princes.)

Wicked Princes: Who is this whom you bring before us?

Captain of the Ward: Some guy who got lost, but I’m certain he’s of the Chaldeans.

Wicked Princes: Is that so? Let’s beat him, then throw him in prison.

(The innocent prophet remained in prison many days.)

(King Zedekiah heard Jeremiah was in prison, and sent men to recover him.)

King Zedekiah: Jeremiah, prophet of the Lord, I am sorry for what happened to you.

Jeremiah: …

King Zedekiah: By the way, don’t mention this to anyone, but “Is there any word from the Lord?”

Jeremiah: “There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.

King Zedekiah: Oh my, geesh… I was not expecting to hear that again…sigh

Jeremiah: My king, what did I do to deserve all this?

King Zedekiah: What do you mean?

Jeremiah: Have I offended you, your servants, or your people? Why did you allow them to put me in prison? Where are all those prophets who prophesied unto you that the king of Babylon will not come against you, nor this land? Yet, I still stand before you with words from the Lord.

(Rather than release Jeremiah from prison altogether, king Zedekiah moved him to the court of the prison, no doubt to please the people.)

Wicked Princes: Oh king, we have heard the words spoken by Jeremiah, and we have concluded he deserves to be put to death! This man seeks not the welfare of the people, but to hurt them by weakening their hope with his words.

King Zedekiah: This is out of my hands, because there’s nothing I can do against your accusations.

(Jeremiah was cast into another prison, or dungeon, where there was no water.)

*Isn’t it strange, how when you do exactly what God tells you, things tend to get worse, before they get better?

Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch: Hey men, what’s going on? Why all the commotion and uproar?

Fellow Eunuch: Haven’t you heard the news? The prophet Jeremiah was left to die in the dungeon.

Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch: What?! Why?! Jeremiah is a true prophet of the LORD our God!

(The eunuch runs to the king, to plea for Jeremiah’s release.)

Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch: “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.”

*Isn’t it good to have someone in your life, who knows your walk with God is real, and will fight to keep you protected from wicked men?

King Zedekiah: Alright, take 30 men with you, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he dies.

(Jeremiah is brought before the king, and again he inquires a word from the Lord.)

King Zedekiah: Jeremiah, I want to ask you something, but you must tell me the truth, and leave nothing out.

Jeremiah: If I tell you, will you not put me to death?

King Zedekiah: You have my word, I will not put you to death. Now, tell me what you heard from the Lord.

Jeremiah: If you surrender unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then your soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your household shall live. But, if you refuse, the Chaldeans will burn this city, and you will not escape them. Obey the voice of the Lord, and it shall be well with you.

*Sounded simple enough, right? Well, king Zedekiah refused to listen to the words of the Lord and he and his household suffered a gruesome end. Although the prophet Jeremiah endured persecution for simply speaking the truth of God’s Word, he was spared by king Nebuchadnezzar, who offered the prophet of God protection and safety. Not only was Jeremiah spared, but God looked on Ebedmelech the Ethiopian Eunuch, and blessed him and his house, for looking after Jeremiah in his time of need.

*Suffering for the sake of the Gospel is hard sometimes, even to the point where death seems near, but God will always send someone to aid us on our journey, and help others see the light of God that shines within us. God will protect us, even when others refuse to accept us.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “Obey And Live…Or Not?” Thanks for tuning in.

From Suffering To Praise

Acts 4:13-22

The power of God working through the apostles in the New Testament, was typically accepted by the crowds of onlookers, yet shunned by men who were of distinct sects including Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees. These men were religious leaders, who held fast to the traditions of men, more than obeying the words of the Lord. Unlike the other heretical groups, the Sadducees did not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and were vocal (in our text) in acknowledging their distaste with Peter’s teaching through Jesus, and the resurrection from the dead.

In the previous chapter, Peter had healed a crippled beggar who was lame from birth, which caught the attention of many who witnessed the man walking, leaping, and praising God, all the way to the temple. There are many today, who receive a great blessing from God, then turn around and continue in their sin, but the man who was healed, took a straight path to church, after receiving his miracle! Many who heard the words of Peter (while teaching in the temple) totaled nearly 5,000! Wowzer!

After those pesky rulers arrived to the temple, they inquired by what power Peter healed the man. Peter’s response was led by the Holy Ghost, and threatened the religious leaders, who were more concerned with their reputations and positions, than the mighty works of the Lord. Rather than accepting the fact that an obvious miracle had taken place in a man who was lame over 40 years, coupled with the fact this event was also witnessed by many who knew the man, the Sadducees and rulers tried hard to find something to accuse the apostles for. The evidence of a miracle was irrefutable and overwhelming, yet the religious leaders refused to submit to Christ, and continued their efforts to suppress the truth.

How much more evidence does God need to reveal to you, before you surrender your life to Him? The obvious miracle is, we’re still alive, and in decent health, but God has much more in store for those who submit themselves to His will. Don’t be like the Sadducees and religious rulers, who witnessed God’s great work with their own eyes, yet rejected His way. Instead, yield yourselves to the Father, and allow Him to perform great works through you, as you live according to His purpose in the earth.

Traditions Of Men

Mark 7:1-8

Fighting the good fight of faith ain’t always easy, especially when there are always those who are content with finding fault in literally everything you do. As I approach the 40 year age mark, I’ve come to the conclusion, when a person receives God’s salvation, they are automatically assigned certain haters, who will make it their business to slander their name, no matter the cost.

Whether you do go, or not so good, your haters will make everything you do, seem as if it’s the end of the world, while at the same time, neglecting to correct the faults and issues in their own lives. This was an accurate account of the life of Jesus and those who followed after Him. Whether Jesus taught in synagogues, or in desert places, there would oftentimes be certain groups of Pharisees and scribes, who would investigate all that Jesus and His disciples did, in order to find fault in them. The sole purpose of those who hated Jesus was, to silence Him from speaking truth, but Jesus knew how to handle them in a way that actually should have change their hearts. Unfortunately, some had hearts of stone, and were too engulfed in themselves, until even the Son of God recognized when to let them be.

In our text, the Jews had a tradition that involved washing themselves in a proper way, before eating. Even after coming in from the market, the Jews would wash themselves accordingly, and only eat after they were considered clean. On a certain day, while performing their usual investigation, the scribes and Pharisees noticed some of Jesus’ disciples eating bread, without washing themselves beforehand, according to their tradition. As expected, these shallow-minded men were quick to bring their concern to Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, “Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?” If these men truly knew God as He was taught from generation to generation from the days of Moses, until their present time, they would have understood that man’s traditions can never supercede God’s commands, and would have refrained from mentioning this issue altogether. But, Jesus knew the intent of the men’s hearts, and exposed their wickedness by using Scripture. Jesus mentioned how the prophet Isaiah spoke of the future, when men would honor God with their lips, but not from their hearts. The Son of God continued and spoke how men were prophesied to worship God in vain, and teach doctrines of man’s commandments, while ignoring the commandments of God. Obviously, Jesus was referring to the scribes and Pharisees before Him, and literally called them, hypocrites, for caring more about keeping traditions to look holy in the midst of others, rather than humbling themselves by honoring the commandments of the Lord.

Never allow yourself to get caught up in what men deem as proper living, especially if it’s not taught in Scripture. Learn to live, not by the experiences of others, instead, by aligning your life with what’s taught in the Word. This way, you’ll never be deceived into making the traditions of men, more honorable than the commandments of God.

All Of You

Jeremiah 29:10-14

“…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matt. 22:37). Why does God require total soul surrender, and unrestricted dedication in order to receive all that He has prepared for those who love Him? Being the creator of all things, and the one who sustains creation, why doesn’t God freely grant blessings, long life, and health to all men, despite what standards they choose to live by? In His defense, God is willing and able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” but He can only stay true to His promises, when man meets certain conditions. In other words, you can’t withdraw money from a bank or institution of which you have no account with.

God requires all of us, because He made us for His purpose, and He takes pleasure in those who delight themselves in His Word. Man was created in the image of God, and after His likeness, then was placed in a garden where the Spirit of the Lord dwelled. Unfortunately, the perfect union between God and man was severed, after Adam disobeyed a simple command from the Lord. Adam lost his account with God’s bank, and was forced to leave the premises.

God desires all of us, including our hearts, minds, and souls, because He understands the great things we can accomplish in His strength. The Father is also aware of the fact that man can be influenced by satan, and submit themselves to his deceptive will as well. For this reason, it’s imperative that all men cling to godliness, and make daily meditation in the Word a priority. This way, the mind can be filled with the knowledge of God’s Word, the heart can be softened by the words of Scripture, and the soul can eventually become more bonded with the truth that’s revealed in the Holy Bible.

The Hard Way

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

Learning is one of life’s most fundamental virtues. In their beginning stages, babies learn to walk, talk, and manipulate their parents into submission of their wills. Adolescents take advantage of opportunities to grasp the rudimentary principles of education, including reading, writing, and arithmetic in school, or at home. High school graduates set goals to learn a specific trade or field of study, in hopes of contributing to society in their profession. Learning is extremely valuable, and allows for one to grow accordingly in specific areas of life, while avoiding the dangers associated with ignorance.

While learning is inherently good, the are times when some individuals require hard lessons, after refusing to abide by the rules and guidelines that govern proper learning standards. For example, a baby who makes a habit of flicking peas off their spoon, may get a little “pow pow” on their hand or wrist, in hopes they’ll learn to refrain from those actions in the future. Another example involves children who refuse to do their homework consistently, and could be reprimanded by their teacher, as well as their parent, who’s discipline is intended to push them to shift their focus back in the right direction. College students who find it more important to drink and party, rather than attend class, could find themselves arrested, thrown in jail, or even suspended for a time from school. Discipline is enforced solely to cause one to change their mind from behaving contrary to the standards they are expected to adhere to.

In our text, the apostle Paul enforced strict discipline on an individual who’s actions were unacceptable according to righteous standards. Although the early church was still in development, and the people were growing gradually by faith, there were some who deliberately went against the teaching of the Gospel, and participated in acts even the Gentiles were wise enough to avoid. What made matters worse was, those who knew about the man’s deliberate sinful act, were so consumed in their own affairs, they neglected to rebuke him for his evil deed. Paul, in his absence, commanded the church to gather in a meeting, and deliver the man unto satan, “for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Throughout the Christian community, there are debates as to the meaning of this text, but I’m more inclined to believe, the man who willfully sinned was excommunicated from the Corinthian church, and satan was permitted to afflict his body, which would eventually bring him to repentance.

Sometimes in life, we’ll go through times of difficulty, but only to shift our focus from satisfying our selfish needs, to fulfilling God’s purpose for us. Be mindful of straying too far away from biblical learning, as you continue to grow in grace, because there will always be times when you’re tempted to go against God’s standards, in favor of fulfilling worldly and selfish desires.

The Wages Of Sin 2

1 Kings 22:29-40

…all he had to do was listen, and obey! Like, he literally asked for an answer from the Lord, and received it, yet he refused to do the right thing! Seriously, Ahab?! Okay, let me start over. Have you ever needed help with something, and you couldn’t accomplish it on your own, but when help arrived, you turned it down? That thing you so desperately needed, in order to be successful, or in the case of Ahab, to stay alive, you chose rather to abide by the words of those who spoke lies, rather than truth. The Bible makes it very clear, king Ahab was the most evil man of his time, and was responsible for committing countless acts of wickedness, on behalf of Baal. When seeking a word of certain victory against the Syrians, Ahab’s false prophets were influenced by a spirit approved by God, to speak lies from their lips. The prophets confirmed (falsely), the king would fair well against the Syrians, but God spoke through the prophet Micaiah, warning the king he would suffer greatly, if he went to battle against Syria. In other words, God set before king Ahab life, and death, and gave him the power to choose which to acknowledge. Ahab literally hated Micaiah, because he usually spoke against the wickedness he sought approval for. Why hate a man for trying to save your soul? Oh senseless king. Unfortunately, Ahab ignored Micaiah’s godly advice, and was met with a disastrous end.

Despite how cruel and wicked some people become, God will continue to show them sincere love. But, when God’s warnings of judgment for disobedience are ignored, those same people condemn themselves to a disastrous end.

Obedience Leads To Victory

2 Kings 3:9-17

When life seems to be cool, calm, and collected for you, how often do you acknowledge God in your ways? Do you pray to the Father only in times of great need, or have you discovered that making daily prayer a part of your spiritual journey extremely beneficial?

Many of us forget to make God a healthy part of our day, but the moment times begin to get tough, we quickly come to our senses, and reach out to the One who can bring us the victory. God demands obedience from those who are in Christ Jesus, and expects them to walk in His ways, and keep His commandments regularly. But, the moment we allow ourselves to waver from God’s commands, the sooner we’ll find ourselves in deep water.

Our text gives a prime example of the importance of seeking first God’s kingdom and righteousness, before making decisions. In the New Testament, the victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave has already been won through Jesus, but the men in our text had yet to experience life after the resurrected Christ. Instead, they sought prophets of God, for confirmation of victory before they set out for battle. The kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom had set their minds to attack the men of Moab, because king Mesha of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel (for more details, reference chapter 3 in its entirety). As the three kings prepared to do battle against the Moabites, one of the men remembered how God used prophets to give word whether or not they would fair well in battle. The prophet Elisha was mentioned to the kings by one of the servants, and the men went quickly to seek him out. Elisha was hesitant at first to assist the kings, but then requested a minstrel to come and play an instrument, while he sought words from the Lord. God gave the prophet Elisha specific commands to tell the three kings, and if they were to obey them, they would cement their victory, but if they did not perform the easy commands from God, their fighting would be in vain.

Sometimes, it only takes simple obedience to receive the best from the Lord. Oftentimes, we make it hard for God to bless us by getting too comfortable in times when our money is good, and things are going well for us. But, whether we are in seasons of good or times of struggle, we should always seek to fulfill the will of the Father, and not become complacent, because only through obedience, can we guarantee victory in all areas of our lives.

Are You There?

Lamentations 5

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Are You There?” Starring, Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, and God, the Father! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

(Jeremiah calls to God, in hopes of pleading to Him for help.)

Jeremiah: (Ring! Ring! Ring!……Ring! Ring! Ring!)

Father:…

Jeremiah: Why won’t He answer, I know He’s always there? Sigh… I’ll keep trying. (Ring! Ring! Ring!……)

Father: (Picks up phone)…

Jeremiah: Hello Father, are you there?

Father:…

Jeremiah: Father, hello… can you hear me? It’s Jeremiah, your servant.

Father:…

Jeremiah: Father… sigh… I know you’ve rejected us, and are very angry with how we have been living, but we need your help!

Father:…

Jeremiah: Since we’ve turned away from you, things have gone from bad to really bad, and we are unable to save ourselves!

Father:…

Jeremiah: It’s evident you have called us to live according to righteousness, but our low standard of living has resulted in intense suffering!

Father:…

Jeremiah: Please Father, I know you see our struggles, so consider your people, and bring us back into your arms of protection!

Father:…

Jeremiah: All that we have been blessed with, has been taken by strangers; our inheritance, our houses, and we can’t rest because we are under heavy persecution!

Father:…

Jeremiah: Even the elders have refrained from serving, and our holy place is desolate! Father, please… restore us to our former glory in your presence! Do not forsake your people Lord. This is my prayer…

Father:…

*The longer we stray away from walking after righteousness, our sins will eventually find us out. The people of Jerusalem experienced the results of living contrary to God’s commandments, and were forced to suffer immensely. Although God heard the prayer of Jeremiah, He allowed the people a season of suffering, in hopes they would learn from the error of their ways, until He restored them once again. God loves His people, and will never abandon them, but when we continue in sin, He’ll allow seasons of suffering, in order to push us back into the right mindset and re-commit to serving Him.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “Are You There?” Thanks for tuning in.

Careful Consideration

Jeremiah 9:17-22

As a believer, and faithful follower of Christ, how do you properly treat those whom you love, that have made a habit of committing sin and iniquity? The world teaches that we should judge those who do wrong, and demand the most severe judgment upon them, but should a Christian share like demands with the world? God is love, and He loves those He created, but justice was set in place for all who break the law, commit a crime, or practice sin. The Bible teaches, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”, so all who make a habit of participating in sin activities, will soon receive just wages for doing so.

Knowing that all men are susceptible to error, those who are in God, should always be mindful how they treat people who fall. God the Father is the only judge, and we are to make attempts to restore those who make mistakes, and not sentence them to an eternity in exile, knowing that at any moment, we too can all fall into temptation, so it’s wise to consider that same thought when we think of judging others.

Learn to look beyond a person’s faults, and see their potential submission to God’s will. There was a time, when we too were entangled in an ugly past, but someone prayed for us, and helped bring us into right standing with the Lord. In those moments when you’re itching to call someone out for their faults, consider Jesus hanging, and dying on the cross, for all the wrong you’ve done, and will do during your journey through life.

Regarded, And Not Despised

Psalm 102

“…men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
(Luke 18:1b). The year 2021 has barely begun its second quarter, yet many unfortunate events have already taken place. People in every country continue to suffer from the lingering pandemic, while others hold their stance against police brutality and social injustice. If this year started with such unfavorable circumstances, I can only imagine what’s to come as the days go by.

It’s evident, we are living in perilous times, but there is no reason for the Saints to stop praying. Situations and circumstances do seem bleak and grim, but God still sits on His throne, monitoring the decaying earth. The days we experience have been prophesied many years ago, and are expected to worsen. Fortunately, the Bible teaches us how to prepare for today, and what’s soon to come.

God loves His people, and hates to see them suffer, but walking in the Spirit doesn’t always take you along a smooth path. Suffering comes as a package deal with being joined with Christ. We suffer, because Jesus suffered, but in our suffering, we mature, and grow stronger and wiser through our experiences. The Spirit of God guides believers throughout each day, and as we speak to the Father, He regards our prayers and acknowledges our faith in His own way, and according to His perfect timing. We pray, so that we can keep our line of communication with God open, and receive instruction from our Father, through His Spirit. Prayer also keeps our minds and hearts focused on those things that are important to God, and not what we think we should do.

God’s business should always be priority, and despite how the world looks, those who love Him have been given the necessary tools to stand in the evil day. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Eph. 6:10-18).