During my quiet times, the Lord many times speaks a strong word about things that are happening in these troubled times in which we live. I wrestled with Him about posting this, but felt that I was to do it. After all, how can I commit to sharing from my quiet time, yet omit notes from from any given day because the teaching is a strong one. Though this message could be a tough pill to swallow for some, it is nonetheless another facet of the many-faceted diamond that is Truth.
Today's study is in Jeremiah 23. The question to be asked here is to whom is this message directed and what is God saying through it? I believe that this message is a warning to God's people Israel against their "spiritual leaders" who misrepresent Him.
Something I've noticed during my studies of the Scriptures over the years is that God referred to His people as "Jacob" and as "Israel." As you know, the man Israel (meaning "He will rule as God") was called Jacob (meaning to supplant...to displace by force, scheming, strategy, etc) until he had an encounter with God and experienced a life-change. From then on, God referred to Jacob and his descendants as "Israel" when they were walking in obedience (in the spirit) to Him, but He referred to them as "Jacob" when they were walking in disobedience (in the flesh) and in sych with the world. God also referred to His people as "Israel" whenever He prophesied about them as He saw them, in their future redeemed and restored spiritual state...calling things that were not as though they were.
The term "Israel" refers to and always has referred to God's spiritual children who are walking in faith and obedience to His Word. Now it is only those who enter into the redemption and work of the sacrificial atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ (Yeshua ha Mashiach) on the cross at Calvary, who are now included in the spiritual house of Israel. This includes gentiles who in ancient times were not God's people but now, upon their acceptance of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God at Calvary, have been grafted as a wild olive branch into the Olive Tree known as "Israel." On the other hand, those of the Jewish race.. the natural branches, who were originally of the house of Israel...who do not honor the sacrifice by their own Mashiach, have consequentially been broken off... once again to be grafted back in only upon their acceptance of that final Sacrifice offered...One for all. (Ro.2:25-29; 5:12-19; 9:6-8; 11:17-24; Gal.3:26-29)
Now that the spiritual identity of Israel has been Scripturally established, let's move on to our study in Jer. 23, which is is a message for spiritual Israel today, for in verse 20 God tells us that in the last days this message will clearly be understood. Here God is expressing through His prophet, Jeremiah, His severe displeasure at shepherds who are destroying and scattering the flocks they are to tend, and the watchmen (prophets) who, instead of living holy lives and directing God's people in the way of salvation through repentance, were themselves joined to the world and walking in deception. By their fruits they are known...they were preaching a polluted message from polluted hearts. They were speaking a message of peace and safety to an apostate, rebellious people.
Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sin (Heb.9:22). The gospel message is about the gift of a blood-sealed covenant between a Holy God and mankind, all of whom have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Ro.8:23). It's about the reconciliation of man to God through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God (Col.1:19-23).
Until one enters into the redemptive provisions of the covenant and is walking in love, faith, and forgiveness toward others, the more "tangible" blessings can't be realized. Yet, the leaders of many of today's churches preach another gospel.
This chapter of Jeremiah is a picture of the shepherds and prophets in many churches today. Unfortunately, rather than going "into all the world," today's church leaders bring the world into the church, using the world's PR methodologies to do so. As was the case in Israel past, today's "seeker-friendly", ego-centric, prosperity-focused gospel assures lukewarm "believers" that no calamity will come upon them because today God is all about "grace." The lost are assured that God loves them "just the way they are," with little or no emphasis upon walking with God in holiness. New believers are told that all that they have to do is "ask Jesus to come into their heart" and they'll be guaranteed a place in heaven for eternity.
The compromised social gospel of today is strong on reconciliation but is void of the message of repentance, and carries with it no power to convict people of their sin. Unless one is made aware of his/her need for a Redeemer, how can they embrace the message of the cross of Jesus? If they don't embrace the message of the work of the cross, how then can they be saved?
In this scripture God is warning His people not to listen to the words of these prophets because the prophets were speaking out of their own imaginations rather than from the mouth of God, and their words were leading the people into futility. He went on to tell them that any word that He would have His prophets speak to His people would be a word that would turn them back from their evil way and from their evil deeds.
When we hear a message from one who declares that He speaks in the Name of the Lord we must remember that the message of the gospel has been and always will be first and foremost about repentance, reconciliation to God through the cross of Jesus, the Lamb of God, His resurrection and His ongoing work of salvation and transformation within us. In addition, we must make sure that all that is being spoken is in agreement with the Scriptures, because God will never contradict what He's said. And, we must not forget to observe the lives of those who maintain that they speak for God...for it's by their fruit that you will know them.
Today's study is in Jeremiah 23. The question to be asked here is to whom is this message directed and what is God saying through it? I believe that this message is a warning to God's people Israel against their "spiritual leaders" who misrepresent Him.
Something I've noticed during my studies of the Scriptures over the years is that God referred to His people as "Jacob" and as "Israel." As you know, the man Israel (meaning "He will rule as God") was called Jacob (meaning to supplant...to displace by force, scheming, strategy, etc) until he had an encounter with God and experienced a life-change. From then on, God referred to Jacob and his descendants as "Israel" when they were walking in obedience (in the spirit) to Him, but He referred to them as "Jacob" when they were walking in disobedience (in the flesh) and in sych with the world. God also referred to His people as "Israel" whenever He prophesied about them as He saw them, in their future redeemed and restored spiritual state...calling things that were not as though they were.
The term "Israel" refers to and always has referred to God's spiritual children who are walking in faith and obedience to His Word. Now it is only those who enter into the redemption and work of the sacrificial atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ (Yeshua ha Mashiach) on the cross at Calvary, who are now included in the spiritual house of Israel. This includes gentiles who in ancient times were not God's people but now, upon their acceptance of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God at Calvary, have been grafted as a wild olive branch into the Olive Tree known as "Israel." On the other hand, those of the Jewish race.. the natural branches, who were originally of the house of Israel...who do not honor the sacrifice by their own Mashiach, have consequentially been broken off... once again to be grafted back in only upon their acceptance of that final Sacrifice offered...One for all. (Ro.2:25-29; 5:12-19; 9:6-8; 11:17-24; Gal.3:26-29)
Now that the spiritual identity of Israel has been Scripturally established, let's move on to our study in Jer. 23, which is is a message for spiritual Israel today, for in verse 20 God tells us that in the last days this message will clearly be understood. Here God is expressing through His prophet, Jeremiah, His severe displeasure at shepherds who are destroying and scattering the flocks they are to tend, and the watchmen (prophets) who, instead of living holy lives and directing God's people in the way of salvation through repentance, were themselves joined to the world and walking in deception. By their fruits they are known...they were preaching a polluted message from polluted hearts. They were speaking a message of peace and safety to an apostate, rebellious people.
Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sin (Heb.9:22). The gospel message is about the gift of a blood-sealed covenant between a Holy God and mankind, all of whom have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Ro.8:23). It's about the reconciliation of man to God through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God (Col.1:19-23).
Until one enters into the redemptive provisions of the covenant and is walking in love, faith, and forgiveness toward others, the more "tangible" blessings can't be realized. Yet, the leaders of many of today's churches preach another gospel.
This chapter of Jeremiah is a picture of the shepherds and prophets in many churches today. Unfortunately, rather than going "into all the world," today's church leaders bring the world into the church, using the world's PR methodologies to do so. As was the case in Israel past, today's "seeker-friendly", ego-centric, prosperity-focused gospel assures lukewarm "believers" that no calamity will come upon them because today God is all about "grace." The lost are assured that God loves them "just the way they are," with little or no emphasis upon walking with God in holiness. New believers are told that all that they have to do is "ask Jesus to come into their heart" and they'll be guaranteed a place in heaven for eternity.
The compromised social gospel of today is strong on reconciliation but is void of the message of repentance, and carries with it no power to convict people of their sin. Unless one is made aware of his/her need for a Redeemer, how can they embrace the message of the cross of Jesus? If they don't embrace the message of the work of the cross, how then can they be saved?
In this scripture God is warning His people not to listen to the words of these prophets because the prophets were speaking out of their own imaginations rather than from the mouth of God, and their words were leading the people into futility. He went on to tell them that any word that He would have His prophets speak to His people would be a word that would turn them back from their evil way and from their evil deeds.
When we hear a message from one who declares that He speaks in the Name of the Lord we must remember that the message of the gospel has been and always will be first and foremost about repentance, reconciliation to God through the cross of Jesus, the Lamb of God, His resurrection and His ongoing work of salvation and transformation within us. In addition, we must make sure that all that is being spoken is in agreement with the Scriptures, because God will never contradict what He's said. And, we must not forget to observe the lives of those who maintain that they speak for God...for it's by their fruit that you will know them.
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