King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Saturday, August 07, 2021
Chapters: Jeremiah 1-3
Message: Sent To Reap
Hello My Friend,
Every time I hear someone, in what looks to be my team after my training too, talk about God, then start talking about being one with the earth, I cringe. I want to scream out, “Will you stop doing that!”, but at the same time I feel bad for them because they really do not know what they are doing as they are as lost as can be. It is a great reminder that the harvest truly is white, [John 4:35-38 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.]
My goodness, talk about an eye opening passage, if there was not a better time to be out there preaching the Gospel, it is now. They can try to stop the judgment that God has placed on this earth with their idiotic plans to remove gas, coal, and cows from it to save it, but the judgment stands, and the only escape is Jesus Christ. The Book of Jeremiah contains fifty-two chapters, the timeline for these events took place approximately between 629BC – 588BC, about 70 years after Isaiah spoke of the same thing. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to Judah to warn them of the judgment God had placed on them, and a call for repentance. What we are to learn from the book is that the national disasters and deterioration of the world is not due to climate change, it is due to their turning their backs on God, but as we return to God things will be restored, [Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?]
Jeremiah was called to prophesy at a very young age during the time that Josiah was king and removed all the idols, images, and people that were influencing these evils throughout all of Israel. God promised Josiah that he would not have to see Jerusalem get destroyed. God knew that as soon as Josiah died that they would be right back to serving their false gods. God had been warning Judah about the coming judgment since Manasseh was king, and now it was only days away. He sent Jeremiah to them for one last plea to repent because He really did not want to destroy the land that He had given them for an inheritance.
[Jeremiah 1:1,4-9 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: 4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.]
[Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;] I imagine that Jeremiah, although he was the son of a priest, wondered why he was so different from others growing up, but he certainly did not think that he would be a prophet of God. Every single person born has a purpose, and God will use them at His disposal. Life does not begin at birth, it begins at conception, and anyone who tells you otherwise has no concern for life at all, [Romans 8:29-30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.]
[and touched my mouth.] Yes, God knew us before were even conceived, what we would become, and what He would use us for. Freewill and pride is the thing that changes a heart that was once destined to be used as a vessel of honor to one of dishonor. Those who do receive Christ as their Saviour were already destined to be sanctified and the voice of God. However, we do have to wait until we do receive Christ for that as that is when the Holy Spirit touches not only our mouths, but our hearts and souls as well. The second we believe in our heart and accept the fact that Christ gave His life to save our soul and that He alone saves us, it is only a matter of our confession that we are saved, [Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.]
Remember when Jesus went to John, the Baptist, even though He is the Son of God, and had all the power of God Himself, did not receive that power until He was baptized? [Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:] Well, we who are destined to be saved and preach the Gospel must also wait until we have received the Holy Spirit in order to do that. God will not put His words in our mouth until that happens. There really is something incredible and overwhelming to realize that God has called on you to preach the Gospel. Since God is always with us, we have nothing to fear, this is what God told Jeremiah when He sent him to tell Judah of the judgment coming to them.
[Jeremiah 1:10,17-19 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.]
[lest I confound thee before them.] [Confound; To mingle and blend different things, so that their forms or natures cannot be distinguished; to mix in a mass or crowd, so that individuals cannot be distinguished.] In other words, if Jeremiah did not warn them of the judgment so that they had the opportunity to repent, then he would be judged for not warning them. It is better to have all the men in the world our enemies than God, we have no reason to fear the wrath of men, if we are faithful to God, He will protect us, [Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.]
While God had told Josiah that His judgment stood, He would have done anything to get them to return to Him so He could, in fact, reverse the judgment. Do you think that while Josiah was removing the evil things from Israel that all of the people repented and turned to God? No, they did not. Yes, a few did, like any revival, but the majority of them held on to their sinful living, not to mention the rest of the kings after him doing the same things, which is why God told Josiah that His judgment stood. Do you think that it does not grieve God that so many people reject Him, especially those who know who He is? It grieves Him greatly. Religion is the biggest deterrent from the people knowing the truth about salvation, and just because they talk about Jesus that does not mean that they know Jesus. In fact, God has a question for all those who turn to these false gods.
[Jeremiah 2:5,11,13,19,21-22 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? 11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts. 21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? 22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.]
[What iniquity have your fathers found in me,] Way too many people reject God because of all of the evil in the world, and yet are oblivious to the fact that they are the ones committing it. There were some people in my class downing themselves and crying about how impossible things are, I said, “Your life is what you make it.” Yes, we are going to have setbacks and life can be unbearable sometimes, but we are what we make our lives to be, and if we say that we believe in God, then go against everything that He says, then we are the problem, [Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.]
[Thine own wickedness shall correct thee,] People get this notion that God is the one who actually brings the evil or even go as far as saying that the devil made them do it. No one, not God or Satan, can force us to do anything, our own wickedness brings the evil upon ourselves. To make matters worse, people all over the world are proclaiming Christ, yet very few know Him as their Saviour and are living sinful lives as if He is pleased with them. Yes, God allows the evil, He places these crazy storms and viruses in the world in an attempt to open their eyes to the judgment that is coming. Instead they turn to statues and astrology, which angers Him to no end, and then cry out to Him when things keep getting worse. Through Isaiah, God explains this further.
[Jeremiah 2:26-30,34 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, 27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. 28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. 29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD. 30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. 34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.]
[Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone,] Do you see what I am talking about? Statues, idols, and stones are not alive, they do nothing, but sit there, they have no power in them whatsoever! And God will judge all who are putting their faith in these things to save them, especially if they are crying out to Him as well. [Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents:] If you think that killing innocent souls in the womb does not count toward the judgment that God has placed on the world, think again. All life is precious to God, after all, He created them, it does not matter if they are born with disabilities, they are still perfect to God, and He uses them for His purpose, not yours, [Psalms 139:13,15-17 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!]
Let me tell you, Christianity is the complete opposite of what the world sees as being moral and right. Just because a person says they have received Christ as their Saviour that does not mean they are living Godly lives. And just because they are in the midst of those who are living Godly lives that does not mean that they actually are themselves. There are way too many saved, born again Christians proclaiming Christ yet living sinful lives, and doing even worse. Through Jeremiah, God addresses the backsliders, who became worse than the world.
[Jeremiah 3:6-7,9-11 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. 7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. 11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.]
[The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more] How shameful must it be to have God tell you that the world is more righteous than His own people? Israel had already faced judgment for turning their backs on God, now, Judah, who were the Christians of that day, were about to face judgment, the sad thing, their sins were more abominable than Israel’s. God pleads with them one more time to repent.
[Jeremiah 3:12-13,23-25 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel. 24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.]
[Only acknowledge thine iniquity,] Do you think that God did not know that you would be at this point in your life? Do you think He did not know that you were going to serve Him, and fail time and time again? Oh yes, you would, and He knew, and yet, He still continues to use you. Why? You belong to Him. Those whom have received Jesus Christ as their Saviour are, in fact, children of God, and when we allow Christ to live in and through us, He keeps us repentant and all we have to do to be forgiven is to confess our sin sincerely, [1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.]
[Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills,] God truly is merciful, which is why Jesus has not returned yet. Do you understand the state of our world right now? All the chaos we are seeing today, the pandemic, the storms, the riots, the destruction, the persecution of morality, and the proclamation of immorality, these are all the things that God is using to bring conviction to His people so they would come to repentance. Revivals do not start from churches that are already proclaiming Christ, they start by each saved, born again person understanding that they need to repent, and start fearing Him as they did when they first got saved, [Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.]
Jesus Christ Magnified: [Jeremiah 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for making it simple for us to be saved from judgment. All we have to do to be saved is believe in the finished work of Your Son alone for our salvation, and receive Him as our Saviour. As undeserving as we are, and as much as we sin, You never give up on us, You are always encouraging us to live according to Your Word, and it really does save us from some unnecessary suffering when we do. Nevertheless. Your mercies and grace are endless, and whenever we come to You confessing our sin, You are faithful and just to cleanse us of all our unrighteousness. Lord, Thank You for loving me, and not giving up on my, and for Your mercies, grace, forgiveness, and Your patience with me. I praise You for showing me Your truths, and using me to teach them to others. I pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus Missions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/readytofollowJesus/
Copyright © 2021 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.