September 2011

"Truth"

September 12, 2011

“Truth”

Blessings Folk!

Let us face an obvious truth.

Most professing Believers are failures when it comes to speaking forth the Truth of the Lord.

We are good at “inviting people to church.”
We are good a puffing personalities.
We are good at “busy-ness” for the Kingdom.

Yet, when it comes to speaking Truth to a situation we fail.

There are likely several reasons.

One is the sad fact that many professing Believers do not know the Truth relative to a situation.
What does the Word say?
What does the Spirit say?
Study to show yourself approved.
Abide in the Lord.

The reason on my mind today is that Believers basically do not walk in obedience and trust in the Lord.

I was reminded of this in our local Bible study this week.

Here is the story.
Come, let us reason.
Follow closely.

At the beginning of King Jehoiakim’s reign, Jeremiah was sent by God to speak the Truth. Jeremiah stood in the temple area and spoke to the people, the priest and the prophets.

Jeremiah 26

 1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying,
2 “Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the LORD’S house all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not omit a word!
3 Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of the evil of their deeds.’
4 And you will say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you,
5 to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened;
6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’”

Note the detail of the Lord’s instruction:

  • stand in the court of the Lord’s house
  • speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship
  • speak all the words I have commanded you
  • do not omit a word

Jeremiah was obedient.
He did not seek to be “sensitive.”
He did not worry about the response of the people.
He simply did what God told him to do.

Perhaps the Lord will be able to relent of the planned calamity.

The Word of the Lord?
  • if you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law...listen to the words of My servants the prophets...I have sent again and again…
  • I will make this house like Shiloh...destroyed by the hand of the Lord

Now, hang on…this is good.

What was the response of the people?

Jeremiah 26

7 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
8 When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You must die!
9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
 10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and sat in the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD’S house.
11 Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “A death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied against this city as you have heard in your hearing.”
 12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.
13 Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will [
b]change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you.
14 But as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight.
15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

The religious rulers - priests and prophets - wanted to put Jeremiah to death - immediately.

The officials of Judah - the politicians - heard of the situation. They came.
The religious rulers presented their case.

Jeremiah?

He simply said “the Lord sent me to prophesy...but as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight...innocent blood.”

Jeremiah brought the Word of the Lord. The Word to “amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord; and the Lord will change His mind…”

He then rested in the Lord.
His situation was out of his hands.

What happened to Jeremiah?
He was spared.

Jeremiah 26

 16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “No death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”

Then, some of the elders of the land reminded the people of how Micah had spoke a similar Word in the days of Hezekiah, yet Micah was not put to death.

Then, they gave this example.

Watch this carefully.

Jeremiah 26
20 Indeed, there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land words similar to all those of Jeremiah.
21 When King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and all the officials heard his words, then the king sought to put him to death; but Uriah heard it, and he was afraid and fled and went to Egypt.
22 Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him went into Egypt.
23 And they brought Uriah from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim, who slew him with a sword and cast his dead body into the burial place of the common people.
 24 But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not given into the hands of the people to put him to death.

Uriah the prophet prophesied similar words as Jeremiah. He spoke Truth.

When King Jehoiakin, his might men and all the officials heard his words they sought to kill him.

Uriah was afraid.
He fled to Egypt.

Uriah was brought back from Egypt.
King Jehoiakim killed him and dishonored him by burial with “common people”.

Uriah did not trust completely in the Lord.
He fled
It cost him his life.

Jeremiah was faithful to present the Word of Truth.
He then trusted the Lord with the outcome.

This is how we must be.

Anything less is compromise and is abhorrent before the Lord.

Fear not!
Things will progress from evil to evil.
But, those who know their God will shine as the stars in the firmament.

Stand strong in Him.

Blessings!