“Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall be all taught of God.’ Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” ~Jesus (John 6:43-51)
Prophets
The Making of The Preacher
The call of the prophet was one of separation. It was one for Jeremiah that would separate him from his family, due to the message he would be proclaiming, it would even keep him from marriage. There were times he would even feel that God had forsaken Him. We will see these things as we progress through this wonderful prophecy which our LORD God has given us.
The passage of the prophet for today is chapter one, verses 17-19;
“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. 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. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.” Jeremiah 1:17-19 (KJV).
The idea of “girding up the loins” is the idea of getting one’s self ready for the task at hand. You might say of a preacher called by God, “Get yourself ready to do My bidding”. As Paul spoke to Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV). Jeremiah was called to preach the Word of the Lord and he must be prepared. He must know that calling is sure, because there were going to come times in his ministry where that would be all that he had.
“Arise”, get up and get going, the time is short. “Speak to them all that I command thee”. There can be no changing of the message to soften the impact. It must be spoken as God has given it. It is sad to say and to think, but there are many preachers, who are pastors of churches and preach (if you can call it that) messages that are watered down versions of the truth, thus not the truth, but lies. They would rather be popular with their people. Popular with the people unpopular with God. Which would we be? God says to the prophet, “Be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them”.
If we as preachers neglect to preach Jesus; His death on the cross; His burial; His bodily resurrection; and His promise… “I will come again” then we fail to preach the Word of God. That is the essence of all of Scripture.
The prophet is called to stand, to be strong. God tells Jeremiah, “I have made you this day a defenced city, an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests , and against the people of the land.” This is God’s promise to Jeremiah of God’s protection from harm. Even when the judgment comes on the land, even though the people, the kings, the princes, and the priests turn against him Jeremiah is promised protection. His life will be kept and preserved. Someone has said, “The man of God in the will of God is immortal, until God is through with him”. That is a profound statement. Of course the one who made that statement must have been speaking of this temporal life we live here on earth, because with Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are immortal anyway.
The promise of God for protection would be a mighty force in the faithfulness of Jeremiah. The promise is a mighty power in our lives as well. To think that his own family, friends, king, princes, and others would try to harm him, even try to kill him, and he having the promise of God’s protection and keeping. “They shall fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you.” Would you rather have the friendship of the world, or the protection and power of God on your life? Think about it. You cannot have both, if you are going to be a preacher of God’s Word.
-by Tim A. Blankenship
Words for Christian Living 060413
“Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” Romans 16:25-27 (KJV)
We must always remember that the “Scripture of the prophets” of whom Paul writes are the Old Testament prophets. They indeed, tell us much about Jesus Christ and His gospel. The only Scripture Jesus read, and which Paul read was the Old Testament. Grow in it too.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Redeeming Love of God (Hosea 4:4-10)
God’s Controversy With His People 2
“Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of My people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.” Hosea 4:4-10 (KJV)
Verses 4 through 6 as well as the following four verses are directed toward the priests and prophets.
The priests and the prophets were told not to accuse the people, because they, themselves were at fault. This, by no means takes any personal responsibility away from the people, for they too are guilty. The greatest fault lies with the priests and prophets, because they had failed to teach the Law of God. Why? Because they rejected God’s law. Their “Mother” [Nation] would be destroyed. Church leadership which fails to proclaim the Law of God, the Word or God with its rebukes and warnings; as well as its blessings and promises is remiss in doing the work and will of God; thus rejecting God and His Word.
The preacher/prophet may fail to meet the expectations of the people, but if he fails to proclaim God’s Word he wreaks havoc upon himself, and the people. If the priests (Every born again believer) fails to warn the lost of his/her condemnation, and fails to pray for the lost to be reconciled to God, then, we bring shame on ourselves and eternal havoc and ruin on those whom we have failed to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In verses 7 through 10 the condemnation continues upon the priests.
It appears that as God blessed the priests (and nation) they began to be comfortable, and sin against God. It is not sin to be comfortable, or to live in comfort. The sin is while in comfort we forget, forsake, and do not praise the LORD.
The priests received offerings from the people. Possibly a sin offering is implied by verse eight. These meat offerings were to be eaten by the priests, and their families – as a means of support – and rather than rebuking the people for their sin, encouraged them to continue in sin. Maybe not with words, but in the absence of words of rebuke. So, just as the priests are condemned because they reject the law of God, the people are condemned because of their willful ignorance of God. They loved their sin too much to find out what the will of God was.
There would be no satisfaction, no fulfillment in their indulgence of sin. They would not be a fruitful people. Even though they thought that enjoying the fulfilling of their lust through hedonistic temple acts would guarantee many children and bountiful harvest; it would not be so. The reason God gives is, “Because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.”
There is much sin within the churches of the United States of America in the 21st century. Yet, we have an awesome and wondrous Saviour. His name is Jesus. He died for us because He loves us. He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. He will do whatever it takes to make us holy.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Redeeming Love of GOD
Hosea’s Call, Circumstances, and Marriage
Several years ago I did a study of Hosea. I spent a few days in the church I pastored teaching in special services for that purpose; and I was also invited by my home church to come for a week of services to teach the book of Hosea. It was the year that our Convention – the Southern Baptist Convention – had Hosea as the Winter Bible Study. This was a study i thoroughly enjoyed, was encouraged by, and prayerfully have grown through; and more since that time.
We will be in this study for some time. I will endeavor to keep the studies readable and short. I pray God’s richest blessing on you, as you read and hear the word of the LORD.
“Hosea was the second of God’s spokesmen known as eighth-century prophets.” Amos was the first, and he and Hosea were contemporaries, both preaching in the Northern kingdom also know as Israel, or Ephraim. Isaiah and Micah preached to the Southern kingdom, usually called Judah, during this same century.
There are two main divisions to the book: 1) Hosea’s marriage, and 2) Hosea’s message. There are four prominent themes: 1.) God’s love, 2.) the sin of God’s people, 3.) God’s judgment, and 4.) hope.
“Hosea 1-3:5 emphasizes God’s faithful love in spite of the people’s unfaithfulness to Him. Hosea 4 – 7:16 shows God’s indictment of the sins of unfaithful Israel. Hosea 8 – 10:15 stresses the sure judgment that awaited Israel because of their stubborn refusal to repent. Hosea 11 – 14:9 presents the hope that God’s healing love will eventually lead some to repentance and renewal.” From the WINTER BIBLE STUDY for this study.
Let us begin by reading chapter 1 verse 1,
“The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.” Hosea 1:1 (KJV)
If you will note the kings of the kingdom of the South – Judah; Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Three of these kings “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD”; one did not – that was Ahaz (2 Kings 15:30-34; 16:1-4; 18:1-3). Joash, fit in with Ahaz. For those who might think leadership in the nation does not have anything to do with morality, or blessing beware.
Sometimes hearing the Word of the LORD is through our circumstances. The spiritual and moral attitude of Israel was one of not only spiritual adultery against God, but adultery of the flesh as well. Because of this it might have been quite difficult for a man to find a woman who was morally and physically pure. Does that sound relevant to our times? Through these circumstances of life Hosea heard the Word of God.
“The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, ‘Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.” Hosea 1:2-3 (KJV)
The Northern kingdom was a kingdom which had departed from the LORD from their inception (1 Kings 12:16-33). If you were to study the kings of the Northern kingdom there is not one king of whom the Scripture says “Did right in the eyes of the LORD”, not one.
Remember, also, the moral circumstances of the land in that day. There was much idolatry; all connected to Baal worship. There was temple prostitution, used in “worship” of Baal, pleasure oriented god who was made after the image of man. The prostitution was both male and female; or heterosexual and homosexual abomination. The people of the era believed these adulterous practices would bring s harvest of bounty, the rains would be plentiful. Many a young woman and many a young man was convinced that to present themselves as a prostitute for Baal was her duty and an honor. Many a married – betrothed woman would go to Baal’s temple and engage in this behavior believing that to do so would make her womb fruitful and bear many sons.
Hosea loved a woman named Gomer who – possibly after the wedding – began these pagan rites of worship. God definitely used this in speaking to Hosea. Hosea learned in this the pain, the heart break of God in Israel’s departure from Him.
“And the LORD said unto him, ‘Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.” verses 4-5 (KJV)
As a result of this marriage there was a son born to Hosea and Gomer. God told Hosea to name him Jezreel. Jezreel means “God sows”. In this case God is saying that He is going to sow judgment. Jezreel is a city approximately 55 miles North of Jerusalem. It is in an area known as the “Plain of Jezreel [Megiddo]”. A place where much blood has been shed, and much will yet be shed in that plain (See Revelation 19:11-21).
At this time the house of Jehu will be judged, because of their father’s sin (See 2 Kings 10:29-31). It seems that Hosea has no doubt about Jezreel being his son.
And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, ‘Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.’
Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, ‘Call his name Loammi: for ye are not My people, and I will not be your God.'” verses 6-9 (KJV)
The next child that was born was a daughter. Lo Ruhamah means “No mercy”. Do you suppose Hosea may have began to realize that his wife was unfaithful at this time.
Then Gomer had a third child, and God called him Lo Ammi meaning “Not My people”. Was Hosea coming to understand the heart of God? His heart- ache, pain, and anger with adulterous affairs, with worldliness among His people?
“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ‘Ye are not My people,’ there it shall be said unto them, ‘Ye are the sons of the living God.’ Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.” verses 10-11 (KJV)
Speaking through the circumstances of Hosea’s day God has spoken words of judgment and rejection. However, we see in these last verses of the chapter that there is hope.
In these verses God promises that He is not through with Israel. This is truly a hope and promise of THE REDEEMING LOVE OF GOD.
What does God promise?
- They shall be “accountable – without number” (v. 10);
- …Those “Not My people” declared to be “Sons of the living God” (v. 10);
- …There shal be a gathering of Judah and Israel (v. 11);
- …They shall have one head – “The root of David” (v. 11; Jeremiah 30:8-9);
- …They are told to refer to one another as “brother” and “sister” (2:1).
We will look at number five further in the next study.
When we look at Israel, the Northern kingdom, God’s promises to them; then we can know and rest in the assurance of God’s promises that His Word is being fulfilled; even today. The whole law and the prophets is revealed fully in the person of Jesus Christ. He suffered the agony, suffering, rejection of death, was buried, and rose again bodily from the grave; justifying all who will believe Him.
-Tim A. Blankenship
When the LORD has not Spoken
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Son of man, say unto her, ‘Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated My law, and have profaned Mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out Mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads,’ saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 22:23-31 (KJV)
There is One who stands as our hedge of protection and is the one Man who stands in the gap between God and men; the Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy2:5).
-T.A.
The Time is NOW
Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.’ Therefore say unto them, ‘Thus saith the Lord GOD; ‘There shall none of My words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done,’ saith the Lord GOD.'” Ezekiel 12:26-28 (KJV)
There is never any time such as the present to hear the Word of God and believe what He has said, and is saying.
-T.A.
The Sweetness of His Word, and His Presence
And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; and He spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Moreover He said unto me, ‘Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that roll. And He said unto me, ‘Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee.’ Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.” Ezekiel 2:9 – 3:3 (KJV)
How important is the Word of God? For the Christian it is the very sustenance of life and faith. For the world it is just as important as is the Creator.
-T.A.
Music, Singing and GOD
A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. O LORD, I have heard Thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:1-2 (KJV)
There is much that could be said about music and singing and for that matter GOD. Habakkuk, at the beginning of his prophecy was asking questions. It was like he was blaming God for not watching over His people, protecting them, but letting the enemies of the earth run rough shod over them.
At the end of his prophecy he uses a term which is probably related to music somehow. It is not quite clear what the meaning of “Shigionoth” is. God, however, must enjoy music and singing; and I know that the human race enjoys it very well. Billions of dollars have been spent on buying recordings over the past 50 years in order for us to be able to drive down the road, put in a tape, a CD, plug in an iPod, or a jump drive, and listen to our hearts content.
Yesterday morning I heard on a radio program that NASA has discovered a “Plasma ring” around our planet; and within that ring are radio waves. Evidently NASA sent up listening devices, and recorded sounds within that Plasma ring. It almost sounds like a form of music. Our Creator has made the earth to sing.
The greatest song ever sung was in the death of God’s only begotten Son dying to pay the sin debt of the human race.
-T.A.
Jealous GOD, Vengeance, and His Enemies
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserveth wrath for His enemies.” Nahum 1:1-2 (KJV)
It is too bad when there are some who claim to know GOD, and do not and cannot see Him as being “Jealous”. He is the defender of His own glory. He is the defender of His own worship. There is no other to worship, and he holds all who will not follow His prescribed plan accountable.
It is so much better to rest in His grace, under the cross of Jesus Christ; His only begotten Son; and see Him in His love and grace. It is far better to be His friend, child, and worshipper than to be an enemy under His judgment.
O, Come to the cross where all of God’s vengeance for His enemies was poured out upon His only begotten Son.
-T.A.
The Enemy Within
Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame. O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? Are these His doings? Do not My words do good to him that walketh uprightly? Even of late My people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. The women of My people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away My glory for ever. Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.” Micah 2:6-11 (KJV)
Someone once said, “We have found the enemy, and he is us.” I do not remember where I heard that or who said it; however, it can be so true; for a nation, a family, community, State, church; and as in the above case; the people who are called by God’s name.
When those who call themselves by God’s name oppose the very Word of God; they become the enemy within, and wreak judgment upon their families, and rob God of the glory that belongs solely to Him. These same people will begin listening, then, to anyone who will give them comfortable words, lifting them up emotionally; and deny the truth of the Word of God.
Listen people.
-T.A.
Those Who Walk With GOD
Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, ‘You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? Shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?” Amos 3:1-8 (KJV)
Walking with the LORD might be considered a difficult endeavor; however, there is only one thing that it takes; and that is believing God. Believing Him means that I agree with what He says; and without doubt, without wavering, without fear I trust everything that He says. We must remember that He is the One who has even made it possible for man to walk with Him.
The LORD stepped down from heaven; in the person of His Son Jesus, and died for our sins. By His death on the cross He bridged the gap that was between GOD and mankind, making it possible to walk with Him.
One of the blessings and fruits of walking with God is that He reveals “His secret” to His servants the prophets. We are not all prophets, but through the prophets of Scripture, such as Amos we can better know GOD and walk with Him.
-T.A.
Elijah and Elisha
It has been several weeks since posting anything on Elijah. I will finish up with this post and one more following.
As you recall the ministry of Elijah was as a prophet of fire. It seems that the fire of the LORD was upon his life. He heard God. He spoke what God commanded him to speak; without fear or favor; and was not intimidated by kings or princes. You might say he was a bit intimidated by an evil queen; shown by his running for his life, rather than by confronting her.
After Elijah ran from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-3) he is told by God to anoint Hazel king over Syria, and Jehu king of Israel; and lastly to anoint Elisha prophet “…In thy room.” Meaning of course; to take the place of Elijah. The ministry of Elijah may have been cut short due to his fear and running from the evil queen.
Let’s look a little at the man whom Elijah anointed in his stead. Elisha was plowing with a dozen yoke of oxen. He was probably in charge of his father’s field; and himself had command over one yoke in particular; but was the leader of 11 [eleven] other yoke. There was a total of 24 head of oxen, and at least twelve men, including Elisha. It is quite clear that Elisha was a farmer and evidently a fairly well to do one at that with twelve yoke of oxen; and hired servants.
“So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, ‘Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.’ And he said unto him, ‘Go back again: for what have I done to thee?’ And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.” 1 Kings 19:19-21 (KJV)
First of all Elijah would have known that his ministry was nearing an end. Second, he would have known that the word of God would continue to be proclaimed. Third, this was probably God’s way of showing Elijah that he was not the only one who could or would preach the word.
Notice some things about Elisha. First of all he was busy doing the work of his life’s training – he was busy at laboring. Secondly, he recognized the messenger of God’s word and was willing to leave all for God’s sake and for God’s glory. Third, he was showing responsibility in “burning the bridges” behind him to show his commitment to the service of Elijah and the LORD. In the sacrifice of the oxen, he committed himself to the LORD’s work, and following the life of the prophet of God. In short Elisha did what needed to be done, and he did it with the haste that was necessary.
May the God of all glory and power get the Christian of the 21st century to be committed to serve the LORD with such devotion and diligence.
-Tim A Blankenship
Who Jesus says He Is
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 (KJV)
In Matthew 16 Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” The disciples gave many various answers, including Elijah, or one of the prophets, then Jesus asked them, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter jumped in with, “You are the Christ, Son of the living God.” Jesus told him, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father which is in Heaven.” He was applauding Peter for his answer, for it was the correct one.
Some say that Jesus never said that He is the Son of God. He has, He did, and He is.
Yet, He is much more than the Son of God. He too is eternal; from Alpha [Beginning] and Omega [Ending]. That is not the beginning and/or ending of God, but of all that He has made. Who did Jesus say that He is?
Alpha and Omega. See Jesus for who He says he is; for who the Father says He is; for who His works say that He is. He is the Incarnate God; crucified, buried, and bodily resurrected, and returning King. He is the Saviour and King of the universe.
-T.A.
Reconciled By the Cross of Christ
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:11-22 (KJV)
The only hope of the world, and its people is the cross of Jesus Christ. It is the only means by which mankind can be or will be reconciled to God.
-T.A.
The House Left Desolate
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, ‘All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.’ For I say unto you, ‘Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, ‘Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Matthew 23:34-39 (KJV)
The nations of Israel and Judah, though brought back together as one by Jesus’s time; they were also still neglectful in hearing the word of the LORD, and tried to kill the message with the messenger. God’s message cannot be killed. He will fulfill His Word to the letter.
The house of the temple in Jerusalem was left desolate, because the One who filled it and blessed with His presence walked out the door, and has not yet returned to it. He does live in the hearts of His children; and will one day return to earth to reign in the world in His physical form.
-T.A.
God’s Word Today 082112
“In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, ‘the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, ‘Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.’ My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace. All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, ‘We offend not,’ because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers. Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.” Jeremiah 50:4-8 (KJV)
For many years I have heard people talk about the “Ten lost tribes of Israel”. That seems; with the above verses in mind; that there is no such thing. God has the people of the Northern kingdom of Israel, and the Southern kingdom of Judah as one. It would seem to me that they have been one since they returned from the Babylonian captivity.
-T.A.
God’s Word Today 081912
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch; ‘Thou didst say, ‘Woe is me now! For the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.’ ‘Thus shalt thou say unto him, ‘The LORD saith thus; ‘Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land. And seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh,’ saith the LORD: ‘but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.” Jeremiah 45:1-5 (KJV)
-T.A.
God’s Word Today 081712
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, ‘Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; ‘Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. But I will deliver thee in that day,’ saith the LORD: ‘and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in Me,’ saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 39:15-18 (KJV)
-T.A.
God’s Word Today 081612
When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days; then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, ‘Is there any word from the LORD?’ And Jeremiah said, ‘There is: for,’ said he, ‘thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.’ Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, ‘What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison? Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?” Jeremiah 37:16-19
Just a short note.
The word of God is not always pleasant nor easy to receive. It is however always the truth, and what you do with it is a determining factor concerning your future.
T.A.
God’s Word Today 081312
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; “Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in My name: I have not sent them,” saith the LORD. For thus saith the LORD, “That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ saith the LORD, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you,’ saith the LORD: ‘and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you,’ saith the LORD; ‘and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:8-14 (KJV)
-T.A.
God’s Word Today 081212
In this post today I am attempting to post daily. My post will be from Scripture, the Word of the LORD. These be come from my reading of God’s Word for the day it is posted. Hear the word of the LORD.
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; the which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. And the LORD hath sent unto you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, ‘Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: and go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke Me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened unto Me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt. Jeremiah 25:1-7 (KJV)
I will be finishing up the study of Elijah when I can get my thoughts to putting it down in print form.
-T.A.
Judgment from the North
Judgment From The North
For the nation of Israel it seems that the North was the direction from which judgment would come. I think it interesting to note a Psalm that directs our attention to the North without naming the North. It is Psalm 75, and it says, “Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck.’ For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” (vv.5-7). You notice the silence concerning North? Does Judgment come from the North? In the case of Israel and Judah it does.
Hear what the LORD spoke to Jeremiah:
“Then the LORD said to me: ‘Out of the north calamity shall break forth on all the inhabitants of the land. For behold, I am calling all the families of the kingdoms of the north,’ says the LORD; ‘They shall come and each one set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah. I will utter My judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, because they have forsaken Me, burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.” Jeremiah 1:13-16
The judgment of which Jeremiah warned was coming on all the inhabitants of the land. It seems that the noble people, those of notable birth, or those who have great wealth sometimes think, “Oh, that won’t happen to us” or “We can become a part of the upper society people, and we can just fit in”, but the prophet’s message from the LORD is judgment on “all the inhabitants of the land”. Judgment is not a pleasant thing to talk about, but when the LORD calls you and gives you a message to proclaim, and tells you not to withhold a word, then you better obey.
Every preacher, and especially pastors would love to spend all their preaching, preaching of the goodness, love, grace, mercy of God. We would be thrilled just to always be preaching about the good we see in our fellow human beings, because there are good things done, there are good lives lived, and people saving physical lives; and encouraging others. The preacher, the pastor is not the man of God he should be, if he preaches not that we are sinners; condemned, dying and that our only hope of salvation is through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. To preach the cross of Jesus you must tell why He died on the cross, that means talking about our darkness of sin. We must tell why the Father had to judge His own perfect, sinless Son, turn His back on Him; and why Jesus went through that horrible three hours of total darkness while He was stretched between heaven and hell. We must preach that God made Him to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
The judgment coming on Judah was coming from the north. It was in fact, coming from God. It was the plan of Jeremiah’s father, his family, and Jeremiah that he would be a priest in Jerusalem. That was a ministry that was much respected in Jeremiah’s day, and that of his family. Jeremiah even had plans of marriage, but that was not to come about. We will see that in a later word from God to the prophet. Prophets of God do not choose to be prophets; they are called by God to be prophets. That is the prophet Jeremiah. Prophets who call themselves serve themselves, lead others astray, and despise God’s prophets.
The judgment coming to Jerusalem was like all the kingdoms of the north were coming to set up quarters, homes, or shop right in the gates of the city. They would be encamping all around. The people of Judah would no longer be free. Not only is this against the city of Jerusalem but all the cities of Judah. This would include Bethlehem and Bethel.
The coming of these people of the kingdoms of the north was God’s utterance against their forsaking the LORD. There were those who were worshipping the LORD, but few and far between. Those who were worshipping were probably remaining silent. The priests who were praising God in their hearts and worshipping him, must have been silent concerning the condition of the hearts and lives of the people; thus were allowing them to continue to live in their sin and rebellion. Therefore, they were not the priests of God that they should have been. Take the offering the people bring no matter the true condition of their heart, or that they had been to the temple of Baal, and participated in those rituals. They will be okay as long as they are faithful to the temple of God. LIES, LIES, LIES. God is not glorified except with total devotion, commitment, and worship to Him and to Him alone.
Even though a man and/or woman may attend worship on Sunday morning, evening, Wednesday evening, and anytime the church house door is open, but they live for themselves the other days of the week, the rest of the time, and glorify not God with their life and living; they worship not, and love not the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. They have, in fact, forsaken the Lord, and “worship the works of their own hands”.
-Tim A. Blankenship
God Makes the Preacher
The call of the prophet was one of separation. It was one for Jeremiah that would separate him from his family, due to the message he would be proclaiming, it would even keep him from marriage. There were times he would even feel that God had forsaken Him. We will see these things as we progress through this wonderful prophecy which our LORD God has given us.
The passage of the prophet is chapter one, verses 17-19;
“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. 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. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.” Jeremiah 1:17-19 (KJV).
The idea of “girding up the loins” is the idea of getting one’s self ready for the task at hand. You might say of a preacher called by God, “Get yourself ready to do My bidding”. As Paul spoke to Timothy, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV). Jeremiah was called to preach the Word of the Lord and he must be prepared. He must know that calling is sure, because there were going to come times in his ministry where that would be all that he had.
“Arise”, get up and get going, the time is short. “Speak to them all that I command thee”. There can be no changing of the message to soften the impact. It must be spoken as God has given it. It is sad to say and to think, but there are many preachers, who are pastors of churches and preach (if you can call it that) messages that are watered down versions of the truth, thus not the truth, but lies. They would rather be popular with their people. Popular with the people unpopular with God. Which would we be? God says to the prophet, “Be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them”.
The prophet is called to stand, to be strong. God tells Jeremiah, “I have made you this day a defenced city, an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests , and against the people of the land.” This is God’s promise to Jeremiah of God’s protection from harm. Even when the judgment comes on the land, even though the people, the kings, the princes, and the priests turn against him Jeremiah is promised protection. His life will be kept and preserved. Someone has said, “The man of God in the will of God is immortal, until God is through with him”. That is a profound statement. Of course the one who made that statement must have been speaking of this temporal life we live here on earth, because with Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are immortal anyway.
The promise of God for protection would be a mighty force in the faithfulness of Jeremiah. The promise is a mighty power in our lives as well. To think that his own family, friends, king, princes, and others would try to harm him, even try to kill him, and he having the promise of God’s protection and keeping. “They shall fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you.” Would you rather have the friendship of the world, or the protection and power of God on your life? Think about it. You cannot have both, if you are going to be a preacher of God’s Word.
The Sound of Abundance of Rain
Elijah had faced the greatest trial of his life, and won the greatest victory for the name of YaHWeH/Jehovah. He had prayed a simple prayer to God,
“LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art the LORD God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again.” 1 Kings 18:36-37 (KJV)
The LORD God heard Elijah’s prayer, and did just what Elijah asked for. Fire fell (v. 38), burnt the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and licked up the water in the trench which Elijah had placed around the altar to display the power of God. This was no magicians trick; no wizards wand was needed; it was the fire of God falling just as the man of God had requested.
The people of the Northern kingdom of Israel fell on their faces declaring, “The LORD, He is the God; the LORD, He is the God.” At that moment in time there was no doubt in their minds who the God of Israel and the earth was. Now these prophets and priests of Baal needed to be dealt with; and they would be dealt with unto death.
“And Elijah said unto them, ‘Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.’ And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.” 18:40
When the LORD is God there is no room for false prophets and teachers. They will be dealt with quickly. The prophet Jeremiah was confronted by a false prophet, who prophesied differently from his own prophecy, and the LORD told Jeremiah to return to Hananiah and tell him that due to his lies he would die within the year (Jeremiah 28). That prophet died by the hand of God Himself; just as the prophet had said.
Why deal so harshly and directly with false teachers and prophets? These had in large part been responsible for leading the nation into apostasy, turning their backs on the GOD of Israel, leading them into all kinds of debauchery and rebellious living against the GOD of all creation. It needed to be seen by Israel that this will not be tolerated.
In this the Christian of 2012 can learn that the LORD God will not tolerate false teaching in the Christians life; and we are to weed out those teachings from our lives that distract us from Him; the LORD of the universe. We are to keep our individual lives free from false teaching, teachers; from unholy living; and keep these things from our local congregations. When a church begins propagating lies, heresy, and distracts from the Word of God and from our Lord Jesus Christ that church will fall, and its fire will go out. No matter how large the attendance is, how great the crowd is at their weekly gatherings; it can still be without the fire of God.
When Elijah had dealt with the false prophets, then he told Ahab,
“And Elijah said unto Ahab, ‘Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.” 18:41
For 3.5 years there had been no rain. The land was parched, dry, brooks were dry the rivers were low, water was in short supply. Now without even seeing a cloud, the prophet tells the king, “…There is a sound of abundance of rain”. The fire of God had fallen from the heavens. The people had seen the fire of God fall, and they had fallen on their faces crying out, “The LORD, He is the God” and the liars had been put away. Now rain was coming. Refreshment, renewing and restoration to the land was coming.
You can turn to the LORD God today, and live forever. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; that He died for your sins, was buried, and bodily arose from the grave; and is one day returning for His own. He is the fire that John the Baptist spoke of in Matthew 3:11. “…He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire…”
When God’s people return to the LORD there will be and we can hear “…The sound of Abundance of Rain”.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 