God never changes

Examples for the Modern Church

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Admonitions from Israel’s History

Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 10

Idolatry is the practice of paying divine honor to any object that is created.

There are three forms of idolatry:

1) Fetishism: the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc.
2) Nature worship: the worship of the sun, the moon, and the stars as the supposed powers of nature.
3) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors or heroes.

During their long residence in Egypt, the Hebrews fell into idolatry.

Eze 20:7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

The world before the flood was a wicked and idolatrous world:

Jos 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

What is the first commandment given to Israel after Jehovah freed them from Egypt? Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Today, throughout the world, people worship everything but Jehovah God!

Those who worship themselves have made themselves to be God.

*1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

As Paul gets further into this epistle, he will eventually get to the security of the believer.

The security of the believer is one of the great doctrines of Scripture, but unfortunately, it is taught without much understanding and without the warnings that come from the Word of God.

We know that when the time of judgment comes, God will first judge the Church.

There are multitudes in the Church who are not truly converted to Jesus Christ, but they have a false security and are overconfident.

They say they are saved, but their lifestyle says different.

Saying and knowing are two different things.

Being baptized and belonging to a church does not mean we are saved.

Taking part in the Lord’s Supper does not mean we are saved.

Being greatly gifted and very active in the Church does not make a person safe and secure in Jesus Christ.

These things were problems in the Church in Corinth.

As Christians, we are in a race for an incorruptible Crown, but this crown is not given on a silver platter.

We must actually be in the race!

The nation of Israel was a prime example of a people who had been greatly privileged by Jehovah, and it led to a people who felt safe and secure, yet many of them perished in the wilderness after Jehovah had saved them from Egypt.

All of them shared the many blessings of God, but none of that group but a few entered into the Promised Land.

The Israelites were as much a people of God as we are today, yet most of them fell in the wilderness of sin.

In truth, the possession of great privileges does not secure us from the danger of falling from the “Grace” of God.

The worst sins of Israel were a direct result of idolatry!

Idolatry is not a light matter to Jehovah God!

Today, many in the Church are willing to be delivered from Hell but shy away from living life like Jesus Christ, which is the standard for being a Christian, and which is the standard for repentance.

What did Jesus teach the Jews?

Mrk_1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

What has Jesus taught the Church?

Rev_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.

The Israelites accepted the position as God’s people, but failed in the duties of being God’s people.

Is the Church doing the same thing today?

We love to say we are the children of God, but is the Church fulfilling the duties of the Church?

Many who say they are Christians were never truly converted and have never really repented of their sins before God!

Israel passed through the Red Sea as if on dry land.

Archaeologists have found the place of the crossing of Israel, even finding the chariot of that Pharaoh, but now Egypt will not allow any more research because it changes the narrative that they want remembered.

There are many other spots that certain governments have placed off limits because they would change the narrative of the world.

Many more like them do not want the Bible to prove itself to be the truth, but it proves itself every day.

Israel had the presence of Jesus Christ with them.

God gave His Son the Leader to lead them to the Promised Land. That Rock was Christ!

God took care of their day-to-day needs.

Jesus Christ was the source, the Energy and the Power, and the Person who caused water from the Rock, caused the Red Sea to part, who caused the cloud to guide Israel, and rained down the manna, and who gave Moses the promises of God.

Jesus Christ is the Jehovah of the Old Testament!

We should remember there were over six hundred thousand men alone who broke away from the bondage of Egypt.

This means we do not know the actual number of the children of Israel.

We know that only two families, the family of Caleb and the family of Joshua, stayed true to the Lord; the rest died and were replaced before they entered into the Promised Land.

So, we have proof that God will save people from one tragedy, but still not allow them into His Heaven.

We must know that we know we are saved according to the Word of God, or we could still end up in Hell.

These things are a warning to the Church!

*1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

These things were examples for the Church to learn from!

God has given us a Jewish history lesson for the Church to learn because we know that God never changes.

The things that happened to the Hebrews (Jews) are valuable lessons to Christians, and we must not ever forget this!

Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Then God gives us some of these examples.

*1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

**Warning number one: While Moses was upon the Mountain with God, the children of Israel began lusting after the things of the flesh.
Many of them turned to idolatry. Aaron made that golden calf, and the people began dancing around it.

In typology, we know our Lord Jesus is now on Heaven’s Mountain, and the Church is lusting after the flesh and worshipping idols.

**Warning number two: Immorality took over the children of Israel.

And the Lord Jesus says to the Church, Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

**Warning number three: Neither let us tempt Jesus Christ. They tried the Lord’s patience.

You want to get to Hell! Go ahead and see how far you can go to test the patience of the Lord Jesus Christ. These children of Israel always felt that God expected too much from them. Many in the Church still feel this way today!

Many of them even longed for things they left behind in Egypt. Even onions. Who can believe that? Many people love onions, but I doubt they would choose slavery to get them.

Many Christians think they will be forgiven even if they take that second look.
If they just get a taste, or if they could just touch, or if they slip just a little, or if they hold back just a little, which is the sin of covetousness.

Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

**Warning number four: These people could not go a day without murmuring, complaining, and grumbling.

It is the same for the Church of today. So many today are not satisfied with the truth and seek to make their own truth. Much of the Church has moved away from the truth of solid preaching and seeks a church and a Bible that goes along with their own thoughts of Christianity, forgetting what being a Christian is all about.

Jud 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Jud 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

All these things are examples for the Church not to get caught up in!

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We must be sure of our salvation, and we must know what it is to be Christian!

To be Christian is to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This name was given to the followers of Jesus Christ by unbelievers.

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

This name was given to the followers of Christ in sarcasm.

How many in the Church today would the world call Christian when the word I hear the most is hypocrites?

All these things that Paul has mentioned today should cause us to look at ourselves and just see what our standing is with God.

*1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

We must understand that was impossible for any Christian in Corinth to avoid coming in contact with idolatrous practices in its many forms.

We can also say this about America today!

We must understand this warning from the Holy Spirit.

Most every church acknowledges that we are in the last days of the Church Age.

The Church Age is the Age of Grace. There will be no other Age of Grace as Jehovah moves forward with His plans!

Grace is the way God deals with people today. We are a foolish church if we do not heed the warning Jehovah is showing us in the examples of how He dealt with Israel.

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Any person can fall, especially when we get to thinking we cannot fall.

As long as we are still in the Church Age, there is no way to escape temptation!

We can be encouraged that there will be no temptation that is not common to everyone else.

This means we can prepare for those temptations.

No temptation will be superhuman.
No temptation will be unique to the Church.
No temptation will be beyond our capacity to handle.
No temptation will be terrifying in any sense of the word.

Every temptation that attacks the believer is common to all humans!

Most every Christian has already overcome most of these temptations, and yes, some of us have fallen and caved in, but we have repented and asked for forgiveness, and we can still be overcome if we are not prepared for them.

We should also understand that the Lord limits every single temptation within our limits to overcome it.

We must have enough faith to believe this. God will provide a way out of that temptation!

2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

We of the Church have a greater responsibility to overcome temptation than the Jews because we can read of the mistakes they made and see how Jehovah dealt with them.

The modern Church has no excuse for sinking into sin!

*1Co 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
1Co 10:22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1Co 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1Co 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
1Co 10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
1Co 10:26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
1Co 10:27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
1Co 10:28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:

We must know that Satan is out to cut the heart of Jehovah and to destroy God’s purpose in saving mankind.

Satan smiles every time he turns a person away from the Lord Jesus Christ by enticing us to give our lives to the things and the false gods of this world.

When we become consumed by the things of this world, then we have fulfilled the will of Satan, the Devil.

We had better understand that God will not allow us to be a guest at His table and be a guest at the table of idolatrous devils.

This is being a hypocrite, and we will provoke the Lord’s wrath, and there will be no hypocrites in Heaven!

Even if we know that a certain thing is legal for us to do without it being a sin, should we do it?

There are limits to Christian freedom!

Should Christians attend social functions with our neighbors and fellow employees who are not saved?

We should ask ourselves:

1) Is it beneficial to me as a Christian?
2) Will it violate my conscience; will it grieve the Holy Spirit?
3) Will our actions affect our relationship with another Christian?
4) Are we just being courteous and kind to that unbeliever, who may just be seeing how far we are willing to go against his thoughts of God?
5) Does it hurt the conscience of another believer?

If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then we should not attend.

Even if our own conscience is not bothered, we are to act for the sake of others!

We are not to do anything that might offend another brother or sister in Christ!

Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

*1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
1Co 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

No man has a right to interfere with the liberty that is enjoyed by another if his own conscious, his own conduct, and his own convictions are not affected.

If I am doing no harm according to the Word of God, then why should I be judged by another Christian after I have asked God to bless my meal?

In fact, I do not have the right if it causes harm to another brother or sister who may think that I am worshipping idols when I should know better!

Bearing the criticism of another brother or sister in Christ will not be worth my attending such a social event.

We must keep in mind that everything we do outside the Church is to be for the glory of God!

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

We are not to be so concerned about our own rights that we have forgotten that all things we do are to be for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Lord tells us: Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We cannot allow our light to grow dim!

We are never to be stumbling blocks to the Jews, to unbelievers, nor believers!

We are to do absolutely nothing that will offend another person or cause them to stumble because this goes against the Lord’s rule of love!

We are God’s children, and again Jesus says: Mar 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

We are not to seek our own profit because we are left upon this earth to seek the profit of our Savior!

Again, our Lord Jesus says: Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

The world might ignore our Savior, but our life outside the Church is to bring Him glory every day that God the Father gives us!

Amen

Identifying A False Spirit

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Identification of False Spirits

Book of 1 John Chapter 4 Verse 1-6

What is our spirit? Our spirit is that part of us that is not flesh and bones!

The words of Jesus: Luk 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

What is the soul? It is our soul that controls the power of our spirit!

Pro 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Pro 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

This is why the Lord saves our soul and fills us with His Spirit!

Php_1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

In our bodies of flesh it is the spirit that can be said to be the breath of life!

Gen 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

This is why our own spirit must be replaced with the Holy Spirit who has the breath of eternal life!

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Having said all these things to get us started.

What are the traits of the Holy Spirit?

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

What are the fruits of our old spirit?

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

We know that John has been teaching us about false teachers, apostasy, and false doctrine, and we must understand who and what we are and why!

It is in our own actions that we can determine if we truly love God!
It is in the actions of others that we can tell if they love God!

It is in our own truthful confession of the Lord, that we can know the “Spirit of Truth”!

1Jn_4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Joh_14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

When we study the Scriptures, we will understand how the different spirits can influence our life:

On the Good side:

1) Spirit of God
2) Spirit of wisdom
3) Spirit of the Lord
4) Spirit of knowledge
5) Spirit of understanding
6) Spirit of counsel of His might
7) Spirit of humility
8) Spirit of heaviness
9) Spirit of Grace
10)Spirit of truth.
11)Spirit 0f holiness
12 Spirit of life
13)Spirit of meekness
14)Spirit of faith
15)Spirit of your mind (that has been renewed)
16)Spirit of the fear of the Lord
17)Spirit of glory
18)Spirit of life
19)Spirit of prophecy

On the bad side:

1) Spirit of jealousy
2) Spirit of the ruler
3) Spirit of judgment
4) Spirit of burning
4) Spirit of whoredoms
5) Spirit of the unclean devil
6) Spirit of infirmity
7) Spirit of divination
8) Spirit of slumber
9) Spirit of the world
10)Spirit of fear
11)Spirit of the Antichrist
12)Spirit of error

It is very important that we understand the spirit, because all of our functions are under the control of our spirit!

Ecc_3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

*1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

What is wrong with the modern-day church? The Church is not trying the spirits!

It is easy to say, “I’m a Christian” but the reality of that is, “whose rules do you follow”?

If those behind the pulpits do not speak according to the Word of God, then they are not of God. It’s just that simple!

If those who are teaching do not teach the actual Word of God, then they are not of God. It’s just that simple!

In the Word of God we are commanded not to sit in judgment of others so, instead of being judgmental then all we must do is look at the facts.

To try the spirit is to put to the test the principles they follow!

How can we tell if we really love God? We can tell by the Spirit of the preachers and Teachers we are following!

The “beloved”, God’s children, will not follow those who are not true believers themselves!

Jesus put it this way:

Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

The false teacher will present a way that seems like the truth but by seeing if they live by the true Word themselves, you will see the difference!

We can hear those things that say, “God did this and God did that”, but we better hear that God is Jesus Christ!

We had better hear about the Triune God! God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!

A false teacher may seem to preach all the right things without living as if he knows the truth.

They will use Science to teach us the things of nature.
They will teach that the laws of Science are based on facts and are absolutely uniform.
They will teach that the human race is elevated above all animals but in accordance to the laws of nature.

They will twist all these things around until all of a sudden you realize they have rejected a Divine Creator, so they are liars!

They will teach that the kingdoms of the world are necessary to maintain order and suppress violence, and repel wars but none of these things can work without the Church and the Holy Spirit, so again they are liars!

They are the great philosophers, and writers, and thinkers, who speak of great things, many in the mega churches of today, but if you read their works you will see that they speak many things against true Christianity. Very seldom do they teach their thoughts on Jesus Christ because they are all liars!

The religionist will teach great respect for Christianity, but they will be in opposition to Christian principles.

Well known, so called godly men, will say great prayers without mentioning Jesus Christ for fear they might offend someone.

If they are offended at the name of Christ, then they are antichrist. It’s just that simple!

America was once known as a Christian nation, but look what is going on in our streets, in our societies, in our politics and in our Churches, which tell an entirely different story!

Just how does God feel about that false preacher and that false teacher?

Deu 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deu 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deu 13:4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
Deu 13:5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Has God changed for this stance He took a few thousand years ago? No, He never changes!

Jesus said these people were coming and believe me they are here!

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

So how are we to know them?

*1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

Jesus Christ is the Messiah! Plant that in your memory!

So many are looking for some messiah and some great movement of God and it has already started!

Not quite 2000 years ago there was a babe born of a virgin in Bethlehem just as the Old Testament Scriptures had declared!

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

His name was Jesus and this name was given to Him by the Holy Spirit, who is also God. The name Jesus means Savior!

Luk_1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luk_2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

You see it is what you believe about Jesus Christ that makes you a Christian or not a Christian. There is no other measurement!

You cannot just believe in Him you must believe on Him!

The Bible says Jesus fed 5000 with two small fishes and five small loaves of bread, you had better believe it!

Mat 14:19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Mat 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
Mat 14:21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Jesus said Jonah was swallowed by a whale and three days later, he was spit out to preach in Nineveh, you had better believe it or you are calling Jesus a liar.

Mat_12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mat_12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The Bible says Jesus died for my sins. I truly believe that this is true! You had better believe that He died for your sins because this is also the truth!

Rev_1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Jesus said he would rise from the grave in three days to prove He is God. I believe this is true!

Mat 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Mat 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Jesus said He is God and you had better believe this is true, because it is!

Jesus said there are no other gods and I believe this is true because it is!

You do not belong to God unless you are a home for the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit will never live in a house of sin!

If you cannot believe that Jesus is the Messiah that has come and will come again one day, then you cannot be filled with God, the Holy Spirit!

The only way for you to believe a lie is that you must reject the truth and every “word” about the Lord Jesus Christ is true. In fact every “word” is so true the Apostle John said He could be known as “the Word”!

1Jn_5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Every spirit that confesses all these things are true are the children of God!

All those that reject the truth of Jesus do not belong to God!!!!!!!

*1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

We live in a world full of counterfeits!

There is no Christianity without there also be hypocrites.
There is no gold without there also be tin.
There is not wheat without there also be tares.
There is no truth without there also be lies.
There is no Christ without there also be Antichrist!

We must understand that we cannot bow down to everything that resembles God!

This is the exact way the Antichrist will take over this world. He will appear to be the Messiah!

This will be in appearance only. If his spirit is tested, he will easily be seen as an impostor.

We already know the truth of the Messiah. He came in the flesh born of the virgin Mary.

We already know the circumstances of the return of the Messiah, our Savior. He will meet His Church in the clouds.

Any other counterfeit that does not measure up is exactly that, a counterfeit of the Antichrist.

Those that confess things other than these are also antichrist! Counterfeit Christians. Hypocrites!

There are many spirits in the world and most all of them are spirits who deny the truth of Jesus Christ!

The false teacher will not commit to Jesus Christ the Savior.
The false teacher will not commit to Jesus Christ the Messiah.
The false teacher will not commit to Jesus Christ, come down from Heaven, taking on the flesh of man, dyeing a sinners death, rising from that death as God and returning to His throne in Heaven, to give us time to believe or to not believe His wonderful plan of salvation for all mankind!

When the false teacher denies Jesus Christ, they have denied God and are bound for Hell!

The false teacher will destroy the truth of salvation when they are given the opportunity to do so!

The false teacher will destroy the hope of a lost and dyeing world if they are listened to.

All those who declare they are made of God but remain in sin are the disciples of false teachers.

The proof remains, are we trying to be like Jesus Christ and know that He is the God of Heaven come down in the flesh to save those who believe Him?

What did Jesus say?

Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Jesus came to separate the Christian from the Counterfeits!

We know for sure these false teachers are in the world and America is already feeling the damage from the works of their lyes.

These antichrists are raising up with a loud voice because it is almost time for the Antichrist to come out from his darkness into the light of man.

Remember our study of 2 Peter.

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

There has never been a time in all history that these things have been more truer than they are now!

All the conditions are in place for the man of sin to step out onto the scene but there is another truth also.

2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

The Lord our Savior is far more powerful than any Antichrist.

All those He has given victory will remain in that victory!

How is this possible?

*1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

All these things teach us the answers to our own questions! When we ask, do we belong to God? Then the answer lies in Jesus Christ.

Does Jesus have a home in our heart? Do we believe all the things of Jesus Christ? Do we trust our Savior?

Have we been born again into the family of God?

When we can answer these questions with Jesus, then we know we are in the family of God because we know the truth!

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

These are the very words of our Savior.

When we know these things then we can overcome all the teachings of false teachers and false preachers!

You see the Holy Spirit cannot fail, when you cling to Jesus Christ!

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

You see the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) is much more powerful than the Devil!

The Holy Spirit will assist us in every purpose that is opposed by the Devil!
The Holy Spirit has more freedom to touch the hearts and the minds of man than the Devil can ever have!

There is nothing and no one, who has the power of the Holy Spirit, but He as God will never force His ways upon us!

We can only have access to His power by Jesus Christ!

We have only one thing we are to do, and this is, we must play by God’s rules!

Jesus said:

Joh_14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh_15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

The reason we are on the winning side is because we have a Mighty Savior!

The Antichrist is no stronger than just a thought in the Mind of Christ Jesus, and he can be tossed into the Burning Lake of Fire by the smallest Angel in Heaven at any time God so chooses!

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Our enemy has never been those who are lost. Our enemy has always been the Devil and his spiritual followers! His demons.

Eph 6:12 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.

Those who follow the Devil are those who have fallen into the lyes of the Devil’s world!

*1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

You want to see the greatest test of false teachers? Look at those who follow them and see how they live!

And then see how the world responds to them.

Remember the world hates Jesus Christ and those who love Him.

If there is anything Satan is wise about, he is wise with the wisdom of those who are in Hell.

It is the wisdom of evil that is passed to those principalities, to those powers, to those rulers of darkness (Satan’s demons, fallen angels), to those with spiritual wickedness in high places.

These are the voices we hear when we listen to the false news. These are the voices we hear from the United Nations. These are the voices we hear from all those who oppose Christianity. These are the voices we hear that oppose Israel. These are the voices we hear of all those who oppose the Church!

Luk 16:8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

These are the voices the world is listening to and these voices are drowning out the voice of the Church!

Jesus will return to do what the Church has not been able to do!

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The Bible says Satan will keep them happy with things that affect their senses!

Mic 2:11 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.

This is the sort of stuff that the world loves to hear!

Luk_17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

These are not to be the ways of the children of God!

*1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

After becoming a child of God, the greatest advantage we have over those who reject God is the fact that we can speak directly to God Himself.

God ears are always open to hear His children!

God listens, God convicts, God leads us to do right. God will lead us away from those who choose wrong!

You see whenever we are in doubt, we can converse with God through prayer. We can converse with the Holy Spirit in the Word of God and it can be said we can converse with Jesus Christ through the red lettered words but understanding the Holy Spirit gave us all the Word of God.

You can see that we can know the truth and it is the truth that makes us free from the falseness of Satan.

Those that trust Satan are losers because Satan is a loser!
Those that trust the world are losers because the world follows Satan.
Those that trust nature are losers because God is Spiritual, and the natural world will perish.
Those who follow the spirit of error cannot speak or cannot be heard by the only One who can save them!

Those who trust anything, but God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit will never even get a smell of Heaven, but they will see plenty of ever-burning fire!

We should be able to look around at the people around us and see if they follow the spirit of truth or if they follow the spirit of error.

This is the thing that breaks my heart every day when I see some of my grandchildren following the spirit of error!

Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Joh 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Joh 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

While Jesus walked upon this earth, even as God in the flesh, He said “even I follow all the Word of God”!

It is not hard to know the truth it may be hard to do the truth but by Jesus Christ even this is possible!

1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

The truth comes by Jesus Christ who then seals us with the Holy Spirit!

There is only one Holy Spirit!

Amen

Let’s Pray!

Two Groups of People

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Judah Deported

Book of Jeremiah Chapter 24

To understand this lesson, we need to understand the sacrifice of the “first fruits”.

These first fruits were to be the choicest of the first harvest of the crops.

The nation of Israel was known as God’s “first fruits”.

Jer 2:3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

Here “holiness” means a people dedicated to God.

All those of Israel who were offended by the ways of God would be punished. It is the same today!

Today “first fruits can be used as all those who are first saved in a new area and led to the Lord.

Rom 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

So, we see that Israel were to be the first fruits of In God’s increase!

Let’s see as the Lord shows Jeremiah a new vision so he also could understand what God was doing.

*****Jer 24:1 The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
Jer 24:2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

We know that figs are small sweet pear-shaped fruits and they grow on small trees.

We should remember that Adam and Eve made the very first camouflage clothing line from the leaves of the fig tree when they knew they had sinned and were trying to hide from God.

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

So, we know there were many fig trees around from day 1 and not some cross bred tree like so many are today.

This lesson was intended for Jeremiah, but it is also intended for us here today!

There are only two groups of people in the world. Those who follow in the will of God and those who are not in the will of God!

One of the biggest problems we face in this world today is that people do not want to hear the truth, especially when it affects their lifestyle!

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
***1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

In our lesson today, the good figs will represent the Jews who were carried away into captivity, the bad figs were those left behind who would reject the Word of God given to the prophet Jeremiah.

This is the great hope of all those who have come to know the Lord in a personal relationship and one day soon the Lord will carry us away to be with Him while those who reject the Word of God will be left behind!

The bad figs represent all those who are left behind in Judah at this time and all those who have rejected the Lord when He returns.

Just so we know for more than 200 years God had sent His prophets to warn Israel of sin.

During the time of Jeremiah, God had intensified His warnings.

During the time of Jeremiah, God had reached a point where He would no longer forgive His people of their sin. Not because God became unforgiving but because He knew that this generation of Jews simply would not repent.

We know that God never changes so it is very true that the Holy Spirit will not always strive with individuals even in our time.

It is also in the time of Jeremiah that God would deal with the wrongs of His people and execute justice upon them!

Today we have been given the truth by the Apostles of Jesus Christ:

Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, “as unto Christ”;
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, “doing the will of God from the heart”;
Eph 6:7 With good will “doing service, as to the Lord”, and not to men:
Eph 6:8 “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord”, whether he be bond or free.

If we cannot understand these things, then we need to take the time to get it right.

God can see into the heart, and He knows if we are the real thing or not!

God knew these same things about Judah!

You want to begin to destroy a nation, remove all the people of knowledge and skills who can build a nation but most important remove all those who love the Lord.

It is this time when Daniel and his three friends, and Ezekiel and many others such as Mordecai and Esther would be in this group, with Nehemiah and Ezra.

We can see that these were certainly the good figs who would keep the Word of God on trac to reach the day of Jesus Christ!

Those that were left behind who had rejected the law of God were indeed the bad figs.

Certainly, there were also some others left behind that knew the Lord because God always has His remnant. These would probably be those who were the poorest in the nation who all the politicians had forgotten from both sides and considered useless.

Remember this is a vision that only Jeremiah sees at this time.

*****Jer 24:3 Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

The very good figs represented the true believers among the Jews that were carried off into captivity.

We will see that no one can out think the Lord. It would be captivity that would protect the true believers while those who worship idols would die off leaving a people of believers.

God would use captivity to save His children.

We should know by now that the Lord has many ways to deal with nations, but He does this by dealing with the individuals in any nation.

Many times, the true villains will remain unknown until it is time for God to expose them.

Immorality will ruin any nation but crimes against those who do live a moral life will also ruin a nation.

The Lord is the giver of life and when He departs, a body soon decays into nothingness and vanity!

Jeremiah would not only see many of these things with his own eyes, the Lord would also show him in visions things that would become the truth.

In fact the greatest Prophet of them all is Jehovah God, The Lord of all the Ages!

We may not see the visions that Jeremiah saw but we can certainly see our own nation fall into the trap of immorality.

Even history proves these things will cripple any nation that partakes in such things.

Who are God’s heroes? Those that know the Word of God and take a stand on its truths!

The kingdom of Satan is just as active as the Kingdom of Christ if not more so today, to the shame of those who profess to be Christians.

The differences in the good figs and the bad figs are the differences between Heaven and Hell!

What did Jesus say?

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

*****Jer 24:4 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 24:5 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

When we see how the Lord deals with His children, it should teach us that the actions of love in our own heart cannot come close to the action of love from the Lord.

We must understand that sometimes that hard and distressing position, is the best for us.

God will humble us sometimes just, so He can make us to be stronger and more useful.

How could we have the wonderful words of the Holy Spirit through Daniel and Ezekiel if the Jews had remained in Judah?

Their removal to Babylon saved them from the awful things that faced those who were left behind!

It is no wonder that Jeremiah was treated so badly when he preached these things to the people of Judah.

We may not always understand the ways of God but then, this is why we must have “faith”!

God’s plan goes far beyond our own imaginations!

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The truth is when are made to see how the enemy lives, most everyone of us will agree that the truth of God is where we need to be!

God had told these people that in order to be saved they must surrender to the enemy.

It may have been to Nebuchadnezzar this time, but this is the main theme of our salvation.

To be saved we must surrender to the truth of God!

There is another principle of salvation that plays out in our next Scripture.

*****Jer 24:6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

Paul wrote: Rom_11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

This is the same thing God told Jeremiah and we know that this time is still in the future.

The Church will already be the Lord when this takes place!

The Lord has already said He will set His eyes upon them for good and this is part of the good God was talking about!

Job 34:21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

Jehovah God, The Lord Jesus Christ just loves to save but He also requires obedience!

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

All these things require a “new heart”!

*****Jer 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

The truth of this new heart is that we will all know our Savior!
All those with a heart to know our Savior will know Him because the Holy Spirit moves in to illuminate our minds to know our Savior.

1Co_2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

We must not just know the Lord.
We must have that personal knowledge within ourselves, our entire being.
We must speak to Him while He reads the intent of our new heart!

To know the Lord is to love the Lord!

Some say Jerusalem is the center of the universe.
Some same the Sun is the center of the universe.
Some say our galaxy is the center of the universe.
Some say other things are the center of the universe.

The truth is, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the center of our universe, spiritually and in reality!

When we truly love the Lord then we cannot stand idols or false gods!

When we truly love the Lord then our “Faith” will be set in the right place!

Psa 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

What would God do for the exiles? God would build them up and make them secure!

The truth is the Lord will always sustain His children and give us His assurance that things are much better when our “faith” is real and our love for Him is true!

Pro 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

Sometimes things just look so bad around us that we do not know what to believe!

When we remember that things are just like the Lord told us, we will realize that our Lord always tells us the truth!

Our relationship with the Lord will be at its best when we commit to the Word of God and apply it to our lives!

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

And the rotten figs:

*****Jer 24:8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:
Jer 24:9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

Judgment is real!

Zedekiah was left behind as a puppet king for Babylon along with those in charge of the government whose main goal was to gather taxes to pay to Babylon, yet they clung to their pride and refused to repent.

Zedekiah was named Mattaniah by his father King Josiah, but it was the king of Babylon who had changed his name to Zedekiah.

2Ki 24:17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
2Ki 24:18 Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
2Ki 24:19 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

Zedekiah had no intention of being a puppet king to anyone but thought that as king he could do something himself.

God had already pronounced His judgment and unless there was repentance His judgment would stand.

Jeremiah was his councilor, but the Word of God was ignored, and he entered into an alliance with Hophra king of Egypt.

God had already informed him that even those who fled to Egypt would not miss out on His judgment!

The armies of Nebuchadnezzar would return and this time they would destroy Jerusalem.

What had been God’s promise by the words of Moses?

Deu 28:37 And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

If we do not learn anything else, we need to learn that it is simply foolish to go against the Word of God anytime!

Even today in many nations the Jews are still an object of scorn and they will remain this way until they repent and return to the Lord!

In Jeremiah’s time it was the Babylonian exile of 586 BC and after the Lord had returned to Heaven it was the Roman exile of 70 AD.

Israel was conquered and remained that way until May 14, 1948.

God used war as a means to execute judgment on these people and certain nations of today believe God is still against this people.

*****Jer 24:10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

The result of sin is still judgment, and this will not ever change!

As long as those who are represented by the evil figs still dwell in the land of Israel, there will be Jews living in disgrace in foreign lands.

2Ch_7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We are fools to believe that the Lord ever forgets the things He says!

The difference between “Good Figs” and “Bad Figs” are morals.

Both of these tend to grow to the extreme.

The Good Figs were very good! The Bad Figs were very bad!

Those who are moral obey the Word of God.

Those who are immoral reject the Word of God.

It is the morals of every nation that stick out and show what that nation is made of!

The example in our lesson today is that the “Good Figs” seemed to have suffered to most and were taken from their homes.

The “Bad Figs” remained in their homes and seemed to escape the Judgment of God but that was not the end of the story for them!

Heb_12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

These words will also always be true!

We must also remember God’s promise to the true Jews.

Zec 8:13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

Amen

Let’s Pray