Sunday, November 8,
2015, 11:34 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “The Lord’s Anointed.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Jeremiah 23 (quoting vv. 1-6 NASB).
Destroying Shepherds
(vv. 1-2; cf. Ezekiel 34)
“Woe
to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!”
declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the
shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven
them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you
for the evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord.”
There may be some overlap between this section and next, as
one who is a shepherd may also be one who prophesies. A shepherd should be one “who
protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people” (dictionary.com).
Thus, a shepherd could be the head of a household, a pastor, an elder, a deacon,
a small group leader or Bible teacher, a nursery worker, a mother or father (or
grandparents), a boss (office or business manager), or a government leader such
as a congressman, senator, mayor, city councilman, governor, or the president
(or supreme leader) of a nation and his cabinet members, etc.
The shepherds were destroying and scattering the sheep. I
see two ways in which this is taking place in our world and in my nation today.
One is via our government leaders nationally and globally. The sheep are being
destroyed literally through death, though eternally saved, and forever
rejoicing with God in glory. These false shepherds of the people, many of whom
claim to be Christians themselves, are killing the saints of Almighty God as a
campaign to halt the spreading of the gospel of our salvation so that they can
bring about a one-world religion, which blends all religions into one, under
one authority (the beast), and in which no one tries to convince another that
his or her faith is superior to another, or that others need what they have in
order to have the hope of salvation and the promise of heaven. This killing of
Christians, as well, is masked as humanitarian aid, a refugee crisis, a rescue
effort, a nuclear deal, a budget deal, climate change talks, and/or going after
“terrorists,” et al, but that is mostly all a lie. So, the way in which the
sheep, in this case, are being scattered is that they are fleeing for safety,
i.e. for their lives.
Another way in which these false shepherds are destroying
and scattering the sheep is through lies, manipulations and deception. They are
diluting the gospel to the point to where it is no longer the gospel according
to Jesus Christ, but a man-made feel-good gospel which tickles the itching ears
of those who listen. And, they are incorporating false teaching, even that of
other religions and of mysticism and the occult, in with Christian teachings,
in order to prepare the way for people to accept this one-world religion in
which we all join hands together across the world in unity under a false god
(the beast), which is really the god of this world, Satan (the devil).
They are getting the church to adopt the ways of this sinful
world so that there is not much difference (distinction) between the church and
the world anymore. Instead of confronting the world with sin, and calling for
repentance, they are entertaining the world and are patterning their meetings
after what brings pleasure to the people of the world so as not to offend them,
and so they will want to come back. As well, as they are getting the church to
ostracize and reject those who are holding to the faith, and to the Word of God
as taught by Jesus and his NT apostles, and to convince Christians and the
world alike that these followers of Christ are the real enemy, i.e. we are “extremists”
who must be silenced.
Lying Prophets (referencing
vv. 9-40)
One of the accusations against these lying prophets is that
they “strengthen the hands of evil doers, so that no one turns from his
wickedness.” I believe the way this is taking place within the church today is
via this false grace gospel which is being taught in place of the gospel as taught
by Jesus and his NT apostles. This false grace gospel gives free license to
continue in sin without guilt or the need for remorse. They teach that God does
not require repentance (turning from sin) or obedience to his commands, and
that God does not even see their sin, for when he looks at them, all he sees is
Christ’s righteousness.
To some degree, this last statement is true for those who
are true followers of Christ. We are no longer condemned to hell nor held in
bondage to sin, for by the blood of Christ we have been set free, and thus
Christ’s righteousness has been credited to our accounts. We can do nothing to
earn or deserve our own salvation. Only through faith in Christ and what he did
for us in dying for our sins can we have salvation and eternal life with God.
Our own righteousness is as filthy rags in God’s sight. Yet, is it true that
God can no longer see our sin, or that he winks at sin, or that he smiles at us
and is delighted in or pleased with us when we are steeped in sinful rebellion
against him? The Bible says “No.”
Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny
self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. He said
if we hold on to our old lives of sin we will lose them for eternity, but if we
die with Christ to sin, we will gain eternal life (Lu. 9:23-25). Paul said that
Jesus died that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us
who walk not after the flesh, but who conduct our lives according to the
Spirit. If we persist in conducting our lives after the flesh, we will die, but
if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live (Ro.
8:1-14). “We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer?” (Ro. 6:2). Jesus
died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24). He died
that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave himself up for
us (2 Co. 5:15). God’s grace teaches us to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly
passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for
Christ’s return (Tit. 2:11-14). If we say we have fellowship with God, and we
walk (conduct our lives) in darkness (sin, wickedness), we are liars, and the
truth is not in us (1 Jn. 1:6).
Not only do these lying prophets try to convince you that
you can be saved and have your ticket into heaven without being crucified with
Christ to sin, and without, by the Spirit, being resurrected with Christ to new
lives, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness,” but they
try to convince you that God will never punish or discipline you, that nothing
bad will happen to you, and that you will be raptured and taken to heaven to be
with God before a time of tribulation would come upon you. So, people come to believe
that all they have to do is to confess Christ audibly (or not), believe, at
least intellectually, that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and they are saved
and bound for heaven, no matter if they ever change, or if they continue in
willful sin and rebellion against God. Yet, the Bible says the opposite. It
warns much against taking God lightly, and thinking a mere form of worship is going
to save us. If we persist in continuing to conduct our lives after the flesh,
and not according to the Spirit, we will die (be lost for eternity). It is what
God’s word teaches.
Our Righteousness
(vv. 3-6)
“Then
I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I
have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be
fruitful and multiply. I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will
tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will
any be missing,” declares the Lord.
“Behold,
the days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“When
I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And
He will reign as king and act wisely
And
do justice and righteousness in the land.
“In
His days Judah will be saved,
And
Israel will dwell securely;
And
this is His name by which He will be called,
‘The
Lord our righteousness.’
A day is coming when Jesus Christ, God the Son, will judge
these lying prophets who tell the people lies, and these false shepherds who
ruin and who scatter the sheep, and he will gather his sheep from the four corners
of the earth to be with him forever. I believe scripture teaches that, via
judgment, the wandering church will be revived, the gospel will go out from the
revived church throughout the earth, and that many people from all nations will
be saved before the day our Lord returns for his bride, to gather us to himself
(See book of Isaiah, for one). When Jesus comes for his remnant, we who belong
to him will be transformed into glorified bodies, and we will reign with Christ
on the earth for a period of 1,000 years, though I am not certain that is a
literal 1,000 years, though it could be. What that 1,000 years looks like
exactly I don’t know for sure, other than we won’t be in flesh bodies anymore,
so we will no longer be tempted by sin, and we won’t be afraid anymore. Amen!
We will all live in safety. The beast and the false prophet will have been cast
into the lake of fire, and the dragon (Satan) will be bound. Oh, that will be
wonderful!!
Until then, we are to continue the work of the ministry that
Jesus Christ began when he walked the face of this earth. We are to preach the
good news of salvation, which proclaims freedom to those held captive to sin,
yet not just freedom from eternal damnation, but freedom from slavery to sin,
that we might become slaves (servants) of righteousness. We are not released
from our sin-induced prisons if we have never died with Christ to sin and if we
have not been resurrected with Christ to new lives in Christ Jesus, which are
to be lived in the power and working of his Spirit within us, now walking in
his righteousness and holiness. True freedom sets us free from bondage to sin,
and frees us to come under the control of righteousness. So, if you have never
repented of (turned from) your sin, and turned to follow Jesus with your life,
and to walk in obedience to him, in the power of his Spirit, I pray you will do
so today. Your life depends on it, as does your eternity. Give Jesus Christ your
all today, while you still have today. Not one of us is guaranteed tomorrow.
The Lord’s Anointed
/ An Original Work / December 16, 2011
Based off Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.
They will be called oaks of God’s righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor, and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore them,
And you’ll be called priests of the Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to
Wear, as the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.
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