WONDERFUL AND HORRIBLE
*WONDERFUL AND HORRIBLE*
Brief history:
1) Jeremiah was a young teen man and preached 40 years in Israel
2) He prophesied the captivity of Judah
3) For the most part his message to call the people to repent was largely rejected
4) The word “repent” appears eleven times
5) He is called the weeping prophet because of his brokenness for God’s backslidden people
6) He is considered one of the most hated OT prophets because of his rebuke to the false prophets priests and kings.
*Every preacher of this generation would do well to live near the Book of Jeremiah in keeping their focus on truth.
(vs 30 Read)
*I think we all understand the word “horrible” but “wonderful” needs explaining: It actually can mean something good or bad.
*Meaning: That which causes surprise, amazement, appalling or astonishment.
This morning I want us to see both meanings of this word in (vs 30,31).
(1) The bad of wonderful and horrible
(vs 30,31 Read)
Notice three statements:
1) “The prophets prophesy falsely.”
*Matthew Henry states “Religion is never more dangerously attacked than under the color and pretence of divine revelation”.
*Jeremiah called them false prophets, said God was giving them the words but they were not from God: (Jer 14:13-15 Read)
*Charles Lindbergh said “We must understand spiritual truths and apply them to our modern life”.
*Today the spiritual truth is we are flooded with false prophets: (II Pet 2:1,2 Read)
*It is not the big names of false prophets like Jim Jones, David Karesh or Sun Moon that trouble my heart the most; it is those in the pulpits this morning who:
1) Deny that the Word of God is without error
2) Deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
3) Deny His blood shed for our sins
4) Deny His resurrection
5) Deny His coming again
(2) “The priests bear rule by their means”
*Simply put this means: the priest who should hold up the cardinal truths of God’s Word and doctrine defile it by compromising.
(Jer 6:10) “The word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
*How sad that today there are those who call themselves “Men of God” and in their pulpits reject the Word of God and compromise and accept wickedness:
1) Preach homosexuality as normal
2) Who do not cry out over the murder of 1 ½ million innocent babies a year
3) Who would accept a skunk as a member as long as they get money
(Jer 6:14,15 Read)
*God help those in leadership who are not broken over sin.
(3) “And My people love to have it so”
Notice the charge God brings against His so called people
(Jer 6:16,17 Read)
*Listen: We have people today who don’t mind preaching on sins as long as you don’t preach on their sins.
*How sad that there are those in churches today who are living in open sin and rebellion that are not broken over it.
*If it were possible they would do as King Jechakim did in (Jer 36) and take a knife and cut out the parts of the Word of God they don’t like.
*Must we compromise the have large churches?
(2) The Good of wonderful
*Jeremiah though hated of men, priests and kings stood faithful, though mocked and imprisoned with only water to drink and bread to eat stood faithful.
*The Apostle Paul gathered together the ministers of Ephesus and made this statement : (Act 20:26,27 Read)
*Living for Christ may not win you a popularity contest but it will bring God’s approval and blessings in your life.
*To the preachers, ss teacher and deacons:
1) Declare salvation thru Jesus Christ alone because you’ve experienced it
2) Teach tithing because you do it
3) Proclaim church attendance because you’re there when the doors are open
4) Tell others to pray because you spend time doing it
5) Uphold the Bible because you believe it is the True Word of God
*Let your life reveal what Apostle Paul said (Act 20:27 Read)
*Make the Good News Wonderful
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