A few days ago we read in Jeremiah 20:9 where Jeremiah wrote, "But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." In the reading today God's Word speaks to us in Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? OK, now think back to Jeremiah 5:14 Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says: “Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.
Jeremiah, the weeping Prophet, is sent by God to speak harsh, but true Words to God's people. Due to the horrific sins of Judah they are sent into exile, they are sent into captivity for 70 years. The things that we are getting ready to read in Jeremiah are terrifying...when you come to grips that these things actually happened to these people and the events were a result of their sin it will shake you to the core!
Out of this terror comes the incredible news that God has kept a remnant for HIMSELF. HE tells us in Jeremiah 24:7, that, I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
NOW leap with me to 2 Thess chapter 2. What does it mean when we read that Jesus will overthrow the lawless one with the breath of HIS mouth and the splendor of HIS coming? Ultimate fighting Jesus only has to speak to HIS enemy and they are defeated! Jesus simply has to show up and the brightness of HIS glory destroys HIS enemies the way that darkness flees a room when you turn on the light!
2 Th 2:8-12 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
2 Thess 2:10-12 contain some sobering words! They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Do you love the truth, do I? Do you love Jesus? Do you remember John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME! NO ONE! This Word is like a fire, a fire burning in my heart, I cannot hold it in...it is a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces.
Do you love the truth? Do you love Jesus? Is HE precious to you? Do you spend time with HIM in HIS Word, prayer and meditation? Have you allowed HIS powerful Word to break up your hard heart...so that you may seek HIM with ALL your heart?
1 Peter 2:7-10 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. (They did not love the truth)
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Come and be saved, turn to Jesus and be saved...turn from trusting in yourself or in anything else and trust in Jesus alone for eternal life...believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED!
love,
m