False religious security of wicked, obstinate people leads to doom (Jer 6:22-8:3)

 Jer 6:22-8:3

Key verse

"This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’ But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward...Say to them, ‘This is the nation whose people will not obey the Lord their God and who refuse to be taught. Truth has vanished from among them; it is no longer heard on their lips." Jer 7:23-24,28

A) Jeremiah warns against false religious security of wicked people (Jer 6:22-7:15)

B) Don't be sorry, obey God and Be His People (Jer 7:16-23)

C) Obstinate people, will be destroyed by God (Jer 7:24-8:3)

AIM: Warning obstinate people never works, their hearts are senseless

A) Jeremiah warns against false religious security of wicked people (Jer 6:22-7:15)

22-26) LORD, "great army, planning your destruction, no escape, mourn, loss of only son

26-30) Jeremiah tester of metals, quality of people - rebel, slander, hard as iron leading others into corruption, furnace doesn't purifies them, wickedness remains, "rejected silver"

• The sun that melts wax, hardens clay

7:1-7) Another message to worshipers at temple, quit your evil ways, thoughts, deeds - start loving neighbors, justice, orphans, widows 

• True worshipers in Spirit and Truth, not a temple made by human hands. 

8-11) Don't be fooled, Temple bearing my name doesn't shield law breakers, den of thieves, evil going on

12-15) Like Shiloh, Tabernacle bore my name - wickedness of people, refused to listen, destroyed, exiled

Application: Is my heart hard as metal, refusing to listen, repent and put the cast on my shoulders. Am I my own problem - suffering and dying because of a "stiff neck." Woe to me, stop walking in sin, listen to the Lord and be healed. 

B) Don't be sorry, obey God and Be His People (Jer 7:16-23)

16-19) don't weep or pray, wicked people, dough, cakes, Queen of Heaven, hurt God, themselves, shame

• Wowza! clear "wrong turn" of the Catholic Church, not that Protestant churches haven't made many wrong turns as well.

20-23) Fury, consumed by unquenchable fire, not offerings and sacrifices, obedience to God, we will be his people. 

C) Obstinate people, will be destroyed by God (Jer 7:24-8:3)

24-26) didn't listen, stubborn desires, evil hearts, backward, not forward, not listening or trying to hear, worse than ancestors. 

27-29) Speak, they won't listen, national disobedience, refusal to be taught, rejected and forsaken by LORD

• Eyes that see, ears that hear and heart that understands

30-34) People sinned in LORD's sight, abominable idols Temple bearing name, killing offspring

• We are the LORD's temple, Christian bearing Jesus name in a land of abortion

8:1-3) Day of the LORD, our legacy, from greatest to least will be erased, idolatrous survivors wish for death.

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Biblical view on abortion

After Roe was overturned by the SCOTUS we had a listening session at work. Many voiced concern and fear for the future - the event was hosted by LGBTQ and Woman's groups so my part was to listen. I asked to provide the Biblical view on abortion giving the following outline. 

Many people haven’t heard the good news and assume they disagree. I’d like a chance to respectfully provide the Biblical view.

• The Biblical worldview is a spiritual matter ( 1 Corinthians 2:8,11-14; James 3:13-18)
• God has not given a spirit of fear, but power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:6-10)
• The Biblical view of family, sex, and marriage is God’s idea (Genesis 1:26-28;2:24; Matthew 19:6)
• HUSBANDS AND WIVES ARE HARDWIRED TO COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER
• Enmity between the devil and the woman’s offspring is a core principle from beginning to the end (John 8:44;Genesis 3:14-15;Revelation 12
• Rulers tried to kill Moses and Jesus as infants (Exodus 1:15-2:10;Matthew 2:12-18)
• God’s promised redemption includes working through our flawed family dynamics (Naomi sees redemption through Ruth, Boaz, and Obed (Ruth 1-4)
• Generations of family matters - Matthew 1
• Notice Matthew 1:5, mentions Ruth, Boaz, and Obed (whole family matters)
• Also, Matthew 1:24 affirms adopted family is as important as “natural”
• All Christians are said to be adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 1:3-14)
• In summary, I hope you can appreciate that you are unmistakably wonderful and valued by God.  (Psalm 139:13-16)
• Our aim is to help people practically, demonstrating love and respect you can recognize (Matthew 25:34-40; John 14:15-24)
• Thanks for allowing me to share the Biblical perspective on abortion

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a “crumb” from Jesus is better than anything this world can offer (Matt 15:21-28)

Focus Verse: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” – Matthew 15:8 

This morning I was reading the prayer from our BSF Lesson 16 (BSFblog). As I was reading, I was glad to see the BSF worldview that no one is excluded from the Gospel. "Jesus, You are the Savior of the world...No one is beyond the reach of Your compassion and deliverance." Over the past week, I've been seeing preaching that challenges this notion the "God so loved the world (John 3:16)" and he desires that "none should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)". It's from "great Bible teachers" but is nonsense in that it claims the "highest view of God" but missing his heart. 

All this makes me grateful for reading God's Master Plan for Evangelism, the point is it's always person to person. Jesus healed many and influenced many but he poured himself into 12 guys (even though one was a betrayer). 

"the Church proclaims the changed world as the consequence of changed men... It is this conviction, grounded in the Good News that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself," that makes evangelism immensely more than a theory or a slogan. It brings it into focus as a necessity."

Yesterday I got an email calling for the church to mentor people recovering from the lies of addiction. I recognized my friend Kevin. He's a successful lawyer, judge, and mentor to Rolando. I met Rolando at MNTC Alpha in 2020 where he said "yes" to Jesus and I have personally been witness to his life transformation. He went to long term treatment where I helped him study for his GED (via https://www.ixl.com/)

Here's an email I sent to my Monday night prayer group back on June 7, 2021 praising God for Rolando

"See attached prayer list for tonight (updated as of 6/2).

We have been having an amazing time at Teen Challenge. Over 15 men prayed with Nicky at the end of "how can I have faith." Pray for the team as we have Holy Spirit week Tues, Friday, Saturday (Rob, Ron, Duke, Ben). Praise God for the Alpha graduate volunteers ( Nate, Rodney, David).

I got to see Rolando (Alpha/TC graduate) yesterday at church and had breakfast with him and his mentor. Praise God he works at schools sharing his testimony, this week after a three-hour session, he led 25 people to Christ. Rolando is going to college in September and received a $27,000 scholarship - he is also in the running for a George Floyd memorial scholarship. Please keep Rolando in your prayers. 

Pray for the next team of volunteers at Alpha TC and for all campuses to have an Alpha team. "

Bible Study Fellowship has a question every week, "how you have seen God’s activity during the week. How has He provided, answered, comforted, restored, guided, etc.?"

Disciples, making disciples, making disciples. I'm grateful for many who work diligently, creating opportunities for many to be healed, fed, and nurtured in Christ. As God was in Christ reconciling the world, he has also made us his ambassadors and we get to recognize the person we are serving is the Almighty Himself (Matt 25:40). 

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Joseph's economic policy restores the people, Israel blesses his family (Gen 47:13-48:22)

Reading Be Authentic (Gen 25-50)

 In salvation history, the conception and birth of children is a divinely ordained event that has significant consequences. This was true of the birth of Isaac (Gen 18, 21), the twelve sons (Gen 29:30-30:24), Moses (Ex 1-2), Samuel (1 Sam 1-2), David (Ruth 4:17-22), and our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 4:4-5). Conception, birth, and death are divine appointments, not human accidents, a part of God's wise and loving plan for His own people (Ps 116:15; 13:13-16). - Warren Wiersbe, Be Authentic

Genesis 47:13-48:22

A) Joseph saves the people through generous economic policy

47:1-17) Another year, all money is gone so everyone exchanges livestock for food

18-22) Another year, people give land, become slaves for food (except priests)

23-26) Joseph gives seed, establishes 1/5 tax 4/5 for family

B) Jacob excepts Joseph's children as his own, relaying God's promises

27-31) Jacob 70 years in Egypt near death at 147, Joseph promises to bury him out of Egypt

48:1-7) Jacob tells Joseph of God's promise, adopts Manasseh and Ephraim bury in Bethlehem

 - Gen 17:1) God Almighty El-Shaddai, Gen 28:13,19) Bethel, Luz, Gen 32:29) "What's your name?"

8-14) Jacob blesses Ephraim the youngest with his right hand

 - 15-16) May God, we've faithfully followed, my shepherd, bless these boys, increase greatly

 - 17-20) Joseph displeased, wanting Manasseh right, but Jacob his descendants will become group of nations

21-22) Israel to Joseph, God will be with you, take you back to land of fathers

So far, the men God chose to unexpectedly receive a familial firstborn birthright are:

• Seth instead of Cain
• Shem instead of Japheth
• Isaac instead of Ishmael
• Jacob instead of Esau
• Joseph’s double blessing instead

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Criminal justice reform increases public safety through moral rehabilitation

Getting ready for Outrageous Justice that I'm hosting at my work's BRN SALT network. Taking the challenge to become a Justice Reform Advocate. 

Criminal justice reform increases public safety through moral rehabilitation. Local government hears our voice when regular citizens embrace a restorative, values-based framework. Join me in learning more and find out specific steps you can take at prisonfellowship.org. Help us transform the criminal justice process into one that restores. A criminal justice process that gives genuine opportunities to make amends and pursue moral rehabilitation.

From What the spike in murder rates means for criminal justice reform by Craig DeRoche  | May 20, 2016 12:04 AM

Without investment in education or moral rehabilitation, "correctional facilities" often don't correct or restore those who serve time. For too long, taxpayers have shouldered the cost of the fastest-growing area of government and greatest increase of centralized state power in America's history outside of healthcare. 

• Offenders return to the same behaviors or worse
• System underperformance; Law enforcement in the era of over-criminalization and over-incarceration has left them over-extended and under-resourced.
• Inefficient, costly system that fails to serve the public interest.
• Law enforcement officers can be freed up to solve serious crimes and take dangerous people off the streets.

What's needed now is not a return to the past, but a fresh vision for criminal justice. A restorative, values-based framework, advocated for by Prison Fellowship and many of its peers, is gaining consensus at the state and national levels.

• A restorative approach to justice reform is based on the inherent value and dignity of each person impacted by crime and incarceration. 

The goal of criminal justice reform is to increase public safety. 

• We become safer when correctional facilities are environments where those who regret their crimes have genuine opportunities to make amends and pursue moral rehabilitation.  

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How the Holy Spirit arrives and transforms our lives making us ready for heaven (Acts 2)

Earlier this year I began the study of Acts with my wife as she was preparing to teach the evening women class in Burnsville. In the study of Acts 2 I recognized that The Holy Spirit brings new communication and community. Now in reading the BSF notes for Acts 2, I rediscovered these wonderful verses in the "going deeper" section and added my own thoughts having read the verses.

When the Holy Spirit arrives our lives are forever, noticeably changed.  
Calls: John 3; Ephesians 2:4-5, 8
 - Jesus tells us about the coming Holy Spirit and his impact being like wind, being like birth. We don't choose it but it's unmistakable.
 - Even our faith, it a free gift of God - not something we do. What we do is receive the gift.
Indwells: Philippians 2:1
 - United with Christ, sharing the Spirit gives us encouragement, compassion, tenderness, and love for one another.
Deposits: Romans 5:5
 - God's love is poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The Holy Spirit brings continual change and guidance to us every day.
Counsels: John 16:13; Acts13:2; 16:7
 - As a guide, the Holy Spirit gives us a clear "yes" and "no"
Renews: John 14:26;1 Corinthians 2:11-13
 - God knows our thoughts and teaches us everything we need to know about Jesus and how to follow him.
Transforms: Galatians 5:22-23
 - He produces the best in us, love patience, gentleness, self-control. People know we are Jesus disciple by our love (John 13:34-35)
Empowers: Philippians 2:13;1 Corinthians 2:4
 - It's God at work in our lives, giving us the life-changing good news for others.
Comforts and convicts: John 16:7,8-11
 - Thank God that He accepts us where we are but doesn't leave us there.

The Holy Spirit prepares us for eternity with God
Holy: 2 Thessalonians 2:13;1 Peter 1:2
 - By the Holy Spirit at work within us we understand the truth and are obedient to God.
Grieves: Ephesians 4:30;1 Thessalonians 5:19
 - Yet we fall short and grieve the Holy Spirit. obedience comes from our desire to please God, not appease Him.
Seals: Ephesians 1:13-14
 - And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

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God gives us freedom to choose light or darkness and our future

At the Bible Museum in Washington DC with my mom, wife, and father in law - they asked provocative questions that sparked great conversation. One was Is freedom of religion a biblical concept?

God respects our choices in that He gives us the freedom to make decisions regarding our future (Genesis 13:8-12; Joshua 24:15)

From Bible study without prayer is light without heat I like this section:
Believers frozen in wickedness
Jesus said, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold" Matthew 24:12 NIV. The love Jesus is talking about is Agape Love, God's love - the Churches love and that it will grow COLD for MOST. And the love of most grows cold because of increase of WICKEDNESS.

What is wickedness? The verses before tells us Matthew 24:10-11
At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
 - In the old days, people would gather to hear prophets, today we turn on the t.v. or the radio or internet media.
 - To fall away is to have at one time believed God, then by listening (or being led) to another, you go another way, resulting in betrayal and hating one another.

Matthew 24:13
But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

(John 1:4-5) In him, life, Light of mankind, The Light shines in the darkness that hasn't understood, overcome, overpower, or appropriate or absorb it. UNRECEPTIVE to it

• John 3:19-21; 8:12; 12:46; 1 John 1:5-6
• Examples adoption is light, abortion is darkness, light is the ability to excel at our highest level - the darkness of drugs (feel big while getting smaller)

Walking in light involves progressive humility and honesty (1 John 1:5-2:6)

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God changes us through people, in-spite of our shortcomings

for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

1 Corinthians 16:9 ESV

My friend Jason asked me to listen to Ron Carpenter's levels. A teaching that affirms God isn't a God of a lottery but of levels. It's based on Ruth 2, where Ruth had to go into the field to be seen by Boaz. He teaches that being faithful with little things leads to bigger things. I can see how this teaching is valuable for getting un-stuck. God meets us where we are but doesn't leave us there.

Bigs idea: Realize God's blessings, when helping someone in need and accepting good advice (doing it faithfully)

• You can't go into your future dragging your past (Ruth 1)
• You can't have favor unless someone sees you (Ruth 2)
• Our world has representatives (Preachers, Christians represent God). When someone prays and I show up - I'm Jesus to that person. God doesn't always like how he's represented.
• We've experienced disappointment in our representatives' politicians, realtors, lawyers, managers, employees
• You've got to change people (Ruth 2:8)
• Get involved with believers, go and become part of what God is doing in the church
• Be under the protection and guidance of godly ministry
• Things can change
• Nothing we are dealing with is a terminal sentence (finance, health, emotions, relationships)
• God is all about change, Jesus came to change things, sent the Holy Spirit to change things
• Jesus came to give life, don't be addicted to church

So then yesterday, I met Vince Miller of beresolute.org. He talked about mentoring as being a little skill and a little time invested in someone for some time. Jesus had 12 guys and 22 months. I've asked him about presenting at my work (SALT) and he gave me this great book, Thirty Virtues That Build A Man. He said every problem in the world is the fault of gender men. Our worst enemy is apathy. Men don't mentor men for two reasons, 1) don't have time, 2) don't know what to do.

I'm signed up for man-up-2018-fall-emaw-fridays.

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Peter reminds us God is able to His fulfill his promises, patiently (2 Peter 3)

In 2 Peter 3 we see God as  Lord, Savior, Creator, and Patient:

 - 2 Peter 3:9, Lord isn't slow, but patient toward you
 - 2 Peter 3:13, His promise, new heaven and earth - eternal life with God
2 Peter 1:3-4 we may become partakers of the divine nature (again taste and see Psalm 34)

We see a connection to Revelation 16:8-9
The fourth bowl - on the sun, scorches everyone with its fire, they refuse to repent and glorify God (Deuteronomy 28:22 scorching heat and drought until perish; 2 Peter 3:7 heaven and earth are reserved for fire)
(9) they cursed the name of God, refused to repent and glorify him
 - I just listened to "Eternity: Your Choice by Robert Morris" and he had an insight that "glory" is what you're famous for and used famous people in sports, etc... to show the point. When Moses asked to see God's glory, it was like he was asking - what are you famous for?

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Exodus 33:18-19 NIV

Outline of 2 Peter 3
A) Purpose
1-2) beloved, writing to stir up a sincere mind, remember words spoken prophets, the commandment of the Lord and Savior

B) Current mockers forget God's historical word and power evidenced in their own argument of "beginnings and death" - see Genesis 1-3
 3-4) last days mockers, follow own lusts, "where promise of His coming?", death only no change since the creation
5-6) they forget by word of God heavens existed, earth formed, water form, destroyed by flood

C) Day of Lord will come suddenly, judgment will be swift
7) by His word present heavens, earth reserved for fire, the day of Judgement, destruction of ungodly men
8-9) day is like thousand years, Lord not slow about Promise, patient toward you wishing all to come to repentance
10) Day of Lord, like a thief - heavens pass away, elements destroyed earth and it's workds burned up

Applications: glorify God with our good lives, found in Christ Jesus
 - 11-12) we in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening coming day of God
 - 13) according to His promise, looking for new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells
 - 14) be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless
 - 15-16) regard patience of our Lord as salvation as Paul wrote (The good news of Jesus Christ and it's impact on everyone (Romans))
Warnings: Guard against error, don't fall away from Jesus Christ
17) be on your guard, not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness

Bottom line:
18) grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to Him be the glory now and to the day of eternity.

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How you know when God is giving you a fresh start

I've been praying for friends who seem to have lost the "second chance" God offered them. I've been witness to satanic attacks on their body, mind, and souls. But I've also seen restoration and redemption, forgiveness and healing (Heb 4:12). Then I saw this tree in my garden, it had lost serval second chances and now it's growing a fresh start. I'm encouraged to see that out of the root and a fresh tree can grow.

Notice a sprout on the tree?

Same tree after 7 days later

3 weeks later

Hebrews 3:12-14 says, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first."

When you feel like you've already settled things with God and rejected him. Remember the how Jesus opened the minds of his disciples (Luke 24:44-46). See "Does God change his mind" and think about how Jesus opened their minds to the truth in Jer 18:7-10 when he talked about the lost son who after losing everything "he came to his senses" Luke 15:17.

See what Jesus is doing in your life to give you a fresh start from a seemingly low and humble position. In Matthew 21:18-46, Jesus returns to the Temple compassionately teaching the priest and elders.

(18-20) Jesus curses fig tree and it withered up immediately – disciples amazed how
(21-22) faith without doubt, pray for anything – with faith you will receive it
(23-24) Jesus returns to Temple teaching, leading priest/elders demanded by what authority/right?
(25-26) Jesus answers with a question, did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven or man? If heaven, why didn’t we believe – if man we’ll be mobbed by because people said he’s a prophet
 (27) “we don’t know”, “then I won’t tell you”
(28-30) Parable of two sons, older – go to work in vineyard/no but later went: other /yes but didn’t go
(31a) who obeyed? – the first.
(31b-32)  bad people get to heaven because they believe, repent of sins while others won’t even when they see miracles
(33) Parable of landowner and tenant farmers. He planted vineyard, built wall, dug pit for pressing juice, lookout tower. Then leased it.
(34-36) harvest time sent servants to collect but farmers beat, killed first servant, second group of servants
(37-39) Finally owner sent his son, plotted and kill him to get the estate
(40) Jesus still talking with religious leaders, “what do you think the owner will do to the farmers?”
(41-42) “horrible death to them, then lease to others who will give his share after each harvest” Psalm 118:22-23, “stone builders reject has become cornerstone, Lord’s doing, wonderful to see”
(43-46) Kingdom of God taken from you given to nation produce proper fruit – stumble broken, crush on anyone it falls on. They wanted to arrest him but were afraid of crowds
Application: Go back and continue to conversationally teach stubborn and hard hearted people – because you love them - because you were them and are them. After his resurrection, Jesus’ great commission is to go, make disciples teaching them to obey everything he commanded.  

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Preventing suicide is everyone's business

•Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 1-877-726-4727, https://www.samhsa.gov/
•National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Information Resources and Inquiries Branch, 301-443-4513, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/site-info/contact-nimh.shtml
•National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), 1-800-950-6264, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/site-info/contact-nimh.shtml
•American Psychiatric Association, 1-888-357-7924, https://www.psychiatry.org
•American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,                 202-966-7300, https://www.aacap.org/

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Misery and murder

Exodus 1:1-22, http://extremestories.life

Root out prejudice
- our selves then culture
- God sees our hearts

Remember those persecuted
- people stand against authorities all over the world

Rest in God's promises
- cry out to God, he remembers his promises
- hard times don't erase God's promises

Recognize when to resist
- time to submit, time to resist
- submission to civil authority has limits (obey God other than men)
- God honors those who fear him
- October 21, 2017 - 500 years of protestant  reformation
- we have religious freedom and national freedom because others resisted (even losing there lives)

Fight for life
- not just pro-life, anti-abortion

Good for others and glory to God. There is hope, God rules and saves people.

Enemy wants to take out men. All throughout history. Get yourself in a ministry.

http://benlorence.blogspot.com/2016/03/christian-code-of-conduct-for-church.html?m=1

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