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Gospel Song Fall Fest at
the Amphitheater at High
Pastures Christian Retreat – near Mt. Celo Church - Taking the
gospel message from the family to the community - A grandfather watches his
grandchildren prepare to sing songs they wrote about their faith walk at the
fall gospel song fest.
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My Lessons and Applications from
Today’s Readings
(Ellipses are mine and are used for
contemplation.)
An Object Lesson for an Unrepentant People – Jeremiah 13 and 14 – (Facts: What It Says – Summarized) God has warned His people through His
covenant curses, His prophets, and His Word, but they
persist in their sin…in their idolatry …trust in falsehood– have
forgotten God. Now He uses an object lesson. Jeremiah is told to tie a sash around his
waist. Some time later, the LORD tells
Jeremiah to “take the sash and hide it
under a hole in a rock.” After many
days, Jeremiah was told to go and get the sash which was hidden. “It was
ruined; it was profitable for nothing.” Then the LORD said, “In this manner I will ruin the pride of Judah and the
great pride of Jerusalem. “This evil people who…refuse to hear My words…who
follow the dictates of their own hearts…who walk after other gods to serve and
worship them…they shall
be just like this sash…which is profitable for nothing. For as
the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of
Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me…THAT…they may become My
people…for renown…for praise...and for glory…but…they would not hear.” God then declares His
coming judgment on both houses.
Wine bottles will be filled…but for drunkenness. He will “destroy
them…have no pity…not spare...nor have mercy on them.” He will bring droughts…that will cause them
to mourn…languish…cry…be ashamed…confounded…to cover their heads.” Then they will call on God in their
desperation…plead with Him to not leave them…for HIM to remember the
covenant. They acknowledge their wickedness,
but they don’t repent and don’t change. For the third time, God tells Jeremiah to NOT pray for
them. “Then the LORD said to me,
“Do
not pray for this people, for their good.
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and they offer burnt
offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the
famine, and by the pestilence.” Then the LORD pronounces doom on the false
prophets from whom comes a false vision…divination…a worthless thing…the deceit
of their heart…lies. Principle: God knows the true intent of our hearts and
has little regard for lip service only or for sacrifices from a deceitful
heart. It is not words from us He seeks,
but evidence of a transformed life living in obedience to His Word and will.
The Song of a Repentant, Saved Soul – Psalm 118: 15-20. (Facts: What It says – Summarized) - His
testimony: “The LORD has chastened
me severely, but He has not given me over to death.” His present state:
The psalmist now sees himself “in the
tents of the righteous…with the voice of…rejoicing…and salvation” over his
transformed life because of God’s mercy and grace. His vow: “to
declare the works of the LORD.” Principle: Repented sin resulting in changed behavior,
leads to salvation, rejoicing, and righteousness, but chastening (consequences)
may still be borne as a result of the sin.
The outflow of a grateful heart for God’s salvation is to declare the
works of the LORD to others.
New Believers as Object Lessons of Faith -
1 Thessalonians 1 – (Facts: What It
Says – Summarized) How they were saved: “By
receiving the word…in much affliction…with joy of the Holy Spirit. The outcome of
their salvation: “their work of
faith… their labor of love…their patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in
the sight of our God and Father…their election by God…not in word only…but also
in…power…and in the Holy Spirit…and in much assurance…their example to others
as followers of the Lord…their sounding forth the word of the LORD in every
place…their faith toward God going out, so that the Apostle and his followers
need not say anything” Their testimony to others: “How
they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God…to wait for His
Son from heaven…whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from
the wrath to come.” Principle: The pattern of salvation is the same now as
then: God elects, calls, saves, and transforms through His Word, His power, His
Holy Spirit. Our salvation is still
evidenced by our faith, our labor of love and our patient hope in our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. Our testimony and
outcome are the same: Taken from a pit of despair to follow Christ, to
go…take…teach the gospel to all nations for the salvation of souls to the glory
of God.
My Lessons and Applications: Then the
eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to
go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to
them and said, “All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20) Jeremiah went on his prophetic teaching
mission to the Elect Nations of Judah and Israel. He was to take God’s word, speak and teach,
but salvation was of God. He was God’s
messenger, witness. It was the same
mission for St. Paul and the other disciples and apostles to the Jewish remnant
and the Gentile nations. Many of the
churches received condemnation – for sins and following false doctrine (much
like the people to whom Jeremiah was sent) - but some – like Thessalonica –
received commendations. We are sent out
with the same mission into all nations.
We take and teach/disciple; God saves or condemns. Our work is enormously rewarding when we see
evidence of faith and heart-rending when we don’t – just like it was with
Jeremiah and Paul, but the mission must go forward until Jesus comes or God
closes that door. It is startling to hear God tell Jeremiah for the 3rd
time thus far in our Jeremiah reading, to NOT pray any longer for
the wicked people because He has condemned them to doom. The NT also gives us indication of a time
when God will close the door, “give them
up to their uncleanness, vileness, debased mind” – Romans 1: 18-32 - among other passages. “I tell you, NOW is the time of God’s
favor. NOW is time of salvation.” (2
Corinthians 6:2). “Harvest is passed; summer is ended; and we are not saved!”
(Jeremiah 8:20) Are we filled with,
empowered by, anointed by Him for this work through His Holy Spirit – beginning
with ourselves, then to our families, our churches, our places of work, our
communities, our nation, the world (“out
of every tongue, tribe and nation” – Daniel 3:4, 5:19, Revelation 5:9, 7:9),
out of our own prejudices and proclivities, into His mandated world mission
work?
We
know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4
Many people
wish to know if they are among God’s elect before they ever look to
Christ. But we cannot learn of our
election in this manner, for it can only be discovered by “fixing our eyes on
Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2) Look to Jesus and believe on Him, and you will find proof
of your election immediately; for as soon as you believe, you are one of the
elect. If you give yourself completely
to Christ and trust in Him, you are one of God’s chosen ones. Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
Jesus
said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws
him.”and ”I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has
enabled him.” (John 6:44,65).
“Election is a doctrine that even many long-time Christians reject,
although it is taught throughout the Scriptures.” Jim Reimann on Charles
Spurgeon’s text above – in regard to any readers’ struggles with understanding
election and sovereignty.
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