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| If Necessary - - Are We Prepared to Suffer for our Faith? |
Our Bible Study at Open Door
Church began with several scriptures from Jeremiah and also Lamentations. These are poetic books with deep meaning.
Jeremiah was called by God as
a young lad. He was shy and humble, but
God gave him a special anointing to be a prophet and speak boldly the words of
God.
False prophets were in the
land and Jeremiah called them out. This
caused him enormous problems.
Trials come at times to us
all. Often it is because of our choices,
but not always. There are times that
trouble comes allowing us to grow and trust in God. Remember that we are IN Him. We can learn how to deal with difficult times
and know God is with us.
Our teacher mentioned she
knew a woman who was severely and ritualistic abused as a girl. God gave her a dream and she went on to
become a missionary. She ministered to
children who had been forced to kill as an initiation, and their anguish was so
deep.
Consider how God can use
sorrow to understand the pain in others.
In Jeremiah’s day, the Jewish
Nation was worshiping idols and other gods.
They were also reaching out to ungodly nations and doing terrible
things. Jeremiah preached repentance,
and he was rigorously mocked.
Pashur the Priest put him in
stocks because Jeremiah had said to repent and stop worshiping idols and other gods.
He also prophesied war was
coming and for the people to go with their Chaldean capturers and live in their
land. Jeremiah Chapter 38 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this
city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the
Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives; they will live.’ 3 And this is
what the Lord says: ‘This city will certainly be given into the hands of
the army of the king of Babylon
These words did not set well
with the Princes who wanted to kill Jeremiah.
Here the National and Religious leaders were
against Jeremiah and his words to serve God and live a Holy life. He did not whine and say “I am a victim.”
The King gave permission to
do with Jeremiah as they wanted, and they cast him into a deep dungeon where he
sank in the mire.
EbedMelek,
a Cushite, an official in the royal palace spoke to the King; “These men have done evil to God’s
prophet.” The king took pity and
commanded them to take Jeremiah out of the pit.
Jeremiah remained
in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem
The King of Babylon had
respect to God’s prophet and brought him to his people.
Lamentations 3: 22-26 Because
of the Lord’s great love we
are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your
faithfulness. I say to myself,
“The Lord is my portion; therefore
I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him; it is good to
wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Peter
said, it is necessary when hardship comes to NOT give up, but hope and trust
for God to give you strength to go through triumphant.
The trial
of your faith is valuable and important and more precious than gold. Some situations are allowed to prove our
dedication, so do NOT be defeated, but stand tall and be strong in the Lord.
3 comments:
Jeremiah is one of my favorite books of the Bible.
He suffered greatly, yet he continued to seek God, obey God and praise God.
There's much, much, much re: the seriousness in our present-day world. Even as a kid, I was beaten many times, I was a fighter, and blessed when the Lord broke into my life and has protected me. It happened when I was 5-20 and I'm 70, as you know. AND when I'm in heaven, Jeremiah is one of my favorite "brothers" to meet! He's done much of the same things I have, even now. Bless you.
Good word. We all have tribulation in this flesh... but we have overcome this world and this flesh by the One who paid the way for our redemption with His perfect last blood sacrifice. Thanks for the encouragement.
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