Zechariah 13 - Prophecy Dead?

     “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because you have told lies in the Lord’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies.

     “On that day every prophet will be ashamed of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment of hair in order to deceive." (Zech 13:2-4 NIV)
    
     So, is the gift of prophecy a gift that is received today? Absolutely! I remember years ago being told that prophecy is not a gift for new covenant people. It died when the first disciples died. They based (and some still do) that assumption on scriptures like this one that we find in Zechariah. But, this scripture refers not to prophets that the LORD has called. It refers to false prophets. It refers to prophets who not only call on false idols, but those who prophecy falsely in the LORD's name. I am sorry to say that both abound today. But, that does not negate the fact that God still calls prophets. They are around for the benefit of the people. They are around to remind us of the LORD's will and of the Way in which we should be going.
     In today's culture we often think of a prophet of someone who predicts the future. But, it is not normal for a prophet of God to do that. A prophet's message usually includes the warning of what will happen if we do not worship the one true God and only Him; if we do not follow in His Way.  Thankfully, many of the prophets of old (as well as today), also included a promise to those who would gift thanks to and glorify God before all others.
     I find it quite sad that so many who profess to be Christian today are running around supporting false prophets; so many who are seeking a prediction of their future; seeking a word from the dead; rather than seeking the will of God and standing on God's promises of eternal life in His Kingdom for all who believe. May God bless you with that the reassurance that He is with you. He will provide for you. He will keep you in His Kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Today's blog came easy as yesterday's Bible Study at Zion related to the gift of prophecy, as well as the gift of tongues. We had an excellent discussion on 1 Corinthians 14. Join us next Wednesday at 9 a.m., if you are able, for chapter 15 and the resurrection of the dead. BTW - haven't been able to figure out why anyone would seek guidance from supposedly dead spirits when they can seek it from God who sees all and knows all; and, has already provided His Word.

Jeremiah 36 - Proclaim God's Word

One way or another, the people will hear the word of the LORD. They didn't listen to Jeremiah. He was restricted from the temple because of his preaching. Now, he has Baruch write down his sermons and bring them to the temple to read. Baruch is questioned. Are these not Jeremiah's sermons? Baruch is advised that he and Jeremiah ought to get out of town and hide as this will be reported to the king. It surely was. The king burns the scroll containing the word of the LORD and puts out a warrant for Baruch and Jeremiah. But, even as the LORD has hidden them, Jeremiah and Baruch write yet another scroll with the word of the LORD on it so that all may hear and turn to God.

In Matthew 24:10-14 Jesus tells his followers: "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Whatever it takes... speak it; write it; send it in letters; post in on the lamp post; or even the door to the church; Facebook it; tweet it; but, get the word out. Proclaim the gospel of the kingdom as a testimony to the whole world, to all people. Just as in Jeremiah's day, you may well be persecuted for speaking the truth. You may end up in hiding for awhile. Luther did. There are faithful children of God in this world, even today, who are even put to death for the proclamation of the Good News. Kings really don't like having another kingdom proclaimed. Whatever it takes, proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God for all who believe, through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

Jeremiah attempted to get the word out by use of the law; but, we have a message that is not one of impending doom. It is a message of grace. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) That is, eternal life in the Kingdom of God where we live completely, totally, in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 137 - Remembering and Weeping

"By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered..."  (Psalm 137:1 NIV) Having a bit of a hard time focusing this morning on Psalm 137 as I am sitting here, remembering and weeping. So I am taking this psalm out of context.... I am stopping at verse one.

Yesterday, a wonderful friend and brother in Christ died. I am so grateful that we were able to spend our vacations these last two summers with D.J. (Everaldo DeJesus) and his wife Mikki (Megdalia). It had been about 20 years since we'd seen them before we got together again. D.J. and my husband served together in the U.S.M.C. at a couple of bases. I remember so many wonderful evenings wandering the streets of Rota.  D.J. and Howard out front. Mikki and I following behind. For those who have never experienced Marine Corps life, you should know that the Marine Corps is a very small branch of the service and those whom you serve with and their families become your family. Separated from your birth family for years, even decades, the Marine Corps family becomes your own.

Howard and I talked often in the following years about going to Puerto Rico to visit, but it never happened. It was D.J. who finally figured out how to get us together for the vacations the last two summers. We will be flying for Puerto Rico later this week. But, D.J. is not there.  And, so I sit here, remembering and weeping. 

If there is any joy today, it is D.J. who knows that joy. I remember the promise that all who believe in Jesus Christ will not perish, but inherit eternal life in the presence of God, in His glorious Kingdom. In that, there is comfort. For the privilege of knowing D.J., I am grateful. Yet, there is still grief. Life here on earth is so short and we waste so much of the time given to us by God.

May God help us all to learn not to just love, but to live that love, to live life experiencing the love of God and the love of the people He gives to share our lives with.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Job 14 - Life is Short or Not

“Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble."  (vs 1)  Job is being just a little pessimistic here.  He's in a lot of pain and wants out.  But, the truth is that we have more hope than the trees!  They indeed will sprout again if you don't dig the roots out and burn them.  But, so will we.  Our days on earth are truly very short.  But, for those who believe in the Lord, Jesus the Christ, they shall inherit eternal life.

There are so many scripture verses in the New Testament to support our eternal life, where can I point you.  Probably the most well known verse is from John 3:16 (NIV). "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

" Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life."  (John 12:23-25) 

Life in this world may be short, but for those whose hope is in the LORD, even though we die at age 100, we are young, for we have inherited the eternal kingdom of God, through Jesus Christ, our LORD. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.


P.S.  For those who have not heard:  Our dear brother in Christ, Chuck Mink died this past week.  His funeral will be in Wisconsin where he has been on hospice for the past few weeks.  We will have a graveside service and committal for him at the Skanee Cemetery next Sunday (Sept 23rd) at noon following the Worship Service.

Job 6 - Take My Life, LORD

Job cries out in anguish.  He has lost everythig.  His friends are of no help.  He asks for nothing, but for death.  In all this pain, his one request is that God would take his life.  He does not even consider that he should take his own life - shed his own blood.  Job, it seems, accepts full that his life is in the hands of God.  It does not belong to himself.  It belongs to God.  The LORD gives and He takes away.  (Job 1:21)  Job stays consistant in his faith throughout his misery.  It is up to the LORD whether he will live or die.

At the beside of so many faithful Chrisitans, I I have sat, hearing this same lament, as they lay dying! Oh, but, if the LORD would only take my life!  Why will God not let me die?  Sound like they've given up hope?  No, to the contrary, they are expressing their hope and their faith in eternal life promised to them through Jesus Christ. They place their lives in God's hands.  They would have their lives ended, but they wait on the LORD for His will to be done. 

May God grant that our hope for this world and the next, should be strengthened through the Word, Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J


 

Sorcerers and False Prophets

Deuteronomy 18

I can't say it enough.  I don't say it enough.  Stay far away from fortune tellers and magic whether someone tells you it is white (good) or black (bad) magic.  They are not for those who follow Jesus.  You cannot follow both Jesus and other spirits. And... I'm not talking about magic tricks (illusions) where the nickel is pulled out of a child's ear.  I am talking about magic that is meant to help you get whatever it is that you want.  Stay away from it.  Trusting in anything other than God for your future is abhorrent to the LORD.   These practices will get you nowhere except in trouble. 

Miracles of God and magic are not the same thing...  One gives God the glory, the other, as I said before, gets you in trouble as it steers you away from trusting the LORD.  If you pray to the LORD for a healing in the name of Jesus Christ and the one you prayed for is healed that is a miracle, not magic, give thanks and glory to God. 

A word from a prophet and a word from a fortune-teller are not the same thing.  Be wise, discern between the two.  If the word that is given is in contradiction to scripture then it is not a word from God for you. 

I had a marvelous visit with a wonderful Christian woman yesterday.  Every visit with her brings me refreshment as I behold her faithfulness.  She is quite elderly in worldly terms as she will be soon 100 years old.  She is as faithful to the LORD as I have ever known anyone to be.  She trusts the LORD in all things and is at peace with God no matter what might befall her.  She trusts Him with her whole life, her whole future.  Now, some might wonder how many years can she have left.  I will tell you, her time is limitless, for she has inherited eternal life in the kingdom of God, the kingdom that Jesus has prepared for her.  She has lived long on this earth in the presence of her LORD and she will remain in His presence for all eternity.  That is the difference between someone who worships and served the Lord and one who follows after sorcerers and false prophets:  eternal life in the presence of God; our Father, the Son, the Spirit.  Who will you follow?  Whom shall you serve?