09/04/11

Christians living in the suburbs

Jeremiah 41:17 - And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham [meaning their longing], which is by Bethlehem [house of bread], to go to enter into Egypt [means double strait],


In today's message the Lord is talking to all those Christians who are fence sitters.

In today's scripture the Lord shows us these so called Christians who know Christ but are drawn towards living a life with one foot in the world and one foot in God's Kingdom. They are full of energy when they come to worship or service and once they go home they are back to living life like worldly people.

The reason the Lord shows in today's message is their desire. They have settled in Chimham a place of desire. They desire both God's Kingdom and also the world. Like in the message given a few days back unless we pass the prosperity of this world we will not be permanent citizens of God's Kingdom. We need to move into town and stop living in the suburbs of the Kingdom of God.

They know the Word of God is the only way to the Kingdom of God and yet they refuse to surrender to the Word and live of the edges of the Word.

It is time to forsake Egypt (double Christian life) forever and move out of Chimham a place of desires and move into Bethlehem the House of Bread the Word of God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, it is difficult to overcome the desires of this world. It is only by your Spirit we can forsake this world and dwell in your Kingdom. Help us Lord, especially those who have their eyes on Egypt and dwell in Chimham that they circumcise their hearts and dwell in Bethlehem in the House of your Word...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripturesr ]
Jeremiah 7:21-29
21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.
22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:
26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.
27 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.
28 But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
29 Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)