24/12/11

Fear of the Men of God

Jeremiah 42:7,8 - And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah. Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,


In today's message we read of the time when the people were planning to go back to Egypt and they felt within them that they were not doing right so sent word through Jeremiah to confirm of the Lord. In their communication there is one sentence which needs to be taken note of. They feared if they did not abide by the Word the Lord, the Lord would send His man Jeremiah to them.

In the days before Jesus and also during the times of the early Church (times of the Apostles) Men of God were not only revered but also feared. They knew out of the mouth of the Men of God also came the Judgement of God. It is written if they came to know a Man of God was visiting their town they would rush to the gate of the town to confirm if he came with a message of peace or message of God's judgement.

Since 400AD till date we do see these things happening. Many preach, evangelize and do the work of the Lord. But in these 2000years there has not been even a handful who have spiritually grown to an extent that they caused the people to fear them as Men of God.

Today again people are going back to Egypt and we need a man like Jeremiah amongst us. Egypt does not mean a place but means double way of life, living a Christian and pagan life together.

These holidays are the worst times of the year when you see Christians act mostly like pagans. Pagans are blind and do not know so they can be ignored, but it hurts when you see people with eyes walk like blind people. Christians have mastered the art of turning off their ears to listen to what the Lord says through scriptures. Their flesh has greater hold on them than the fear of God.

Some years back when the Hindus in Mumbai were celebrating their festival, taking their idols through the streets of Mumbai and I heard of some so called Christians also being part of their celebrations, I cried to the Lord and I know what happen within 10 days of my crying to the Lord. Although the Lord heard me, He told me I wasted my spiritual riches on those who are like grass. However much ever disaster comes on them, soon they go back to their same old ways.

Today the same kind of feeling of crying unto the Lord comes in my heart, but this time it is not for the grass but those who are called to be trees and bear fruit.

I will not say much but only pray you do not go back to Egypt and that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ keeps you.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, your people lack your fear for there are very few of your true Representative amongst us. Lord, we pray that when your Representatives speak your people get down on their knees and abide by your Word. Lord, bring the fear of You on your people and let them not become calamities to vanity. Let them not lose the eternal life for which You paid a very heavy price...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Jeremiah 42:1 - 16
1 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,
2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)
3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
5 Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
7 And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.
8 Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,
9 And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;
10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
12 And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land. 13 But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
14 Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
15 And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;
16 Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.



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