Priests who are wicked

JEREMIAH      CHAPTER 23

The Lord said he would send disaster upon the leaders of his people, because instead of leading them to safety, they drove them to destruction. He would pour judgment on them for the evil they did, but later gather the remnant and bring them back into their own fold so they may be fruitful and multiply.

The time is coming, said the Lord, when he would place a righteous branch on King David's throne. And he will be a King who rules with wisdom and will do what is just and right throughout the land. And his name will be "The Lord Is Our Righteousness" and all of Judah and Israel will live in safety. And a new oath will be sworn which will say, "As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north, and from all countriesto which he had exiled them."

The Lord's heart is broken because of the false prophets and the priests are like them too, wicked men,said the Lord and he will bring disaster upon them too.He saw that the prophets of Samaria were terribly evil and now the prophets of Jerusalem are worse.  Therefore, the Lord will fed them with bitterness and give them poison to drink. These prophets claim to speak for the Lord, do they not think I cannot see what they are doing? They tell of prophecies in dreams and tell lies in the Lord's name. I will stand against these prophets, says the Lord.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The KING is called a righteous Branch because he will sprout up from the stump of David's fallen dynasty. There are four warning signs of a false prophet - 1. they may appear to speak God's message, but they do not live according to God's word. 2. they water down God's message in order to make it more palatable. 3. they encourage their listeners (subtley) to disobey God. 4. they tend to be arrogant and self-serving, appearling to the desires of their audience instead of being true to God's word.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER AFFECT US IN TODAY'S WORLD? A major factor to the nation becoming corrupt was the large audience that the prophets had. the prophets were popular because they told the people that all was well. Let's examine the prophets and leaders of our time. Don't some of them fall into the catagories described. Some are arrogant and self-serving. Others preach "feel good" religion which might fall into the "watered down" kind. Some don't live according to God's world. Those big cars and fancy mansions don't seem like something God would have. I have never had a leader tell me to break the law,subtley or not. But I'm sure there are leaders who would do so. Be vigilant!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:


HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.

Pray for Gary and Steve my insurance men who have prostate cancer.

Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.

Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.

Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.

Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.

Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.

Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.

Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who has been undergoing chemo. Pray also for Charly who longs to be 100 percent again and walk without an aid.

Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.

SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary

RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian

SUPPORT: Pray for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom. Pray for our famers and those who raise livestock during this terrible drought.