THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD
Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 7-8
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Among the ruins of ancient Ephesus, Turkey, are these larger than usual stone ossuaries, which were used to house people’s skeletal remains. “Bones” are mentioned five times in the first verse of Jeremiah 8.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Jeremiah 7:23
But this is what I commanded them, saying, “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.”
Jeremiah 7 begins what is known as the “Temple Sermon.” God’s instructions to Jeremiah were that he was to stand at the gate of the Temple and deliver this message as the throngs of people were entering for worship. The people of Judah were still very religious outwardly, but Jeremiah’s message was that they were hypocritical. Several times Jeremiah made the point that “They did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward” (7:24). They practiced what is called “syncretism,” the amalgamation of what otherwise would be two or more distinct religions. In their case, it was an attempt to worship the God of Israel and also Molech. Some of them, including King Jehoiakim, who turned away from the reforms of his father, Josiah, had reverted to the practices of his grandfather, Mannaseh (2 Kings 21:3-6).
Chapter 8 predicts the coming judgment as a result of their syncretism. Their bones will bleach in the sun. There’s an old hymn which captures the essence of faithfulness to the One and only true God. “Trust and Obey!” Here’s a musical rendition of this foundational truth! (click here).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God of Israel, through Your Son and my Saviour, I pray for the grace of obedience to You, and to the worship of You and You alone! The Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed in Jeremiah’s day, rebuilt by Ezra and Herod, and then destroyed again. Your temple in this age is my body, and may I keep my body pure and in good shape for You, Lord, and may You alone live in my innermost thoughts, attitudes, intentions and actions. Amen!!! (1 Corinthians 6:12-20).
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My experiences with people practicing syncretism are many. The most common being church Sunday morning and then a variety of practices common to eastern religions during the week. The most dramatic example happened in the summer of 1976. I was in Winnipeg staying in the home of the pro football player Larry Kerychuk when the phone rang. The local Roman Catholic priest was looking for a Holy Spirit-filled minister to accompany him on an exorcism. I agreed, but conditional on the content of the priest’s testimony of his personal journey with Christ. I heard a miraculous story of the power of the Holy Spirit transforming his life. We showed up at a home of recent immigrants from Brazil, where manifestations were reported (we didn’t see any) of objects moving around the rooms mysteriously without human help. We discovered that back in Brazil the husband and father had been in the practice of attending Mass Sunday mornings and voodoo ceremonies Sunday evenings. We discerned that these spirits were not filling the house but the man. He wanted to be free of these, and we took authority in Jesus’ Name, cast out these evil spirits, and he was set free. The whole family received Jesus by faith as Saviour and Lord! The last report is that never again did this occult manifestation occur.
Yours for bringing men, women, boys and girls into genuine experiences in a saving relationship with Jesus!
David
P.S. If you want a blow-by-blow account of the various destructions of Jerusalem, I recommend a book I’m currently reading by Desmond Seward called, “Jerusalem’s Traitor: Josephus, Masada, and the Fall of Judea” (here is a listing for it on Amazon.com).
WOW!
What a great 30 minutes with the Food For Life video with Father Bob MacDougall and Father Bob Bedard.
Evangelisation they discussed is so important for us all today I feel.
I am amazed at how many books you read David!
Shalom,
Graham.
Praise God, David, for Father Bob MacDougall (I remember him well); Father Bedard, and Father Goring (whom I often watch on Food For Life). He is on fire for God and does incredible work with the youth. The seeds that are planted, relationships brought together, and God’s work with the truth of the Word manifesting through His servants is indescribable!! Plant the seed and it will grow and spread, over all the land, all the world. Amen!! Thank you so much for sharing this with us this morning. God bless you, David. Stay warm and be nourished. You are loved! Blessings dearest saints in the Lord!
For we walk by faith, not by sight. II Cor. 5:7
Show Me Your Glory, Third Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_e3aJLRsdc
I also watch Food for Life and enjoy the ministries of Father Mark Goring. Thanks everyone for your prayers and kind words on the blog yesterday. May God bless and keep us today, have a wonderful day!
What a powerful prayer…I joined in with you in prayer David. Thank you for the various links: yes, “Trust and Obey for there is no other way, but to trust and obey”!!!
Great picture Reynold!!
Will go to the other links later in the day…truly appreciated Father Bob MacDougall’s ministry on 100Huntly Street through the years!
Thank you David for all you shared this morning. Syncretism(The Bible and African traditional religions) was taught in the schools books in Kenya which I taught but didn’t understand it so much at that time. I remember they were trying to compromise the two much like they are trying to do with Christianity and Islam today. Also I end up with watching Rev. Mark Goring after church on Sunday and find him inspiring. Also I have the book you mentioned and dug it out to read it again last week. The Lord bless you and all the saints!
Dear Heavenly Father, please keep our faith strong in You alone.
Praying for all who need You Lord Jesus, that all would trust & obey You.
With You Lord God all things are possible!! Amen.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST; A PRAYER OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO THE LORD GOD FOR INTERVENING IN MY ISSSUES DEALING WITH OUR PROPERTIY ASSESSMENTS!
the Assessment Notices showed that our property in our mobile home park had been decreased to nearly no value for our properties! Our homes are an INVESTMENT!
the entire park was devalued by some $500,000. I was devasted and became anxious! I did begin to pray and asked others to pray also!
Today I felt God saying to phone the Asssessment office because I had not heard from them and the deadline is February 1/16! I did phone, and WHAT A MIRACLE HAPPENED! The Assessor was in his office, he spoke with me, brought up the property on Google, saw that it is only 20 years old, and he did my Appeal of my Assessment over the phone! THIS WAS TRULY THE HAND OF GOD WORKING!
I was so thankful and and I am asking for prayers of thankfulness also to pray for this young man named Chris! He was very professional, spoke kindly and respectful. I did say God bless you Chris! God has something lined up him and again, I can’t say it enough, I am so thankful that God took care of this situation! I’m going to Bible study tonight, my eyes are over flowing with tears! thank you Lord! Thank you!
I am praying for healing for Mary Stewart! I pray God is lifiting up her spirits! Blessings to everyone!