Jeremiah
2:8, “The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law
knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets
prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.”
The
power of God’s presence requires embracing God’s truth! That is why
Judah was not experiencing God’s favor during this time. The priests, pastors, and prophets lead the way for Judah into apostasy. Through the words of
Jeremiah, God revealed a pathway to victory. But there is only one way to
secure God’s favor. Judah must acknowledge their defiance of God’s law and
return to God in repentance and submission. Through the prophet, God pleaded with Judah to return to Him and His Favor.
I
suppose that every Christian would say that they desire the favor of God in
their life. But, are we willing to embrace the truth of God’s Word and submit
our lives to its standard? What is the parallel with our text for today?
A congregation will not rise above its
leader! Then, it becomes the responsibility of those leaders to represent God’s
Truth in word and deed. Godly leaders will lift up God’s standard which is
God’s Truth. True leaders are co-workers with the Lord Jesus Christ through the
abiding presence of the Holy Ghost. God said that He would lift up His standard
when the enemy comes in an overwhelming force. “So shall they fear the name of
the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the
enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a
standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19
We
are now experiencing the onslaught of dark forces released from the Satanic
abyss. The enemy is angry that the Church of Jesus Christ would dare to rise up
and oppose him. But now is the time for that very thing.
Every
pastor, leader, and congregation has been pressed by the will of a carnal
society to accept the unfruitful works of darkness. Paul instructed the Church
at Ephesus to have no fellowship with darkness because we are children of
Light. Ephesians 5:9, “(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and
righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them
in secret.” This external influence has pressed into the churches creating
internal conflict. The pressure of inclusion and compromise has led to a
deviation from God’s Truth by some.
However,
God has a standard for us to embrace, accept, and model if we are to name the
name of Christ. God’s standard is Holiness. God requires repentance and a
turning away from sin to the holiness of God’s Truth. Ephesians 5:25,
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave
himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish.” Godly leaders must preach the glorious Gospel of God’s Truth.
Jesus is returning for His Church made ready by the washing of the Word that
His Bride may be presented to Him Holy and without Blemish.
The Power Of God’s Presence requires Embracing God’s Truth!
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