"...let the one who has my word speak it faithfully" - Jeremiah 23:28

The prophet Jeremiah was called to speak messages for God at an early age.  His task was not easy as much of what he had to say was about the destruction of Judah.  But he was faithful and he grieved terribly over pride and disobedience.  God spoke to him over and over again, encouraging him to speak only what He gives him  This was one of His messages for Jeremiah...stating and restating the power of His word:  "...like a hammer that breaks a rock to pieces".  Listen to the Layman's Commentary on this verse:

"The divine word is able to cope with all that thwarts its

way, to consume and pulverize the obstructions of evil,

the false strongholds of entrenched evil, the

pseudogospel of the false prophets."

 

There is much evil in the world today...but we have hope...His divine word has been given to us for direction and strength - much as it had been given to Jeremiah in his day.  We must know it and speak it!  The time has come when we can no longer sit back and hope someone else will speak for righteousness...that task has been given to us who believe!  The issues that are facing us in the church today demand that we "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).  We can do that and hold high the standards that His word give us by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

 

Dudley Tyng was a pastor in Philadelphia in the 1800s and had a tremendous burden for husbands and fathers to know Christ and follow him.  Thousands of men were converted under his teaching.  At his funeral, a young pastor was deeply moved by this pastor's commitment to preaching the gospel.  He read a poem - which was later written as a hymn and we still sing it today:

 

Stand up stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross

Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.

 

You are I must lift His banner high...I believe it is why we are here today.  My question to myself is:  are you standing up for Jesus wherever you are?  I was proud of Amanda Thatcher last week...at her grandmother's funeral in England, she read Ephesians 6:10-18 on putting on the armor of God.  May we all be public proclaimers of His precious word.

 

For further study:  Psalm 40:9-11, Psalm 119:9,160, Isaiah 45:19, Isaiah 59:21, Matthew 10;27, Romans 1:25, John 17:17, John 18:38, Eph. 4:15, Col. 4:5-6, 2 Tim 2:15

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly