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3 episodes with ebed melech
2 episodes with ebed melech
2 episodes with ebed melech
Are you trying to become significant? In this message, Pastor Doug looks a virtually unknown person from the Bible who become significant and unpacks lessons for our lives.If you've just made a decision for Christ, please respond here so we can pray for you and encourage you along your journey: https://hpfc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/680887Check out the HISplace Bible Reading plan here: https://hpfc.org/bible-reading-plan/At HISplace Family Church we don't want something from you, we want something for you! By giving you open up an endless fountain of blessings that God wants to pour out to you. To give today click here: https://hpfc.org/give/Stay Connected:Website: https://hpfc.org/HISplace Family Church Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559273825317HISplace Family Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hisplacefamilychurch/#hisplacefamilychurch #hpfc #dougbartsch #heroes #hiddenheroes #heroic #hero
In this latest episode of our no-holds-barred atheist podcast, we tear into the biblical circus that is Jeremiah Chapter 39 with the finesse of a skeptic wielding Occam's razor. Brace yourself for a blasphemous deep dive into the so-called prophecies of Jeremiah, where we call out the holy smoke and mirrors for what they truly are: a mixture of political intrigue, convenient alliances, and some serious eyebrow-raising divine justifications."Jeremiah Chapter 39" is not your Sunday school teacher's podcast. We're unpacking the tale of Jeremiah, who seems to flip-flop between prophet and political pawn faster than you can say "Babylonian conspiracy." We question whether Jeremiah was less a mouthpiece of God and more a savvy strategist in cahoots with the enemy. Oh, the heresy!Get ready to laugh, facepalm, and maybe even shout at your speakers as we expose the moral quandaries and ethical gymnastics performed by religious apologists defending this biblical narrative. From the grim fates of King Zedekiah's sons to the curious case of a prophet who's both persecuted and protected, we spare no holy cow in our pursuit of the truth (or at least a good chuckle).Did Jeremiah have a hotline to the divine, or was he just well-connected with Nebuchadnezzar's crew? We discuss the implications of a prophet being treated like royalty by the very empire he's supposed to be warning against. We also shine a light on the character Ebed-Melech, whose miraculous salvation seems suspiciously convenient and, frankly, a perfect plot device for a prophet in need of a friend.If you've ever wondered how ancient texts might serve as propaganda, look no further. This episode dissects how the stories we're told—and the ones we tell ourselves—can be used to justify actions that range from questionable to downright despicable.Buckle up, non-believers (and brave believers with a sense of humor), as we navigate the historical minefield of Jeremiah Chapter 39 with the sass and skepticism you've come to love. Prepare to be entertained, enlightened, or enraged (possibly all three) as we take on the divine drama in true irreverent fashion.Join us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/8RwwMrb5zKSkip the ads by joining Acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/6331d364470c7900137bb57dThank you for stopping by Sacrilegious Discourse - Bible Study BY Atheists!Check out these links for more information about our podcast and merchandise:Our Homepage: https://sacrilegiousdiscourse.com/ Join Acast+ to enjoy our podcast adfree! https://plus.acast.com/s/sacrilegiousiscourse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Are you ready for another riveting ride through the annals of ancient antics? Buckle up, non-believers, because this episode of our skeptical soiree is all about Jeremiah Chapter 38, where divine warnings and political maneuvers collide like never before. We're diving deep into the muddy cistern of religious rhetoric and the slimy politics of Jerusalem's elite, and boy, do we have some hot takes for you.In this episode, we dissect the life and (almost) death of the Bible's gloomiest doomsayer, Jeremiah, as he flip-flops between a dank pit and the king's palace like it's nobody's business. King Zedekiah is serving up some serious wishy-washy realness, and we're here to call it out. Is Jeremiah a true prophet, or just another pawn in the game of thrones? (And we're not talking about the HBO series, although the drama level is pretty comparable.)We'll also get into the unlikely hero of the day, Ebed-Melech. This Ethiopian eunuch has more compassion in his pinky toe than all of Jerusalem's ruling class combined. And let's not forget about the thirty (or was it three?) men who rescue Jeremiah from the mire. Talk about a biblical blooper – can't the holy text keep its numbers straight?Join us as we navigate the labyrinth of ancient Jerusalem's political intrigue and ponder the timeless question: is prophecy just another word for manipulation? Spoiler alert: our atheist perspective might just lead us to a certain conclusion. Tune in, and don't forget to bring your sense of humor and a healthy dose of skepticism.Remember to hit that subscribe button and leave us a divine (or not so divine) review. Because who needs holy water when you can wade through the murky waters of biblical critique with us? See you in the court of public opinion – no cisterns allowed.Join us on DISCORD: https://discord.gg/8RwwMrb5zKSkip the ads by joining Acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/6331d364470c7900137bb57dThank you for stopping by Sacrilegious Discourse - Bible Study BY Atheists!Check out these links for more information about our podcast and merchandise:Our Homepage: https://sacrilegiousdiscourse.com/ Join Acast+ to enjoy our podcast adfree! https://plus.acast.com/s/sacrilegiousiscourse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pastor Gary and Elder JC Montgomery are continuing with Blacks in the Bible series. Many of us today have not realized that Blacks contribution to the Bible extends from the very beginning of history. Names like Ebed Melech, Simon of Cyrene, and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Remember even Solomon himself recognize his heritage--I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Song of Songs 1:5. Tune in next week for the other names of Blacks in the Bible. Don’t forget, you too, may become a Stone Builder by contacting us at stonehbr@gmail.com or give a gift at welivingstones.org. +++++++ Contact The Stone Builders at www.welivingstones.org with questions or comments and how to donate.
01.15.2023 The Legend of Ebed Melech by Harrisburg BIC Church
Writings by J. G. Bellett On the Subject of Woollen and Linen This video covers Elijah, The parable of Tares in Matthew 13, David and Peter, Double-Mindedness, Lot, Jonathan, The Days of Ahab, Jehoshaphat, Obadiah, Ebed-Melech, The Man of God from Judah, Micaiah versus Jehoshaphat, The Returned Captives, The two Tribes and a Half, Corinth. https://plymouthbrethren.org/article/2300
Jay and Jon further discuss Jeremiah, including two unlikely heroes: Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian and Baruch the scribe.
August 19, 2022 Daily Devotion: "Coaxed and Caught by God..." Jeremiah 39:17-18 New International Version 17 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. 18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.” Nothing is sweeter than watching a young child's first hesitant jump into the open arms of a coaxing father. If perhaps we can no longer personally remember that palpable childhood fear, we can certainly appreciate it. Yet the unspoken message coming through tiny faces contorted by sheer terror is always a wistful, "I really want to do it!" So the father says reassuringly over and over, “Come on. I'll catch you!" As the father nudges closer to narrow the gap and bolster the child's confidence, the big moment finally comes. After hesitant false starts, all of a sudden there's take-off! The youngster takes that exhilarating leap of faith, squealing with delight. Faith is like that. Desire mixed with fear. Longing to be in the Father's arms, yet ever so hesitant. What's wonderful about today's text is that these words of promise are being given to Ebed-Melech, the Cushite, after the fact. You may recall that Ebed-Melech had come to Jeremiah's rescue after Jeremiah had been lowered into a fetid, dank cistern where, without someone's intervention, he surely would have died. Despite the obvious risk involved in approaching the king on Jeremiah's behalf, Ebed-Melech did not think twice before “jumping." And why? Because, says the text, he trusted in the Lord. Apparently Ebed-Melech had jumped in faith so many times before that fear had given way permanently to trust. Whenever we come to a point in our own lives requiring a similar leap of faith, it is reassuring to know that we've jumped successfully before. Practice may not make perfect, but it does make permanent. The question of trust is: Why am I still so hesitant to trust God after all the times he's already coaxed me and caught me? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gerzon-etino/message
2 Samuel 18:19–33; Jeremiah 38:7-13 Cush = Heb. Black; Ethiopian. The prophet Isaiah describes the Cushites as “a people tall and smooth-skinned . . . a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers” (Isaiah 18:2; Jeremiah 13:23). Ebed-Melech [Ē'bed-mē'lĕch]—SERVANT or SLAVE OF THE KING. An […]
Saturday, 2 July 2022 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, Acts 8:27 The previous verse detailed Philip's commission by the messenger of the Lord to go on the desert road to Gaza. Luke now continues with a note concerning his immediate obedience, saying, “So he arose and went.” Philip is being given a charge completely separate and distinct from Peter and the other apostles. He was part of the dispersion noted early in Acts 8 and he was found faithful in opening his mouth and proclaiming the gospel to the mixed-race of Samaritans. Certainly because of his zeal for telling others the good news of Christ he is commissioned to pass on this same good news again. That is seen with the next words, “And behold, a man of Ethiopia.” There is an immense amount of speculation concerning who this person is in relation to Judaism, but Luke – the most meticulous of chroniclers – says nothing of his being of Israelite descent or of him being a proselyte, both of which he carefully records concerning others elsewhere. Rather, he simply calls him a man of Ethiopia. Vincent's Word Studies provides additional insights into the word “Ethiopia” – “The name for the lands lying south of Egypt, including the modern Nubia, Cordofan, and Northern Abyssinia. Rawlinson speaks of subjects of the Ethiopian queens living in an island near Mero, in the northern part of this district. He further remarks: ‘The monuments prove beyond all question that the Ethiopians borrowed from Egypt their religion and their habits of civilization. They even adopted the Egyptian as the language of religion and of the court, which it continued to be till the power of the Pharaohs had fallen, and their dominion was again confined to the frontier of Ethiopia. It was through Egypt, too, that Christianity passed into Ethiopia, even in the age of the apostles, as is shown by the eunuch of Queen Candace.'” As for the term anér, or man, it is a general word used to signify a male human. Nothing more should be read into it. To say anything more is to insert into the narrative something unintended by the record itself. He is next called a eunouchos, a eunuch. The word comes from eune (a bed) and echo (to have or possess). As such, it is a person who possesses the bed of another. Scholars, in an attempt to claim he is something other than what is stated, will stretch the meaning of what Luke is clearly conveying. He is a castrated person who attended to the bed of another. He is next noted as being “of great authority.” The Greek word is dunastés, a word connected to our modern word “dynasty.” It signifies a potentate or a mighty leader. Paul uses it in 1 Timothy 6:15 when describing Jesus as “the blessed and only Potentate.” In the case of this man, he is a member of the court “under Candace.” Rather than a name, this is a title used only here in the Bible, Kandaké. Like the term Pharaoh, it is a term used as the dynastic title for the queens of Ethiopia. As such, the person now being described is a high-level official and a eunuch assigned under her. Next, the term Kandaké is explained with the words, “the queen of the Ethiopians.” This would be comparable to saying, “Pharaoh, the king of Egypt,” as is seen quite frequently in the Old Testament and even once in Acts 7:10. This man, who is a eunuch under Candace is the one “who had charge of all her treasury.” This indicates that he was not only powerful in authority, but he was a trustworthy man as well. His position put him over all her treasures. The word used, gaza, is found only here. It is a Persian word adopted by the Greeks and Latins to indicate the treasures and wealth she possessed. Finally, it says of this person that he “had come to Jerusalem to worship.” The immediate conclusion is that some claim this “proves” that he was a proselyte. Rather, this only proves that he came to Jerusalem to worship, but that can actually mean almost anything as people go to “worship” all over the world and for a variety of reasons. Jews went up on the hills of Israel to worship and get closer to whatever god they were worshipping at the time. If he was a proselyte, Luke would have carefully stated it, as he did in Acts 2:10, 6:5, and 13:43. Further, it is claimed that he was there to worship on Passover (Barnes), Pentecost (Cambridge, etc.), as was stated in Acts 2. These same scholars have already said in their commentaries that a long and/or unknown time has passed since Acts 2. It could have been years at this point. There is nothing recorded by Luke concerning the reason that he came other than to worship. Also, being a eunuch, according to Deuteronomy 23:1, he was not acceptable to be counted among the assembly of Israel. Like the Ethiopian Ebed-Melech recorded in Jeremiah, he was not a part of the assembly, even if he was living in the land. This Ethiopian Eunuch may have been worshipping the Lord, like Ebed-Melech, with his heart, even if he was not acceptable under the law. Like Ebed-Melech, he will receive a special note of favor from the Lord for his attentiveness to Him (see Jeremiah 39:15-18). Life application: A few points about this verse, if hyperdispensationalism were true, which it is not, the church would have begun with Philip, not with Paul. This is because he is the first noted as evangelizing a Gentile. However, the church did not begin with Philip either. It began in Acts 2 and both Philip now, and Paul in the verses to come, are (or will be) carrying out the tasks set before them to continue the growth of what the Lord is doing. There is a specific reason for the selection of this Ethiopian and the evangelization of him now. It will be noted in the verses ahead, and it is specifically to complete a pattern that was laid down in the early Genesis account. Secondly, the words “man” and “eunuch” are both used concerning this individual. According to this account in the Bible a man, even if he is physically changed through emasculation, remains a man. Cutting off body parts or being crazy in one's head and thinking you are not what you were born as does not change what you are. In today's world, people claim they are something other than what they were designed by God to be. They even go to extreme lengths to physically alter themselves in order to be “something else.” But they are what they are. The only difference is that they no longer properly conform physically to what they are. Heavenly Father, help us to have right thinking concerning our doctrine so that our doctrine will be right. In straying from proper doctrine, our doctrine will be wrong. As such, only we will suffer, but Your word and its intent for us remains the same. Help us in this, O God. Help us to pursue Your word according to how it is presented. Amen.
Jeremiah advocates surrender to the Babylonians. The princes lower him into a cistern to die. Ebed-Melech rescues him. Jeremiah's last meeting with Zedekiah.
Stories that Transform
Is God as pleased with me as HE was with Ebed-Melech?
January 31, 2021 Sunday evening message at Northeast Baptist Church in Danbury, CT, preached by Pastor Joe Vassak.
This episode is also available as a blog post: https://jnmanokaran.wordpress.com/2021/03/13/ebed-melech-great-rescue-mission/
Authentic and Prophetic: Will You Obey or Rebel? Characters that Teach Lessons | 11.22.20 Text: Jeremiah 37-39 Characters: Zedekiah offers a warning: Don't ignore God's invitation to repent. Ebed-Melech offers an example: It's always right to do the right thing. Jeremiah offers a goal: Live so that you can be confused for Jesus. #worship #learn
Livestream Video The post Jeremiah and Ebed-Melech appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
The story of Ebed-Melech, the Ethiopian eunuch in Jeremiah 38–39, provides a touching example of the godly love described in the “Love Chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13.
Message by Brian Owen on 08/02/20. Jeremiah 38 Visit Us Online
I read Jeremiah 38: “Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” -Jeremiah 38:10 (NIV) (5 minutes & 21 seconds of archived audio)
I. Irijah (37:6-15) A. God Sees? B. Positively BeastlyII. Ebed-Melech (38:1-13) A. The Servant of the King B. Compassionately HumanIII. The King (37:1-5,16-21; 38:14-28) A. Zedekiah—Not the rightful king (37:1-5,16-21; 38:14-28) B. Jesus—The Truest Human (Colossians 1:15) C. God Sees (Luke 6:40; Colossians 3:9-12)Discussion Starters1. Monday—What sets humans apart from the rest of creation? What are some ways the image of God shows itself in people?2. Tuesday—What did Irijah do to do Jeremiah? What do you think motivated him? Have you ever been tempted to act like him?3. Wednesday—Who was Obed-Melech? What did he do? How hard to you think it was to do the right thing in that situation?4. Thursday—Why did Nebuchadnezzar want Zedekiah to be king? What did Jeremiah tell Zedekiah to do? Why does it take so much strength to surrender?5. Friday—What does it mean that Jesus was the most true human to ever live? How is God at work in your life to make you more and more like Jesus?
I. Irijah (37:6-15) A. God Sees? B. Positively BeastlyII. Ebed-Melech (38:1-13) A. The Servant of the King B. Compassionately HumanIII. The King (37:1-5,16-21; 38:14-28) A. Zedekiah—Not the rightful king (37:1-5,16-21; 38:14-28) B. Jesus—The Truest Human (Colossians 1:15) C. God Sees (Luke 6:40; Colossians 3:9-12)Discussion Starters1. Monday—What sets humans apart from the rest of creation? What are some ways the image of God shows itself in people?2. Tuesday—What did Irijah do to do Jeremiah? What do you think motivated him? Have you ever been tempted to act like him?3. Wednesday—Who was Obed-Melech? What did he do? How hard to you think it was to do the right thing in that situation?4. Thursday—Why did Nebuchadnezzar want Zedekiah to be king? What did Jeremiah tell Zedekiah to do? Why does it take so much strength to surrender?5. Friday—What does it mean that Jesus was the most true human to ever live? How is God at work in your life to make you more and more like Jesus?
Beginning with a passionate and firm exhortation for Christians to be heroes in the order of the cross, and not the order of this culture, we move into the story of one of the "unknowns" in Scripture, seemingly lost in the shuffle in the book of Jeremiah! For as great a prophet as what Jeremiah was, he himself needed an advocate who would stand on his behalf! A man that would risk everything just to come to the aid of the helpless and not compromise what was right, for what was popular! His name was Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunich in the service to the king. Choosing to stand when others bow is a noble, and honorable thing, and often the defining line of what separates the boys from the men...cowards from the heroes! And this unlikely hero champions a pathway of how to stand for those who are unable to stand for themselves!
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Ebed-Melech was a true servant of the King
Ebed - Melech by Hancock Assembly of God
Mat. 5:11 “Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted. JEREMIAH 40-41:Yesterday we heard of Jeremiah being put in a dry but muddy well, and being rescued by the faithful official, Ebed-Melech. And we heard the terrible and painful result of Zedekiah's cowardly failure to do as repeatedly instructed by the Lord. Ezekiel— who was about 20 years younger than Jeremiah, prophesied about Zedekiah: Ezek. 12:12 NLT “Even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem at night through a hole in the wall, taking only what he can carry with him. He will cover his face, and his eyes will not see the land he is leaving. 13 Then I will throw my net over him and capture him in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, though he will never see it, and he will die there. PROVERBS 6:In yesterday’s chapter we heard a clear theme: Prov. 5:15 NLT Drink water from your own well—share your love only with your wife. The teaching in today’s passage is insistent: Prov. 6:20 NLT My son, obey your father’s commands,and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 1CORINTHIANS 15a:In yesterday’s reading of chapter 14, Paul wrapped up the theme about spiritual gifts that he started in chapter 12. Note that at the end he became vehement and insistent, signaling that he knew there would be people who would argue with him. I want to underline: Paul was the apostle of the Lord who wrote 13 books of our New Testament. Every church and Christian fellowship should take these instructions seriously. If we don't, we fall into the trap of thinking we are wiser than Paul (and we can even say the Holy Spirit). However, those who seek spiritual gifts in a way that is not self-glorifying will find that the Spirit of the Lord still gives authentic gifts. GNT Translation notes: 1Cor. 15:1 And now I want to remind you, my friends, of the Good News which I preached to you, which you received, and on which [you stand//your faith stands firm].2 That is the gospel, the message that I preached to you. You are saved by the gospel if you hold firmly to it—unless [unless you think now that it was useless to believe it in the first place.//it was for nothing that you believed].[This is a difficult place to interpret what Paul meant, and I think at least 3 possibilities deserve consideration, and all seem to me to be equally possible.]NLT 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you[. Otherwise, it was useless that you became believers in the first place! //—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.//unless you never believed it in the first place.]21 For just as death came by means of a man, [(Adam,)] in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man[, ([Christ])].32 If I have, as it were, fought “wild beasts” here in Ephesus simply from human motives, what have I gained? [0//But] if the dead are not raised to life, then, as the saying goes, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die.”
A Hero is someone who not only recognizes the needs a person may have, but also is empathize in their struggle. Is there someone in a pit you are ignoring? The post Ebed-Melech appeared first on Waterford Community Church.
The Lord is able to reach down and rescue you from any sinking condition, but His mode of operation is that He usually sends human arms and hands and/or words and wisdom as a means of rescue. The prophet Jeremiah needed all four. They came from an unlikely source: Ebed-Melech an Ethiopian eunuch in the king’s house. Listen in to hear how your faith in God can be used to make great things happen for others—and yourself. Scriptures and Resources Psalm 40:1-2; Jeremiah 39:15-18; Hebrews 6:10; Say hi and continue the conversation on social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram If you enjoyed this episode head on over to Apple Podcasts and or Stitcher kindly leave a 5-star rating, a review and subscribe! Ways to subscribe to Unfolding Words Click to subscribe via Apple Podcasts Click to subscribe via Google Play Click to subscribe via Spotify Click to subscribe via Stitcher Click to subscribe via RSS Help Spread the Word: We’d love it if you could please share #Unfolding Words with your Twitter followers. Click Here To Post A Tweet
Pastor Smith preaches from Jeremiah 38:15-18 on July 1, 2018. While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him: “Go and tell Ebed-Melech the Cushite, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the LORD.’”
Lance Reeves teaching at the Brawley Assembly. #GTBrawley Recorded 11.05.17
Two men – Jeremiah and Ebed-Melech – are singled-out by God for special treatment in Babylon (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
The story of an Ethiopian soldier caught in battle by his enemies, who is then castrated, becomes the hero and a model of manliness in the story of Jeremiah The Prophet. There were many men during this time who had all their masculine faculties (unlike the Ethiopian, Ebed-Melech), yet they did not possess the same level of manhood courage that this eunuch, Ebed-Melech had. Manliness is thus more than the sum of your testosterone levels! Listen to this presentation to discover the attributes of a real man.
Series: N/AService: Sun PMType: SermonSpeaker: Rob Miller
Following the lead of the Old Testament's "Ethiopian Eunuch"
IL #136: Was Ebed-Melech a Courageous or Foolish Leader?
Jeremiah 37-39 We are reminded that God is loving and patient, but he is also just and righteous. He wants us to surrender our will each day. He desires for us to be obedient and faithful to Him as we live our daily lives. He will honor those who honor Him.
Thursday, April 25, 2013 A dark skinned man brings light to darkest days. Audio Blog iTunes Jeremiah 38:7-13 NLT But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an important court official, heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate, so Ebed-melech rushed from the palace to speak with him. “My lord the king,” he said, “these men have done a very evil thing in putting Jeremiah the prophet into the cistern. He will soon die of hunger, for almost all the bread in the city is gone.” So the king told Ebed-melech, “Take thirty of my men with you, and pull Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.” So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room in the palace beneath the treasury, where he found some old rags and discarded clothing. He carried these to the cistern and lowered them to Jeremiah on a rope. Ebed-melech called down to Jeremiah, “Put these rags under your armpits to protect you from the ropes.” Then when Jeremiah was ready, they pulled him out. So Jeremiah was returned to the courtyard of the guard—the palace prison—where he remained. Jeremiah 39:15-18 NLT The Lord had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison: “Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’” ------------------- The siege of Jerusalem, as Jeremiah had said was nearing its end. The Babylonians were going to take the city and the most of the inhabitants would be taken captive and forcibly exiled from their beloved country. There was nearly no bread left at all for the people to eat. Jeremiah was seen as a negative influence and a real threat to the morale in the city. What he was suggesting in giving up and surrendering was completely rejected. They'd die first. And God even in this scene is keeping his promises. He is protecting Jeremiah, he is judging his people and he is involving the nations in his master plan and using them to bless his people and through his people he is blessing them. You might wonder, what is an African (Ethiopian) doing in Jerusalem during the siege? How did Ebed-melech end up serving in the court of the Hebraic King? And of all the people who could be concerned for Jeremiah, the word of God and the rightness of the situation, it is this foreigner from a cursed people who makes it right. God is bringing the nations into His kingdom. His sovereignty extends over the Ethiopians, Jews and the Babylonians alike. And in these accounts it is the people not born of Abraham who appear to be more in tune with the will of God. And when it is all said and done and the judgement is complete God blesses Ebed-melech this foreigner. Who is listening to God? Who is responding with compassion? Who appears to be the servant of God and more godly? Ebed-melech represents us, the grafted in gentile (Romans 11). Who protects the prophet of God? Ebed-melech the foreigner. Even today in world politics Africa seems to all to often play second fiddle. But in God's kingdom they are there at significant moments and part of God's plan. Whether it is Simon of Cyrene, the Ethiopian Eunuch of Acts, or Ebed-melech here, God has the African playing very important roles in carrying out his plans. And this pattern continues through the beginning of the church where with Barnabas a believer in the Syrian church in Antioch is named among the prophets in the church with two African's Simeon and Lucius. God's family and those who listen to God have always been from a diverse representation of the nations. In fact, as can be seen here in Jeremiah these "outsiders" are found on the inside listening to God. Will you be one of the outsiders on the inside listening to God and being blessed by God?
LL0210 - Pelyte Little Mouse photograph: Lithuanian children photographer: Thomas Pusch (Wikipedia) Hi there, this is Jack and I’m Romas and welcome back to Lithuanian Out Loud where we offer the world the Lithuanian Language. You might notice that we’re not recording in our normal studios today, a lot of echo here, but we’ll just have to deal with it. According to Wikipedia, Antanas Mockus, of Bogota, Colombia, is the former mayor of that city and he is the son of Lithuanian immigrants. His full name is Aurelijus Rutenis Antanas Mockus Šivickas and as of 2010, he’s running for president of Colombia. He’s the frontrunner in recent polls and has a very good chance of becoming the next president of this South American country. Today’s episode was inspired by listeners James of Kansas City and Ebed-Melech who both posted references to this nursery rhyme which is similar to the English, “this little piggy.” Thanks for the posts on the Lithuanian Out Loud blogpage, guys! First, I want to mention we just went over half a million downloads of Lithuanian Out Loud episodes. We’ve started using a program that allows us to see where Lithuanian Out Loud is being downloaded. Sadly, we don’t have very good statistics for the first half million downloads, and I suspect the number of downloads could easily be double that, but the results are interesting. Just in the last four days we’ve had downloads from, the United States, Sweden, Ireland, United Kingdom, Estonia, China, Lithuania, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Norway, Mexico, Australia, Poland, Taiwan, Russian Federation, Turkey, Iceland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Hungary, and the Palestinian Territory. Thanks for listening, guys! Now, I asked our friend Eglė to work with us on this nursery rhyme. Keep in mind that we recorded this without a script or a rehearsal and Eglė didn’t know I was going to spring this on her. So, she slowly steps us through the nursery rhyme and as she’s speaking she’s writing the words. Every time she says, “tam davė” she touches a new finger. So, if you have a Lithuanian friend, recite this to them, starting with their thumb and on down to the small finger or “pinkie.” Then, as you say, “bėga, bėga, pelytė...” recite this part quickly with alacrity, make your fingers run up your friend’s arm and tickle under their armpit. I doubt your friend will be able to resist laughing. Not only that, but they’ll be really impressed with your Lithuanian. Alright, enjoy the program and thanks for helping us, Egle! -- ...pelytė košytę...ai, virė, virė, pelytė košytę, virė, virė, pelytė košytę, ta...yes, I know this, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, o tam ir neliko, bėga, bėga... it’s virė, virė, pelytė košytę, virė, virė, pelytė košytę, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, o tam ir neliko, bėga, bėga pelytė į šulinėlį...bėga, bėga pelytė į šulinėlį vandenėlio atsinešti. and this is for children yes, uh, huh, and how do you play this game with a child? virė, virė, pelytė košytę, virė, virė, pelytė košytę, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, o tam ir neliko, bėga, bėga pelytė į šulinėlį vandenėlio atsinešti I understand, that’s good, so, we call this, “pinkie” pinkie mmm, pinkie, so, you end with the pinkie, okay, could you read this again how you would read it to a child? okay, virė, virė, pelytė košytę, virė, virė, pelytė košytę, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, o tam ir neliko, bėga, bėga pelytė į šulinėlį vandenėlio atsinešti that’s good! Let’s do a loose translation of the words and then we’ll go over them in detail. This is not an exact translation but you should understand the idea. virė, virė, pelytė košytę, cooked, boiled, the little mouse a little porridge virė, virė, pelytė košytę, cooked, boiled, the little mouse a little porridge tam davė, tam davė, to this gave some, to this gave some, tam davė, tam davė, o tam ir neliko, to this gave some, to this gave some, but for this one there wasn’t any, bėga, bėga pelytė į šulinėlį vandenėlio atsinešti ran, ran, the little mouse to the well to bring water The meaning of this last line, of course, is that the little mouse needed more water so it could cook more porridge. Now let’s break down the words of this childrens’ game. to cook, to boil virti I cook, I boil verdu you cook (tu) verdi he/she cooks verda I cooked viriau you cooked (tu) virei he/she cooked virė a mouse pelė a mouse (diminutive) pelytė porridge košė porridge (diminutive) košytė to give duoti I give aš duodu you give tu duodi he/she gives jis/ji duoda I gave aš daviau you gave tu davei he/she gave jis/ji davė and what is this, “tam davė?” I gave to that one I gave to that one tam tam to run bėgti I run aš bėgu you run (tu) tu bėgi he/she runs jis/ji bėga a well (water) šulinys a well (diminutive) šulinėlys a water well (dim.) vandenėlio šulinėlis to carry nešti to bring atsinešti Now Eglė will say the rhyme for you three times pirmą kartą (first time) virė, virė, pelytė košytę, virė, virė, pelytė košytę, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, o tam ir neliko, bėga, bėga pelytė į šulinėlį vandenėlio atsinešti dar kartą (once again) virė, virė, pelytė košytę, virė, virė, pelytė košytę, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, o tam ir neliko, bėga, bėga pelytė į šulinėlį vandenėlio atsinešti ir dar kartą (and once again) virė, virė, pelytė košytę, virė, virė, pelytė košytę, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, tam davė, o tam ir neliko, bėga, bėga pelytė į šulinėlį vandenėlio atsinešti Alright! That’s it for today! Thanks for the download! If you got anything out of this lesson please leave us a review on our iTunes page. We no longer have voice mail. To leave us comments send us an email at lithuanianoutloud@earthlink.net. If you’d like to see the Lithuanian spelling of any word in this series just go to WWW dot Lithuanian dot L I B S Y N dot com. If you’d like to get these episodes every time a new one is available just go to iTunes and do a search for Lithuanian Out Loud and click subscribe. It’s completely free. And feel free to make copies of our episodes, put them on cds and pass them out to your friends. Thanks to CCMixter.org, Ditto Ditto and Vieux Farka Toure for the podcast music. Thanks for tuning in, tell your friends about us, we’ll see you on the next episode of Lithuanian Out Loud. I’m Jack and I’ve never met a Lithuanian I didn’t like. Viso gero! Sudie! http://www.Lithuanian.Libsyn.com email Raminta and Jack at: lithuanianoutloud@earthlink.net http://www.vieuxfarkatoure.com/ http://www.ccmixter.org/ Antanas Mockus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antanas_Mockus
APOSTLE TALK - Future News Now!WWW.REALMIRACLES.COMwith Prince Handley EUNUCHS AND THE 144,000 JEWISH LAST DAY PROPHETS DESCRIPTION:A review of eunuchs in the Tanach (Old Testament) and the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) and how G-d will use 144,000 Jewish male virgins (12,000 from each tribe of Israel) in the final days of Planet Earth to prophesy before Messiah returns to establish His Kingdom. Many, if not most, of these Jewish men are alive right now ... and some will be eunuchs who will make themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of Heaven's sake. EUNUCHS AND THE 144,000 JEWISH LAST DAY PROPHETSThe Ethiopian eunuch, a man of great authority in the government of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia, who also had charge of a the treasury for the queen, was riding in a deserted area from Jerusalem to Gaza, returning to Ethiopia. He had been worshiping in Jerusalem and probably was an Orthodox black Jew. The worship of Jahweh, God of Israel, has been carried on in Ethiopia since the time the Queen of Sheba returned from visiting King Solomon around 1,000 BC (or 3000 Hebrew calendar).Legend has it that there was a son born to the Queen of Sheba who was fathered by Solomon. Even to date the Falasha (black skinned Ethiopian Jews) are Orthodox believers. Many were air lifted a few years ago to Israel. It is believed there are still about 2000 left in Africa. This Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Scroll of Isaiah (out loud) while traveling in his chariot. Philip, the evangelist, had been preaching to great crowds in Samaria. “And Philip went down to the city of Shomron [Samaria], and proclaimed unto them the Messiah. The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was much joy in that city.? [Acts 8:5-8]However, God sent an angel to Philip to tell him to leave the large crowd of people and go to one person: the Ethiopian eunuch. But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Yerushalayim to `Aza. This is a desert." [Acts 8:26]So Philip obeyed the angel and went. The eunuch was sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Yeshaiyahu [Isaiah] The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Yeshaiyahu [Isaiah] the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn't open his mouth. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth." [Isaiah Chapter 53, Tanach] "The eunuch answered Philip, 'Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?' Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Yeshua. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from [performing the Mikvah] being immersed?' And Philip said, 'If thou believe with all your heart, you may." And the eunuch answered and said, 'I believe that Yeshua ha Meshiach is the Son of God.' And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.? [Acts 27-39]In Jeremiah Chapter 38 we read of another Ethiopian eunuch, Ebed-Melech (`Eved-Melekh the Kushite). The prophet Jeremiah had been cast into a dungeon because he spoke the truth to King Zedekiah [Tzidkiyahu]. There was no food, no water, only mire in the dungeon.Ebed-Melech, the Eunuch, pleaded with the king to have Jeremiah released. The king gave the eunuch permission to do so. Then Ebed-Melech took men with him and took old clothes and old rags, and let them down by ropes into the dungeon to Jeremiah. "And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah [Yirmeyahu], Put now these rags and worn-out garments under your armpits, under the ropes. And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon." [Jeremiah 38:12-13]Let me ask you:What are you doing to comfort the man of God?What are you doing to advertise the man of God?What are you doing to bring favor to the man of God? NOTICE: 1. An Ethiopian Eunuch helped a man of God, a Jew. Jeremiah’s day: 600 BC (3400 Hebrew calendar).2. A man of God helped an Ethiopian eunuch have a personal relationship with the Messiah of the Jews and brought the opportunity of salvation to a Gentile nation. The early New Covenant Church: 50 AD (4050 Hebrew calendar). The church in Ethiopia grew strong but there was never a record of missionaries in the early church going to Ethiopia. A man who was preaching to multitudes was directed by an angel to go to one man. Then ... the Spirit of the LORD transported him to Azotus [Ashdod].3. At times, service to one individual is more important than to great crowds.4. God still uses angels today ... AND ... the Holy Spirit still transports people today when they need it ... “Spirit flight? is still available in Kingdom work. "For I, the LORD, don't change; therefore you, sons of Ya`akov, are not consumed.? [Tanach - Old Testament Malachi 3:6] “Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever.? [Brit Chadasha - New Testamant Hebrew 13:8]5. God still has eunuchs today. “For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.? [JESUS - Matthew 19:12]IMPORTANT:Right now there are 144,000 Jewish male virgins ... 12,000 out of every tribe of Israel. Oh, they may not know what tribe they are from, but God knows every tribe and all the members of each tribe. He has the hairs of your head numbered! These are 144,000 Jewish males undefiled with sex ... have never had sex with a woman or anything or anyone ... separated unto God for special service. Some of these may be, or will be, eunuchs who have prepared themselves for this calling. They will prepare the earth for the re-appearing of Messiah Yeshua to establish His Kingdom."He that is able to receive it, let him receive it!" [Yeshua]Baruch haba b’shem Adonai!Prince HandleyIf you have been helped or received a miracle as a result of this study, email us and let us know what God has done for you. You may contact us by email at: princehandley@gmail.com Remember to tell your friends about Apostle Talk podcast. You can subscribe to Apostle Handley podcast and receive previous shows and all new ones automatically downloaded for you. Click here for instructions: SUBSCRIBE You can also search for “Apostle Talk? in directories like Blubrry. Note the spelling of “Blubrry.? COMMENTS TO: princehandley@gmail.com Skype: princehandley Time: 11 minutes, 17 secondsSize: 10.3 MB International A.C.T.I.O.N. Seminars (overseas), Email to: apostlehandley@gmail.com Real Miracles, Healing, Prayer, Ministry Studies & Help for You: www.realmiracles.com Free Bible Studies by Email (New Testament Introduction), Email to: worldservicesinc@gmail.com Jewish Rabbinical Studies (tell your Jewish friends): www.realmiracles.com/rabbinical.htm The University of Excellence (Advanced Studies in Missions, Leadership, and Church Growth), Email to: universityofexcellence@gmail.com
PODCAST SATELLITE / The Voice of IsraelWWW.PODCASTSATELLITE.COMwith Prince Handley EUNUCHS AND THE 144,000 JEWISH LAST DAY PROPHETS Click the center of the “pod? circle ... give it a minute to load.Listen now ... or download for later.DESCRIPTION:A review of eunuchs in the Tanach (Old Testament) and the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) and how G-d will use 144,000 Jewish male virgins (12,000 from each tribe of Israel) in the final days of Planet Earth to prophesy before Messiah returns to establish His Kingdom. Many, if not most, of these Jewish men are alive right now ... and some will be eunuchs who will make themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of Heaven's sake. EUNUCHS AND THE 144,000 JEWISH LAST DAY PROPHETSThe Ethiopian eunuch, a man of great authority in the government of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia, who also had charge of a the treasury for the queen, was riding in a deserted area from Jerusalem to Gaza, returning to Ethiopia. He had been worshiping in Jerusalem and probably was an Orthodox black Jew. The worship of Jahweh, G-d of Israel, has been carried on in Ethiopia since the time the Queen of Sheba returned from visiting King Solomon around 1,000 BC (or 3000 Hebrew calendar).Legend has it that there was a son born to the Queen of Sheba who was fathered by Solomon. Even to date the Falasha (black skinned Ethiopian Jews) are Orthodox believers. Many were air lifted a few years ago to Israel. It is believed there are still about 2000 left in Africa. This Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Scroll of Isaiah (Yeshaiyahu) out loud while traveling in his chariot. Philip, the evangelist, had been preaching to great crowds in Samaria. “And Philip went down to the city of Shomron [Samaria], and proclaimed unto them the Messiah. The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits (demons) came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was much joy in that city.? [Acts 8:5-8]However, God sent an angel to Philip to tell him to leave the large crowd of people and go to one person: the Ethiopian eunuch. But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Yerushalayim to `Aza. This is a desert." [Acts 8:26]So Philip obeyed the angel and went. “The eunuch was sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Yeshaiyahu [Isaiah] The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Yeshaiyahu (Isaiah) the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn't open his mouth. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth." [Isaiah Chapter 53, Tanach] The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?" Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Yeshua. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from [performing the Mikvah] being immersed?" And Philip said, If thou believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Yeshua ha Meshiach is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.? [Acts 27-39]In Jeremiah Chapter 38 we read of another Ethiopian eunuch, Ebed-Melech (`Eved-Melekh the Kushite). The prophet Jeremiah had been cast into a dungeon because he spoke the truth to King Zedekiah [Tzidkiyahu]. There was no food, no water, only mire in the dungeon.Ebed-Melech, the Eunuch, pleaded with the king to have Jeremiah released. The king gave the eunuch permission to do so. Then Ebed-Melech took men with him and took old clothes and old rags, and let them down by ropes into the dungeon to Jeremiah. “And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah [Yirmeyahu], Put now these rags and worn-out garments under your armpits, under the ropes. And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon.? [Jeremiah 38:12-13]The Ethiopian eunuch comforted, delivered, and brought Jeremiah into favor; let me ask you: What are you doing to comfort, help, and bring favor to those who speak for the G-d of Israel?NOTICE: 1. An Ethiopian Eunuch helped a man of God, a Jew. Jeremiah’s day: 600 BC (3400 Hebrew calendar).2. A man of God helped an Ethiopian eunuch have a personal relationship with the Messiah of the Jews and brought the opportunity of salvation to a Gentile nation. The early New Covenant Church: 50 AD (4050 Hebrew calendar). The church in Ethiopia grew strong but there was never a record of missionaries in the early church going to Ethiopia. A man who was preaching to multitudes was directed by an angel to go to one man. Then ... the Spirit of the LORD transported him to Azotus [Ashdod].3. At times, service to one individual is more important than to great crowds.4. God still uses angels today ... AND ... The Ruach Elohim still transports people today when they need it ... “Spirit flight? is still available in Kingdom work. "For I, YAHWEH, do not change; therefore you, sons of Ya`akov, are not consumed.? [Tanach - Old Testament Malachi 3:6] “Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever.? [Brit Chadasha - New Testamant Hebrews13:8]5. G-d still has eunuchs today. “For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.? [YESHUA - Matthew 19:12]Right now there are 144,000 Jewish male virgins ... 12,000 out of every tribe of Israel who will be prophets of G-d (nabi'm) in the final days of Planet Earth. Oh, they may not know what tribe they are from, but G-d knows every tribe and all the members of each tribe. He has the hairs of your head numbered! These are 144,000 Jewish males undefiled with sex ... have never had sex with a woman or anything or anyone ... separated unto God for special service. Some of these may be, or will be, eunuchs who have prepared themselves for this calling. They will prepare the earth for the re-appearing of Messiah Yeshua to establish His Kingdom."He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." [Y'shua]Baruch haba b’shem Adonai!Prince HandleyTime: 11 minutes, 20 seconds (with music interspersed)Size: 10.3 MBContact: PrinceHandley@gmail.com Website: WWW.PODCASTSATELLITE.COM
PODCAST SATELLITE / The Voice of IsraelWWW.PODCASTSATELLITE.COMwith Prince Handley EUNUCHS AND THE 144,000 JEWISH LAST DAY PROPHETS Click the center of the “pod? circle ... give it a minute to load.Listen now ... or download for later.DESCRIPTION:A review of eunuchs in the Tanach (Old Testament) and the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) and how G-d will use 144,000 Jewish male virgins (12,000 from each tribe of Israel) in the final days of Planet Earth to prophesy before Messiah returns to establish His Kingdom. Many, if not most, of these Jewish men are alive right now ... and some will be eunuchs who will make themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of Heaven's sake. EUNUCHS AND THE 144,000 JEWISH LAST DAY PROPHETSThe Ethiopian eunuch, a man of great authority in the government of Candace, Queen of Ethiopia, who also had charge of a the treasury for the queen, was riding in a deserted area from Jerusalem to Gaza, returning to Ethiopia. He had been worshiping in Jerusalem and probably was an Orthodox black Jew. The worship of Jahweh, G-d of Israel, has been carried on in Ethiopia since the time the Queen of Sheba returned from visiting King Solomon around 1,000 BC (or 3000 Hebrew calendar).Legend has it that there was a son born to the Queen of Sheba who was fathered by Solomon. Even to date the Falasha (black skinned Ethiopian Jews) are Orthodox believers. Many were air lifted a few years ago to Israel. It is believed there are still about 2000 left in Africa. This Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Scroll of Isaiah (Yeshaiyahu) out loud while traveling in his chariot. Philip, the evangelist, had been preaching to great crowds in Samaria. “And Philip went down to the city of Shomron [Samaria], and proclaimed unto them the Messiah. The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits (demons) came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was much joy in that city.? [Acts 8:5-8]However, God sent an angel to Philip to tell him to leave the large crowd of people and go to one person: the Ethiopian eunuch. But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Yerushalayim to `Aza. This is a desert." [Acts 8:26]So Philip obeyed the angel and went. “The eunuch was sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Yeshaiyahu [Isaiah] The Spirit said to Philip, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Yeshaiyahu (Isaiah) the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn't open his mouth. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth." [Isaiah Chapter 53, Tanach] The eunuch answered Philip, "Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?" Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Yeshua. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from [performing the Mikvah] being immersed?" And Philip said, If thou believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Yeshua ha Meshiach is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.? [Acts 27-39]In Jeremiah Chapter 38 we read of another Ethiopian eunuch, Ebed-Melech (`Eved-Melekh the Kushite). The prophet Jeremiah had been cast into a dungeon because he spoke the truth to King Zedekiah [Tzidkiyahu]. There was no food, no water, only mire in the dungeon.Ebed-Melech, the Eunuch, pleaded with the king to have Jeremiah released. The king gave the eunuch permission to do so. Then Ebed-Melech took men with him and took old clothes and old rags, and let them down by ropes into the dungeon to Jeremiah. “And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah [Yirmeyahu], Put now these rags and worn-out garments under your armpits, under the ropes. And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon.? [Jeremiah 38:12-13]The Ethiopian eunuch comforted, delivered, and brought Jeremiah into favor; let me ask you: What are you doing to comfort, help, and bring favor to those who speak for the G-d of Israel?NOTICE: 1. An Ethiopian Eunuch helped a man of God, a Jew. Jeremiah’s day: 600 BC (3400 Hebrew calendar).2. A man of God helped an Ethiopian eunuch have a personal relationship with the Messiah of the Jews and brought the opportunity of salvation to a Gentile nation. The early New Covenant Church: 50 AD (4050 Hebrew calendar). The church in Ethiopia grew strong but there was never a record of missionaries in the early church going to Ethiopia. A man who was preaching to multitudes was directed by an angel to go to one man. Then ... the Spirit of the LORD transported him to Azotus [Ashdod].3. At times, service to one individual is more important than to great crowds.4. God still uses angels today ... AND ... The Ruach Elohim still transports people today when they need it ... “Spirit flight? is still available in Kingdom work. "For I, YAHWEH, do not change; therefore you, sons of Ya`akov, are not consumed.? [Tanach - Old Testament Malachi 3:6] “Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever.? [Brit Chadasha - New Testamant Hebrews13:8]5. G-d still has eunuchs today. “For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.? [YESHUA - Matthew 19:12]Right now there are 144,000 Jewish male virgins ... 12,000 out of every tribe of Israel who will be prophets of G-d (nabi'm) in the final days of Planet Earth. Oh, they may not know what tribe they are from, but G-d knows every tribe and all the members of each tribe. He has the hairs of your head numbered! These are 144,000 Jewish males undefiled with sex ... have never had sex with a woman or anything or anyone ... separated unto God for special service. Some of these may be, or will be, eunuchs who have prepared themselves for this calling. They will prepare the earth for the re-appearing of Messiah Yeshua to establish His Kingdom."He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." [Y'shua]Baruch haba b’shem Adonai!Prince HandleyTime: 11 minutes, 20 seconds (with music interspersed)Size: 10.3 MBContact: PrinceHandley@gmail.com Website: WWW.PODCASTSATELLITE.COM
I want to say thank you to our music team. They really blessed me this morning. I know we dont take you for granted. Thanks for your commitment to excellence and leading us in worship through music every weekend like you do. We very much appreciate that. This morning were talking about Discerning the Call. How many of you read Chapter 3 in your book, by the way? (A few hands raise.) Its getting better. Not where we need to be though. We spent about 40 days talking about this not too long ago, didnt we, in our 40 Days of Purpose? We talked about the fact that all of us have a mission, so in a way, I feel like its a little bit of a rerun, but its important to talk about. Hopefully, well hit it from a different angle this morning. We all have a mission. We all have a purpose. Pastor Rick Warren reminded us that everything God created has a mission and a purpose. Even my dog has a mission and a purpose. We have a dog that loves to protect our house, and she sees that as her mission; so every time a bus will go by or a jogger will go by, shell jump on the couch and start barking until it passes. As soon as it passes, she tromps around the house like I just did something wonderful! I protected our abode. Arent you proud of me? Shes three-quarters border collie and one-quarter chiwawa, so when she gets up there like that and starts barking, we call that border patrol. Get it? Border collie…not that funny, but it is creative (congregation laughing). The Saturday night service, Im talking total silence. Dont say anything to those people if you know who they are. Im glad you can see the humor in that. Everybody has a purpose, everything God created. Just like you dont choose where youre born, you dont choose who your parents are, you dont choose your physical attributes, you dont choose how youre going to talk, how your voice is going to sound, so you dont choose your purpose. You dont choose your call. That is chosen for you by God as He pleases. Its our task to discover that calling. Its our task to develop that calling. Its our task to implement that calling, but its not our task to choose that calling. You can choose a lot of things: you can choose whom you marry, you can choose what your career will be, but you cannot choose a calling. Jeremiah was a great prophet of God. In the Book of Jeremiah, the first Chapter, he receives that call from the Lord. Lets turn there together. This is where were going to park this morning. Were going to do a little study in Jeremiah and find out how he handled his call. Jeremiah 1:4 (pg 746 in pew Bibles), The word of the Lord came to me, saying, Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you… Isnt that something? Before I formed you… Not while you were in the womb forming, but before I formed you, before there was even a cell that could be traced back to you, Jeremiah, I knew you. God knew you before you were born, God knew you before you were in the womb, and God has a purpose for your life. Thats an amazing thing, isnt it? …before you were born, I set you apart; and I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Thats going to be your call. You will be my spokesman. You will be my mouthpiece. You will carry my message to the nations. It continues, Ah, Sovereign Lord… (I said, I think you chose wisely. Im the correct man for this job.) Thats not what Jeremiah says. He said thats never how it goes in the Bible. Anytime God makes a call, it is usually met with feelings of inferiority, feelings of I cant do this. If youve sent a call from God in your life, and your natural inclination is to say, I must be off because I could never do that. Thats above my head, thats exactly right. Thats normal. You should feel that way. I know when I sensed the Lord calling me to be a senior pastor, I thought I would be a youth pastor forever. My first response was, I cant do that. Im too young to do that. I was in my 20s. I said, Theres no way I should be pasturing people that are older than me and some that had been Christians longer than Ive been alive. So, I questioned that, It must not be God. Thats exactly what Jeremiah says. He said, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child. The world child there in the Hebrew meant not a small tot, but a young man; it could be a teenager, could be a young man just starting off in his life in his early 20s, a young man, an older boy, but not a little tot. Jeremiah received his call as a very young boy, and as I look around our room, I see young people this morning. You dont have to be old to have a call. You dont have to be married, have children, or be out of high school or college to walk in your call. God has a call and a purpose for you from the time you are born until now. Your job is to discover that call and use it. How did God wire you? What did he make you? What are you about? God has equipped us all differently. Let me give you a little bit of a quiz this morning. Who can tell me what they think Billy Grahams call and purpose is? Whats his call? Shout it out! Evangelize the world, change the world. Thats what Dr. Billy Graham has been about, to bring the Gospel to the world. John Walsh, from Americas Most Wanted, whats his mission? To catch the bad guys, right? Because of what happened to his son, he has no fear. He will get up and talk about armed and dangerous criminals, hardened criminals that are on the lose. Hell look at a national audience, and hell say, This guys a scumbag! He doesnt care if he [the criminal] hears him. He gets death threats all the time. He doesnt care! Hes relentless because of what happened to his boy. He wants justice, and his anger has driven out all fear, all fear, because the worst thing that could happen to him has already happened to him. He wants justice. Thats his mission. Its not just a job for him; its his mission. Now, Im going to give you a couple that arent so obvious. What about Bono from U2? Whats his mission? Some of you older folks are saying, Whos Bono? You mean Sonny and Cher? Sonny Bono? No. Bono, from U2. But if you said music, you would definitely be right. But, he is much more than music. His goal is to end poverty, to help the poor, to get countries to forgive Third World debt, to help bring relief to countries in poverty, people in poverty. He meets with heads of state; he meets with the presidents of countries, and he meets as an Ambassador to the poor. He uses his music as a platform, as a stage, to get across his message. Unless youve been doing some reading on this, this one will really throw you a curve, what is Bill Gates mission? Everybody wants to say computers, right? Until recently, that was it, but Bill Gates is a changed man. Did you know his charity is the number one charity in all the world as far as giving of money to stop diseases around the world? Hes attacking it like he attacks business. Before he allocates millions of dollars of resources to buy a certain vaccine or bring help to a certain country or region, he strategizes. He has a team, they meet, and they strategize to eradicate diseases. He now sees Microsoft as a means to fund these diseases, helping to eradicate certain crippling diseases in our world. Thats wonderful news! But even Bill Gates with all the billions of dollars he has, the need is still too great. We read in our book about a gentleman who was wealthy. He wanted to go from success to significance, remember that? His accountant said, Sell your business and give all your money away. He began to counsel with people, counsel with friends, and they said, Dont do that! God has given you an ability to make wealth. Keep your business and use that business as a means to fund the Gospel, the Lords work. Hazel Kjell, who spoke at our celebration event for the 40 Days, does the same thing with the Shell Corporation. She keeps that business going to fund the Gospel and sees that as her purpose, as her calling. Ephesians 2:10 (pg 1157), remember your memory verse? It said that God has made us His workmanship, his poema (thats the word we get poem from). That which has been made for a purpose, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God created before the foundation of the world, that we should walk in them. So Jeremiah hears his purpose. He hears his call. He accepts the call. What were going to look at now is what happens to Jeremiah after hes received the call. Hes no longer a rookie. Hes no longer a young man. Hes a seasoned veteran, a seasoned prophet. Lets turn to Chapter 20 of Jeremiah. The first point I want to make about the call is that the call costs. The call will cost. Underline it, know it, anytime you seek to follow the call of God, it will cost you. Always, always, it will cost you. Itll cost you time, itll cost you resources, itll cost you a job, itll cost you a location, itll cost you to be misunderstood, itll cause a loss of pay. I mean on and on the list goes. It will cost. Jeremiah preaches the Word of the Lord, and hes not making a lot of friends. God takes him in Chapter 18 to a potters house and says, Look at the potter who is making this pot. He says, Thats me. Im the potter, and Israel is clay, and I can form this nation. If this nation is not going to repent of her sin, then I can have this nation removed because Im sovereign. Im God. Then he has Jeremiah purchase a pot. He says, Use that pot as an object lesson, and bring it down to the town square and say, This is Israel. God says, Take that pot and smash it into all kinds of little pieces and say, If you do not repent of your sins, the great nation of Babylon is going to come in and judgment is going to be rendered upon you. Its going to be something that you cannot repair. Youre going to be smashed like this pot before you. You need to repent so that as a country, as a people, we can be spared of this wrath because of our sin. The message does not go over well. Its not well received. Those in high places demand that Jeremiah be punished. The chief officer in the temple, Verse 1, tells us he heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, and he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the Lords temple. So here he is, doing Gods business, doing Gods Word, and what happens? He is beaten. He is imprisoned and put in stocks, so he loses his freedom. Hes put in a public place, not downstairs in a dungeon somewhere, but where everybody can see you at the temple. And people knock him, people ridicule him, people look at him and think, Whats wrong with this guy? He must be a criminal. His only crime was to speak Gods word. Did Jeremiah pay a price? He paid the loss of his reputation. It was a huge price. People were looking at Jeremiah thinking, Boy, I thought he was supposed to be somebody of respect, and hes in stocks. He must not be a very good guy! He must not be the Godly man he claims to be! And they hurl verbal abuse at Jeremiah. There is a cost to pay. How many of you are familiar with Willow Creek in South Barrington? Let me see your hands. It is a church that has meant a lot to our ministry over the years. Its been very influential. Its one of the top three largest churches in America: Saddleback, Willow Creek, and Pastor Osteens church in Houston, large churches. There are 22,000-23,000 people coming through on the weekends in South Barrington near Chicago. But what you dont know is when that church began, the founding pastor who is still the senior pastor is a man by the name of Bill Hybels. He was going to school at Trinity. He was working with the Awanas Ministry, and he had a job as a part-time youth pastor at a church in Park Ridge. His father owned a produce company and was very successful, very successful in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was always understood that Bill would work for his dad when he graduated from school. He would work the company and one day run the company. Hed worked with his father in the company from a very young age. He knew it from the ground level up. He had the skills of a businessman, and there was a day when God called him from that into the ministry. Willow Creek did not exist at that point in time. All he knew was hed listened to his professor at Trinity, Dr. Bill Ezekien, talk about the dream of community, and he wanted that. What would it be like if the church of Acts, Chapter 2, was lived today? What would it be like if I could take my business skills and my know-how and apply that to the church? What would happen? So one day, he met with his father and told his dad that he would not be joining the company, which would have been the death to a dream of his father. He had to give up a lot of stuff. He had to turn in the company credit cards. He had to turn in the keys for the company airplanes. He had to turn in the keys for the company boats. His dad said, If you leave the company, youre on your own. You do what you need to do, but when you leave the company, you lose the privileges of the company. I think more than the boats, and more than the planes, and more than the credit cards and expense accounts, what hurt him the most was his father shaking his head wondering what in the world had become of his boy because he loved his dad and didnt want to disappoint his dad. Did obeying God and going into the ministry cost him? It cost him a lot. He gave up a lot to pursue his call, but when it was all said and done, he gained so much more than he lost. Im sure his father very soon would affirm that his son had made the right decision. Well, hows Jeremiah going to handle this? Jeremiah is a straight shooter. Hes a guy that doesnt hold back. He just bears his heart. Hes called the Weeping Prophet because hes very emotional, very authentic. Listen to what he says in Verse 7 (pg 770), O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived... (God, youre a con artist, and You conned me, and I fell for it. Tell us how you really feel Jeremiah) …you overpowered me and prevailed. (Youre a bully God!) I am ridiculed all day long; and everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. (What are the rewards I get for doing what you called me to do? Insults and reproach and a beating and ridicule.) He is ready to turn in his badge. Hes ready to turn in his prophet membership card and say, I want nothing to do with this. If thats the kind of boss You are, thats the kind of God You are, thats how You treat Your servants, then Im out of here. See ya! But, he reconsiders when he ponders this one truth. He says, But if I say, I will not mention Him, (which is what I want to do right now, because Im mad) …or speak any more in His name, His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. He said, Thats what Im made to be. Im a prophet. Im called, so I cannot stop fulfilling my call. The second point is that a call burns. How do you know what God made you to be? What burns in you? What if it was taken away from you? It would just hurt you so much because God made you to be that. If you take away the ability to draw or paint from an artist, you take away the ability to dance from a dancer, or to sing from a singer, or to preach from a preacher, to teach for a teacher, to run for an athlete, they just feel so empty inside. They feel like their purpose is taken away. Jeremiah says, Thats my call. The call burns, and its that burning that leads us to make those sacrifices. Its that burning that leads us to make those demotions. Ill date myself here. One of my favorite movies was To Sir, With Love with Sidney Poitier. Anybody ever see that movie? Great movie, very inspirational. He was one of the greatest actors of all time. Sidney Poitier plays a black teacher in an inner-city white school. The kids are vile, vulgar, and he insists they call him Sir. The transformation takes place with a lot of trials along the way, but by the end of the year, they grow to love and respect their teacher whom they now call Sir. They became proper gentleman and proper ladies. He, in the meantime, has accepted a position at a prestigious high school, no longer in the inner-city. Hes probably going to be in a more affluent suburb, more money, a dream position for any teacher. As hes packing up his briefcase for the last time, reflecting on the memories he has, two students come in the room [thinking he will be returning to the same school next year rather than moving on]. Immediately, they begin to ridicule him, We know who you are. You dont know whom we are, but youre going to know next year. Were going to make your life miserable. They are just rude and obnoxious, and they threaten him and run out of the room laughing. Sidney Poitier ponders for a moment, takes the letter of acceptance from the school, and he tears it up and throws it in the trash. Hes coming back next year. Why? Its his call. Look what hes made to be. He knows he made a difference in the lives of that classroom that he just had, and he knows he can make a difference in the lives of the students that are coming in. Jonanne Manogue, and I love all of our staff equally and appreciate them all equally, so I dont want any staff members to get upset when I tell this story and say, Why didnt you tell my story? Do you know who Jonanne was before she was our childrens pastor? Shes been our childrens pastor for nine years. She was the professor of kinesiology at University of Wisconsin, head of the department. That wasnt her call. Her call was children. She wanted to make a difference in childrens lives and in womens lives, so she left that position and came here, and were so glad she did. I bragged on her last night, too, even when she was here. I could brag on all of our staff. Im reading a quote now from page 68 of our book. The author is named Arthur Miller, and Pastor Ortberg quotes him. Arthur Miller says, It is wrong. It is sin... Remember sin is to fall short. Sin is to not reach your potential. Its not just the grotesque or repulsive or the dark and evil. Sin means to fall short. It is sin to accept or remain in a position that you know is a mismatch for you. Perhaps thats a form of sin youve never even considered, the sin of staying in the wrong job, but God did not place you on this earth to waste away your years in labor that does not employ a design or purpose for your life no matter how much you may be getting paid for it. I know Im stepping on toes, so Ill stop and well keep moving on. The third thing I want you to notice is that a call is affirmed. Turn to Chapter 38 of this book. A call is affirmed. As I said, Jeremiah did not have high friends in high places. He had friends who did not like his message. In verse 4 (page 791), there are some officials who go to the king to protest Jeremiahs message. One of them is the son of the man who had Jeremiah beaten and put in stocks. They said, This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in the city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin. In other words, hes not telling us things we want to hear. Hes telling us bad things, sad things. We want to hear him prophesy wonderful things, but because hes speaking these words we dont like to hear, therefore he must be a false prophet. Because he will not be quiet and go away, you, King, must make him go away. So what does this spineless king say? He says, He is in your hands, King Zedekiah answered. The king can do nothing to oppose you. Its not that he can do nothing. Its that he will do nothing. He says, Do with him what you will. So what they do is very cruel. So they took Jeremiah and put him in a cistern (like a man-made reservoir) …of Malkijah, the kings son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered him by the ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud, so no way out. He was going to be there until he died. Isnt that cruel? That was going to be his fate. A man named Ebed-Melech finds out about this, and he goes to the king and pleads his case. He says, Theyve acted wickedly. This is a prophet. This is a man of God. You must save him. You must rescue him. Theyve thrown him in a cistern, and hes going to starve to death. So the king changes his mind and says in verse 10, Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies. One thing I want you to notice is this phrase: Lift Jeremiah the prophet. Hes in there because hes a false prophet. The king realizes that Jeremiah truly is a prophet. Even though he doesnt like what hes saying, even though he doesnt agree with what hes saying, he recognizes his office and his authority. He recognizes hes made a mistake, and he affirms whom Jeremiah is. Pastor Ortberg talks about the fact that you need to form a team around you who you know and trust, and they know and trust you. If youre living Gods call, even those who are not your friends can affirm your call. He calls it the Clearing Committee. You know you can bounce things off of one another, people who can affirm a call in your life. They can deny a call in your life as well. If youre going to make a decision, pursue a direction, take a course of action, you have this team around you-people who care about you and love you. They know you can speak the truth in your life. I want to confess to you a guilty pleasure this morning. I have become a fan of American Idol. A few years ago, I didnt watch it. I would just watch the blooper part, and then when it got serious, I wouldnt watch it. Last year, for the first time, I watched it all the way through. So this year, Im hooked. My family is into it. I think weve all seen it. There are three judges. Theres Paula, who wants to be nice. She wants everybody to like her, so even if youre just awful, shell say, You tried really hard. You have a lot of energy. Thanks for coming in today. Then you have Randy who just wants to be cool. He still wants to be friends with you, and its like, Oh, you know, dawg, you tried, dawg, but you just didnt do it, dude. You know what Im saying, dude? Its not for you dawg. So you know even though he rejected you, you still like him. Then we come to Simon. Simons job is to speak the truth and not in love. His job is to say what he is thinking, and he has no editing button. He just lets it go. The contestants will be looking at him smiling, thinking he or she is the next thing since Frank Sinatra, and hell say (in a Simon Cowell voice), That was simply dreadful. They are devastated. It sounds like you were pulling a cats tale. Meeoooww. He says what he thinks, right? You know weve got friends in our lives that just want to be nice. We could do anything or say anything, and they come back like Paula and say something nice. They just want to be our friend. I just robbed a bank. Yes, but you didnt kill anyone. Thats good. And then you have friends that just want to be cool, right? They just want you to like them, so whatever you do… But then, I think, and you might think Im nuts, but I think we need some Simons in our lives. I dont think we need a lot of Simons in our lives (congregation laughing), but to have some people in our lives who can be straight shooters with us and say, Thats a good idea or no, thats not for you, and heres why or what business do you think you have doing that? People like to walk on eggshells. Sometimes even the people closest to us will walk on eggshells around us. I had the privilege of marrying my sister-in-law to her husband in 1984. I performed the ceremony, and everything went well. We were looking at the wedding pictures afterwards. My hair looked nice, and my suit looked nice, and my smile looked nice, but my bowtie is doing this (looking crooked). In every picture, during the ceremony, afterwards where Im standing there, my tie is crooked. They are laughing at me, Look at the bowtie. Im like, You know, you could have told me. You could have embarrassed me for just a couple of seconds before the wedding and said, Your bowtie is crooked, so I wouldnt have to know that for decades to come, people are going to look at your wedding pictures and laugh at me. If somebody cared enough about me, theyd have straightened my bowtie. You say, Why didnt Brenda do it? She was at the hospital with Kari. Kari was very ill at the time. So apparently, my sister-in-law felt like she couldnt tell me my bowtie was crooked. You need people in your life who can say, Your bowties crooked. Somethings out of balance in your life. Something needs to be adjusted in your life. They might tell you the truth even if you dont want to hear the truth. Lets move on. That clock on the wall is ticking. Lets turn to Lamentations, Chapter 3 (pg 816). The call speaks, the call costs, the call burns, the call is affirmed, and the call lasts a lifetime. Lamentations, Chapter 3: This is the book really where Jeremiah gets the title the Weeping Prophet because hes crying all the time. He has good reason to because remember he prophesized Babylonians coming down, If you dont repent, youre going to be wiped out as a nation and please listen to me. Please heed my words? They dont, and Nebuchadnezzar does, and he ransacked the temple, pillages, and the city. People are taken captive, and those who are left behind are starving in the streets. Theyre sick and dying. Atrocity is being committed. This is the nation he loves. This is the people he gave his life to. Youd think that now that Israel is no more, that would be the end, right? Youd think Jeremiah would say, You know, Im going to close my briefcase. My prophet job is done. Im going to ride into the sunset. I did the best I could. It didnt work out, and Im done. But now Jeremiah looks back. Israel is scattered. He looks back, and hes lamenting that hes crying about it. Lets begin reading in Verse 18, So I say, My splendor is gone… (Thats the city; thats the temple. Thats his heritage.) …and all that I had hoped from the Lord. (Thats that Israel would repent and be spared. Thats gone.) I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall… (Hes angry at Israel. Hes a wonder. He thinks, Whats my purpose now? All Ive been doing is prophesizing and trying to spare Israel, and its too late.) …I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lords great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Even in the midst of despair, Jeremiah has hope. Even when it seems like his mission is over, Jeremiah continues to prophesize and write one of the most touching books in all the Bible, the Book of Lamentations. The calling of God is for a lifetime. Its not like a job where you put in your 30 or 40 years, get a watch and retire and go fishing. Its for a lifetime. As long as you are able, as long as you can, fulfill your call until the day you die. Lets pray: Father, thank you for the message of Jeremiah. Thank you for the example of Jeremiah, that the call costs, and he was willing to pay that cost. He was willing to hear that call. The call burned within him. Jeremiah was willing to listen to truth and proclaim the truth. I pray that we would be the same: Jeremiah served his call for a lifetime, that we also would do that. For those who need clarity as to what their call is, we pray for that clarity. For those who need perseverance as theyre fulfilling their call, we pray for that perseverance. For those who know their call and are not living their call, we pray that they would know its never too late to fulfill that call. Its like the disciples who were fishing, and they were willing to drop their nets to abandon everything to follow You. I pray we would have that kind of dedication as we get out of our spiritual boats and follow after your voice. In Jesus name, Amen.
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