Obeying the Will of God

Jesus Yielded to His Father's Will

Book of John Chapter 18

One thing we should be very clear on is that, Jesus Christ was never a victim of circumstances. Jesus led His life in direct obedience to His heavenly Father and He is our example that we are to do the same!

Another truth we must realize is that God has a plan for every life!

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

We already know that God the Father sent God the Son to this earth to die for our sins and reconcile us back to God.

It is also written, that God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is to be our example as One who was completely obedient to our Heavenly Father.

Jesus Christ is our example of absolute surrender to Our Heavenly Father.

*****Joh 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

Since that last supper and all those lessons we have learned in between, Jesus and those 11 disciples had finally arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus knew exactly what He was doing and exactly what time to do these things.

We know for a fact the Jesus is never late for He is always on time even in His death!

We should understand that the Kedron Brook was a black, foul smelling brook or creek that carried all the filth of Jerusalem into the Dead Sea including all the blood sacrifices from the Temple.

This is the same brook that the prophet said Jesus was to drink thereof, meaning He carried all the sin for the filth of this world and nailed it to His cross.

Psa 110:7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

This place is also called the Valley of Jehoshaphat by the Prophets.

Joe 3:1 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

Joe 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

None of these men understood these prophecies but Jesus knew that Judas the Betrayer was very familiar with this Garden.

*****Joh 18:2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

Joh 18:3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

This was the hour that His Father had called Him, and the hour of His death was approaching rapidly.

Jesus also knew that His Father would have to forsake Him for a moment in time, because He would carry all the filth of the world upon His own shoulders.

In order for all these things to take place, Jesus needed His Father's help.

All the "Gospels" but John, showed the agony that the Lord went through during this time. John teaches us that Jesus was totally devoted to the will of His Father.

*****Joh 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

Joh 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

Joh 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

The Passover takes place when the moon is full, but we see that Jesus made no attempt to hide from these men.

A band of the Roman guard could be from 200 to 600 men but there were also the Temple police and Judas, and they had torches, lanterns, and weapons expecting Jesus to flee from them, but they were wrong in this. Jesus stepped forward in full view!

They may have anticipated that Jesus was gathering together men to defend His kingdom but that is a whole other time.

Jesus knew everything that was about to happen to Him.

Jesus was ready, willing, and able to die for our sins!

When they called for Yeshua, Jesus stepped forward and said, "I Am" He!

John could not help but to tell us that Judas the traitor was also there with these men!

Just at the authority of these words of Christ this entire group of men fell to their knees.

Psa 27:2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

There should be no doubt to anyone that the Lord Jesus Christ allowed Himself to be taken prisoner also becoming the focus of attention allowing His disciples the opportunity to escape. This was at least as important, or the church could not have begun had these men been captured at this time.

It is very possible that this was to Judas, his last chance to repent!

Also there was probably some confusion amongst these men.

So Jesus asked them again.

*****Joh 18:7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

Joh 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

Joh 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

They had been sent to arrest Jesus the Nazarene and so Jesus made certain that they knew it was He that they had come for.

1) The first thing we notice is that without understanding, this mob began to obey the things Jesus said to do.

2) The second thing we notice is, that Jesus will never lose any of His disciples, we are all secure in Christ Jesus.

We should understand that it was Christ alone who suffered and died for our sins. Had any of His disciples had to suffer and die at this time then it could not be said that Jesus was the only one who suffered and died for our sins.

We know that not even Peter was seized when he had cut off the ear of Malchus.

It seems like none of these men were willing to defy the commands of the Lord. He was not pleading with them, He was commanding them to leave His disciples alone and take only Him.

It is certain that these disciples were in imminent danger that ended with the Words of our Lord Jesus!

Then John gives us one more reason none of the disciples were captured:

Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

We can readily see that we need to pay attention to the Words of the Lord!

Jesus was taken by this mob first to Annas and then to the High Priest

*****Joh 18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

Joh 18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

Annas, who had been the High Priest, was the father-in-law to Caiaphas the High Priest at this time. Annas had somehow been able to hold on to the power of the High Priest through his son-in-law and then three other sons and at least one grandson, for many years.

Luk 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

Act 4:5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

Act 4:6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

Anything or anyone who could affect this relationship with Rome was truly an enemy of these evil men.

Annas held a great authority in Israel at this time, even though he was detested by the people.

We could say that this evil man was another one who was used to fulfill the Word of God just as it was written!

It was Annas who owned the Bazaars that were set up on Temple grounds that sold animals for sacrifice and stalls for money changers.

Annas first questioned Jesus about His disciples, but Jesus would not respond.

Annas then questioned Jesus about His doctrine.

The Lord Jesus responded by saying, He had no secret doctrine. Everything He had taught His disciples, He had also preached in public.

No doubt Jesus recognized the spies that had been sent to keep an eye on Him and Jesus simply said, "ask them".

*****Joh 18:21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

The Lord Jesus Christ refused to answer foolish questions that had no meaning.

Have you noticed that the Lord refuses to respond at all, if we are too ignorant to believe what He has said.

Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Psa 22:24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

One of the most foolish things we can do is pray without "Faith"!

When we reject the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have crossed a line that many will never cross to return to the truth!

The one sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin of unbelief!

When we ask of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, we will get an answer, faith must be in the answer!

When we do not allow Jesus to prove He is who He says He is, we have already rejected His proof.

When we do not allow Jesus to justify His claims, we have rejected God!

When we do not believe that Jesus has the answers to life and abundant life, then we deserve Hell!

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Joh 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Joh 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

When the world rejects the truth it causes hatred to the truth!

When the sin of the world is pointed out the world answers with hatred and much more evil!

*****Joh 18:22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

Joh 18:23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

We should also understand that under Jewish Law a person never had to admit their guilt. That burden was entirely in the hands of those who were trying to bring some one, to justice.

This trial of the Lord Jesus Christ was a mockery to Jewish Law!

It was also illegal to have a night court. All criminals were to be tried during the daylight hours in full view of the public.

They had first met in the living quarters of Annas, also breaking the law. All cases were to be tried in the courtroom of the Sanhedrin.

It was also so Passover week and no trials were to take place during this time of festivities.

The truth is these leaders were only trying to devise charges that would condemn Jesus to death.

To these hard-line Jew, Jesus was guilty of blasphemy, because He said He was equal with God. In Jewish Law, he would be stoned to death.

Under Roman Law Jesus would go to the Cross for insurrection against the government of Rome because He was the King of the Jews and this brought the death penalty by crucifixion.

If the Romans could be convinced that Jesus was trying to become King of the Jews, then insurrection would bring the death penalty!

Jesus was innocent of all charges!

No matter what the Jews thought, they knew that this evil world would never accept Jesus as God nor King of the World.

The world stood up and slapped Jesus in the face and are still doing this today!

The Jews in the general public, again denied their own prophets and listened to men who were hypocrites.

The truth is religion allows mankind to continue in his own ways and pretty much do as they please and reject that any god should interfere in their lives.

This world has never gotten better it has gotten worse than this picture of the world at the trial of Jesus.

2Ti_3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

When we expect more from our world, we are deceiving our own selves!

Just today I read where the head of the Catholic Church in California said that there was more than one way to get to Heaven. He showed his foolishness!

Religion will take you to Hell!

Today far too many are willing to sacrifice the truth, just so they are not seen as the enemy of the world.

The world has been on trial since this trial of Jesus and the world continues to come up short, because the world rejects the truth!

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jesus continues to tell the world if He is a liar then the world is right but if Jesus is the truth then why beat on our Savior.

Before there could be any discussion, Annas sent Jesus bound as a criminal to Caiaphas the High Priest of that day who obeyed his father-in-law rather than God!

Peter was a witness, but Peter was denying our Savior.

Jesus was then led into the "Judgment Hall" of Pilate but they would not enter because they would not be able to partake in the Passover Meal if they defiled themselves with these Gentiles.

You see the Passover meal could not be eaten until the Passover Lamb was killed.

This was the only law of Moses that they had tried to keep on this day.

We already know that if you choose the Law then you have to follow all the Law.

Pilate went out to them.

*****Joh 18:29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?

Joh 18:30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

Pilate was the Roman procurator which meant that he was directly responsible to the Emperor for the administration and the financial management of all Judea.

The Jews despised Pilate and Pilate despised the Jews!

One of the many reasons Pilate was so hated was that he had started a new water project, but he had stolen the funds for it from the Temple.

Annas and his sons had gotten riches from the Temple themselves. No love lost between these men.

One crook robbing another crook!

These also had the same hatred for Jesus, and they insisted to Pilate that if, Jesus was not guilty then they would not have brought Jesus to him.

We might want to understand that these hard-line Jews, had threatened to report Pilate to Caesar many times but up to now they had not done so and to do this could cost Pilate his job. They held this over the head of Pilate.

The truth we can understand as Christians, no one has the right to "judge" God!

The story of Jesus was one and it was simple.

God had sent His Son into this world to save the world from itself!

God has the only right to "judge" this world.

Joh 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Joh 8:25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

Joh 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

Malefactor means a criminal. Jesus had been tried in an illegal court, under illegal conditions, and sentenced to death for being innocent of all charges.

Pilate first wanted nothing to do with this travesty of justice.

*****Joh 18:31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

Joh 18:32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

Just that very year, Rome had taken away the power of these Jews to carry out capitol, punishment or Jesus would never have reached this point. These Jews would have already murdered Him!

It is amazing how God the Father stays in silent control of this world!

And the real truth is that these Jews had to force Rome to crucify Jesus with lies and threats!

The Jews were not allowed to execute anyone on the Sabbath, but this also included all "feast days".

The Lord had already said "If I be lifted up":

Joh_12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

We should all be able to see that in all these steps to the cross, the Lord knew all along how these things would happen and Jesus did not need to speak at all!

We should also be able to see that the Roman domination of our world at this particular time was used to fulfill the promises of God!

We should not wonder if our Heavenly Father is in control of our world or at least that He knows what is going to happen before it happens!

Luk 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Then Pilate wanted to hear what Jesus had to say:

*****Joh 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

Joh 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

We must all understand that at the words of Jesus, we must all make a choice.

We will be held accountable for every decision we make about Jesus!

You see it is in our own heart that we must decide, if Jesus is who He says He is. We cannot just depend on what others have said!

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We can be led to the Lord but only the Lord can save us! He will not unless He looks into our heart for the truth!

The Jews had already rejected the Lord Jesus, some even thinking He was the true Messiah.

Who does the world usually listen to? The man who is in power, or fame, and wealth.

This is still the truth of our world today.

I feel as if God is giving us one more chance to stand up for the truth in our world today. As Christians we have the power of influencing our government in the right way, but Christians will not vote the truth of the Scriptures or they will not vote at all.

They seem to forget that we will all stand before the Lord Jesus Christ one day, and He will judge only by the Word of God and not some butchered up version many use today!

Is Jesus the King of the Jews?

When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to this earth, after the rapture of the Church, He will set up His Kingdom and He will rule for 1000 years upon this earth.

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Zec 14:10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.

Zec 14:11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

Zec 8:3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of all charges brought against Him by these Jews!

*****Joh 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Remember Pilate had no interest in Jewish questions because he despised the Jews.

Pilate did ask "what had Jesus done to turn these evil men against Him"?

Pilate had no understanding of Biblical things.

Pilate had no knowledge of a Messiah.

As far as Pilate was concerned, Caesar was the God of this world and in a sense, Pilate was right because Caesar was of the family of Satan.

As far as Pilate was concerned, he held the power of his master!

As far as Pilate was concerned, the Jews were the scum of the earth.

As far as Pilate was concerned, Jesus had to be guilty of something, but Jesus was innocent of all charges!

Jesus answered that He was not from this world!

There was no greater answer that could have been given!

Jesus had first come to this world to destroy the works of Satan, therefore providing salvation to each believer.

Jesus had come in peace and He could not be moved from His calling!

Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Pilate then asked, are you a king?

You see if Jesus declared to be a king then Pilate knew he could kill Jesus!

*****Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Joh 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

The fact remains that the flesh side of our Savior was a descendant of David and therefore, He was the true King of the Jews.

We also know because of a curse of God, Jesus would never sit on the throne, for Joseph was in the line of Solomon.

Jesus would be king because Mary was a descendant Nathan another son of David and therefore fulfill prophecy!

Jesus had not come into the world to take this position at this time.

Jesus had come to tell the world the truth of God!

All those who wanted to know the truth need only to listen to the Words of Jesus Christ!

The world is full of people searching for power and fame, wealth and possessions.

There is no path to peace that can also deliver these goals!

The only path to peace is to surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace!

By definition the truth is anything that is not false.

The truth is that Jesus Christ was our substitute who was nailed to the Cross and no one could take His place.

He came to die for me!

Jesus came to die for you!

Jesus Christ did everything His Father commanded Him to do, just as we are to do today!

Amen

Let's Pray!

Knowing and Then Submitting to the Will of God

Submission to God's Will

Book of Jeremiah Chapter 27

What is a lie? Many things are said to one another through ignorance of the subject end up being untruths, but a lie is an intentional violation of the truth.

The father of all lies is Satan the Devil.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

There were many so-called prophets in the day of Jeremiah, but Jeremiah was called of God and He spoke the words God had given to him.

Today there are also many false prophets from the family of Satan who are roaming the earth to confuse the children of God.

Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Satan roams to and fro through this earth and he and his demon family to can temporarily change into the children of light again to cause the confusion of God's children.

2Co_11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Today we have the complete Word of God, that God gave to His prophets and a few other men by the Holy Spirit and all the Word of God is the undisputed truth for the Church!

2Pe_1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We must clearly understand that everyone who call themselves a man of God, or Pastor, or Preacher, or the one most abused Reverend are men who were not called of God as Jeremiah and the true prophets and the other writers of the Holy Scriptures and those who have asked the Lord Jesus Christ to come in their heart today.

What did Jesus say?

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; "but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven".

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Today as we witness for the Lord, we will find that there are many who may dispute the Word of God.

There are many who intentionally twist the Word of God into a lie and they are in the family of their father Satan!

God has warned us and all this world that there is only one way "to be close to Him and that is by His Son Jesus Christ"!

Let's begin Chapter 27 at verse 1

*****Jer 27:1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

Jer 27:2 Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,

The writings of Jeremiah may not be in chronological order, but he does provide many time lines that can be proven by history.

Jehoiakim was the second son of King Josiah who we already know was a king who knew the truth of God and followed it, but at a young age, he died in a war that did not concern Judah.

The first son of Josiah, Jehoahaz had been deposed by Pharaoh-Necho of Egypt.

These were very turbulent years for God's people, but they were the cause of their own demise.

Many visitors representing the kings from the surrounding nations came to Jehoiakim to try to convince him to join them in a rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar.

Many false prophets from all those nations, including those from Judah tried to convince their kings to link up so they could destroy the King of Babylon but The Lord God Jehovah, by Jeremiah, said to surrender to this king so that they could live, and this would stop the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple and the things of the Temple but also the desctruction of those nations.

Nebiuchadnezzar would have been just as happy to make them all vasals of Babylonia and serve him.

The result of these things is that these deceitful leaders rose up in opposition to Jeremiah, the Lord's true prophet.

A bond is a physical means of restraint and metaphorically signifies oppression and captivity

A yoke is an instrument normally made of wood to make powerful animals useful in man's labor.

A yoke is then a symbol of servitude and slavery.

These two things are terrible, but they are not death and to go against the Word of God brings death!

What did God say to Adam?

Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, "thou shalt not eat of it": for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Jeremiah was to wear these things as he spoke the Word of God to the king and his officers and the elders of Judah.

Jeremiah was to also make enough of these things to send to the kings of the surrounding nations who were already in bondage to the King of Babylon. It was these kings who were trying to get Jehoiakim to join in a rebellion against the King of Babylon when they should have remained under his control but living in their own nation.

*****Jer 27:3 And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;

These nations who were neighbors to Judah had sent representatives to the King of Judah and it would be these representatives that Jeremiah would present these yokes of bondage to take back to those kings with the Word of God.

Jeremiah warned them that they were all wrong to defy the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar.

We should believe it was nothing unusual for a Jewish Prophet to be listened to with respect, when addressing a foreign nation

Jehoiakim had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon and Jeremiah insisted that King Zedekiah give this same message to the King of Egypt instead of words of rebellion.

All these things may sound foreign to our way of thinking, but it was the King of Babylon who was used to "judge" Judah and no power on earth could overcome him until God allowed it to happen.

Eze 17:11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Eze 17:12 Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;

Eze 17:13 And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

Eze 17:14 That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

Eze 17:15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

Eze 17:16 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

Eze 17:17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

Eze 17:18 Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

What was God's message for all these kings? With their own eyes they could see Jeremiah approach wearing the yoke he had prepared for himself by the Word of God.

*****Jer 27:4 And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;

Jer 27:5 I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.

Jehovah God is the Creator of man and beast and He will do as He pleases.

The greatest truth of Creation is the fact that all things age until they have died, including this earth that we live upon.

This goes against everything that evolution stands for!

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

This earth we live upon is not eternal and it could not have happened by chance. It is not the work of many gods because it has only one Maker!

When we are thinking right, we know that we could not survive alone because we depend on too many things that we cannot provide for ourselves!

We suffer depression when we stop short of recognizing we have a Creator!

We are foolish when we reject the truth of the Lord!

Rev_1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

We must understand God gives us many gifts but we do not ever actully have the right of ownership.

"The Lord gives and the Lord takes away"

We are temporary tenants on this land but we are not owners.

God does what He pleases with His Own Creation!

*****Jer 27:6 And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

Jer 27:7 And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

At this time in history, Nebuchadnezzar was used of God.

Dan 2:37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

Dan 2:38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

God is in control of His Created World!

Deu 32:6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

Deu 32:7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

Deu 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

Deu 32:9 For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

We seem to always forget these things today. We readily admit that our Lord never changes but we soon forget what He has already said and done!

Dan 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

Dan 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

Nebuchadnezzar was told that his empire would belong to another and it was Jeremiah who said Judah would only be in his hands for 70 years and it was Isaiah that said it would be Cyrus would cause this to happen, all according to the Word of God.

God is very serious about His plan to come about just as He has spoken!

*****Jer 27:8 And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Have you ever noticed that God puts a plan into action where the most human beings can live? Even during the time of wars and rumors of wars if we would just listen to what God has to say we can live peaceable and meaningful lives.

When we go against the Word of God we will see death by the sword or wars, death by famine or death by disease.

Pro 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Pro 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

Pro 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

Pro 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Pro 8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

Pro 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

Pro 8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

Pro 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

We must understand that God will give us what we ask for even if it is the wrong thing, as long as it does not interfere with His plan for all the ages!

God will certainly use one nation to punish another nation, if they will not serve the Lord who preserved them!

We should also understand that as the father of the prodigal son, the Lord will certainly rush out to meet His people who are on the way back to Him!

We must cling to the Word of God which is always the truth in every age!

*****Jer 27:9 Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

Jer 27:10 For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

When will we ever learn that we live in a world of "deceivers"!

Satan is the invisible agent of evil in our world!

In the end, God will remove him. There has never been but one way to overcome him and his evilness.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Satan is the power behind false prophecy.

Satan is the power behind every false preacher and every false teacher.

Satan is the power behind diviners and soothsayers, and enchanters and all sorcery.

Satan is the power behind every lie that has ever been told!

Eph_6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

These things were no different in the days of Jeremiah, so he preached the infallible Word of God, which is "always" the truth!

It is this same evil that has a goal to remove everything that God has placed in our hands by His Dear Son Jesus, including our testimony.

He cannot remove us from being in the family of God.

These Jews will always be the "apple in God's eye" but who is truly a Jew?

Rom_2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Rom_2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

God knows who His children are!

Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Joh 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

When the Lord tells us something then we need to listen to what He has to say and not only to listen, but we need to obey His every Word and His every thought, which He has written down for us, so we do not get confused!

*****Jer 27:11 But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

Notice God was not talking to just these Jews of Judah but to all the surrounding nations who could all for the most part stayed at home even if they had to pay taxes to Babylon for 70 years.

Much worse things than these would happen if they went to war with a nation that the Lord had guided to this position in order to keep the greatest majority of His people safe, just by keeping them informed about what was happening.

We can never alter the plan of God, we can only make our lives miserable when we reject the truth of God!

What these people did not understand is, if they would be subject to the King of Babylon they would still be safe and secure from an invasion from any other power.

In fact God would have caused the land to produce plenty enough to pay the tribute to Babylon and then have enough for their personal means.

The politicians and elders of the Jews were just too full of the Devil to listen to what God had to say.

They were too greedy to give up any power they thought that they had!

This same thing is happening in every nation around us today. They refuse to listen to what "thus sayeth the Lord"!!!!!

Since they rejected the words of Jeremiah, then God said for them to surrender and those that were carried away would still live!

The study of the Book of Esther, Nehemiah, and Ezra are the proof along with the Prophets Daniel, Ezekiel and others.

Jer 42:9 And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;

Jer 42:10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

Jer 42:11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.

God made sure the King of Judah and the rulers of Judah clearly understood these things.

*****Jer 27:12 I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

God's people understand what going through a little hardship means but those who live by riches and power do not understand the meaning of hardship!

2Ch 36:11 Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.

2Ch 36:12 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.

2Ch 36:13 And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.

It was the King of Babylon who had placed Zedekiah upon the throne of Judah, but he was an evil man who then sought his own place in a power vacuum in Judah.

Why do politicians never understand that hardship is much better than disaster!

God has only one question for all those who reject His message of salvation!

*****Jer 27:13 Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

Rejecting the Word of God is accepting eternal damnation. Therefore false preachers and teachers teach that there is no Hell or that Hell is a place that you can escape from, both terrible lies and deceit.

This is the same question all the prophets of God asked and we as the witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are to ask today!

God has no pleasure in the death of any human being!

Eze 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Everyone that dies without Jesus Christ has lost something that they formally had in their possession which is "Life"!

There are not many who will not give up all they have just to have a good life and God offers eternal life in a place that the beauty of cannot be described by words and so many reject this life and choose death instead! Not just death but damnation!

They who die because of sin that God ask them to repent of, and because the Lord has already paid for that sin, are no more than just being foolish!

Eze 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

The function of every true prophet of God, with respect to the government of the world and of the people's walk, is always a testimony to the judgment which hangs over all unfaithfulness.

When we reject the Word of God we are calling God a liar!

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God just ask us to believe!

*****Jer 27:14 Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

We started this lesson by asking what a lie is. A lie is not something said out of ignorance of the subject.

A lie is anything spoken intentionally which deviates from the truth in any manner!

This person is a deceiver! A deceiver is an imposter who attempts to lead others in some wrong manner!

These are the preachers and teachers who intentionally spew out false messages because they reject the truth of God.

These are the false so-called prophets of this world who deny the existence of a Supernatural Deity.

These are those who spit out evolution as a science when it to is a bunch of lies from those who reject the truth of God.

Peter said:

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; "by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of".

2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

John said:

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: "Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God":

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The spirit of the anti-christ has been with this world since the time of Adam!

What did the Lord say will happen in the end?

Eze 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:

Eze 13:23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

We have the truth of God.

We are fools not to believe Him!

Amen

Let's Pray