All right, well let me just begin by saying that if you expect a Christmas sermon this morning. You're not going to get one. I'm sorry
Because we've got 52 chapters of Jeremiah to preach through and we've got 52 weeks over here
So if I miss a week, we're going to fall behind
I'm not going to get through the whole book you know I mean
So I am planning on preaching a Christmas sermon on the Thursday though because we do have church here on Thursday on Christmas Eve
I know not everybody's going to be here, but if you did want to hear Christmas sermon
And that's the day to come all right, so we're still here in Jeremiah
And look at verse number nine there Jeremiah chapter 11 verse number nine. It says in the Lord said unto me a
Conspiracy is found among the men of Judah the title for the sermon this morning is a conspiracy is found
Now you know
There are things that people talk about when it comes to
You know conspiracies
And you know there's a lot of there's a lot of beliefs and there's a lot of ideas of what people would often term as
conspiracy theories in this world
Right and I think a lot of you guys or I even myself we've looked into a lot of these conspiracies
And look here's the thing about the the truth of God's Word if you don't believe in conspiracies
You don't really believe the Bible because something's very clear here. You know a conspiracy is found now
Here's the thing about a conspiracy. You know conspiracies are a secret a secret plans. That's what it means to you know to
Conspiracies are to conspire you know people come with secret agendas and secret plans
For whatever their wicked pledges are their wicked devices and people do these things secretly to deceive and to cause people
And churches and entire nations to turn against God or to you know
You know to make you know billions and millions of dollars those conspiracies truly exist
There are wicked people like this in this world
And you know there was a conspiracy in the land of Judah at this point in time
It says the conspiracy was found okay, so it was a secret and then and then it was discovered what this secret was okay?
And we're going to definitely look into this, but one thing I do want to make very clear
Even though there's a lot of true conspiracy theories out there
Okay
One thing I I really warn you as your pastor someone that cares for you for your mental state is
Don't go down this rabbit hole and believe every conspiracy that's out there
Okay, cuz it looks even if it's true it can corrupt your mind, okay?
Cuz there's a lot of wicked things in this world
You know the Lord wants us to be focused on his word. You know his word tells us already there are conspiracies
We don't need to go down this rabbit hole and learn about all the wicked agendas and all the satanic
Practices because it's just going to bring fears
It's just going to bring confusion
And you're not going to really be able to function and think very clearly in this world
You know whatever whatever whatever weakness is going on whatever conspiracies are going on
You know you don't need to know what those things all are to live in this world
You just need to know God's word and just live according to God's principles, and you'll be fine. You'll be fine
Okay, God gives us everything we need in his word and what's great about his word
We know it's 100% true the conspiracies that out there
We don't know if they're true many are true, but there are a lot of lies
There are a lot of hypotheses or a lot of theories out there that are not necessarily true
And when you get addicted to those conspiracy theories you're going to start absorbing and consuming a lot of lies that you've mixed up with
The truth okay, so I'm just telling you as your pastor be careful of going down that that rabbit
Hole a lot of people that have gone down that rabbit hole
Regret doing that and just wish they didn't you know they just focus on what God says and just understand that yeah
There are definitely conspiracies out there and just leave it at that and let God tell us in his word
How we ought to behave in this world okay, so let's go there in verse number one
Let's start there Jeremiah chapter 11 verse number one
Begins by saying the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying so if you've been here for the Jeremiah series so far
You know that this would mean that God has now given Jeremiah a new prophecy something new to preach right and so
It's a it's a brand new prophecy that is preaching now
What does it say verse number two hear ye the words of this covenant and speak unto the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of?
Jerusalem so God's telling Jeremiah
Can you remind?
My people here in Judah about the covenant that I have between me and them
So what we're going to learn here is that Jeremiah just repeats the same covenant that God gave to Moses
It's so Jeremiah look remind them tell them again
And we'll cover this in the men's class on on Friday with the Bible study and Bible preaching that sometimes things have to be repeated
You know over and over again and God's on Jeremiah
Repeat the same things that Moses told this nation in the past
Verses number three and say thou unto them thus saith the Lord God of Israel
Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant
So we learn something about the old covenant something that's quite different or it's similar to the new covenant
But basically if you were an Israelite
And you were under the old covenant in the Old Testament days if you did not obey the Lord if your nation
Became disobedient to the covenants and to the laws of God they would become cursed by God
Okay, and we often think about the blessings of God and look God bless that nation richly
You know if they were obeying God, you know God will bless them on the land
They won't have problems enemies that are surrounding them. They're gonna be fruitful. They're gonna be productive
They're gonna be have happy lives, but when they disobey God will curse them verse number four
Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt from the iron furnace saying
Obey my voice and do them according to all which I command you
So shall you be my people and I will be your God
Now this is very clear here. God is saying look. I will only be your God
You will only be my people so long as you obey my commandments
So long as you keep this covenant between you and I and look God did not force them to enter into that covenant
After God presented the Covenant to to the people of Israel through Moses the people of Israel said yes
We agree we want to be part of that covenant
They were obviously looking at the blessings and they were looking at God's miracles and they thought yes
We're going to be able to keep this covenant and serve God, but as the generations went by you know
You can see that they in fact that same generation, you know
Because they didn't go into the Promised Land remember they doubted
They didn't have faith in the Lord that he would be able to bring them into the Promised Land even that same
Generation that said yes, Lord
I'm going to obey found themselves in disobedience and then wandering into the wilderness for four for 40 years and
So brethren you know what does God want from us as we look at this and we want to take the application for us
God wants us to obey his word right his laws his work
He wants us to obey, but what do we learn that we can become disobedient very very easily
You know I've seen many times when you know you'd have churches and you have evangelists
Powerful preachers come behind the pulpit, and then it's like you know that they'll preach some you know
Maybe they'll preach to young people and they'll say look you know commit your life to to mission work
You know come and give your life before the Lord not for salvation
But you know to serve the Lord all the days of your life
And and you'd see people come down before the altar if you know what I'm talking about and they'll start praying
You know before the pulpit, and they're just there may be tears, and they're committing their life to God and they're promising Lord
I'm just going to obey
I'm going to do everything that you want me to do from this day forward how many of those now are not even in church
How many of those people you know may have gone into Bible college and then quit Bible college or they went into that that system?
Wanting to serve God full-time, and they're not even doing anything for the Lord now. I mean look we have to be careful when we make
Vows and promises to God in fact Jesus says don't make any vows
Because he knows how he knows our nature that we can promise things to God and then just quickly back out of them
That's not a good place to be though. That's not a good thing. You know it's better
And so just you know getting emotional just committing your whole life to God to serve him for the rest of your days
And just our Lord
I'm you know I'll get into full-time ministry for you instead of doing that just be the type of Christian that takes one step
At a time one step at a time one step at a time
Just commit that one step that you need to do for the Lord Lord, okay?
You've given me this commandment. I see this law. Yes, Lord
I'm gonna walk in that way in that way that you've got me, okay
It's not just giving this grandos
You know promise to God and just come and and failing like the the Old Testament saints did okay?
Just one step at a time
That's the God that's the that's the secret of the Christian life the successful Christian life is not go full-on out there
100% just just one thing at a time as the Lord shows you as you're able to mature and grow in the Lord and
Listen if you just take one step at a time you're gonna be miles ahead of many Christians that committed their entire lives to serve
God okay now if you can keep your finger there, and let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 28
Deuteronomy please the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 in verse number one because I want to take you back to this time
When God made these promises or sorry sorry um how he promised that he would bless them on the on the on the land if they
Obeyed and how God will curse them, and I just want to show you some amazing truths here
But in Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse number one it says and it shall come to pass if thou shall hearken
diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God and
Observe and to do all his commandments
Which I command thee this day that the Lord thy God will set thee on high
Above all nations of the earth and all these blessings shall come on thee and
Overtake thee and thou shall hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God
So if they just listen and obey God's words God says I'm gonna bless you you're gonna be blessed above all the nations of the earth
Okay, now we're not gonna read the whole chapter
But from from from a verse number three all the way to verse number 14, so let's just say all 14 verses there
God explained how he's gonna bless them on the land you can read that in your own time
Okay, but God's promised them so many wonderful things that if they just obey God God will bless them
Okay
But now drop down to verse number 15
And now God explains what's going to happen to them if they disobey the Lord in verse number 15
It says but it shall come to pass if thou will not hearken
unto the voice of the Lord thy God
To observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day that all these curses
shall come upon thee and
Overtake thee and so God now starts to list all the curse ins that will fall upon them and they're horrible
They're horrible curse ins again read this in your own time if you want
But I want to show you that basically from verse number 15 all the way to the end of the chapter verse number 68
God lists all the curses that he would bring upon those people so when you take that entire chapter in view
you've basically got 14 verses on blessings and
54 verses on the curse ins I mean the curse ins as far you know clearly outweigh
You know what the blessings are and what I mean by that is this
Many times in order for us to walk in God's right paths
You know it's one thing for God to say well
You know if you walk in my ways you'll be blessed and there's a lot of preaching like that
You know a lot of preaching like that
You know just just obey God and God will bless you and do good unto you
And that's the kind of sermons that we like
But you'll find that when that's the kind of preaching that you hear all the time
You will fall away from the Lord and so many times you also need to hear about the curse ins of the Lord
Okay
In fact many more times than the blessings because when you hear about how how things can fall apart for you
You know how you can go through trials and difficulties if you don't obey God's Word
That's going to keep you from going that way the first place right usually
It's it's the negative things that that that cause you to stay away from going into that life
And so you know there are churches that that may not even preach against sin
They may not even say the word hell
You know that they don't warn people of God's judgment and God's curse ins and so for them
It's like well, you know what I can be blessed by God if I do what's right?
But what's going to happen to me if I do if I don't obey God nothing?
They're not familiar with that side of God and God makes it very clear that he's a God that curses
And if you just understand that that's going to help you stay away from a from an unbiblical
Unlawful wicked path you know understanding how God can curse and how God can allow he even his own people to
struggle in life I
Just wanted to show that because that's we're going to build on that so let's go back to Jeremiah chapter 11 verse number 5
Jeremiah chapter 11 verse number 5
Now many times you know as we're looking for Jeremiah
It can be difficult to absorb even I find it difficult
Even Jeremiah finds it difficult to understand and absorb God's coming judgment
To those of Judah, okay, but I want to see how Jeremiah responds to what God is saying here in verse number 5
God says that I may perform the oath
Which I have sworn unto your fathers to give them a land flown with milk and honey as it is this day
Then answered I so now Jeremiah's answering God and said so be it Oh Lord so be it Oh Lord
And so you know one thing you need to understand when things seem a little bit too heavy
Have you ever spoken to somebody about the Bible and they say well?
I like the God of the New Testament
You know I like Jesus in the New Testament because it's full of love and mercy
But I don't like the God of the Old Testament that often say right, but Jesus is the God of the Old Testament
You know Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and then the Bible is the Word of God right these are God's words
These are the words of Jesus Christ
But I just want you to notice that you know when it's difficult to stomach God's Word
You know as long as we know it's coming from his word
We ought to be like Jeremiah and say well so be it Oh Lord so be it Oh Lord
You know Jeremiah sees well God you actually wanted to bless us
You wanted us to be a great nation
You wanted us to be a light in this world and and give the gospel to the Gentiles Lord
But I can now see how far we've fallen from the covenant that we agreed into and now Jeremiah
Just realizing well even though this judgments hard to swallow
He realizes by knowing God's Word that it is just that it is righteous that these
Cursons and this judgment will fall upon the nation and so he says so be it Oh Lord
You know it's kind of like what we say when you hear good preaching, and you agree with some truth
Well often say hey, amen so be it you know Lord if that's the truth of your word
You know the more we know God's Word we understand that God's judgments and God's curses are actually right
You know from God's perspective even though it may seem very harsh from us
You know and so that's something we need to learn you know just be able to say so be it Lord you read something in
the Bible you know it
Embarrasses you because you know you're not living the way God wants you to live you just need to say well so be it
Oh Lord if that's your standard, and I come short of that Lord. I need to work on that Lord
Can you help me so be it Lord you know we need to take the attitude instead of saying well Lord
I don't want to hear that part of it
Just accept what God's Word is you know just accepting that's going to help you be able to make the changes you need to live
Godly to obey his laws verse number six
Then the Lord said unto me proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem saying
hear the words of this covenant and
Do them all right? I want us to turn to another passage now. Let's keep our fingers there
Let's go to Galatians chapter 3 Galatians chapter 3 and Matisse
can you just give me a cup of water or a bottle or something all right Galatians chapter 3, please and
So we've seen in the Old Testament
Okay, how God's people if they disobeyed they'd be cursed if they obeyed they would be blessed well things are similar
In the New Testament, but a little bit different as well, so that's something
I want to show you here Galatians chapter 3 and verse number 8 Galatians chapter 3 and verse number 8
It says and the scripture for seeing that God would justify the heathen through faith
Preached before the gospel unto Abraham. Hey did Abraham know the gospel?
Yeah, right there was preached to Abraham. You know some people say well the Old Testament saints
They didn't know about the sacrifice of Christ
Absolutely they did that is the gospel the gospel is the death burial and resurrection of Christ so Abraham knew about it
Okay, sometimes we don't give credit to the Old Testament saints of how much they knew you know
But you see that the gospel was preached unto Abraham saying in thee shall all nations be blessed
And I haven't got time to cover this right now
But the blessing that would come upon the nations is the sacrifice of Christ
That there are people across all nations in this earth that are saved and blessed today
Because of Christ because of the gospel message, but verse number 9 so then they which they which be of faith are blessed
With faithful Abraham
So how are we blessed in the New Testament now that Christ has come you know is it through obedience?
Oh, yes to an extent okay, but even more so not your own personal obedience
Not your own personal righteousness your faith
The same faith that was from Abraham that will bless you
Let's keep going verse number 10 for as many as are the works of the law are under the curse for it is written
Cursed is everyone that continue if not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them
Now before I keep reading. I just want to bring back to remembrance something that I've preached before
That you know in our Christian life. We have kind of have two states. You know we have our position before God
Okay, and once you're saved you are you know you're robed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ
You know no matter how wicked you are no matter how sinful you are this is your position before God
When he looks down at you he sees perfect righteousness because it's the righteousness of Christ
Received through faith, so that's one part of us. That's the new man
Okay, but then we have the flesh don't we we have this flesh
This is the the daily life that we live and it's sometimes. It's good. You know you're in church this morning
Hey, that's a good start to the week. It's the best way to start the week being in the house of God
It's a great way right because you know the flesh doesn't want to be in church
But the the new man wants to be in church
But then you know as we go for the week the the flesh has its lusts and has its weakness and it seems that it
It travels after and so while positionally we're always right with God 100% our walk is not always right with God
Okay, and so positionally we are blessed we receive the blessings of Abraham because we're saved
Okay, and we saw how in the Old Testament. They were blessed if they obeyed now listen
I know you never obey 100% of the time, but here's the good thing Jesus obeyed
100% of the time and if you're in Jesus Christ, God sees you in that perfect obedience. That's the new man
Okay, so that's what it's referring to here that we're blessed in that sense
But then it talks about those that are trying to get saved by their own righteousness
By following the law and God is saying listen if you want to be saved by the law you have to keep every point of
the law otherwise you're cursed and
Brethren so we do have this idea here in our in our New Testament days
As well as the Old Testament that you know if in order for you to be blessed by God
You must be saved and those that are not saved the unbelievers
They are under the curse of God that will ultimately be fulfilled in the lake of fire
Okay, ultimately they will go to hell if they do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
And they will suffer for all eternity the curses of God
But let me just say we've already escaped the curses of God because we're blessed with faithful Abraham, okay?
Let's keep going there in verse number 11
But but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God it is evident for
The just shall live by faith and the law is not a faith
But the man that doeth them shall live in them then look at verse number 13
Christ have redeemed us from the curse of the law
Man, we cannot be cursed by God anymore
He's redeemed us from the curse of the law. Do you see that?
It says here being made a curse for us for it is written
Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree
So brethren let me just say to you you cannot be cursed by God because Jesus Christ became the curse for us
You know all the all our disobedience all our sins has already been nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ
He took on our curse
You know not only do we receive the blessings because of his obedience
Jesus Christ received our curse because of our disobedience
What an amazing swap that we had with the Lord God right so we cannot be cursed by God
You know in the New Testament days because we're not part of this our old covenant in fact the better covenant is even better
Now some people misunderstand and say well hold on don't you start you believe that we can be chastised by God
Absolutely, but don't forget. We're talking here about our position
Okay, which cannot be cursed because we're perfect the new man is always perfect, but then we have our walk
We have a walk with the Lord, but here's what's great about a walk in the Lord
You know even when we disobey we're still children of God. God does not curse us. He blesses us with chastisement
Chastisement is supposed to be a blessing right. I mean you know children that are that are not disciplined children that are not chastised
Right they're gonna grow up to be spoiled kids
They're gonna grow up to be rebellious spoiled kids. It's a blessing to be chastised all right, and so you know yes
We get corrected
I'm not saying we don't get corrected in our walk because we're far from the Lord
But you know what's wonderful about the New Testament days. We're not gonna be cursed because Christ became the curse for us
Okay, that's one of the key differences between the Old Testament and the New Testament
We are under a better covenant
You know the covenant that we have the Lord God is a spiritual covenant, not a physical one
Okay, and so their blessings and curses were based on their their their their walk
their physical relationship there or
Fellowship with God, but our blessings and curses fall upon the spiritual element which comes from a new man
You know with the Lord God and of course that is because of Jesus Christ
Let's keep going to verse number 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ
That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith, okay, so let me just summarize very quickly
Does God still curse today?
Absolutely, okay, but it's dependent on whether you have believed or rejected the Lord Jesus Christ if you believe the Lord Jesus Christ
You're being blessed with faithful Abraham. You're keeping the commandments 100% not because of you, but because of Christ
Okay, but those that are trying to get saved by their own works by some false religion by some false gospel
They are still under God's curse
And it's our job to bring them out of that curse right and say look Christ became the curse for you
Come and enter into the blessings through Jesus Christ righteousness
Okay back to our Jeremiah chapter 11 verse number 7 Jeremiah chapter 11 verse number 7
God says for I earnestly
Protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt even unto this day
Rising early and protesting saying obey my voice
God is saying look time and time again. I've been sending you prophets. I've been protesting
Hey, wake up. Come and obey the the laws of God, you know when God's judgment falls like this
It's been a long time coming, you know
We can't turn around and say well God why are you allowing this stuff? You know things to happen
It's been a long time coming, you know for them
They've this nation has been in disobedience to God time and time again
God's given them chance of the chance of the chance, you know
Jeremiah is just one prophet of a long line of preachers that have come through trying to get that nation back on track verse number eight
Yet they obeyed not nor inclined their ear but walked everyone in the imagination of the evil heart
Therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant
Which I command them to do but they did them not so look I'm gonna bring all the words, right?
What are the words of the cursings right because you've not been in obedience verse number nine and
the Lord said unto me a
Conspiracy is found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem
So God is saying there are people in Jerusalem that have had a secret plan they've been conspiring they've created conspiracy
You say what is that about? Well look at verse number 10
They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers
Which refused to hear my words and they went after other gods to serve them
The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant, which I made with their fathers
What do we learn there?
We learn that this whole idea of turning against the Lord and worshiping idols wasn't some organic process
It wasn't some natural process where somehow gods let them down and they're like well, where is God well
Maybe we need to find God somewhere else
No, the reason the nation went this way is because there was a conspiracy
There were people on that land that purposely secretly planned. Hey, we don't like God, you know
These would be reprobates. These will be people that hate God and they're like, you know what?
We don't like that our nation is serving God and sacrificing to God
We need to come up with a plan to turn our entire nation away from the God of Israel onto these false gods
So it wasn't some organic thing. There was a conspiracy
there was a secret plan by wicked people turn it, you know, the nation's heart against the Lord and
Brethren, why does Australia why in Australia? Why is it that our laws that are being passed? Why are they constantly against God's Word?
Why are they undoing the things where our laws used to be in line with God's laws?
Why why they turn against that brethren? Is it just naturally we just need to you know
We just need to change things up. I tell you why things are changing because there's a conspiracy in our land
There are wicked people in Australia that are purposely trying to take our nation
Away from the God of Israel and to worship false gods or to just to hate God
All right, just to be in disobedience to God these things happen because there are wicked people conspiring
Okay, so man, I've got to go on YouTube and find out all these conspiracies are don't bother
God just tells us in his word. This is what happens. There must be good enough for us
Okay, there are wicked people doing these things
Okay
And just be aware be aware that the reason nations turn against God is because wicked people are in this nation
Purposely trying to cause us to turn against the Lord. Yes, the media is involved, you know, yes
Powers and and lobby groups are involved. Yes, you know these things are going on
Yes, many religious leaders in many churches are involved in this conspiracy to turn our nation against God
You know that there are there are people in power that are doing this and you say well Kevin you sound like a conspiracy not
I just believe the Bible. Okay, if this happened in the land of Judah with a with a more godly
Supposedly they had the right God. Okay. I mean Australia's never been really a Christian nation
At least these guys were truly a nation that had covenant with God if this happened there. It's definitely happening here
It's definitely happening to the nations that were once considered a nation that was Christian, you know
They've just had wicked people come in create plans and they deceived the nation to turn against the Lord
But brethren knowing this knowing this that our nation is purposely turning against the Lord
That doesn't mean we need to go down the same way. Okay, that just means well, hey, that's the situation
We're gonna stand steadfast. We're gonna stand with the Lord. We're gonna continue serving the Lord no matter what happens
Can you please turn to Acts chapter 20 Acts chapter 20 again, keep your finger there in Jeremiah Acts chapter 20 in verse number 28
You know many years ago when I started to understand this idea and
Understand that people are so wicked that really hate God and actually want others to hate God as well
It was hard for me to understand
In fact, it's still difficult for me to understand you're turning to Acts chapter 20 Acts chapter 20
It's still a little bit difficult to understand, right?
Because I don't know why I just I guess especially as a pastor you kind of have to think best of people, right?
and you know
The Bible warns us time and time again that there are going to be people that creep into churches
To conspire, you know people that are actually wicked that were you know to find pleasure in spending an hour two hours at church
For the purpose to cause cause division for the purpose to turn the church against the Lord and just to destroy
That institution of the church and we need to be aware of this because you know
I can't really understand why people will do it and so I can fall into the trap of thinking well
I don't understand why people will do it. Therefore. It doesn't happen. No, it happens. It definitely happens
Okay, Acts chapter 20 verse number 28
Acts chapter 20 verse number 28
We have Paul here speaking to
Our pastors he says take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock
Over the the which the Holy Ghost have made you overseers to feed the Church of God
Which you have purchased with his own blood but look what he says in verse number 29 for I know this
That after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock
You know, they're wolves that come into God's Church to hurt the flock of God
I mean why I mean if I wanted to cause damage the last thing I would be thinking about is going to church
And destroying people that just love God, but people can be so wicked where they just come into church
They look like a sheep. They look like a brother-in-law
We might even call them brother and sister for a while only for eventually those
Ears of the wolves to pop out and you know that they've come in the church to conspire to cause problems to hurt
God's people look at verse number 30
Also of your own selves shall men arise speak in perverse things to draw away disciples after them
Therefore watch and remember and by the space of three years. I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears
Listen Paul was preaching
Every single day for three years day and night preaching preach and preaching warning people against false
Prophets warning people against the wolves that will enter God's house. We need to be aware of this brethren
I know we're a small church, but it can happen. We don't know there might be someone today
It's possible. What did it say also of your own selves shall men arise?
Speak in perverse things to draw away disciples after them
Okay, and so listen there can be conspiracies even in the house of God
You know if someone takes you aside and wants to whisper in your ear all right and cause you to you know feel I?
Don't know unhappy in the church
You know trying to find every little problem instead of being instead of looking at the blessings of God
They just want to sort out you know find every little issue every little problem
Start whining and complaining your ear you know start start saying rumors and and gossiping about people in the church
Or gossiping about the pastor brethren be alerts be aware, okay?
Don't be part of that conspiracy
Okay, don't be part of it
Okay, because there there can be people like that that just come into church for the purpose of destroying the church
Just like they're in Judah people in that land purposely conspiring secret plans to destroy the nation
Okay, let's go back to Jeremiah chapter 11 verse number 11 Jeremiah chapter 11 verse number 11
God says therefore thus saith the Lord behold
I will bring evil upon them which they shall not be able to escape and
Though they shall cry unto me. I will not hearken unto them
So we've seen this topic before that you know even in turmoil people that worship false religions worship false
Gods when things get hard for them. They're still going to call out to God
They're still going to pray out to God and ask him for help
But God says hey if you're that wicked and you're turning the people's hearts against me
I'm not even going to listen to you
Okay, God can get to a point where he will not listen to the prayers of people that hate him verse number 12
Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry unto the gods
Unto whom they offer incense, but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble
Hey, so we've covered that we've seen this many times already that they go to their false gods ask the false gods for help
They're not going to help. They're dead gods right that they can't answer prayers verse number 13 for according to the number of thy cities
Were thy gods oh Judah and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have they set up altars to that shameful thing
Even altars to burn incense unto Baal so God saying here look all the cities
You know even all the streets had these idols had these altars had sacrifices
I mean this whole place Jerusalem had really become you know a you know if we walked into Jerusalem during that day
We would not see any resemblance of a Christian nation of Christian people
It would be like it just be like entering some pagan land right I guess it'd be like walking into some of the cities in
India right where we Hinduism is the main
Religion and just walking and seeing all these idols and statues and seeing all these crazy you say well
What how is this the nation of God right things had become so bad look at verse number 14?
And God says to Jeremiah therefore pray not thou for this people
Neither lift up a cry or pray for them for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble
I've covered this already how God you know will sometimes you know ask his people
Don't even pray for those that are exceedingly wicked
Now Brethren I'm just going to read to you from Proverbs 28 verse number 9
You don't have to turn they'll just read to you Proverbs 28 in verse number 9
It says he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law
Even his prayer shall be abomination
Now Brethren I do not want your prayers to God to be abomination to him, okay?
So what do we have to do when we hear God's laws?
Don't turn your ear away from them
Okay, don't listen if you you know know what God wants from you, and you're purposely disobeying the Lord, okay?
You're purposely turning you away from the Lord
You're purposely walking away from the Lord and you get to a point where you need to pray God
I actually need your help well that prayer is going to be an abomination to God. What a strong word an abomination to God
Okay, and so this is what you do you know if you're far from God
I've said it many times you've got to confess your sins. You've got to humble yourself
You've got to be broken and go to God and help me. Please forgive me for my sins
Help me walk in your ways
Then go and ask of the Lord what you need okay get right with God settle things with the Lord right be close with the Lord
Then you can bring your prayers before him. You know make sure your prayers are not an abomination verse number 15
What have my beloved to do in mine house?
Seeing she have rude lewdness with many and the holy flesh is passed from thee when thou doest evil
Then thou rejoicest
Okay, so that is not the time to pray to the Lord
That is not the time to go and ask God for help when you're rejoicing in evil when you're enjoying the sin of this world
No first John 1 6 says for if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness
We lie and do not the truth
Okay, you cannot be in a place of darkness
Rejoicing in weakness rejoicing in sin and think you can just pray to God like a genie and he'll just answer your prayers
It's not going to happen. You have to humble yourself. You have to go to God with a contrite heart ask him for forgiveness
Okay, then bring your prayers and supplications before God okay
Let's make sure that our prayers are actually received by God and can be answered all right
We have to do it in the right place
We have to do it through the new man, not while we're enjoying the lust and the sins that this flesh enjoys verse number 16
The Lord called thy name a green olive tree
So the Lord he is referring to the nation of Israel as this olive tree
Okay fair so fair means beautiful and of goodly fruit
So it's producing good fruit with the noise of a great tomelet tomelet
He have kindled fire upon it and the branches of it are broken
so
Israel was once this beautiful olive tree very fruitful
But now it's been burnt up and branches are breaking off it right verse number 17 for the Lord of hosts have planted thee
Have pronounced that sorry that planted thee have pronounced evil against thee for the evil of the house of Israel
And of the house of Judah which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal
Now let's understand this let's turn to John chapter 15
Please let's go to John chapter 15 because when you think about a tree and branches being broken off that tree
What reference do you kind of think about in the New Testament?
Anyone want to give me an idea?
All of it discourse well, yeah, because it's got a tree there right it's got a tree
No, I'm not thinking about that one. I'm thinking about branches being broken off
Does anyone know that reference in the New Testament? Sorry?
It's it's in Romans yeah, I don't think it's referred to as a yeah Romans 11
Yeah, Romans 11, but before we return to Romans 11. Let's turn to John 15, so let's understand this
Okay, because I don't want to end up in this sermon thinking that you can lose your salvation something like that
Okay, obviously you cannot lose your salvation. Okay, but let's turn to John 15 verse 5 very quickly John 15 verse 5
Because
This same teaching is taught in the New Testament
Where there is a tree and branches can be broken off, but in John 15 verse 5
Jesus says I am the vine ye are the branches so we are branches forever
We are the branches of the Lord Jesus Christ
He that abideth in me and I in him the same bring forth much fruits for without me
You can do nothing so God said hey the olive tree
Yeah, you had you were very fruitful before right so if we abide in Christ we can bring forth much fruits
You know how you get many people saved?
You abide in Christ
You're close to God God can use you to be very fruitful and bring others into the kingdom of God
But look at verse number 17 sorry verse number a six if a man abide not in me
He is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned
Okay, so this is not teaching you can lose your salvation. If you don't abide in Christ. It's saying hey
This is part of our walk not our position our position is perfect all right
But our walk we can be far from God already cover this where if you're so far from God
You can get to a point where the salt has lost its savor
Or where the tree can no longer bring forth fruits and you become a waste
You know even as a Christian you become a complete waste for God
And you've lost your opportunity to do anything for God and so as it is in this illustration
You're like a branch that well. It's not producing the fruit anymore. This is cast it away
Let's just break it off the tree and just burn it in the fire
Okay, and let other branches grow in that tree that can be fruitful for God
Okay, so this is not teaching you can lose your salvation because positionally you're 100% with God
But our walk with God can get so far from him where we are no longer any use to God
That's what John chapter 15 is speaking about okay again speaking about believers now
Let's turn to Romans chapter 11 Romans chapter 11 verse number 16
It is so important it is so basic
But it is so important that you understand the difference between your position and your walk
Because you're going to read passages in the Bible, and if you don't understand what it's talking about
You're going to end up thinking you can lose your salvation or something like that
Okay, because you can lose you can get far from God in a walk, right?
But you can never lose your position okay, but Romans 11 verse 16 Romans 11 verse 16
Again, this is speaking about the Old Testament Israelites
It says for if the first fruit be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy
So are the branches so the the first fruits or the root speaking about Christ and if Christ is holy
So are we holy right because we're in his righteousness
You know we can be as holy as Christ is
Positionally before God when God looks at us. He sees us in the holiness and the righteousness of Jesus Christ
but look at verse number 17 and
If some of the branches be broken off and thou be in a wild olive tree
What graft in among them and with them partake us of the roots and fatness of the olive tree?
Says boast not against the branches, but if thou boast thou bearest not the roots, but the roots thee
That will say then the branches were broken off that I might be grafted in
Okay, so what we're learning here in the New Testament that we have this olive tree where we it's a while
We're like this wild olive tree
You know the nation of Israel is kind of like this this olive tree that God planted
No, it's it's planted by a gardener and then God compares the Gentiles you know because we were we were not a people of God
Yeah, we're an olive tree as well
But this where this wild olive tree that it's kind of just grew out of the wilderness like nobody really planted it
It just grew out of the wilderness right and so that's kind of like us
And it's saying that some of those branches of the of the tree
Were broken off so we can be grafted in to that tree
Okay, and we say why were they broken off or look at this in verse number 20?
It says well, so well yeah, you're right
You know you are right that those branches were broken off
So you would be grafted in right a well because of unbelief they were broken off that thou that thou standest by faith
Be not high minded, but fear
For if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest he also spare not thee
So brethren this is what God is saying. He's saying look God did not spare the natural branches
You know what if they were not believing in Christ if they would not you know cuz how do we get saved?
By believing right well those people those branches the the Old Testament's
I wouldn't say saints because I won't say but the Old Testament Israelites that were broken off
They were broken off that nation the nation of Israel because they had unbelief they did not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
But then you can take wild branches like us
Gentiles that do believe in Jesus Christ, and we're added to that tree
Okay, and we're with Christ we abide with Christ and so yet Romans chapter 11 is basically
Explaining what Jeremiah was teaching in Jeremiah chapter 11 because many of those people were being broken off as branches
They were still part of the nation physically
But they'll be they were broken off because they were dying as unsaved people they were worshiping false gods
They were not believers of God they were not believers of Jesus Christ, so they were being broken off that tree
You know hey, what's wonderful about us we can be brought into that tree, okay, and some people see this is again
This is the problem with dispensational theology
Those say well the nation of Israel is just totally separate body and where some you know
That's the that's Israel, and we're like the church. No okay if we believe in Christ
We're part of one tree Christ is the root of it all okay, and so anyway
I want to show you this because then it says in verse number 21
If God sped not the natural branches take heed also
He also spared not thee behold therefore the goodness and severity of God on them which fells severity
But toward the goodness if thou continue in his goodness
Otherwise thou also shall be cut off and they also if they abide not still in unbelief
Shall be grafted in for God is able to graft them in again, so it says look yes
The the Jews today, they're not part of that tree. They're not God's special people. They don't abide in Christ
They're not God's people at all
But if they don't abide in unbelief in other words if they believe
They will be brought back into that branch themselves if they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
Okay, now listen sometimes when you preach this you know you're accused of hating the Jews or something like that
How dare you say that about the Jews?
It's like no. It's just that they're the same as anybody else
You know if they don't believe
They're not part of the tree
They're not part of the other tree, but if Jew Gentiles Australians, New Zealanders
You know South Americans European whatever wherever you're from brethren if you believe you're grafted into that tree
But did you notice that it said there that?
You know in verse number 22
Sorry, let's read verse number 21 and verse number 22 again if God spared not the natural branches take heed lest
He also spared not thee. He's saying look just like he didn't spare them. He might not do it to you
All right this number 22 behold therefore the goodness and severity of God of them which felt severity
But toward the goodness if thou continue in his goodness
Otherwise thou also shall be cut off and so we say well hold on does that mean we can be broken off that tree and lose
our salvation
No, don't don't forget. What is it that gets us saved our faith our belief so positionally?
Okay, we're always saved
Okay, but again if we don't up was it
If thou continue in his goodness, so if we continue in his goodness
We're always going to be in the presence of God where I was going to receive his blessings
But if we don't follow his laws if we don't listen to his word in our walk
We can get far from God and as it were as we read there in John 15
We can be like that branch that is broken off, and it's only worth being burnt up. Okay, but that's our walk
That's our walk. Okay. That's not our salvation
And so that you need to understand these two ideas of the Christian faith right your position
Which never changes and your walk which you can get really far from God where you can become completely useless
You know salt that has lost its savour, okay?
This is not teaching that you can lose your salvation
And so what we learn here when we go back to Jeremiah chapter 11 is the reason these branches were being broken off
Okay, was because yes because of their weakness, but many of these were not even saved
Okay, they're not even saved. Yeah, they're part of the physical nation, but if they died anyway, they would still go to hell
Okay, yes
They were God's people in in that sense because they were in that old covenant
But again if they were not saved if they were not believers of Jesus Christ
They would be broken off and and sent to hell. Okay. Anyway, let's go back there Jeremiah 11 verse 18 and
The Lord have given me knowledge of it, and I know it then there should I should
Showed us me their doings. So Jeremiah saying God has given me the knowledge of the conspiracy
Now now I know it. Okay, so Jeremiah did not go to YouTube
Okay to learn about the conspiracies of the land. Okay. He said no God told me about the conspiracy
Okay through his word
So you want to learn about conspiracies brethren you go to God's Word you learn about what's going on
And then he won't surprise you so much what's going on in this world?
Okay, because it's ready. It's very played out for us in the Bible
Okay, God's you know God knows how much we can absorb how much we can take how much is going to help us live
A clean and pure life so it gives us what we need in his word
We don't need to be file our minds with what's going on in the conspiracy land on YouTube
God gives us a knowledge
Okay, and and what it was a knowledge the conspiracy of the nation turning against the Lord but also a conspiracy to kill Jeremiah
conspiracy to persecute God's saved people verse number 19
Says but I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter and I knew not that they had devised
Devices against me okay, so Jeremiah says I didn't know these people were trying to kill me
But now God's revealed it to me this conspiracy that there are people trying to persecute God's people so brethren
Let me tell you now there are people in Australia. I don't want to surprise you
But just listen to God's Word there are people in this land that hate God so much that actually want to persecute
Blessed hope Baptist Church they actually want to persecute each one of us our families and hurt us and destroy our lives
There are people like this in this world
Okay, you say how do you know because God just taught us okay? God's told Jeremiah
What's it say for us? It's the same for God's people as we see our nation get into further weakness
Understand that there are people in this land that want to hurt God's people. There's a conspiracy against us
There's a conspiracy against every church that names Christ that is a true believer of Christ
There is a conspiracy okay, and if that worries you don't worry. We've got God is greater than all these things
God God knows. It's not a secret. You think it's a secret to God in fact God laughs about it
Okay, you read read Psalm chapter 2 when you have time God laughing at the conspiracy theories
He thinks this joke is mocking at them. Okay, so if God's able to laugh. I'm gonna laugh with God
Okay, we've got God as our defense all right
And then it says there so I knew not that they had devised
Devices against me saying let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof and let us cast
Sorry cut him off from the land of the living that his name may be no more remembered. So what's Jeremiah?
Here's a tree that produces fruit. What did God say about the nation there were a tree that had lost produced
Not presents fruit anymore. Okay, so brethren look Australia might be considered by God. You know like a tree. That's not fruitful
Okay, but hey that doesn't have to stop us from not being fruitful
We can still be soul winners
We can still you know allow the fruits of the spirits work in our lives to be more
Christlike and and be a witness unto God we don't need to worry about how wicked this world gets we can still be fruitful for
God
Okay
Now what I love about verse number 19 is their goal was to cause Jeremiah's name look at the end of verse number 19
That his name be may be no more remembered. They wanted nobody to remember Jeremiah's name
Well some 2,600 years later, we're still talking about Jeremiah
So God can do amazing things who cares about the conspiracies that are against us
You know I mean their names aren't even mentioned
We didn't know who they are their names have been forgotten
But Jeremiah's name in fact not only is it going to be remembered today and tomorrow and next week when people preach about Jeremiah
And ten years from now when people preach about Jeremiah, but for all eternity his name
He's got a whole book named after him. You know if God's book is eternal well Jeremiah's name is gonna be eternal forever
It's gonna be remembered for all eternity
So praise God for Jeremiah right verse number 20
but a lot of hosts thou judgest righteously and
Tries the reins and the heart let me see thy vengeance on them and unto thee have I revealed my cause
All right, so important that we turn to this passage keep your finger then let's go to Romans chapter 12 Romans chapter 12
So God's I mean Jeremiah says well Lord
Yep, you revealed this conspiracy to me the conspiracy for the nation the conspiracy that people trying to kill me
He says well, let me see thy vengeance on them
The Jeremiah say you know what Lord now that I know that these people trying to hurt me. I'm gonna take vengeance
You know what I'm gonna do them evil because they're trying to do me evil was that Jeremiah's response
I says God you know what you judge righteously
I'm gonna leave in your hands Lord, and I'm gonna see your vengeance thy vengeance on them
Let me see it as a little bit like I wanted to see how God will step in and take care of him
Okay
But this is important for us to remember because you know when you fill your minds with conspiracy theories
You're gonna think you have to do something right. I've got to do something to overcome this conspiracy in the land
Listen God knows let him judge righteously
Leave it in God's hands all right, and we ask God can you have been to your own vengeance Lord upon that?
Romans chapter 12 verse number 19 Romans chapter 12 verse number 19
dearly beloved
Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath for it is written
Vengeance is mine. I will repay saith the Lord
Vengeance is the Lord's
Pastor Kevin do you truly believe there are people trying to hurt our church?
Absolutely, do you really believe there are people trying to hurt each of our families in this church absolutely that gets me
Worried listen God knows okay ask God Lord. You know what I'm gonna. Let you take care of it vengeance is yours Lord
Okay, and I'm gonna look instead of avenging myself. I'm gonna give place unto wrath God
I'm gonna allow you to use your wrath right to avenge me Lord
I want you to seven who knows how many times, but I don't know
It's very possible that many attempts have already been made to hurt our church
Maybe many attempts have been made to hurt you and your families
You don't even know because God's already stepped in and taken care of it
You don't even know right who knows how many times people have tried to hurt us and God has taken care of it for us
Okay, we won't know until we get to heaven okay, but God lets us know here for Jeremiah. Hey, there are conspiracies a
Jeremiah did not know about it now. He does it says well Lord vengeance is yours. I'm not gonna do anything about it
I'm just gonna continue doing what I'm doing Lord, and I'm gonna let you take care of those that are trying to hurt me
Verse number 21
Back in sorry Jeremiah 11 21 Jeremiah 11 21
Therefore thus saith the Lord of the men of Anathoth that seek thy life
Sane prophesy not in the name of the Lord that thou died not by our hand
So what it's saying here is that the men that are conspires conspiring against Jeremiah are from Anathoth, okay?
so what is Anathoth go back to Jeremiah chapter 1 Jeremiah chapter 1 and
Verse number 1
Jeremiah chapter 1 and verse number 1
It begins by saying the words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah of the priests so Jeremiah was a son of a priests that were
In Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, so Jeremiah was from Anathoth, okay?
So what it's saying here there are people in his own from his own town from his own community that actually want to hurt him
Okay, and that reminds me of the words of Jesus Christ, so just read it to you in mark 6 4
It says, but Jesus said unto them a prophet is not without honor, but in his own country and among his own King
And among his own King kin and in his own house
So Jesus Christ says that for whatever reason this is the case well if you got a preacher you got a prophet of God
People generally from other places want to hear and preach
But those from his own town those that know him well those that grew up with him those are met
Maybe over his own family will not honor him like will not give credence to what he's preaching
Okay, and this is part of the reason. I didn't want to start a church in Sydney
Part of the reason I went to the Sunshine Coast
Because I wanted to be a prophet that that's honored you know that what I'm not that out for me
But that what I'm preaching is effective that people will listen and say well. That's the Word of God
I want to make those change because if you don't honor the prophet you're not going to even pay attention to what he's saying
Okay, and anyway praise God that we've got a church here. You know it wasn't my original plan, but we're here
But you know this is just like for some reason you know sometimes you'll find that you know as a Christian as someone that's trying
To live godly for the people that grew up with you those that know you best will try to discredit you
Okay, again. It can come from your own family right you're trying to be godly come on man
I know you what you got up to in your teenage years right you're preaching God's Word
I know where you're like that's not you know and so you kind of lose that credibility, but even these people they even try to
Cause Jeremiah to be killed you know Jeremiah's just preaching God's Word
I guess he defended them that much that they thought it'd be best to shut him shut him up
But verse number 22 back in Jeremiah 11 verse 22
Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts behold
I will punish them the young men shall die by the sword
Their sons and their daughters shall die by famine and there shall be no remnant of them
For I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth even the year of their visitation so God promises Jeremiah
Don't worry those that are conspirants conspiring against you those are trying to kill you. I'll take care of them
I'll punish them not just them, but their entire families are going to be a die
They're gonna die during this time and again even the year of their visitation again that that terminology means when I come and bring judgment
Upon them it's gonna happen God promises that he's going to judge those that were trying to hurt Jeremiah and Brethren
I don't know if this gives you comfort or not it should but those that are trying to hurt you
Okay, God will judge them God will bring them low God will destroy them okay
God's got the time even the year of their visits
I don't know what year that is but there's coming a time when God will judge our enemies those that are trying to hurt us
Okay, we ought to love our enemies
We ought to do good unto our enemies okay not to take vengeance on them
But let God be the one that takes advantage of them all right let God be the one that is wrathful toward them
So Brethren let me just conclude by saying yes, there's a lot of conspiracies
Okay, our nation will turn against the Lord more and more people will strive to try to hurt our church
We will have wolves that will creep into our church from time to time that will try to destroy us Brethren
But don't forget you don't need to be fearful you don't need to worry
Okay be walking with the Lord be close to God and ask God well Lord
This is the case there are conspiracies Lord. I'm not going to invest my mind in these in this junk
I'm not going to invest my time in these things that just start bring sorrow and fear and sadness Lord
I just want to focus on you focus on your word vengeance is yours Lord. Please take care of my enemies
We leave it in God's hands amen
Okay, let's pray
Heavenly Father