Alright Jeremiah chapter 5 and let's look at verse number 31 the last verse there
This is the first phrase it says the prophets prophesy falsely the title for the sermon this morning the prophets prophesy
Fosley, you know my my greatest fear brethren my greatest fear as a pastor is to come behind this pulpit and say something false
That's my greatest fear have I said false things probably why because I'm a human being right?
Probably have said some wrong things behind the pulpit, but you know every time I get up. I just have a fear of God
The last thing I want to do is let down God and let down God's people
You know people come to I think about the idea
You know of starting churches and people come to church and they want to be fed the Word of God
It just dawns on me how serious this business is you know preaching God's Word and what we notice here in this time of
Judah is that they had prophets they had preachers don't forget that prophet is just another way of saying preacher
Okay, it's not always somebody. That's telling the future. Okay. It's just someone preaching God's Word, and they were preaching falsely and
so this this nation was in a
Disastrous place you know God's judgment was falling upon them not even the preachers not even the pastors behind the pulpit
We're preaching true things they were preaching falsely, and this is why you know
You know coming down here for the 12 months
This is why I want to be here and have some training sessions on how to study the Bible how to preach be
Careful what you say be careful about what is clearly written in the Bible be careful about what you know clearly indicating
What is your personal opinion your personal belief?
You know separating these two things because we don't want to become prophets that prophesy falsely
You know we start prophesying falsely our church will fall apart
Okay, just like this nation of Judah started to fall apart, so let's start there in verse number one
Jeremiah chapter 5 in verse number 1
God tells Jeremiah run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem and
See now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can find a man if there be any that
Execute of judgment that seeketh the truth, and I will pardon it God is telling Jeremiah look go for the whole capital city of Jerusalem
And see if you can just find one person one person that fears God one person that executes judgment
Somebody that truly knows the difference between right and wrong you know somebody that's seeking the truth if you just find one man
Jeremiah in Jerusalem, I will forgive you guys. I will pardon it
I will not allow the Babylonians to come and take you guys into captivity
Now we know that I was still taken into captivity so do you think Jeremiah found a man not at all
He didn't find a man. Can you please keep your finger there and let's go to Ezekiel Ezekiel you got Jeremiah then Lamentations then Ezekiel
Okay, you're in Jeremiah, then Lamentations then Ezekiel. Let's go to Ezekiel 22 verse 28
Ezekiel 22 and verse number 28 by the way Jeremiah was not from Jerusalem
Okay, and so we can't say well hold on that was Jeremiah. No Jeremiah was preaching in Jerusalem, but he was not of Jerusalem
This is why he couldn't even find a man in the whole city. You know that would fear God and
So the city was obviously full of unbelievers. You know and you could even say that the city had believers
I'm sure there were believers in Jerusalem there were saved people, but they were lame
Okay, and what I personally find you know the reason I
Decided to join an IFB Church independent fundamental Baptist Church when I was like 20 years old or whatever I was I
This I found these churches
I found these preachers to be preachers that one of the truth proclaimed
You know it didn't matter
What was you know what was popular or not you know they had a heart to reach souls that they had a heart for the?
King James Bible, and that's what drew me to the independent fundamental Baptists
But what I'm finding over the last few decades is they are slowly scaling away from the soloing they slowly
Scaling away from a strong position on the King James Bible
They're slowly you know I'm moving away from from clear biblical teachings
And they're just giving good good
You know few good sermons that people could find in your average Hillsong Church
And you know and my concern is that we might be
Entering a phase with even the churches that we once thought were great churches are scaling back
You know they're not no longer preaching the truth
They're no longer executing judgment the way God desires and so when we look at Ezekiel 22 in verse number 28
Ezekiel 22 and verse number 28 who was Ezekiel
Ezekiel was one of the priests and
In Judah, and he was taken if you start by reading Ezekiel chapter 1 you notice. He's already a captive
He's already been taken into captivity by the Babylonians
Okay, here's a priest that God used, but look at Ezekiel 22 verse 28. It says here and her prophets again
We're looking at the prophets that prophesy falsely these are prophets of Judah have dogged them with untempted mortar
seeing vanity and
divining lies unto them saying thus saith the Lord God when the Lord hath not spoken and
Brethren you know Sydney is full of preachers
There are churches right now people meeting in churches right now where the preachers are saying things well
God feels this way God sees it this way, and they're speaking words that God did not speak
We have to be careful as preachers you ever get behind this pulpit. Please understand. I have a high expectation from you
I expect you to fear God
I expect you to be careful about what you're going to say and I'm only going to say what God clearly says
Otherwise you'll be like this when the Lord have not spoken you're saying things that the Lord has not spoken
Be very careful be very careful any of us can fall into this trap all right
Let's keep going verse number 29 the people of that land have used oppression and
Exercise robbery and have vexed the poor and needy
Yeah, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully now look at verse number 30
And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me up for the land
That I should not destroy it
But I found none
So you can see the consistency right it's on Jeremiah
Don't find one man, and then he's equals taking into captivity and God's only Ezekiel
I couldn't find a man all right there was not one that would stand in the gap verse number 31
Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them
I have consumed them with a fire of my wrath their own way have I recompensed upon their heads sayeth the Lord God
What do we learn from this you know brother Matthew preached a great sermon?
Not long ago was it last week brother. I'm losing track of time. You know about how God can you know who's saying?
Hey, you know we might be a small church
But God can use and God has used this church in a great way
You know God has already seen many souls saved by the work of this church, and so yes
We can look at a church, but you know what God is just looking for a man
God is just looking for one person that will stand up and not be afraid not be you know afraid well
What happens if I say the truth you know when people come in and you know will I be in the media?
Will people come and sue me will people come and arrest me and if you're afraid you're not that man
You've got to live up and be that man. You've got to be someone who is fearless is willing to preach
God's Word without compromise
That's who God is looking for
And you know you say well
You know I've got some fear about what the Bible says well
You know what start working start working closely with God
Start reading your Bible start getting passionate about the things that God gets passionate about
Start hating the things that God hates start loving the things that God loves you know get into God's Word
And let the brainwashing of this world die away and start understanding how God sees this world and sees this nation
I don't know what God necessarily thinks of Australia, but I don't think he's thinking wonderful things about Australia
and I don't think he's thinking wonderful things about Sydney you know as we go about and and
what even even the what is it the
Homosexual Mardi Gras all right. I mean well who was it that message someone saying hey
You know it's not on this next year because of COVID-19
But then they still found a way to put him into a stadium or something
They still find a way that this is so important for our city to celebrate
They still found a way to celebrate it even though it's with lesser numbers
You know this is disgusting
There's so many other serious matters in this city in this nation, and these are the things that our politicians are prioritizing
Again, you know it's Jeremiah's days are like this right?
We need men and and men I truly say you know
The Lord needs you the Lord needs you to stand up to be a gap in your families
It's just to stand in the gap of your family to stand in the gap of this church
Send in the gap of this city and of this nation. We need more men on my heart is to plant more churches
My heart is to one day plant a church in Brisbane and maybe Melbourne and maybe Auckland
Okay, if we train up men. I don't care how long it takes. I'm still young. I'm still I'm 39
Hey, you know I'll keep preaching to the day
I die and if we can start many churches many soul-willing churches people are preaching God's truth in this area in this area of the
World then praise God, but you know God is looking for a man. I want you to be that man
I want you to be that person you don't have to be the pastor
But just being a faithful member of the church just like good support to the leader
That's running that that's right of the leader of that church
You know that's what God is looking for and we can change we can change things we don't have to let a Sydney be
Into captivity we don't need to let Sydney be defiled with all this corruption
We can try to slow it down
We can still win souls and pull them out of the fire bring them into everlasting life to be with us forever in heaven
back to Jeremiah chapter 5
verse number 2
Jeremiah chapter 5 verse number 2 and though they say the Lord liveth
Surely they swear falsely
So yeah, you know what again?
Our city Jerusalem
You know there are a lot of people speaking about God
All right, well you know as I get electricians to come in and fix things up for the lights in or do different
You know signage on the windows people are like yeah, I'm a Christian. Yeah, but you're not saved
Right that they say what the Lord liveth they say right?
Surely they swear falsely
Okay, and you know I don't want you to have this idea that just because someone identifies as a follower of Jesus
Or as a Christian that they're automatically saved
There are many people that swear falsely that swear falsely to Jesus Christ. Yeah, I'm a German
I'm a Jesus follower or something, but they're not even saved
They don't even know that salvation is a free gift paid completely in Jesus Christ that it's not of your works
It's not your good deeds
It's only of your faith for what Christ has done for us that gets us to heaven
There's so many people that swear falsely that claim to be Christ or sorry Christ followers, or you know save people
But they're not all right. Let's keep going verse number three
Oh Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them and they and they have not grieved
Thou has consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than a rock
They have refused to return
Look he's saying this is not the first time the Babylonians is not the first
chastisement or fall of judgment that's coming upon Judah
God has chastised them before God has brought correction upon them before but he's saying they've not learnt their lessons
They've just harden their faces
It's like a child being disciplined right and instead of that child
You know you know saying being sorry for the wrong that they've done. They harden their faces. I'm gonna take this punishment
It's like ah you know it's rebellion against chastisements
Rebellion against authority and it's saying look you you're doing you're acting like a child you'll harden your face against God
You know and brethren let me tell you this you know God
Chastises all of us
He chastises all of us and when you feel God's chastisement if you're going through some trial or difficulty first thing to think about
Is there something God is correcting me on is there something God trying to bring my attention to?
And if you find there's an area in your life that needs to be fixed go and fix it
Because the chastisements not going to go away if you just harden your face and think you're fine with God. You know if you don't
Correct the the error God's going to bring stronger correction
Stronger hand of judgment, and you're going to have more difficulties in life, and then you might be like well
You know I'll just you know I'm fine. I'm all good
You know you let your pride speak for you
Then God brings a harder judgment a higher correction and before you know it
He might even take your life away from you because you've harden your face against the Lord hey even Christians can do this
if
You're going through some trial
Don't automatically think oh, it's a devil don't automatically think you know it's persecution
It just might be God allowing you to go through some difficulty to fix something in you
Maybe you've not been walking with God and God just wants you to come back to him and so in the in your state of
Difficulty you're calling out to God God help me. Maybe that's why okay, but you fix the problem
Otherwise the chastisement the trial difficulty won't go away. It'll just become harder. It'll just become more difficult for you to get through
That's number three sorry that's number four therefore
I said surely these are poor they are foolish
For they know not the way of the Lord nor the judgment of their God so Jeremiah saying man these you know
My people here on this land. They must be just stupid they don't know the judgment
They don't know when God has judged him right. He's saying that they must be so ignorant. They don't even know God's methods anymore
Okay, let's keep going verse number four therefore
I said so Jeremiah comes to a realization here says therefore
I said surely these are sorry first number five. He says I will get me unto the great men
He says look man that they're just they're just lacking knowledge
They don't realize God's hand of chastisement his correction is falling upon them his judgment. They're from going to go to the great men
I'm going to go to potentially the politicians or the religious leaders. I'll go talk to them
Okay
I'll go talk to the great men and we'll speak unto them for they have known the way of the Lord
they know the ways of the Lord right and
The judgment of their God, but these have altogether broken the yoke and burst the bonds
So when he goes to speak to these leaders, maybe politicians
Maybe religious leaders he finds out that even they are rebellious against God even they can't help the nation right it says they've broken the
Broken the yoke and burst of bonds, you know, it's like, you know instead of following God's commandments
they're like, ah, we don't need that they break away from God's law break away from the commandments of God and
No, one of this nation is going so bad. The people are wicked, but the leaders are wicked
All right, and it seems like Joe Biden has been elected as the president of the United States
You know why that nation has a wicked president because it's a wicked nation. They're just getting what they deserve
and
When we get a wicked nation a wicked government and a weak wicked politicians, it's because our nation has become wicked
Okay, you think you think the leaders the great men are going to fix things. They're not
Okay, they just do whatever the people want to be in power. That's it. Okay, the people that can change the nation
Are God's people. Okay with the gospel with the righteousness of Jesus Christ
imputed upon them
Verse
number six
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them
Now we're going to be looking at the lion the wolf and the leopard here are speaking about again
It's speaking about the Babylonians coming to take them. Okay coming to defeat them
So it says here that wherefore a lion so the Babylonians have been described as a lion as a wolf and a leopard here
So wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them
So it's saying look you're going to be destroyed by the Babylonians just like a lot lion will slay its prey
And then it says here and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them so a wolf of the evenings, you know wolf will
Sometimes hunt in the dark. Okay, so it's kind of saying like, you know, it's going to be an unexpected
You're not going to be expected to lose this battle. You're not expecting them to come and wipe you guys out
Okay, so it's been done in the evening as it were right symbolically and then it says a leopard shall watch over the cities
So say look they're gonna send spies they're intelligent they're tactful they know how you fight
They know how you're going to react that they're ready for you
They're ready to fight
It says everyone that golf out vents shall be torn in pieces because their transgressions are many and their
Backslidings are increased and so they're definitely going to be defeated
You've got these three animals being described as different ways. They hunt and watch their enemies verse number seven
How shall I pardon these for the pardon deed for this
Look God's saying how can I forgive you?
How can I forgive you for your weakness for your backslidings says thy children have forsaken me and sworn by them
That are no gods
Listen, you you worship gods that are no gods
How can I forgive you God is saying right when I have fed them to the fool?
He said look I've been good to you. I fed you. I've given everything you need right then
They then committed committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houses now
This is speaking again of spiritual adultery right they've gone to these other
gods instead of the one true God and and God's using this very
Again, very crude language. It's like a bunch of soldiers being gathered around a prostitute's house. Just one after another
That's that's what you want. That's all you're after you know just you just going after these strange gods these false gods
You're acting like adulterers, okay
So God speaks in verse number seven about a spiritual adultery that they've turned away from God
But then when we look at verse number eight
He's speaking not just spiritually, but physically as well that the nation had become an adulterous
wicked
Nation verse number eight it says they were as fed horses in the morning
Everyone made after his neighbor's wife
Says look you don't even you don't even care about marriage
You don't even care about adultery. You're just taking that man's wife. You're taking that man's wife that there's just sexual you know
Immorality there's fornication as adultery. There's wickedness in this city
But I want to understand the downfall it didn't start that way first
It was a spiritual adultery first
It was there turning against God and because they turned against God it then caused them to commit
You know adultery physical adultery with their neighbor's wives, and they've been described like horses. Just like animals your animals
God is telling them and
Brevin this is what we learn what we learn here is you know in order for you to keep yourself pure
To keep yourself you know pure to your wedding day right if you've not made that mistake yet
The way to not commit adultery to remain faithful to your spouse and not commit these wicked acts
What you must do is stay close to God
Okay those that commit such acts the reason they've done it is because they first moved away from God
They first turned away from God and because they were far from God spiritually
Then you can get into all manners of sexual sins
Okay in order for you to remain pure in this part of your life
You must remain walking with God close to God okay, and that'll stop that downward spiral
But I want you to understand how they got into this state let's look at verse number six sorry verse number seven once again
I kind of mentioned it. It says when I had fed them to the fool
Okay, and then verse number eight says they were as fed horses
Okay, so we learn we get a theme there. Okay, so saying the people of Judah were well fed
Okay, they had everything they needed okay. They were blessed by God. They were blessed on the land. They were rich
Okay, they could enjoy their possessions and their wealth
They were they were they were blossoming like economically people were doing well all right and again
I just think of Australia one of the richest nations
You know per person in this world you know the highest minimum wage in this country
I don't understand when people tell me it's so hard in Australia
It's like man
Maybe you just need to live somewhere else in this world for a little while and come back and appreciate
You know the blessings that you do have on this land, okay?
But the danger the danger of being fed the danger of always being full the danger of being too blessed
Brethren is that you get to a point where you think I don't no longer need God you have too much
You know you don't know what to do with your wealth
You don't know what to do with yourself you have too much idle time because you don't need to work as much
And then you get into wickedness wickedness and what we see in our nation brethren is that yes?
It's a great country. You know it's I'm thankful that my parents migrated here. It's given me opportunities
It's given you know my family opportunities
But when you're too full you have to be careful you have to be careful all right
And when you have too much you got to ask yourself the question. Why do I have so much God?
What do you want me to do with what I have is it just to indulge because if you start indulging yourself brethren?
It's just going to lead you into weakness
Okay, we'll look at that soon. Why does God give us wealth we'll have a look at that soon verse number nine
Shall I not visit for these things
Because asking the question isn't obvious that I've got to come and bring judgment on these guys
Save the Lord and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this
Go ye up upon her walls and destroy now. God's actually that here verse number 10 11. God is speaking to the Babylonians
prophetically through Jeremiah case so he's telling the Babylonians go ye upon her walls as the walls of Jerusalem and
Destroy, but make not a full end take away her battlements for they are not the Lord's
For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously
Against me save the Lord so God's on Babylon's go and attack him go and destroy them
But he says but don't make them a full end don't destroy them completely okay
Don't forget that Judah would once they take into captivity
Be there for 70 years, and then they will be brought back into the land. They weren't made a full end
Okay, they were still God still had a plan for them to come back and rebuild the city rebuild the temple all those things
Now please keep your finger there. Let's turn to Ephesians chapter 6
Keep your finger there. Let's turn to Ephesians chapter 6
What I'm about to teach you guys is very important very important if there's only one thing you remember in this sermon
I want you to remember this one, okay?
Back in Jeremiah chapter 5 verse 10 it said when he's speaking about Babylonians the Babylonian says take away her battlements
For they are not the Lord's
You know what what are the battlements of the fortified cities you know the the strength he goes?
You know go and go and destroy their forts go and destroy their barracks
Go and destroy their their military the military might of Judah go and destroy those those are you know?
those those forces of
Okay, then it says they are not the Lord's they are not the Lord's
Okay, what is that teaching us?
That's teaching that not every battle is the Lord's you got Judah. They're ready for warfare
They're ready to fight the Babylonians remember. They're God's people. They are they are God's people
They're under the covenant with God all right, and that they've got their battlements. They've got their horses
They've got their chariots, and they've got their soldiers and God says those are not mine. They don't belong to me
One thing you must understand in the Christian life is that not every battle is the Lord's not every battle is the Lord's
Okay, listen covered 19 restriction is not a battle of the Lord. It's not a battle of the Lord
You don't have to get involved in this battle
Okay, because you're going to get wiped out you're going to lose God did not call you to fight the battle of cover 19
Okay, cover 19 restrictions
Show me the Bible where God tells us to fight that you're in Ephesians chapter 6 chapter verse 11 Ephesians chapter 6 verse 11
Does God want us fighting absolutely?
We're in the Lord's army
Verse number 11 put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood
Okay, but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world
Against spiritual wickedness in high places listen Reverend our battle is spiritual
We're fighting for the souls of men. I don't care if you win the battle of whether you wear a mask or not
I would just I think listen if I knock on someone's door
And I have to wear a mask and I get that person saved. I don't care about the mask
That's not the battle. I'm fighting brethren. Do you find that annoying absolutely? I've never even had to wear a mask once in fact
Okay, thank God for Queensland. Thank God. I feel so man. I don't know what I'd be doing if I was in Victoria
I'd be really annoyed. I'd be tempted to go and fight those battles. I'd be tempted to join those protests
I'd be tempted to do those things and then I have to ask myself the question is this God's fights
Is this what God has called me to fights am I going to waste my time hours and hours protesting maybe getting arrested
Right for what cause for what cause am I wrestling against flesh and blood?
You know is this what we're called to fight brethren understand what I'm telling you brethren is this our battle is primarily spiritual, okay?
the devil is that play is the devil behind all these restrictions and
Moving toward a you know removing our rights absolutely he is absolutely he's behind
Listen we already know this from the beginning you know
The Apostle Paul in 2nd Thessalonians said that the mystery of iniquity doth already work to bring in the Antichrist
Back 2,000 years ago was already at work. It's not like it's not like oh, man
You know that Satan's at work now. He's always been at work. This should be no surprise to us
It's not like oh, you're so ignorant pastor Kevin. Don't you realize what's going on? Yep? We've known that
Haven't you read your Bible?
It's been from the beginning
Okay, the devil's working hard to bring in his power and his government, but we've not been called to fight those wars brethren
In fact you read revelation when the beast makes war against the believers it says he overpowers them
Okay, it says he beats them he defeats them the tribulation is not a time where Christians have victory on this earth
But it's a time where Christians will gain lots of rewards in heaven because they're preaching the gospel of the kingdom to all nations
Okay, you read it read the end times. Do you ever see Christians stand up against the Antichrist?
Making war against the Antichrist. They're losing the war against the Antichrist
Okay, but they're winning the war of souls. They're winning the war of the Great Commission. That's what they're doing all right
Keep your mind think about this. I really want to focus on this okay, and I don't just mean COVID-19
I'm just saying every battle you might find yourself in anytime you attempt to fight something stop
Ask yourself the question is this God's battle is this the fight that God wants me to fight
You know look in his word. Can you get confirmation from his word that this is the battle you ought to fight?
So but we got you know we've got the battlements. We've got the fortified cities. We've got the chariots
We've got the horses. What do we have to lose?
Everything if it's Babylon if it's Babylon
Okay, everything if it's Babylon you're gonna get wiped out if it's God's judgment on this nation. You're actually fighting against God's judgments
God might be using Babylonians. Hey the Babylonians were not righteous people. They were wicked people they had their false gods, too
They worship Satan too, but God allowed them to be used to bring judgment upon that city upon those people
Okay God may very well allow the forces of Satan to march a little bit forward and bring some judgment upon Australia
Because we deserve it brethren we deserve it with all the abortions with the same-sex marriage
Okay with the euthanasia laws and everything all the wickedness that's coming into this nation
You know every time we see difficulties and bushfires and all that. I'm just praying God
Can you just bring a fear of God into this land?
I'm not asking God. Can you put off it put out the fires. I'm not asking that anymore
I'm not asking that anymore. I'm asking God
Can you use this in a powerful way that people will be afraid about losing their lives that they will seek you Lord
They will seek the answers for you
You know everlasting life and can you please send a soul winner to their door to tell them the truth?
That's what I'm praying these days
Back to Jeremiah chapter 5 verse number 12
They have belied the Lord and said it is not he
Neither shall evil come upon us neither shall. We see sword or famine nor famine. That's what they're saying in the land
It's all gonna be good. God's not going to judge us
Peace and safety all right it does remind me of the end times
It says in first Thessalonians 5 free for when they shall say peace and safety
Then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape
But then it says this about us, but ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief
Brethren we don't need to be in darkness
Just recognize God's judgment. Just recognize that as our nation gets more and more wicked. I'm not happy about it
I don't rejoice in the wickedness, and you know what it's not like I delight
It's not like I'm like all right. God judges nation. You know destroy these people. That's not what I want
I'm like God. Can you give us a little bit more time help us win a few more souls before your judgment falls
That's what I'm asking for, but please use the difficulties in this world that people may have a fear of you verse number 14
Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts because you speak this word
That's the peace and safety behold. I will make my words in thy mouth
Sorry, I missed verse number 13. Let me just read that again verse number 13. This is important
It says and the prophets this is the prophets of the land shall become wind and the word is not in them
Thus shall it be done unto them the reason they're going to get me destroyed
This is because the prophets the preachers the passes they become like wind
This is and the word is not in them. They're not preaching God's word
They get behind the pulpit start with jokes start with some story. I've been there
I've been sitting in the pulpit. It's only in the in the pews
Waiting to get a good Bible study. What does God word say it's like the introductions half an hour long
And it's like all right brethren. You know I'm wrapping things up now
I'm like man. I'm gonna be an open our Bibles you open one Bible verse
And then it's just it's like what in the world the whole the whole hour of sitting there listening to this guy was just wind
And it's just hot air it just blows away. It has no substance
We got a week. I don't want a preacher behind this pulpit being hot air
No, the word of God not in them what that's not the preacher we want in this pulpit
Those are not the men we need here
Right bless it up at this church brethren. I love this church, and I want this to be a church that proclaims God's Word
God's Word we don't want to be preachers of wind
You think people come to this church just to be?
Thanks pastor Kevin what a great sermon
I
Look at verse number 14
This is what the preacher should be like wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts because you speak this word
It's been to Jeremiah behold. I will make my words in thy mouth fire
And this people would and it shall devour them
You know when you this is when you know you've heard a preacher when you feel like you've been burnt
That's right well when the preacher is like fire, and it kind of hurts, it's uncomfortable it burns
Yeah, that's the church you want to be that's the church. You should be part of brethren. That's the church
You should be part of you know and sometimes if you get burnt
I might blow a little bit and help it soothe it a little bit right
But the whole sermon ought not to be wind right it needs to be fire
It needs to burn it needs to consume all right it needs to consume sin it needs to consume wickedness
It needs to consume wrong understanding wrong beliefs
God's preachers need to be different from the preachers of this world
verse number 15
Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far again the Babylonians Oh
House of Israel saith the Lord it is a mighty nation
It is an ancient nation a nation whose language thou knowest not neither understandest what they say
Their quiver is an open sepulchre. They are all mighty men. They quiver. What's a quiver anyone know what a quiver is?
Maybe but yeah, it's more for arrows. It's more in arrows, so just look there there there
Their pouch for their arrows what to say there is an open sepulchre. It's a sepulchre is a grave
It's like Sepulveda. It's where it comes from that's her name
past the grave
past the death
It's an open sepulchre. He says look. You know they're going to destroy you guys
I mean, they're so strong. They're so mighty you go and fight them. You're going to die
Okay, you're going to go into the grave if you fight these guys right. They're all mighty men
They're all powerful trained warriors. They know how to fight verse number 17 and
They shall eat up thine harvest and thy bread which thy sons and thy daughters should eat
They shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees. They shall impoverished
impoverished their fenced cities
We're in thou trustest with the sword so the Babylonians are going to come in and not just defeat them militarily
But it's going to take all their possessions all their food all the things they had planned to give into
Inheritance for their children, it's all going to be gone
It's not going to be consumed by the Babylonians verse 18 nevertheless in those days saith the Lord
I will not make a full end with you once again is promising you're going to come back one day
Okay, verse number 19 and shall come to pass when you shall say wherefore doeth the Lord our God all these things unto us
Then shall thou answer them like as you have forsaken me and serve strange gods in your land
So shall you serve strangers in a land that is not yours, so when people start asking God
Why did you allow this to happen doesn't that happen you got a door knocking?
Well if God truly exists, why does he allow people to die from hunger?
All right, why does he allow?
These natural disasters why why why well this is why okay because you've turned your backs against the Lord
That's why you've got and you served strange gods so what God is saying is you've turned against me
I'm turning against you you want to strange serve strange gods well go then serve the strangers
They'll serve some other people then if that's what you want
So they're just getting the full and they're just getting they're just receiving what they wanted in the first place
Okay, it was all why does God allow this
You know I don't really say the door because you because you're wicked. That's why
Well, we kind of do don't we because we say we tell miss the sinners
We tell them they you know for all I've seen that comes short of the glory of God so in a way
We are telling them. I guess we're not doing it exactly how Jeremiah did it, but we're doing it
verse number 20
declare this in the house of Jacob and
Publish it in Judah saying
Here are now this Oh foolish people and without understanding which have eyes and see not which have ears and hear nots
So God is telling the people you have eyes, but you don't you don't you can't see properly you have ears
You can't hear properly okay now. Why is he saying this about the people of Judah? Well keep your finger there
Let's go to Psalm
115 please Psalm 115
Psalm 115
God tells us how a people can become blind or deaf spiritually okay in Psalm
115 verse number four
It says their idols are silver and gold the work of men's hands
So when you start worshiping
statues idols the Catholic Church
right
Buddhists with their Buddha images who else has images and pictures
Hindus okay, if you make those your gods right what what happens verse number five?
They have mouths, but they speak nots
Ears eyes they have but they see nots they have ears, but they hear nots
Noses have they but they smell nots they have hands, but they handle knots feet have they but they walk nots
Neither speak they through their throats, so obviously that's very obvious about a statue
Okay, they can't do any of those things, but look at verse number eight
They that make them are like unto them
So is everyone that trusteth in them
So if you worship an idol that cannot see then God's gonna make you blind
Spiritually an idol that can't hear God's gonna make you unable to hear you worship false gods that can't walk
You're not gonna better walk the ways of God okay, so the people that worship these false gods become like unto those idols
Okay, spiritually dead as it were okay, so that's why Judah has become in this state
They've started to worship these false gods now back to Jeremiah 5 verse number 22
Fear ye not me save the Lord
What does it mean to fear God is it just a just you know God just when it says to fear God?
It's just just respect God respect his authority is that what he means to fear God
No, it doesn't fear means to fear
To have I told you when I get behind this pulpit. I'm afraid
Okay, my heart starts pumping
Because I want to preach God's Word to God's people. I know how much God loves you
You know I think about the people in this church, and I immediately think these are God's children. This is God's family
God loves you guys
He saved you with his son right God wants you to be more like Jesus every day
He loves you he protects you he's going to protect you from false teaching
Okay, and I just think man these people are the most important people in Sydney the most important people here in Fairfield
East right now is these people right here God's people and God you want me to come behind the pulpit and speak to them
God's Word
Right fear
Fear I'm afraid to let you down. I'm afraid to let down God look at this
What kind of fear fear you're not me safe Lord will you not tremble at my presence to shake and tremble?
Listen when the Israelites saw God's presence on the mountain the lightnings and the thunderings
They were so afraid and they went to Moses said Moses. Don't let God talk to us you talk to us Moses
Look, it's good to be afraid of God. It's good to fear God
It'll help you walk in his ways. I don't want God chastised. I'd rather just please God
I don't know get Jesus chastisement sometimes because I'm not perfect, but I'd rather just
I want to make sure God is always pleased. I don't want him to be angry at me
Alright, so you know healthy fear is right your children should have a healthy fear of being corrected when they disobey mom and dad
Okay, it will help them on the right paths
Tremble at my presence which have placed the sand for the bounds of the sea by a perpetual decree
That he cannot pass it and though the waves thereof toss themselves
Yet can they not prevail though they rule yet
Can they not pass over it, but this people have a revolting and rebellious hearts they have revolted and gone
Neither say they in their heart. Let us now fear Lord ago. They don't say that they don't say let us be God
Okay, they giveth rain both the former and the latter in his season
He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest and so brethren
Australia needs the fear of God to return
Australia needs a fear of God to return but not just Australia
You you need the fear of God in your lives if you haven't got it you need it
Okay as God's people God can bring swift judgment upon you as well
I just read to you Hebrews 10 31 says it is a fearful thing
To fall into the hands of the living God it is a fearful thing brethren
Hey the context of this passage is about believers
The context of this passage is about God chastisement God's judgment upon his people upon the saved
You know even the saved should have a fear of God
Unbelievers should have a fear of God Matthew 10 28 and fear not them which kill the body
But are not able to kill the soul
But rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell
When I saw winning with brother
David not long ago. There was a guy the door. He said he goes what I do you fear hell or something like that
He does that bring fear. It should bring fear. It should bring fear
It's almost like he was trying to mock the idea that you should fear hell
You should fear hell God's Word says fear hell where God can cast both body and soul in hell
Okay, it ought to be that fear, and you know what is hell burning for all eternity in the flames of hell
Having rejected Jesus Christ knowing that you'll never get out of that place
Facing God's wrath and God's fire for rejecting his free gift and his son it ought to give people fear
And once people have that fear. They're like save me
How do I get out of this place, and that's what the beautiful gospel comes in the free gift of salvation
Verse number 25 your iniquities have turned away these things
That's I turned away that the blessings of God your sins have turned away the blessings of God and your sins have
Withholding good things from you
So brethren your sins when you're tempted to sin. I want to think about this quite often when we sin or tempted sin
We think ah if I sin God will judge me somehow
I'm disappointing God
Yes, but it's not just that when you sin you have good that God wanted to do until you have blessings
I God wants to give you taken away from you removed from you. Okay, so it's not just the punishment
It's also the removal of good things that God would have given you next time you're facing some type of temptation
You know don't let it be well. I'm going to disappoint God
That's one thing that should be keeping you from sinning, but the other thing is well
I want to make sure I hold on to God's blessings in my life
You know those two elements will help you overcome sin when you think about those things verse number 26
For among my people are found
Wicked men they lay weights and hear that set of snares. That's like traps. They sell there
It is they set a trap they catch men as a cage is full of birds
So are their houses full of these seats therefore they are become great and waxen rich
Do you know how someone becomes great and rich and powerful in this world?
wicked men
Pretty much okay pretty much
It's going to be wicked men that seem like successful people in this world rich people
Okay, with their with their mansions and their billions of dollars and all their power and all their influence
You know they got that way because they were wicked. Okay. Let's keep going verse number 28. They are wax and fats they shine
Yeah, they overpass the deeds of the wicked they judge not the cause the cause of the fatherless yet
They prosper and the right of the needy do they not judge
Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this and
So bretton what this is telling us is that ungodly wicked people with too much money
They don't know what to do with it when there are poor and needy they don't give to the poor needy
Well, you know this is why God gives you wealth above what you have so you can be a blessing to others
So you can be generous to others. That's why God gives you wealth beyond your needs beyond your means
Now look if you're just meeting your means well praise. God all right praise. God. Yeah, that's good
All right, but if you have more than you need you know instead of indulging instead of making your face shine
You know getting the the facelifts and the what else wax and fats well
I guess it's not really talking about getting fat, but I guess you know some rich people do get fat
I mean, what's that Clive Palmer in Australia?
I mean that guy's huge that guy's like a billion is I seem like one of the richest men in Australia
He's wax and fats. It doesn't know what to do with the food. He just he just you know just consumes it all right
I mean you know people with too much money
They don't know what to do with it, so they self indulge and they get into wicked behavior keep your finger there
Let's go to first timothy chapter 6 first timothy chapter 6 and again
This is why I believe God's not going to allow his children to be excessively rich
Excessively rich because God knows our hearts will follow off those things and all we're going to do is indulge ourselves
Okay, and we're going to forget the cause of the needy
We're not going to be looking out for the needs of others and see how we can help first timothy chapter 6 verse number 17
Now if you are someone that is rich if you are someone with wealth as a christian
What should you do first timothy chapter 6 verse 17 the bible says charge them that are rich in this world
Okay, so again timothy is a pastor Paul is 17
I think charge the rich if you got rich people in your church teach them what to do okay charge them
It says that they be not high-minded
Nor trust in uncertain riches. Oh, man. I'm such a good person look how rich
I am that's not how you should be right now
Don't be that way don't trust in uncertain riches
But in the living God still trust in the living God look at this who giveth us richly all things to enjoy
So if you have wealth if you have possessions praise God give God. Thanks. God gave it to you
Okay, but don't have the attitude. Oh miss. I'm so good. It's me. You know I'm such a smart person
I'm such a smart investor now. Just give God the glory give God the thanks. He's given you those things hey to enjoy
This is God against you enjoying your wealth. No all right, but let's keep going
To enjoy then verse. I'm 18 that they do good
That they be rich in good works
Ready to distribute okay. Hey, how can you be good?
How can you do good if you're rich be ready to distribute start saying all right look I got too much
What is a good cause that I can give toward hey my local church? That's a good place all right?
You're not giving to pastor Kevin you're giving to the house of God you're giving to God's work
All right, well you just find some other good works that are being done for God. Hey, I'm going to distribute here
I'm going to distribute there. Thank you. God for giving me above and beyond so I can be a blessing to others
Learn to distribute right what else to?
Willing to communicate
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on
eternal life
Says look you got riches here
Well, you know what you can translate those riches into eternal life if you use those those riches to give glory to God to serve
God to give to his work now
You're laying upon a good foundation in heaven when you get to it when you get to heaven
You're going to have great riches in heaven because you served God with the riches that you have on this earth
Okay, so God's not against rich people
Okay, just don't be prideful give God the thanks and find a work that you can contribute to that will further the kingdom of God
Okay
So God is not against riches
All right, let's keep going verse over 30 Jeremiah chapter 5 verse number 30 a
Wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land almost done now
So when it says wonderful often when you think of wonderful you think about something beautiful and amazing and great and fantastic
Wonderful comes from of course wonder like when you wonder it's like what was this saying is it's unbelievable
Okay, it's unbelievable. It you can't you know, it takes you by surprise
What's taking God by surprise? You know, what? What is it? That's unbelievable a
Wonderful because then it says and horrible thing. It's not a good thing a
Wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land. So we end this chapter
We've like the worst thing that's going on in this land the worst thing most horrible thing that's going on this land
You thought it was all the sin
It says here the prophets
prophesy falsely
That's the worst thing. That's a horrible. It's unbelievable
God's prophets the people that are supposed to be preaching God's Word they prophesied falsely
Do you understand why I want to be so careful in this church?
Okay, because these were God's people Brethren you understand they have the teachings of God. They know what God wants
They've gone generation after generation. Listen the next generation. My children are important to me. Your children are important to me
I want them to love the Lord. I want them to serve the Lord. Don't forget our children. They're the future of this church
They're the future pastors. They're the future song leaders and the future whatever Brethren. They're the future. They're the future, you know as serving the
The Lord and and and and their generation is going to be even more wicked than the generation we grew up in
They're important our children next generation is important
Therefore we need to teach our children the truth. We need to tell them not just tell them
What is right and wrong but show them in God's Word why it's right and wrong. Where does God say it's right and wrong?
It says and the priests bear rule by their means but look at this and my people love to have it so
So even though the prophets are prophesied falsely they're teaching lies. The people love it. They love it. Okay
What will you do in the end thereof? What are you gonna do at the end when you're destroyed, you know?
But they love it and Brethren listen
Why aren't we a 10,000 member church?
You know how easy there are so many churches in Sydney that have literally thousands upon thousands of people in their churches
Is it because they're teaching the truth?
It's because they love it. The world loves it. Why do they what do they love? They love preachers preaching false things
Making them feel good about themselves. I guess we're not that bad after all God's not gonna judge Australia
You know, it's all fine God's all God's never gonna bring his rod of chastisement upon us
You know God, in fact, they even deny hell they didn't teach on hell anymore
How did God once call me? He claimed to be a Christian and he says how can you teach people about hell?
That's not loving. It's like what in the world? Of course. We're gonna teach. We're gonna teach them the truth
What do you want to do sugarcoat things?
The Bible tells us in 2nd Timothy 4 free for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and
They shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto
fables fables
stories, you know fairy tales a
Lot of preaching today a lot of church today. It's just fairy tales. It's just wonderful stories. It scratches your ears
You know, do you like the story, you know red riding hood. Did you like that story?
Did you like to preach it today? You know, I told you about the you know, go to locks and the
What is it go to locks and the three bears. Did you like that preaching say Brevin didn't make you feel good
Hey, that's what people love people love that kind of fairy tale preaching
Let it not be so at blessed hope at this church and let's make sure that we are
seeking sound doctrine
Even if the fires of God's Word burns us a little bit at least, you know
Your pastor loves you the preacher loves you if they're trying to burn you a little bit
Okay, because they want to get rid they want to consume the sin in your life so you can please God
So we would not be a people like the people of Judah were in this time of age, right?
We can actually please God where God can continue to at least not not necessarily bless our nation because of its weakness
But at least bless us at least, you know, we can please God God can look down and God is looking for one man
I want God to say man all the men of blessed or Baptist Church are standing in the gap
All the men are serving me. That's what I want for this church. Okay, let's pray
heavenly Father Lord