A while back a lady went into the hospital for a few days. While she was there, a local elder, and deacon came to visit her. However she was released from the hospital before the Senior or Associate pastors of the church could come see her. After her release, she mentioned to me that none … Continue reading –>
Martin Luther wrote about the prophet in the introduction of his commentary to the book of Jeremiah: Jeremiah was a sad prophet, who lived in a deplorable and difficult period and, what is more, his prophetic service was extremely difficult as he was struggling and fighting with a bad-tempered and stubborn people. Apparently he did … Continue reading –>
The prophet is God’s witness; his job is to speak not for himself but for God alone. Jeremiah wasn’t called to find solutions to the problems of the nation, or to become a great personality or charismatic leader whom the people would follow. Jeremiah had the singular mission to transmit the words of God to … Continue reading –>
Despite the Lord’s assurance that Jeremiah had been divinely chosen for this task, the young man was frightened and didn’t feel up to it. Perhaps knowing the spiritual state of people at the time, which wasn’t good, and knowing what needed to be done, Jeremiah didn’t want the job. Compare Jeremiah 1:6 with Isaiah 6:5 … Continue reading –>
Read Jeremiah 1:1-5. What does this tell us about Jeremiah’s calling? Just like other prophets in the Old Testament (and like Paul in the new; see Gal. 1:1, Rom. 1:1), Jeremiah didn’t waffle in regard to who called him. He was very clear in these verses and, in fact, all through the book of Jeremiah, … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Kings 1:1-53 and 1 Kings 2:26. What was the background that led to the exile of Abiathar to his home in Anathoth? After he strengthened his throne, Solomon, in a conflict with Adonijah over succession, removed Abiathar the priest from his office and sent him into exile back to his hometown, Anathoth, believed … Continue reading –>
The prophets, according to their calling, were determined protectors of God’s law. They stood on the ground of the covenant and the Ten Commandments (Jer. 11:2-6). Micah 3:8 gives one summary of the prophets’ work, which was to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. And the concept of sin, of course, … Continue reading –>
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 NKJV While working as a Bible Worker and lay pastor in a small church in west Texas, several of the members told me they hoped I would … Continue reading –>
Ellen G. White, On the Mount of Olives, in The Desire of Ages, p. 633; Speedy Preparation,in Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 335; Extension of the Work in Foreign Fields, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 23. The New Testament employs two Greek nouns, accompanied by the adjective all, to express the worldwide … Continue reading –>
I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings (1 Cor. 9:22-23 NIV). What important principle is Paul espousing here, and how can we reflect this same attitude in … Continue reading –>
