The Lie of Personal Peace, Affluence, and Following Your Heart

The Lie of Personal Peace and Affluence
Then I said: "Ah, Lord GOD, behold, the prophets say to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.'"And the LORD said to me: "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds...And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them - them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their wickedness upon them...if I go out into the field, behold, those slain by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land,and have no knowledge.'" Jer 14:13-14,16,18 I see this happening today. It is so popular to teach a positive message of personal peace and affluence, to give people happy, ear-tickling messages and tell them to expect good things and no harm or trials will come their way. Many want to avoid talking about sin and the coming judgment for it. Those that do are hated and not invited back to speak- like Paul Washer. Our people don't want to hear the truth just as in the days of Jeremiah, because they don't want to change their plans or their comfortable, entertaining lifestyle. "But they say, 'That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.' Jer 18:12 But God says, And in this place I will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem, and will cause their people to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of those who seek their life. Jer 19:7-8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will make to cease from this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. Jer 16:9-10

Love and Speak the Truth
May God make us like Jeremiah who said, Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O LORD, God of hosts. Jer 15:16 Jeremiah could not hold back from speaking your words no matter what the cost, as we read in Jer 20:9-13 If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! "Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" say all my familiar friends, watching for my fall. "Perhaps he will be deceived, then we can overcome him, and take our revenge on him." But the LORD is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD of hosts, who triest the righteous, who seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my cause. Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.

Follow Your Heart???
Today it is very common to hear the phrase, Follow your heart but The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the mind and try the heart, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." Jer 17:9-10 We are not to trust in our own heart, the heart of man, but instead to trust in the Lord, to seek to know and follow His heart. Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." Jer 17:5-8 Change my heart O, God, make it ever true. Change my heart o, God, may I be like you. For You are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me. This is what I pray. I love that song and that is my prayer. Read Jer 18:1-11 which confirms that God is the Potter and we are just the clay. We are in His hands, totally dependent on Him. Thank Him for making you a vessel of honor, for cleansing your heart with faith.(Acts 15:9) May we reflect His handiwork and proclaim His goodness to all generations.