My Own Heart - Jeremiah 3:15-17

Jeremiah 3:15-17 ESV 

“‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.

Israel will at last fulfill the mission of multiplying and being fruitful on the earth. In those days they will have no thought for the old covenant and will inhabit a new and whole Jerusalem. God will return to the city and the nations shall gather to it for worship. 

The heart of Jerusalem will be the presence of God. 

That Know You Not - 10:25

Jeremiah 10:25 ESV 

" Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not,

and on the peoples that call not on your name,

for they have devoured Jacob;

they have devoured him and consumed him,

and have laid waste his habitation."

The nations that seek the destruction of Israel are the ones who do not know The Lord. They will receive the wrath of God as they follow their deceiver god. 

They know not and their end is the destruction they seek. 

They Had No Light - Jeremiah 4:22-23

Jeremiah 4:22-23 ESV 

“For my people are foolish;

they know me not;

they are stupid children;

they have no understanding.

They are ‘wise’—in doing evil!

But how to do good they know not.”

I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void;

and to the heavens, and they had no light.

The work of creation has seems to be faltering. Though light had been given, they had no light. Though formed and given the word of God for understanding, they have become formless and void. 

It is foolish to not know the Lord. It shows a lack of understanding, like children who know nothing and they are good for nothing in the eyes of the Lord. 

I Will Consume Them - Jeremiah 14:11-12

Jeremiah 14:11-12 ESV 

" The Lord said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”"

Jeremiah 15:1-2

"The Lord Will Not Relent

​ Then the Lord said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go! And when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: 

“‘Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence,

and those who are for the sword, to the sword;

those who are for famine, to famine,

and those who are for captivity, to captivity.’"

This consumption of this people may remind us of the four horseman in Revelation. The fourth horseman appears to be the AntiChrist, followed by the three calamities listed above. 

This may be an indication or clue that Revelation 4 onwards applies to Israel and earth dwellers, and not the church. The church does not experience the wrath of God. 

The Bones - Jeremiah 8:1-2

Jeremiah 8:1-2 ESV 

"​ “At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be brought out of their tombs. And they shall be spread before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have gone after, and which they have sought and worshiped. And they shall not be gathered or buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground."

Can these dry bones find life? All things are possible with The Lord. 

Ezekiel 37:1-6

"The Valley of Dry Bones

​ The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”"

The Door Was Shut - Matthew 25:6-12

Matthew 25:6-12 ESV 

But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Another warning for all Christians is seen in this parable. Following Jesus is not only a one-time decision, but an ongoing journey of walking with the Spirit. It is possible to have a lamp, though without enough oil for use. It is possible to receive the seed of good news, only to have the branch bear no fruit and wither away. Having little or no light increases the chance of losing your way. 

Jesus opens the door and shuts it. Being with Him ensures you end up on the right side when the door closes. 

Through His Flesh - Hebrews 10:19-20

Hebrews 10:19-20 ESV 

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

God did a new thing, providing the living way into the presence of the living God. One man went past the curtain into the holy places for us to follow. No longer is only one man allowed to enter once a year on behalf of the nation, for one man has entered the Holy of Holies for the world and remains. 

Jesus said He is the only way to the Father. This is because He and the Father are one. 

It is through our flesh we are able to follow after the flesh of Christ, to be transformed into the resurrected and eternal body which is our inheritance, like Him. 

The Outer Darkness - Matthew 22:11-13

Matthew 22:11-13 ESV 

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Revelation 22:14-15

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Christ has given us the privilege of washing our sins away by the sacrifice of His blood. This is our invitation to an event you won't want to miss. There is a dress code for the celebration. You will want to make sure you are properly attired. 

If you don't want to attend, there will be a place for you and you won't need sunglasses. 

Not Worthy - Matthew 22:8-10

Matthew 22:8-10 ESV 

Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Being invited to the wedding feast is not enough. We have to attend. The invitation is given but we must do our part to reserve and secure our place by our worthiness to attend. 

Everyone is invited, whether good or bad. Jesus offers to take anyone if they respond to His commands. Invitations have gone out with mixed success. Some do and some don't. He knows and will judge in the end. 

How we are worthy is found in His word. Worthiness is found in the heart, the same place we find sealed with the Holy Spirit within the believer. That Spirit brings us into the truth and empowers us in the comfort of God. He takes any situation, good or bad, and changes it for the better. 

Who Perseveres - James 1:12

James 1:12 NIV 

" Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

We are to persevere in the faith in this life to receive the crown of life promised by The Lord. Our call is to love The Lord. We do that by believing Him. That is our test and trial. That is the journey of our salvation. 

It Springs Forth - Isaiah 43:19-21

Isaiah 43:19-21 ESV 

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.

The wild beasts will honor me,

the jackals and the ostriches,

for I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise.

Jesus said He is the way. He told the woman at the well that He is the source of the living water which is able to quench our thirst for life. That water flows in the midst of our wilderness. The wild beasts drink the water from the living fountain and a people are formed from the clay of the earth. 

His chosen people are the Jews. They trace their ancestry back to Adam. He formed them for Himself. They will declare His praise and give witness to the nations. Through them He will water the earth. 

For All Time - Hebrews 10:14

Hebrews 10:14 ESV 

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10:17-18

then he adds, 

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

It is given that a man dies once, then faces judgment. Jesus took our place. We still die physically, but we do not face judgment. We have become spiritual sons of God. We will leave behind these mortal bodies and will receive in the future immortal bodies compatible with our new life in Him. 

We are perfected for all time as we are a holy people and being made holy as we live in the presence of His Holy Spirit. 

We have been forgiven if we accept His forgiveness. Joyful obedience is a sign of that acceptance. 

A Beautiful Inheritance - Psalms 16:5-6

Psalms 16:5-6 ESV 

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;

you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Psalms 16:10

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

We are no longer bound by the boundary of a grave due to the tyranny of death, but now find ourselves in a beautiful place, with an inheritance predestined for those who love the Lord. 

Gold And Frankincense - Isaiah 60:5-7

Isaiah 60:5-7 ESV 

" Then you shall see and be radiant;

your heart shall thrill and exult,

because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,

the wealth of the nations shall come to you.

A multitude of camels shall cover you,

the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

all those from Sheba shall come.

They shall bring gold and frankincense,

and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;

the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;

they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,

and I will beautify my beautiful house."

Matthew 2:1-2

​ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”"

Matthew 2:10-11

" When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."

Wise men from the east follow a star leading them to the light of the world. This is foreshadowed in Isaiah. They bear gifts to worship the King. Revelation 15:4 speaks of the nations coming to worship the King of Kings. 

God speaks of the future through the past, like the freeing of Israel from Egypt prefigures the freeing of believers in Christ from the oppressions of this world and the sting of death. 

We will all fall down before Him to offer the gift of thanksgiving. 

Beyond Price - Isaiah 55:1

Isaiah 55:1 ESV 

​ “Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price."

The drink offered by Christ cannot be purchased with money. God's currency is the price of salvation, paid by the life of Jesus in exchange for the life of the believer which is given to Christ. 

There is no price because its worth is beyond price, beyond the reach of money. 

Rooted - Colossians 2:6-7

Colossians 2:6-7 ESV 

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

To receive Christ is to return to the Garden, that state of grace that allows us to choose God. It allows and nurtures our faith which is the only way we can please God. Choosing God is a one time and ongoing decision. 

As we take root in the true vine, we grow into the abundant life of the Father. To Him we gladly give thanks. 

For Five Months- Revelation 9:4-6

Genesis 7:24 ESV 

And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.

Revelation 9:4-6

They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

Five months and 150 days are the same period of time. Both speak of two floods which God uses for His purpose. All life is destroyed in the first flood. 

The second flood is different. Those without the seal of God find the locusts from the abyss prevail over them as they receive the sting of death, yet unable to die. 

Gifts - Hebrews 8:3

Hebrews 8:3 ESV 

For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.

Ephesians 4:8

Therefore it says, 

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

In the Old Testament the high priests would offer gifts and sacrifices to the Lord. 

Jesus, as the new and better high priest, offered Himself as the last and perfect sacrifice for the world. His gift is life, and that more abundant and eternal. He offers this to everyone. 

How many will accept this gift?

Ark Of The Covenant - Revelation 11:15-16

Revelation 11:15-16 ESV 

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,

Revelation 11:19

Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

The ark of covenant within the temple may be an indication of the presence of the church. The church is comprised of kings and priests of the new kingdom. The ark can be seen as Christ in which believers are kept safe from the flood waters of death. Once again there is fire on the mountain of God and a revelation is about to unfold. 

Who Does All These Things - Isaiah 45:5-7

Isaiah 45:5-7 ESV 

" I am the Lord, and there is no other,

besides me there is no God;

I equip you, though you do not know me,

that people may know, from the rising of the sun

and from the west, that there is none besides me;

I am the Lord, and there is no other.

I form light and create darkness,

I make well-being and create calamity,

I am the Lord, who does all these things."

Why is there trouble and evil in the world? It was God's will and for His purpose that things are the way they are. 

Why was there a forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden?

Why was Christ slain from the foundation of the world?

The Lord does all these things. They will work for the good for those that love The Lord. 

It would appear that the shadow of beauty and light creates darkness and calamity, or affliction. Giving form to earth reveals the formlessness of the void. The new creation has begun with new creatures born from above. The separation continues with refining fire of the word until a new day dawns. 

Be Not Judged - Matthew 7:1-2

Matthew 7:1-2 ESV 

​“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:6

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

We are not to judge, but we are to know a dog and pig when we see one. How are these commands be compatible?

The admonition against judging referenced here seems to be among brothers. We are not to judge one another for Christ He is the only one who can truly judge. His word is our judgment for He is the word of God. That word is written in our hearts through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Even judging ourselves is based on the word and mercy of our Savior. His justice and mercy is our only hope. 

There are many who are outside the gates of the kingdom who are unable to see what is holy or hear the gospel. God enables this to happen. Those with the Spirit are to discern and watch for wolves in sheep's clothing. We are keep ourselves unstained by the world, separate and apart, even as we are in the world. 

When we judge, we bring ourselves into judgement. Not judging will keep us free in the grace of God. 

Through The Holy Spirit - Acts 1:1-2

Acts 1:1-2 ESV 

​ In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen."

Acts 1:5

" for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”"

The Holy Spirit brings the truth to man. Jesus was begotten by the Holy Spirit who only spoke the words of the Father. The words came through that same Spirit. He knows the mind of the Father. Through that Spirit Jesus taught the disciples. 

The same Spirit comes to every follower of Christ. Jesus went away so the fullness of God could be shared with men. The Spirit remains on the Son because we now become the body of Christ. He dwells in us. In this sense, Jesus came but never left. The light continues to shine in the dark. 

Christ will return and not many days from now. 

Left For Salt - Ezekiel 47:10-11

Ezekiel 47:10-11 ESV 

Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt.

Jesus made the disciples into fishers of men. They spread their nets over the deep and gathered many kinds of men. Those who would not be clean will be left.  

The Great Sea will dry and be no more. Like Lot's wife, they will turn to salt. 

Now Revealed - Colossians 1:24-27

Colossians 1:24-27 ESV

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

There is nothing lacking in Christ's afflictions on our behalf. Paul is speaking of that which follows that perfect sacrifice, taking that gospel to the Gentiles. Paul's charge is to make the word known, the mystery of the ages revealed in these last days. 

The only thing lacking is the the fullness of the number of believers before Christ finally deals with unbelievers.