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On Sep 07, 2022: Jeremiah 27 God Calls All To Submit To His Word · Teachings On This Day On FerventWord

• Well, as we look at Chapter 27 this evening, I've titled the message God calls all to submit to his word with this picture. With this visual aid of the yokes and the bonds, God is calling all people to submit to him and what he has declared. And so we're going to see four points. This evening about God call for us to submit to him. The first point is going to be found in verses one through 8. Point #1 is that God speaks to all nations. God speaks to all nations and he's going to speak to all nations with this visual. Looking at verse one and two again, it says in the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, King of Judah. This word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, thus says the Lord to me, make for yourselves bonds and yokes and put them on your neck. And so here Jeremiah is relating to us the way that God delivered this to him. He gave him a clear word with clear instruction to make bonds and yokes and to wear them himself, to literally put them on as he is delivering this message. Now in case you are not. Deeply immersed in farm living, this is what a yoke would have possibly looked like. It is a manner of yoke that can be used. This particular yoke is for a pair of animals, a pair of oxen perhaps, but there are other variations that would just be one that would harness the. Neck of the animal and you can quickly get the points and understand. This would be used and very useful in directing an animal where it needed to go, controlling and holding the animal in place, keeping the lines straight as you're plowing the field, keeping it from running off and and all of that. And so there was this. Yoke that would be attached to the animal. And once the yoke was attached, the animal was in complete submission to the one driving it. Or if they weren't, then it was at their own detriment. It was, you know, they would be forced into the position that the owner, that the one who is driving it. Wanted them to be. And so this was an instrument, a tool of submission for animals to get them to work the field to do the lever that needed to be done. And so here's what it would look like on a pair of oxen. And they would, you know, be yoked together to do more work, to be able to dig deeper, to be able to carry more. It was with their great power together that they were able to accomplish much for the farmers, and so this is the picture that God is giving to, Jeremiah says. Jeremiah put one of these. One, and so I'm just going to. Try to open this. Way this way can I put my head in? The yoke, OK. That's just for the benefit of the live streamers. So he says, put this on Jeremiah, wrap it around your neck, and that would be a striking thing. As he walks around the town, as he walks to the temple or wherever he's delivering this message, you know, people would notice. And then when he stands up and delivers and says, hey, this message is about a yoke, and hey, what do you know, I'm actually wearing a yoke. So you can see this and think about it and understand clearly the message that God is giving. But what's interesting about this as we get started now in verse 3 is that this isn't just for the people of Israel, the people of Judah, but now God is going to. Claim authority over other nations as well in verse 3. It says in send them to the king of Edom, to the king of Moab, the king of the Ammonites, the King of Tyre and the king of Sidon. So God names these particular nations that were nearby to the nation of Judah. And so here's a quick look at. The map, just so you can kind of track along, these were nations that were all around the the nation of Judah. At this point Israel has already been taken into captivity, but north of them was tyre and Sidon, South of them was Edam and Moab. And then there was Amon across the. The Jordan river. And so these are other nations. They're not the people of Israel. They're not descendants of Abraham. They are not. You know what you would call God? There are other nations with other gods, and yet here God is instructing Jeremiah to deliver a message to these other. Nations, and this is because God speaks. To all nations, it's interesting. You know, we have a clear record in the scriptures of the Word of God and the promises of God to Abraham and then carrying on out through the nation of Israel. And sometimes we are mistaken and think that. The work of God and the message of God and the Word of God was limited then to just the examples that we have here. Throughout history, God has always been doing so much more than what is recorded in the scriptures. And God has always been speaking to the nations because. He is God. He is the creator. He loves all people. He is not willing that any should perish. And so throughout history, God has always, whether we have it recorded here in Jeremiah or some other means, and some other prophets that we've never heard about and will not know about until we enter into eternity, God has always been speaking. Being to all people all around the world that it's not limited to a particular culture or, you know, heritage or nationality or bloodline, that this is the authority that God has and he calls all humanity to submit to him and throughout history. He's been doing that. He's been sending messengers to all people everywhere. Well, in this particular case, all of these nations around Judah are gathered together because of the threats of Babylon. And so Babylon has been rising to power. Babylon was quite a bit of a distance away and across the desert down the Euphrates river. It was a massive city and it was a world dominating empire. Now it conquered as Syria and it had been conquering all of the region around Israel and Judah. For some time by this point in Jeremiah's ministry and so these nations are gathering together as a defence. They're gathering together to strategize, to plan a defense, a revolt against Babylon that was increasing in power, and now traveling back up the Euphrates river to come down into the territory again, too. In Babylon's mind, hopefully take over this whole area once and for all, and so Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. Is on his way. OK. And so all these nations gather together at Jerusalem and there is a kind of an alliance meeting that's happening and there's negotiations happening. The the politics are going on as these nations try to come up with a plan to agree with one another to to make a united. Front and defense against Babylon. And so Jeremiah doesn't have to go to all of these nations. All of these nations have been brought to Jerusalem. And so God says, alright, perfect, Jeremiah, this is your chance to reach all of those nations. So make yokes and bonds not only for yourself, but for all of these different nations. So that these ambassadors that are there, they can take them back to their land and deliver my word to their kings that they would be. Responsive and obedient to what I have to say. And what is that word? Well, verse four goes on to say. Command them to say to their masters. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel. Thus you shall say to your masters. I have made the earth. The man and the beasts that are on the ground by my great power, and by my outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to me. And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon. My servant and the beasts of the field I have also given him to serve him. This message that God sends back to these nations makes it very clear. God says I'm God. I'm creator. I'm the one who gets to say who rules, who reigns, who has the territory, who is the authority. In a region. And guess what other nations I have given these lands, that land that you call home, that nation that you are so possessive about, that you are wanting to defend and trying to hold onto? You can't hold onto it, because I've given that land to Nebuchadnezzar, King of the. God is proclaiming here to have the authority to say, hey, King of Tyre, that's not your land anymore, that's my land that I've given to Nebuchadnezzar. And so it's mine. God says I have that authority and I'm speaking to you. All nations. You need to listen to me and be submitted to me. You need to take on the yoke. Of the one that I've appointed over your land, verse 7. So all nations shall serve him and his son and his son's son until the time of his land comes, and then many nations and great kings shall make him serve them. So God says here to these nations they are to serve Nebuchadnezzar. They are to be submitted to you. They are to take on the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar. Essentially, to surrender to him rather than fight, rather than try to defend their land and defend their territory, they are to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar and let him say what happens to them, whether they go into captivity, whether they have to pay tribute and stands. They stay in their land regardless of what King Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar decides that's not for them to base their decision on. They are to surrender and submit to the one that God had appointed over the land. Verse eight, God now says, or else, and it shall be, that the nation and Kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon, and which will not put its neck under the yoke of the King of Babylon. That nation I will punish, says the Lord, with the sword, the Famine and the pestilence, until I have consumed. Them by his hand. And so, again, this yoke comes into play. God says this yoke is the yoke of Babylon. And if you refuse to put on this yoke, if you refuse to willingly stick your neck in there and let it be clamped tight. If you refuse to submit and surrender to Babylon and Key Nebuchadnezzar in that way, God says I will bring my judgment upon you. And you're going to experience the sword. You're going to experience famine and pestilence. You're going to be consumed notice by his hand. So he is my instrument of judgment that I will bring upon you if you refuse to submit to him. Now you can imagine every nation that was sent this, these yokes, hated that message, did not want to hear it, was not willing to surrender and so later on in history when Nebuchadnezzar does come down. He does conquer these nations and wipe them out because they refused to submit to listen to the. Word of God. God speaks to all nations, including the nation of Israel, including the Nation of America, including, you know, Russia and China and Korea, North Korea, South Korea, right. God speaks to all nations and declares that all nations are subject to him. All nations must listen to what he says and be submitted to it or else. Every nation will experience. The judgment of God by the means that he has appointed. It was true in Jeremiah's day. It's true today. God speaks to all nations. Now, the primary message at this point in time is not a message of judgment like Jeremiah was giving, but a message of redemption, an offer of forgiveness. In acts Chapter 17 as Paul is preaching there in Athens. Since talking about all the false gods and things that he saw there in the region, he said these times of ignorance God overlooked but now commands all men everywhere to repent. That the gospel message is not just a message. One opportunity, one way of salvation, one way for people to know God and experience eternity. But this is a universal command to all humanity, no matter what culture you come from, no matter what background you have, no matter what nationality you are, no matter what language you speak. God commands all men everywhere to repent, to believe in Jesus Christ. As Peter says in acts Chapter 4, there is salvation and no other name. There's no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. It's in the name of Jesus and God speaks that name to all nations today. And all nations are called to believe in Jesus, to turn from sin and follow. Then now there is the URLs, and there is the day of judgment that is coming. And all who will refuse to submit to the Lord and receive his word and respond to it will experience judgment from God at the hand of Jesus. He is the one that judgment has been committed to, and so this is. Very similar parallel in foreshadowing what is to come for those who refuse to believe in Jesus. Well, moving on, kind of staying within the same verses though I want to kind of zoom in on verses 5 through 8, four point #2. And that is all authority. These are God's servants. So talked about the other nations and things, but now bringing it a little bit closer to home, looking at the authority that God has appointed here, check out verse five and six again. I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and I've given it to whom it seemed proper to me. And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, my servant. And the beasts of the field I have also given him. To serve him. God here wants to establish the point and make it clear. I have the authority. I am the creator. So I get to say who's in charge? In my creation I made the earth. I made man. I made all of the animals. He says. By my great power. I am the creator. I have, as we talked about last week, ownership rights and creative rights, because I am the one who brought all things into existence. And by my outstretched arm, I've given. This land and all of my creation, to whom it seemed proper to me, and hear what God is saying, is throughout history and throughout time. I have given authority on my land. Over my creation, to whomever I thought it was good to give to God, is declaring I have that authority, I have that capacity, and that's what I have done. I have given it to whomever it seemed proper to me, and for this moment at this time, he says in verse 6. That's king Nebuchadnezzar. And notice what he says here. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, my servant. My servant. He is my agent. He is my servant. I have chosen him. It seems proper to me. God says in my judgment this is the best course for the whole world right now for King Nebuchadnezzar to be king of the world. That's what I have chosen. That's what I've decided. That's what's proper to me. He is my servant. The apostle Paul in Romans, chapter 13. Makes a similar point, declaring that we are to be subject to the governing authorities, he says. Because there's no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Paul says. All the authorities that exist are appointed by God. This is a hard doctrine for us to grapple with many times when there are authorities that are in place that we don't agree with and we're not excited about and we're not fans of, but it is the consistent declaration. Of God in Jeremiah 27, five God says I have given it my creation authority over my land, which is all of it, not just a particular place or not just the nation of Israel. I've given it to whom it seemed proper to me. Paul says the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Are really God's servants? And God is allowing various authorities to be in power, like keen Nebuchadnezzar to establish things, to accomplish his purposes. He is not obligated to disclose to us all of his purposes and why he would deem that worth it and proper we. Can wrestle with, you know. How God would allow that? Why God would allow that? Why God would seem that it's proper for this person to be in charge of so many people and to have such authority in such a way? But it's beyond our ability to really judge. It's in God's hands and he is the one who is created. And so he gets to have that say. He maintains that right, he declares that right. And now he says for this moment. To all of you surrounding nations around Judah, I have given these lands to Nebuchadnezzar. So stop fighting. He's my servant. Stop resisting him, even to the degree of the beasts of the field God says I've given to serve Nebuchadnezzar. So you don't even have rights over your own pets. You don't have rights over your cattle. You don't. You don't get to claim those rights. God says I own those, and I've given them. Over to Nebuchadnezzar, to a great degree, God is. Claiming here authority in the lives of all of these nations. And he's saying I have handed all of this over to my servant. What a tough message. For the people of Jeremiah's day. Pastor Warren Wiersbe says God is in charge of yokes. The yoke he gives you is the right one for you. No matter who may put it on your shoulders, God can even use unsaved people to help you do his will. Accept every yoke. As the yoke of God, and he will transform it from ******* The blessing. Accept it. Not except as in like, no, I don't want that yoke. I'm going to, you know, accept that yoke. No, no, accept it. As in willingly, take it on, willingly receive. That yoke willingly submit yourself to the authorities that God has appointed. And God will transform it from ******* to blessings. In verse 7. He says so all nations shall serve him and his son and his son's son until the time of his land comes, and then many nations and great kings shall make him serve them. So God here says Nebuchadnezzar has appointed time. In which he has this role of authority and is my servant. And this appointed time includes his life. His son's life, and then his grandson's life, and in the time of his grandson, well, the time of Babylon will come to an end. And then many nations shall make Babylon serve them. And as you follow the path of history, you find this is exactly what happened Belshazzar. The grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar is raining, and it's in the midst of that party. We'll get to it as we look at Daniel in. The Book of Daniel in a few weeks. Well, I don't know about few weeks, a couple months, pretty soon. But as we get to that, we'll see that that account as the medo Persian Empire, the Medes and the Persians, many nations. Joined together to. Form one United empire against Babylon and they conquer Babylon and. Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon is made to serve the Medo Persian Empire, and so it's all fulfilled and God has sent OK, this is his time. It's from this time frame, and then there's going to be this next. World power and their time and their time frame. All of these things are appointed by God, established by God and right unscheduled exactly according to what seems proper to the Lord verse. Then it shall be the nation and the Kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon. Which will not put its neck under the yoke of the King of Babylon. That nation I will punish, says the Lord, with the sword, the Famine, and the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. Again, God says this authority, Nebuchadnezzar is my servant, put on the yoke. Submit to me which means practically for you, all of you around Judah, and the nation of Judah included. Submit to Babylon, submit to King Nebuchadnezzar. And that is how you submit to me and my authority because I have appointed. Them they're my servants, and you need to surrender and allow them to have the say, the authority in your life about what happens to your cattle, about what happens to your land, about where you live. You you need to surrender all of that to King Nebuchadnezzar. And in doing so, you surrender too. Pastor Warren Wisby says everyone must wear a yoke. Break the light yoke. And the next yoke will be heavier. Let God break you and control you now, and the future will be bright. This is the choice that we have. It's a similar choice that we have authorities in our life, we have authority of God in our life. We have other authorities that got us placed in our life and we oftentimes do not like and we resist and we rub up against the yoke that they're trying to, you know, place upon us and we're, we're trying to break away from it. Or refuse it. But Wiersbe makes the point when you fight against the yoke now. When you break the yoke now, well then. It requires that God bring a heavier yoke to bring you into submission to him, and so we make things worse for ourselves as the point when we resist. The authority of God in the authorities that he's placed in our life. And so it's much better to be broken now, to be submitted now, to willingly accept God's yoke of authority upon us. And those authorities that he has given are his servants. We have authorities that got us established in the home. We have authorities that got as established in the workplace, in society, in the church. These authorities are given by God, appointed by God according to what he sees proper. We might not understand it, we might disagree with God decisions, but it's not in our realm of authority to declare or dictate that. It's God's hand and what he sees as proper. King David believed this before he was king, right? Even when the authority in his life was King Saul, who was persecuting him, throwing Spears at him, trying to kill him, and when David had opportunity to take Saul out. Clean cut. One shot. Society itself, you know, the people publicly would not even know 'cause it was private in a cave. It was just the two of them. And he said I cannot touch. The Lord's anointed. I have a hard time imagining. That kind of heart to to have access. To take out the one who's trying to Take Me Out but saying. Now I'm submitting to God. By honoring this authority. That has been placed in my life. Now there is a. Counter our contrast to this. There is a time where it's appropriate. To defy those who have authority in this life and that is at the direct command of God. Because God, who has all authority and appoints authorities, recognizes and says, look, this person is taking on more authority than I've given to them. And so there are times where he calls people to defy authority, to fight against authority, and and to come. Throw off the yoke that that those authorities would place upon them. And so if you want an example of that, think about the book of judges, where there would be the oppression that would come upon Israel through these surrounding nations, and then God would raise up a judge, a deliverer, to throw off the yoke of that opposing nation. And so there are those times. And so we need to understand that that there is an appropriate place to fight against authority when God directly says so. But there's also. A rightful place for us to submit to even hard authority, authority that we don't understand why God would allow that. And so we need to be careful, because it's much easier to believe something is from God when we really want it a lot. And so, you know, we can easily just decide, OK, well, I have authority from God to throw off all authority, and so I'm just going to fight. Against any time. I don't like what the authority says. I'm just going to fight against it and do what I want, I think. We need to be careful. Because it's much easier to believe that something is from God when we really, really, really want it. And that leads us to point #3 this evening. Not all prophecies are God's word. Not all prophecies are godsword. Looking at verses 9 through 15 starting out in versus 9 through 11, it says. Therefore, do not listen to your profits, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers who speak to you saying you shall not. Serve the king of bad. Belong for the Prophecy, prophecy a lie to you to remove you far from your land, and I will drive you out and you will perish. But the nations that bring their necks under the yoke of the King of Babylon and serve him, I will let them remain in their own lands, says the Lord. And they shall till it, and dwell in it. And so God here still speaking to those surrounding nations. Sends the yoke to them, says Nebuchadnezzar is my servant. Submit to that yoke willingly. And do not listen to your prophets. And it reminds us something very important that we need to be reminded of from time to time. There are people who speak. In the name of God. But they are speaking lies and not the truth. They are not speaking for God. They don't have words from God, but they use the name of God. To proclaim the message that they want to proclaiming God says to these surrounding nations. Do not listen to your prophets. But they say they're speaking on behalf of God, but they do claim they they proclaimed that thus, says the Lord. And all of these nations worshipped other gods. They did not worship the true and living God, and so all of their profits were false prophets. But then they also had diviners and dreamers and soothsayers and sorcerers. So they had all these you know magicians and and all of this witchcraft that they were performing and and all of these false prophets and. And and agents of all of these false worship, they were united in saying. You're going to be victorious against Babylon. Fight against Babylon. Here we get a little bit of a glimpse. Of the spiritual battle that's going on. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, right? Against principalities and powers and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly realms. The enemy, Satan. Is working in the midst of this situation to bring about this false prophecy. To get the people to resist the King of Babylon because what God wants for them and what is best for them is to submit to the King of Babylon. And so the enemy who comes as an Angel of light who uses great deception. Has been very effective in these surrounding nations and so they've been resisting the authority of Babylon and they're there in Jerusalem to try to coordinate again and resist. The attack that is coming. But God says they're prophesying lies to you. In order to destroy you, the enemy has inspired them so that you will be driven out, so that you will perish, so that your lives will be destroyed. It's not just that. Those who speak. In the name of the Lord, you know, they just kind of go off a little bit and you know. You'll mostly be OK, but it's just, you know, it's really not best to listen to them. No, no. You need to understand that when the word of God is opposed. And the authority of God is rejected. The result is complete and utter destruction. And so for them to listen to their false prophets. Would result. And then perishing and being driven out and taken away, being removed from their land. But in contrast God says in verse. 11 look if. You bring your neck under the yoke. If you willingly volunteer and submit to the King of Babylon to serve him. God says all lets. You remain in your own land. You surrender, and you'll get to keep your home. You surrender, you'll get to plow your own field, and you'll get to stay there and enjoy the benefits of it. If you surrender and submit, you're going. To be blessed. But if you resist and you listen to those who are prophesying lies. Then you are going to perish now looking at these surrounding nations. It's not surprising that the prophets of other nations are not speaking the word of God. But it is surprising as we move forward now, verses 12 through 15, we find that the prophets among God's own people, among the nation of Judah. Those prophets also are not speaking the word of God. Verse 12 says I also spoke to Zedekiah, King of Judah. So we're shifting focus now. We've been talking to all these other nations, now zeroing in on Jeremiah's hometown, Jerusalem. King Zedekiah I spoke to Zedekiah, King of Judah, according to all these words, saying, bring your necks under the yoke of the. King of Babylon. And serve him and his people, and live. Why will you die? You and your people. By the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord has spoken against the nation that will not serve the King of Babylon. Therefore, do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying you shall not serve the King of Babylon. For they prophesied a lie to you, verse 15. For I have not sent them, says the Lord. Yet they prophesy a lie in my name, that I may drive you out. And that you may perish, you and the prophets. Who prophesied to you? The enemy is not just at work amongst the foreign nations and the unbelievers. The enemy is at work. In the midst of God's people. And there are those. Who are proclaimed prophets who declare that they speak in the name of the Lord, and they say thus says the Lord. But what they say is a lie. Now from. That false prophets perspective. It seems likely that they were. Not deliberately desiring malicious intent or wanting to destroy people. In Jeremiah Chapter 23, it kind of outlines and deals with the heart of the issue that the problem with these people is that they did not sit in the Council of God and So what they had is the desires of their hearts and they declared those things hoping that they would be fulfilled. But it's not that they wanted to see pain and destruction upon the people, and so they told them lies on purpose, right the the false prophets themselves were deceived. By the enemy. And and that is such an important thing to note, because false prophets don't always know that they're false prophets. And false prophets can be very. Persuasive because they're so convinced this. Is the word of the Lord. That they sway people to believe them. They don't have to intend harm. To be false prophets. Sometimes they're just deceived. Sometimes they just do not want to submit to God, and so they're hoping their words will be fulfilled well, God's word to them. Is submit. In verse 12 he says bring your necks. Under the yoke. Of the King of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live and Jeremiah has this yoke on him. And so he's pointing. At this. See this right here guys. Like this? Put your neck in the yoke of the King of Babylon. That's the word of the Lord. Submit to him the false prophets. Their word was you shall not serve the King of Babylon. And we're going to see even greater conflict as you head into chapter 28, tomorrow's reading, as we work our way through the Bible in three years. Where there is a false prophet Hananiah and they have direct physical conflicts. Over this idea of the yokes. And submission to the King of Babylon. But God says they prophesy a lie. To you I have not. Sent them, says the Lord. But you can imagine how. Alluring, their message would be. You're going to be. Blessed we're going to be victorious, things are going. To go good. Don't submit to, don't surrender and lose everything. Trust God. And get all the blessings and all the victories and all the the wondrous things that you could imagine. What a a glorious message if it were true. But they prophesy a lie to you. You know that old saying if it sounds? Too good to be true? It probably is. There needs to be some level of suspicion on our part. Maybe suspicion is not the exact right word, but hopefully you get what I'm saying here that when something sounds too good to be true. Listen, God has in mind for you exceedingly and abundantly, above all that you could ever ask or think. Sounds too good to be true. But we know that it's true because it's backed up by the word of God and declared clearly and written specifically and. Those who believe in Jesus get. To hold on to that prophecy, to that promise from God. But that's what we need to do. We need to take those things that, Oh yes, I. Want that to be true? I want that to be fulfilled, yes. But also, I can't just accept it because you say it's from God because you have been used by God previously. I can't just accept that because I want it to be true so badly. There needs to be some evaluation and we need to recognize. Not all prophecies are. God's word. The apostle Paul in first Thessalonians Chapter 5 tells us to not quench the spirit. Do not despise prophecies. But to test all things and hold fast what is good. There can be a temptation. Listen, we can't guarantee if there is a time and opportunity for someone to speak on behalf of the Lord that they're going to speak on behalf of the Lord. Sometimes they might be speaking lies. All right, we better shut this down. We don't want that kind of potential. That's a risky thing. So shut down all prophecies. Never speak on behalf of the Lord. Don't say. No, no, no, we can't do that, he says. Don't despise prophecies. Don't take that approach. Don't quench the spirits. But here's what you need to do. Test everything. Don't just accept it blindly. Don't just believe it because someone really cool or handsome told you it. Don't be believe it just 'cause you want it to be true so bad, or because they said thus, says the Lord. Or because they had this amazing testimony about how, you know, they were going down the road and then this miraculous thing happened and, you know, doves lifted them up. And carried them over. You know, like, don't believe it just because there's this great persuasive story going with it. Test it. And holdfasts if it's good. If it's the truth, if it passes the tests and is verified to be the. Word of God. In another portion for Screenly in Chapter 14, talking about the times of gathering where believers are speaking 4th prophecy, he says let two or three prophets speak and let the others judge. So there is the time of open opportunity to share the says the Lord, but the other people who are listening or not to just accept and say, alright, that's what the Lord said. No, the other people are to be evaluating and judging. In some ways we are called to judge one another. Right to judge the message that is given is that. From the Lord or not? And as Paul goes on in this passage here, he's saying, look, when when these things are happening, like you have control. If anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. You can all prophesied one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged, and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets making. The point that. When the Holy Spirit is moving and there's a word of prophecy, it's not like everything is just chaos and complete other uncontrollable, you know? Behavior or speech? Or anything like that. Sometimes that is how prophecy is portrayed and practiced in churches around the world. The spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets. You can hear from the Lord and deliver that message in a way that honors the Lord in a way that does not disrupt what it is that God is doing, and you can sit and receive that message and evaluate it and judge whether or not that truly is. Any word from the Lord, or whether or not that true word from the Lord is meant for you specifically and. That's something that God is seeking. Going to speak to you that there needs to be. This evaluation how do we evaluate? Well, the prophet Isaiah gave us a tool to evaluate false prophets as he was dealing with false prophets of his day. He says to the law and to the testimony. If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no. Light in them. How do we evaluate prophecy? We look to the word. Of God we evaluate it by. What the scripture says. God is not going to contradict himself and go against the scripture and suddenly say that which used to be said is no longer sin. You know that now you're there's freedom to indulge in sexual immorality or, you know, like God is. I'm not going to go. Down any of those paths. Those kinds of prophecies are not God's word. The person who shares them doesn't have to hate us. They don't have to desire bad things or have malicious intent. All that requires is them to be deceived, to not sit in the Council of the Lord and do not have the actual word of the Lord. If they deliver something on behalf of the Lord or in under the name of the Lord, it doesn't mean that it's actually from the Lord. And so we need to test all things and hold fast hold on to you. What is good commentator Stephen Bramer says? God's people must always resist the messages that we want to hear, but which do not have the authority of God. Behind them. I think you know, for me there is a automatic level of suspicion when I think God telling me something that I already know that I want. You know, when you have a real relationship with the Lord, you should experience a a fair amount of God telling you things that you don't want to hear. Like not that God trying to make you miserable, and not that God. 'cause I want to do. Good things. But when I know it's a good thing or I I know it's something I want. I know it's well, God wants me to buy the. New iPhone 14. Oh wow, that's a great word from the Lord. I already want that. Like, I don't need a prophetic word to convince me. Right. So now I'm suspect, Lord, you're going to have to give some confirmation. You're going to have to make that clear. Because I don't want to just follow the the dictates of my heart, the deception of my heart. I want to hear from you. And so when there's those things that align with my will, Lord, would you make it abundantly clear 'cause, I don't want to pursue my own chorus in defiance of you. Well, finally, point #4, all of God's words will be fulfilled versus 16 through 22 starting in verse 16, he says. Also, I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying thus says the Lord, do not listen to the words of your prophets, who prophesied to you, saying, behold the vessels of the Lord's house. Will now shortly. Be brought back from Babylon, for they prophesied a lie to you. The false prophets. We're getting specific. They were not just saying, hey, resist Babylon, don't submit to them. They were saying, listen, there's going to be such a victory that the vessels that have already been taken to Babylon are going to be brought back. There was not just one time that Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon. Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar actually conquered Jerusalem three times. And at this time, while Jeremiah is delivering this message and having these interactions, Babylon has already conquered Jerusalem twice, in 605 BC and 597 BC, and then the third time would be a little bit later in 586 BC. But as Jeremiah is delivering this two of those times, Babylon has conquered Jerusalem, removed the king, set up a new king. The King is promised to be submitted to Babylon and then later revolted and so that wanted to come back and. It's already happened twice now. And so in the process of that the temple has been ransacked and much of the the goods of the temple, the gold of the temple, has been taken to Babylon. And so at this time, Daniel has been taken captive to Babylon, Ezekiel has been taken captive to Babylon, and much of the temple treasure and all of the gold has been taken to Babylon. And so these false prophets are saying all of that gold in those captives that have been taken, Babylon is going to fall and all of that is going to be returned. Shortly, so resist. Babylon is the false prophets message, because all of that is coming back really soon. And God says verse 17, do not listen to them. Serve the King of Babylon and live. Why should this city be laid waste? God saying I'm serious, if you do not submit then. Babylon, my instrument of authority, Nebuchadnezzar, will be my instrument of judgment, and the city will be laid waste, verse 18. But if they are prophets. And if the word of the Lord is with them, let them now make intercession to the Lord of hosts. But the vessels which are left in the House of the Lord, in the House of the King of Judah, and at Jerusalem do not go to Babylon. If they really are prophets, Jeremiah says. If they really do hear from the Lord, here's what they will be doing. They'll be praying. Because the things that are left in the temple. The gold and all the most valuable treasures have already been taken to Babylon, but the bronze elements, the the the pillars and the labor though those things that were less valuable. Nebuchadnezzar was charitable, he said. You guys can hold onto those and continue to worship God there at the temple with those bronze instruments. But Jeremiah says. If you're really a prophet. You're not going to be prophesying that the vessels are coming back. You're going to be praying. That God would do a work that the people would submit to Babylon so that the leftovers, what's just been the the remnants that are left, are not taken to Babylon when Babylon comes to conquer again. Verse 19 for thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars concerning the see concerning the cards concerning the remainder of the vessels that remain in this. City which Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, did not take when he had carried away captive Jeconiah, the son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the House of the Lord, and in the House of the King of Judah and of Jerusalem, they shall be carried to Babylon. And there they shall be until the day that I visit them, says the Lord. Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place. God says. The vessels are not going to come back soon. In fact, the vessels that are left here are going to be taken to Babylon. The pillars, the carts, the see, all of these things that pertain to the temple. And so God's word is. Those will be taken to Babylon. And as you. Walk through history. As you walk through Jeremiah, you're going to find all of God's word are fulfilled. In verse 22 when he says they shall. Be carried to Babylon. That's exactly what happened. Second Kings Chapter 25 records it for us. The bronze pillars. That were in the House of the Lord. What did it say in verse 19? For thus says the Lord of hosts? Concerning the pillars. And then Second Kings 2513, the bronze pillars that were in the house toward the carts in the bronzi verse. 19 concerning the C and concerning the carts there there is a direct. One to one comparison. The thing that God said would happen is exactly what happened. It's no surprise. 'cause, he's the creator and he has all authority, and he has appointed Nebuchadnezzar as the authority. And when God's word was resisted, then his word was fulfilled exactly the way that he declared it would. But also, the fulfillment of the restoration that's included here took place as well. God said all of this is going to be carried to Babylon. But then there will be a point in the future when it will be brought back. It's not shortly like. The false prophets are saying. No, it will be. Verse 22. They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until the day that I visit them, says the Lord. Then I will bring them up and restore. Them to this place. And as you walk through history, you find that's exactly what happened in Ezra Chapter one, when King Cyrus gives the command to release the Jews to go back and to. Build the temple. As you chapter one records, King Cyrus brought out the articles of the House of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his gods, and Cyrus, King of Persia, brought them out by the hand of the sky, and this is the number of them. 30 gold platters, 1000 silver platters, 30 gold bastions, 410 silver. Like all of these instruments and things that God. Said would come back. Come back. Just like God said. At the time that God had appointed, when Babylon's time would be over, the next World empire came the Medo Persian Empire, and Cyrus gave the command, and all of God's words were fulfilled. Reminding us that all of God's words are always fulfilled. God calls all. To submit to his word. He calls every one of us. He calls everyone who is not among us. He calls everyone from every nation, every tribe, every tongue, every background, every cultural heritage. He calls all to submit to his word. He speaks that word to all nations. And he has set in place authorities as his servants. To accomplish his purposes as what seems proper and fit to him. And there are many. Who claim and proclaim that they speak on behalf of the Lord. But they do not. They're not to be listened to, and we're not to hear those lies or believe those lies. And by the word of God. And trust that all of God's words will be fulfilled. And so this evening. Let this picture of the yoke. Even though you may not be farming land, it may not be something immediately you know relevant to you. Let this picture of the yoke remind you. Let this visual stick in your head. You are to allow that to cinch up around your throat, to be really uncomfortable, to submit to the Lord. And to those authorities that he's appointed in your life. Because his word of blessing in your submission to those authorities will be fulfilled. And if he calls you to throw off the yoke, test that word very clearly. You know you want it so desperately. You want it to be true. Test that. Let God confirm it. Let God bring about that clarity. So that you can then fulfill the word of God in defiance to those authorities. But but let it be at the direction of the Lord and not just the fulfillment of your own will. Submit to his word, submit to God, submit to those authorities that he has given to you, and once again, that quote from Pastor Warren Wiersbe. Everyone must wear a yoke. Break the light yoke. And the next yoke will be heavier. Let God break you and control you now. And the future will be bright. Lord, I pray that. You would help us. To put our necks. In your yoke. And Jesus, you told us. To take your yoke upon us. And your yoke would be easy and your burden would be light as we submit to you. Lord, we find your power for transformation. We find your strength. We find your peace. We find everything that we need to move forward and experience. The fulfillment of your word and all the promises that you have for us. So God help us. To stop resisting, to stop fighting against your word. Help us to see and recognize Lord in those places where we are resisting your authority and those authorities that you've placed in our lives. And, Lord, may we? Willingly volunteer to surrender to you. Or to experience. Your power, your work. Your redemption in our lives. I pray this in Jesus name.