IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THE REMNANT - JEREMIAH 15: 11-14
“IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THE REMNANT”
Jeremiah 15:`11
Taught by: Carolyn Sissom
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Jeremiah 15:11: The Lord said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat you well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.”
Our Jeremiah journey starts today with Chapter 14. This and Chapter 15 reveal Jeremiah’s intercession. This is Jeremiah’s fifth message. He is not a preacher of sermons, but a prophet with a message from the Lord. (14:1) “The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth”. (The restraints – holding back of rain).
This is another reverse for Judah. The cause of the drought was the iniquity of the people and their failure to change their ways. Verses 1-7 describe the conditions of the drought and the mourning of the people.
(V. 7-9) This is Jeremiah’s prayer of intercession. He identified himself with his people in confession of sin. Godly men/women identify themselves with the sins of the people. He did not pray or intercede for God to save them from destruction, for he had already been commanded to not pray after this manner.
The following verses are a remarkable controversy between Jeremiah and the Lord.
“O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for your name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. O the hope of Israel, the savior thereof in time of trouble, why should you be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turns aside to tarry for a night? Why should you be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; leave us not.”
God refused to accept the people’s prayer and worship.
(V. 10-12) “Thus says the Lord unto this people, they have loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for these people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not hear their cry; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine and by the pestilence.”
There were also false prophets who spoke without divine authorization and revelation. “The people have been misled by ritualistic priests (11) or false prophets is no excuse. The false prophets are defined for the first time in lacking commission by God and truth in their message, which can be shown to be false by their valueless predictions being overturned. Such false prophets are active before the close of any dispensation (Mt. 24:21) Political disruption has a spiritual cause.” (Donald Wiseman, F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary.) “The conflict between true and false prophets had begun. This manifests more and more as the book unfolds.” (Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible)
Read 13-16. The false prophets will die by the sword and famine which they predict will not come.
Verses 16-18 reveal the consequences of heeding these false prophets:
1. the people to whom they prophesy will be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem, because of the famine and sword.
2. They will have no one to bury them.
3. I will pour out their wickedness upon them –they will reap what they have sown.
4. My people will be broken with a great and grievous blow.
5. The slain will be scattered over the open fields.
6. In the city there will be the sick from the famine.
7. All the prophets and priests will go into captivity, into a land they do not know.
God did not forgive after the confession of sins. Jeremiah did not express the sentiments of the nation, only his own.
In chapter 15, we have the Lord’s reply to Jeremiah. Intercession was rejected and the nation’s fate was sealed. It is said this is “Jeremiah’s Grotto.” It is one of his prayerful retreats and is believed to be at the foot of the knoll where the Cross of Jesus stood!!!
15: 1-9: “Then said the Lord unto me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people; cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. And it shall come to pass, if they say unto you, where shall we go forth? You shall tell them, Thus says the Lord; Such as for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity…”
If Moses or Samuel, men of prayer and intercession, joined Jeremiah in his prayers for Judah, the Lord’s intention was settled. Judgment was inevitable! These men had been influential intercessors with God on account of their Godliness. This also shows the gravity of Judah’s guilt and the futility of any hope for a real change.
The Lord was weary with repenting because Judah constantly sinned and repented without a real change of heart. John the Baptist preached this same message in Luke 3:7-9: “The he said to the multitude that forth to be baptized o him, “O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Jeremiah 15:.6-7) “You have forsaken me, says the Lord, you have gone backwards; therefore I will stretch out my hand against you, and destroy you, I am weary with repenting. I will fan them with a fan to the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.”
In verses 10-21, Jeremiah expresses his discouragement to the Lord. God encourages Jeremiah in verse 11. We have this encouragement for us today.
We believe we are part of the Remnant and receive this though the earth be shaken around us.
(v. 11) The Lord said, “Verily it shall be well with the remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat you well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.”
(V. 14) describes the fire of the Lord. “14b: “a fire is kindled in my anger, which shall burn upon you.”
This is a quote from The Morning Star Journal from a message I preached on The Throne of the Lord dated April 27, 2000. I do not have the date of the Journal or the author. It is an eloquent exhortation on the fire and wind of the Lord. I believe this describes the visitation of judgment on Israel as well as all who are not bearing fruit worthy of repentance.
“When the Lord comes in glory, those who believe in His Son will be glorified. Those who do not believe will be consumed by His presence. The only thing left standing in that day will be that which is of the nature of His Son—all else will be consumed.
The fear of the Lord is not based on God’s heart or attitude towards us. His thoughts toward us have always been and will always be born of love. However, sin and unrighteousness cannot stand in His presence. Romans 1:18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be know of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Even in judgment, God’s love is present because He is there and He is love. Fearing god is not based on being afraid of angering Him with out behavior. It is based upon understanding that His glorified Presence will consume like a raging fire any unrighteousness that is in us when He comes. Even when the nations are consumed at His presence. He will still love them. He is not actively seeking to destroy them; they will be destroyed by the virtue of His holy presence encountering their unrighteousness if they are not protected by the Blood of Jesus.
The fear of the Lord is not based on God’s attitude or emotions; it is based on his sense of an all-consuming fire. Everything that is not born of the nature of His son be consumed. This is the basis of fearing the Lord. This causes us to depart from evil and to continually turn to Him so that mercy and truth can transform us.
TWO WINDS;
Approximately fifteen years ago a significant prophetic word emerged for the church for this generation. (That would be 1985) The essence of this of this word was that there were two winds coming upon the church. The first wind, called Holiness Unto the Lord was a wind of sanctification for the church. The second called The Kingdom of God, was a wind of empowerment for demonstrating the Kingdom of God with power. The encouragement was for the church to turn and face these winds---to be changed by the first and then empowered by the second.
The warning was that some would try to turn to the second wind, which empowers, without turning to the first that would bring sanctification and Holiness. This would result in their destruction by the second wind. This is an encouragement we need and a warning we must heed. We must turn toward both of these winds.
If we will turn toward the Lord and grow in the knowledge of His love and the truth of Christ in us, God will progressively purge iniquity from our lives. We will be transformed into the image of His son and grown into the mature sons and daughters that He desires. Then we will find the revelation, power, and spiritual authority we need to manifest God’s Kingdom and destroy the works of the devil.
But as this process continues, we must not leave off the fear of the Lord Until we are completely transformed by love and truth, we must continue to depart from evil by maintaining God’s fear. He is a consuming fire and His love for us will not protect us if we do begin to play with sin and evil. God is coming in His Presence and only the holy will be able to remain in that day.
I speak without boasting that we are blessed in this church with “His Presence”. This is
“IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THE REMNANT”
Jeremiah 15:`11
Jeremiah 15:11: The Lord said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat you well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.”
Our Jeremiah journey starts today with Chapter 14. This and Chapter 15 reveal Jeremiah’s intercession. This is Jeremiah’s fifth message. He is not a preacher of sermons, but a prophet with a message from the Lord. (14:1) “The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the death”. (The restraints – holding back of rain).
This is another reverse for Judah. The cause of the drought was the iniquity of the people and their failure to change their ways. Verses 1-7 describe the conditions of the drought and the mourning of the people.
(V. 7-9) this is Jeremiah’s prayer of intercession. He identified himself with his people in confession of sin. Godly men/women identify themselves with the sins of the people. He did not pray or intercede for God to save them from destruction, for he had already been commanded to not pray after this manner.
The following verses are a remarkable controversy between Jeremiah and the Lord.
“O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for your name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. O the hope of Israel, the savior thereof in time of trouble, why should you be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turns aside to tarry for a night? Why should you be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; leave us not.”
God refused to accept the people’s prayer and worship.
(V. 10-12) “Thus says the Lord unto this people, they have loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. Then said the Lord unto me, Pray not for these people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not hear their cry; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine and by the pestilence.”
There were also false prophets who spoke without divine authorization and revelation. “The people have been misled by ritualistic priests (11) or false prophets is no excuse. The false prophets are defined for the first time in lacking commission by God and truth in their message, which can be shown to be false by their valueless predictions being overturned. Such false prophets are active before the close of any dispensation (Mt. 24:21) Political disruption has a spiritual cause.” (Donald Wiseman, F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary.) “The conflict between true and false prophets had begun. This manifests more and more as the book unfolds.” (Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible)
Read 13-16. The false prophets will die by the sword and famine which they predict will not come.
Verses 16-18 reveal the consequences of heeding these false prophets:
1. the people to whom they prophesy will be cast out into the streets of Jerusalem, because of the famine and sword.
2. They will have no one to bury them.
3. I will pour out their wickedness upon them –they will reap what they have sown.
4. My people will be broken with a great and grievous blow.
5. The slain will be scattered over the open fields.
6. In the city there will be the sick from the famine.
7. All the prophets and priests will go into captivity, into a land they do not know.
God did not forgive after the confession of sins. Jeremiah did not express the sentiments of the nation, only his own.
In chapter 15, we have the Lord’s reply to Jeremiah. Intercession was rejected and the nation’s fate was sealed. It is said this is “Jeremiah’s Grotto.” It is one of his prayerful retreats and is believed to be at the foot of the knoll where the Cross of Jesus stood!!!
15: 1-9: “Then said the Lord unto me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people; cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth. And it shall come to pass, if they say unto you, where shall we go forth? You shall tell them, Thus says the Lord; Such as for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity…”
If Moses or Samuel, men of prayer and intercession, joined Jeremiah in his prayers for Judah, the Lord’s intention was settled. Judgment was inevitable! These men had been influential intercessors with God on account of their Godliness. This also shows the gravity of Judah’s guilt and the futility of any hope for a real change.
The Lord was weary with repenting because Judah constantly sinned and repented without a real change of heart. John the Baptist preached this same message in Luke 3:7-9: “The he said to the multitude that forth to be baptized o him, “O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Jeremiah 15:.6-7) “You have forsaken me, says the Lord, you have gone backwards; therefore I will stretch out my hand against you, and destroy you, I am weary with repenting. I will fan them with a fan to the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.”
In verses 10-21, Jeremiah expresses his discouragement to the Lord. God encourages Jeremiah in verse 11. We have this encouragement for us today.
We believe we are part of the Remnant and receive this though the earth be shaken around us.
(v. 11) The Lord said, “Verily it shall be well with the remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat you well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.”
(V. 14) describes the fire of the Lord. “14b: “a fire is kindled in my anger, which shall burn upon you.”
This is a quote from The Morning Star Journal from a message I preached on The Throne of the Lord dated April 27, 2000. I do not have the date of the Journal or the author. It is an eloquent exhortation on the fire and wind of the Lord. I believe this describes the visitation of judgment on Israel as well as all who are not bearing fruit worthy of repentance.
“When the Lord comes in glory, those who believe in His Son will be glorified. Those who do not believe will be consumed by His presence. The only thing left standing in that day will be that which is of the nature of His Son—all else will be consumed.
The fear of the Lord is not based on God’s heart or attitude towards us. His thoughts toward us have always been and will always be born of love. However, sin and unrighteousness cannot stand in His presence. Romans 1:18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be know of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Even in judgment, God’s love is present because He is there and He is love. Fearing god is not based on being afraid of angering Him with out behavior. It is based upon understanding that His glorified Presence will consume like a raging fire any unrighteousness that is in us when He comes. Even when the nations are consumed at His presence. He will still love them. He is not actively seeking to destroy them; they will be destroyed by the virtue of His holy presence encountering their unrighteousness if they are not protected by the Blood of Jesus.
The fear of the Lord is not based on God’s attitude or emotions; it is based on his sense of an all-consuming fire. Everything that is not born of the nature of His son be consumed. This is the basis of fearing the Lord. This causes us to depart from evil and to continually turn to Him so that mercy and truth can transform us.
TWO WINDS;
Approximately fifteen years ago a significant prophetic word emerged for the church for this generation. The essence of this of this word was that there were two winds coming upon the church. The first wind, called Holiness Unto the Lord was a wind of sanctification for the church. The second called The Kingdom of God, was a wind of empowerment for demonstrating the Kingdom of God with power. The encouragement was for the church to turn and face these winds---to be changed by the first and then empowered by the second.
The warning was that some would try to turn to the second wind, which empowers, without turning to the first that would bring sanctification and Holiness. This would result in their destruction by the second wind. This is an encouragement we need and a warning we must heed. We must turn toward both of these winds.
If we will turn toward the Lord and grow in the knowledge of His love and the truth of Christ in us, God will progressively purge iniquity from our lives. We will be transformed into the image of His son and grown into the mature sons and daughters that He desires. Then we will find the revelation, power, and spiritual authority we need to manifest God’s Kingdom and destroy the works of the devil.
But as this process continues, we must not leave off the fear of the Lord Until we are completely transformed by love and truth, we must continue to depart from evil by maintaining God’s fear. He is a consuming fire and His love for us will not protect us if we do begin to play with sin and evil. God is coming in His Presence and only the holy will be able to remain in that day.
I speak without boasting that we are blessed in this church with “His Presence”. The First Day church is Sacrifice. The second Day is Ordinances and the third Day is His Presence. This is our calling and the Lord has graced us to be able to stand in His Presence Sunday after Sunday.
One day soon, I will preach again the message on The Throne of the Lord. Although like most of my messages, it was for the time it was written.
Tuesday I will continue with Jeremiah starting with 15:15. For those of you who have not been following this study, I was commissioned by the Lord in early August to begin teaching this book in September. I was warned of many hindrances. I remain faithful and am depending on the Lord to give me the Grace to preach and teach despite the great obstacles and hindrances. It is a commission.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc. www.eastgateminsitries.com. Scripture from KJV quotes from the Morning Star Journal, Dakes annotated Reference Bible, F. F. Bruce Commentary, and Principles of Present Truth by: Kelly Varner.