JEREMIAH 7-26

I'm in Jeremiah this morning, and I have some thoughts to share with you: 1) WAYS AND DOINGS-  When a person gets right with God, there are some ways and doings that need to be amended.  That comes from God's mouth to us.  In Jeremiah 7:3 it says:  "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place."  vs. 5 "For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings:..... vs.7 "Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever."   God wants to bless His people, but we must Amend our Ways and our Doings!  We must change what we are doing and head in another direction; one that God approves of!  What in our lives today need to be changed?  Let us examine ourselves in light of Scripture, and let the Holy Spirit look in our hearts for ways and doings that need changing!  Show me LORD, any amendments You desire to take place in my life.  Help me to be vigilant, and pliable enough to amend any way, and any doing, that You show me needs to change.  Here I am LORD, show me..... and let me change for Your glory! 2) IT WAS THE PREACHER'S FAULT- Being a preacher, I guess I've heard people over the years who seem to think that a Pastor messed them up.  Maybe he wasn't tackful enough, maybe he wasn't as honest as he should have been, or whatever..... it is sad, but sometimes it is the preacher who is responsible.  Now, for the most part, every Pastor I know is a good man doing his very best to serve God and others.  I certainly would hope that would be said of me by anyone who knows me.  But, in the book of Jeremiah and looking at the condition of Israel and Judah, God says..... it's the preachers fault! Jeremiah 10:21-"For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD:  therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered."   Jeremiah 12:10 "Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness."  Jeremiah 23:11- "For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD."  Now, these "men of God" were corrupt..  They were telling the Israelites that they would not go into Babylonian captivity, and yet God had said that they would for their sins.  They denied the words of God, and the reason is that they were not living godly lives!  How sad when the preacher today wants to relate so much to people that they live just like everyone else does!  Our task is to spend time with God so that we reflect God to the people, not reflect our culture to people.  Pastors should not be experts on the latest Hollywood flick, the latest in secular music, and attire.  We should be alone with God enough that we reflect not the culture of this world, but the culture of Heaven!  Lord help us preachers never to be a stumbling stone to the dear people we minister to.  Let us be God's man first... and then a help to others.  LORD, thank you for this day.  Let it be a day I listen to Your voice.  Let my heart sing Your praises, let me life reflect your glory.  Like Moses of old, let others see You in my.... all over me.  I'm not a Moses, but I am Your child.... let me show that to a world that so desperately needs to see YOU!  Love you LORD.... love you! Well, my time is gone for today.  May God bless you dear friend.  Pastor Mike Mutchler