" Popularity or Persecution "

Jeremiah 26:8-11   " Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the Priests and the Prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Why has thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant ? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. When the Princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the King's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house. Then spake the Priests and the Prophets unto the Princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears. "

     Those who believe, obey, and faithfully proclaim all of GOD's WORD have never been popular with the world - and never will be. They always have been in the minority. JESUS spoke of this in Matthew 7:14-15, also warning about the false prophets who  would come in HIS name. In Matthew 7:21-23, CHRIST prophesied about the craftiness of future miracle workers who would claim the name of JESUS without actually doing HIS will. Many religious prophets, priests, and worshippers existed in Jeremiah's day, but the majority of them would not listen to the WORD of the LORD because it exposed and rebuked their sinful, fleshly desires. Instead, they loved the ecumenical movement of their day with its rich variety of worship forms learned from the surrounding pagans - styles of worship pleasing to the flesh but not to the LORD.

     Jeremiah's faithfulness in diminishing not a word from the message GOD had given him did not make him popular; rather, it so angered the religious leaders and people that they all agreed he should be put to death. All were gathered together against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD (vv.8-11). During HIS earthly ministry, JESUS never had a great following of those who were desirous of the truth. The disciples and Apostles were part of a despised minority. None were popular; all were persecuted. But today the increasingly influential new evangelical and charismatic leaders are exalted and praised by the majority of Christendom and even by political leaders. They are popular, not persecuted nor opposed by the world. Why is this ? It could only be because they are disobeying GOD by failing to declare all the counsel of GOD in this evil day. MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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