December 4, 2022 - Don't Shoot the Messenger - Pastor Paul Vallee

We live in an age when many people do not want to be corrected or warned. In Proverbs 1, we hear the call of wisdom to turn to her ways. However, we see that the foolish mock and refuse to listen to God’s correction, resulting in calamity and distress. Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you. (Proverbs 1:23-26) God’s word not only warns and rebukes us but also instructs, comforts, and encourages us. But if we won’t listen to God’s warnings, then all that is left are the consequences. The apostle Paul describes people in our time who refuse to listen to God’s instructions and warnings. The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1) Here in Jeremiah 26, we discover that when a culture moves toward apostasy, it will ultimately be judged by God. One of the distinguishing signs is that they refuse to hear the truth and will not only distort it but will also persecute those who advocate for it. In other words, they will endeavour to silence the truth. Even as believers, we need to hear the voices of those who disagree with us. We must be careful not to shoot the messenger because sometimes they may carry God’s word to us. As God’s children, we have a responsibility to share God’s message with our world. So, how do we do that when we realize the growing level of hostility in our culture? In Jeremiah 26, we discover three specific courses of action that we must pursue despite the times we live in.