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

Jeremiah 26, Jeremiah Series We live in an hour 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 is the consequences. The apostle Paul describes those 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 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 are responsible for sharing God's message with our world. So, how do we do so when we realize our culture's growing level of hostility? In Jeremiah 26, we discover three specific courses of action that we must pursue despite the times we are living in.