Monday, January 25, 2016

RETURNING GOD’S CALLS

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 5-6

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Here is part of an ancient road that is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. An artist depicts what the rest of it might have looked like from the time of Jesus. How tragic that such a beautiful city should be reduced to rubble with its people either killed or taken as slaves.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Jeremiah 6:10

To whom shall I speak and give warning,

That they may hear?

Indeed their ear is uncircumcised,

And they cannot give heed.

Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them;

They have no delight in it.

 

Jeremiah 5:21-25 is God’s attempt to communicate with His people in Jerusalem. He says, “Hear this now!” We bring disaster upon ourselves when we fail to listen to God’s Word! It’s not His fault! It’s ours! Jeremiah and a few others heard God, but the political leadership and the majority would not listen.

In our key verse in Jeremiah 6, God seems to be giving up after many attempts to communicate. The time comes when God resigns Himself to allowing the stubborn free will of people to prevail. He’s not wanted, and He won’t force Himself on them, which would reduce His people, made in His image, to being puppets and robots who are forced to do His will. God knows when He is not wanted and He withdraws. The communications breakdown is never at God’s end of the line. People hang up on Him!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, You promised that You would answer when I call You! You said, and I quote You, “Call to Me and I will answer you!!!” (Jeremiah 33:3). I’ve heard that reference called, “God’s telephone number.” I pray that You will keep me alert to hear You and to answer when You call me! I hear You calling me now and I hear Your voice as I read Your Word to me through Jeremiah. I say, “Yes Lord, I hear You!!!” Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

For the first 15 years of Crossroads television, the Lord sent in enough money to pay all our bills to cover the costs of the 30-minute weekly Crossroads show and the 30-minute Circle Square show for children. Never did I mention money on TV. When we signed the contract for release of the daily 100 Huntley Street telecast, I was shocked to hear what I believe was the voice of God saying to me, “David, you are going to have to ask for people’s support on TV. I don’t have enough people who take the time to hear My voice to raise the necessary funds for this expansion.” I was dumfounded, but said “Yes, Lord.” One way or the other, God made sure that bills were paid and that His Name was honoured by that fact. But that’s a very small thing compared to the failure to listen to God on the part of the people of Jerusalem, who were not only failing to pay attention to God, but who had deliberately disobeyed Him after they had heard His words through Jeremiah!

Yours for listening quietly, carefully and obediently to God’s Word!!!

David

Below is a picture of the big rock in front of the Crossroads Centre. The words on the plaque (see caption) are from Jeremiah 6:16, the New International Version translation. Instead of the word “ways” inferring a crossroads as in the NKJV, it actually uses the word “crossroads” in the NIV. This is an essential message from God to each one of us.

The plaque below the big rock outside the Crossroads Centre in Burlington reads, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

23 thoughts on “Monday, January 25, 2016

  1. Thank you, David, for the ministry you have built in Crossroads, and this blog–such a blessing to so many, to have the door to our Lord Jesus open wide. We hold onto the rock of our salvation. “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jer 6:16 Amen! Blessings dearest saints, in the Lord!

    He Reigns, Newsboys
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8R9ZPT2T-I

  2. just wondering about the comment yesterday about the annointing oil and where does one get this oil?
    Praying for healing for Mary Stewart!
    Pray for a mom whose husband & 3 boys are receiving counsel for drug addictions; I truly believe the Lord will restore this family’s relationship with each other because this family is wanting this to happen! To be free from all addictions! To be able to be a family again! to love each other unconditionally! With God all things are possible for those who believe!

    • May the Lord Our God break the spirit of addiction in this family, may He replace it with His Holy Spirit, may he be the one they turn to in times of trouble, instead of the false comforts that the enemy has bound them with. May they have faith in the Lord God, and His Son Jesus Christ, Amen.

    • Yes Lord I pray for this family-for Your transforming power in their lives-all Praise and Glory be Yours! Thank You Jesus, Amen.

  3. Feeling a bit discouraged today. I am standing on the promise of 2 Chronicles 20:15 “This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. “

    • Sherry, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
      Rejoice in the Lord always. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The God of peace will be with you, dear sister-in-Christ.

  4. Lord my prayer too, is that both my spiritual ears and my physical ears would listen and hear when You speak, Lord, and I would obey. Thank You Lord for that telephone line, Your word in Jeremiah 33:3 that
    “before I call, you answer my cry” Thank you Lord Jesus.

  5. Dear Sah, l purchased a very small bottle of anointing oil from a Christian Bookstore a long time ago. It was very attractive to me, as l could easily slip it into my purse, and it would be there if the Lord directed me to use it. However, please know it is not a magic potion, as any good oil, like olive oil will be acceptable. It is my understanding that the oil is”a point of contact” and symbolic of our wonderful Holy Spirit, and it is the prayer of faith that heals the sick and the receptive believing heart of the one being prayed for. At Crossroads 24hour telephone Prayer Ministry, people are prayed for everyday without the use of oil and miracles happen. l believe it is all about having faith in God, believing that he has all things under control, and accepting his sovereignty. A simple heartfelt prayer is mightily effective……God is forever faithful and loves us. l hope this sheds more light on the anointing oil question. Blessings!

    • That’s a great explanation about anointing oil, Christine. In addition, praying and fasting over a bottle of anointing oil (starting as a bottle of olive oil) gives the oil tremendous healing power/potential, as the Holy Spirit blesses it through the faithfulness of the believer.

  6. Thank you once again for your daily blog, I became reborn in 2010 listening to crossroads on TV in Edmonton.
    Lots of love and hugs.
    Jenny.

  7. I didn’t get opportunity to greet you at church yesterday David, but briefly greeted Norma-Jean. Great to see you ! Keep warm and rest well. Drink lots of hot tea!!

  8. 2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said :Hearken all Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jeoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you, “fear not, and be not dismayed at this great mulititude for the battle is not yours but God’s!
    Take heart Sherry, lean on the Lord for His help and wisdom and guidance, I deal with a mental illness & sleep disorder, I declare that the Lord God will keep all negative thoughts from me and I pray He will do the same for you. I pray the Lord’s Prayer daily and sometimes (many) I pray every hour or even more than an hour. When I am swimming which God provided I am constantly praying thankfulness as I am swimming.
    Sherry I pray the Lord will remove the discouragement and shower you will His grace, mercy, His peace, His unconditional love for you!
    Thank you Sherry for posting a blog! It allows all of us to pray for each other and prayer simply dispels all evil around us! NEVER DOUBT THE POWER OF PRAYER!
    I heard Dr. Jeremiah mention something: if the devil had known that Jesus would die and raise again, the devil would have made sure that Jesus would not have died!
    I remember thinking that I believed that the devil does not know everything that is going to happen because God is in control. I find that very comforting! I so desire that people would understand that God is the Lord God Almighty, Our Creator, Our Redmeer, Our Healer, the All-Knowing God, the Planner of our lives!
    the devil has no hold on us at all! Thank you for your prayers for the mom and her family fighting addictions……
    Praise and thank God I’m off to swimming! siniging praises of thanksgiving to God our Father, Our Triune God, the Great Three in One! AMEN AMEN AMEN

  9. TY Lord for swimming! bless the children who come to swim! Bless Morgan/Zach,help them to deal with the loss of their mom, she was able to get parental situation all completed and papers signed to have her brother take the boys! I could not have been so brave Lord; she loved the Lord and her boys also know Jesus CHrist as their Saviour but they miss her and are hurting. They have wonderful step parents, they do go to church, I pray Lord that You would speak to these boys and let them know that mom is ok and she would want them to move forward, enjoy life, say their prayers daily, do well in school and be helpful, kind, respectful to their peers.
    Lord You know how much I like swimming, but sometimes I feel so in awe that I am listening to children talk about their hurts, and I am able to tell them that God hears their prayers and concerns, He knows what is going on and we can hug and bless each other. It’s very heart warming to hear these children say that they are gald that I came and that we can talk! I need to hear that also! I just feel so humble and I thank God that He puts me there. amen

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.