Whose voice is loudest to you?

Jerusalem is holding onto a false hope that they will defeat the attacking Babylonian army and avoid the exile and death that God has promised.

Despite their current state of punishment, the inhabitants of Jerusalem continued to ignore God's voice choosing instead to persist in their hardhearted rebellion and idolatry.

At times, Jeremiah must have felt that he was the only righteous one left in all of Judah and Israel. Everyone else seemed to have jumped headfirst into the wickedness that pervaded Jewish culture.

But there was one family that refused to "go with the cultural flow." The Rechabites were a family that was swimming against the current of idolatry and rebellion. They were holding steadfast to the Lord.

God recognized the faithfulness of the Rechabites and commanded Jeremiah to have them over to the temple for a glass of wine and a prophetic message.

What is most interesting about the Rechabites is the "why" behind their righteous behavior which Jeremiah discovered after offering them some wine--

Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, "Drink wine." But they answered, "We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, 'You shall drink not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live many days in the land where you sojourn. We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, and not to build houses to dwell in. We have no vineyard or field or seed, but we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our father commanded us. (35:5-11)

So, the Rechabites had been living righteously because of a message that had been passed down from one patriarch (Rechab) to another (Jonadab). Because they honored and loved their earthly patriarchs they had given up lots of things:

1) Earthly pleasures. They didn't drink wine. We aren't told why their ancestors told them not to drink wine. We are just told that they did. In Jeremiah's day, not drinking wine meant that you were relegated to dingy water.

2) Earthly security. They were told not to build houses. Again we aren't told why they couldn't build houses. But a house represents security from the elements and outside attackers.

3) Earthly prosperity. They were told not to plant vineyards or sow seed. In other words, they were told not to pursue potentially prosperous (alliteration anyone?) agricultural investments. Once again, no reason is given.

So consider the Rechabites for a second. They went without earthly pleasures, security, and prosperity all because of a message they had been told was passed down from their ancestors.

They say to Jeremiah that they had obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he commanded us. How much honor and love they must have had for their ancestors! How much respect and admiration! How much trust in their wisdom!

And this is where the story gets interesting. God didn't have Jeremiah invite the Rechabites over just to enjoy a glass of wine. He wanted to use them as a scathing analogy for his relationship with his people.

After all, the Rechabites were foregoing pleasure, security, and prosperity all because of what some human guy (who we aren't even told was wise) said. And yet God's people routinely turned their backs on what he (their infinitely wise and loving Creator) commanded them.

God makes the comparison in verses 12-16

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction and listen to my words? declares the Lord. The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father's command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me. I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, 'Turn now every one of you from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to you and your fathers. ' But you did not incline your ear or listen to me. The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have kept the command that your father gave them, but this people has not obeyed me.

If human sons could obey the words of a human grandfather for generations then why couldn't human people obey the words of an eternal God?

God had sent his people messenger after messenger with message after message and they would not listen.

Here is the question for us today: Are we guilty of this sin?

Do you find yourself living out things that your parents told you but struggling to live out what God has told you?

Do you find yourself living to accommodate the opinions of friends, co-workers, or family members rather than the opinions of God?

Whose voice is loudest in your life?

Remember this--

While other voices might be coming from a place of love they are not coming from the One who loved you so much he gave his life for you.

While other voices might be filled with mercy and grace they are not coming from the One who showered grace on you by transforming you from rebel to rescued son/daughter.

While other voices might be filled with wisdom they are not coming from the One who spoke the world into existence.

God's voice is the one you must listen to because it is coming from the One who cares for you the most.

Text of the Week (11/1/09)

Here is the "Text of the Week" from last night's Element service:

If making out causes me to lust am I sinning? I don't think I can and not be lusting.

Here was my answer:

Lust is sinful and to be avoided at all costs. When the Bible says we are to "flee from sexual immorality" (I Cor 6:18) it means what it says. You and I should run as quickly as possible away from things the will cause sexual sin.

On the topic of lust, Jesus said in Matthew that it would be better to pluck out an eye or remove an arm then to pursue sexual sin. If Jesus used dismemberment as his example do you really think he wouldn't advocate us getting rid of the people, images, or places that cause us to sin sexually?

If making out causes you to lust then you are only human. Making out causes everyone to lust. Let me put it this way, if you are dating someone and making out with them doesn't cause you to lust then don't marry them! They are not very good at it.

Making out inevitably causes lust, so as single Christ-followers we should avoid it.

Thanks to all our texters!

When to date? (11/1/09 Element Outline)

The question for tonight: When should I date?

It is not a question of time but a question of readiness. When am I ready to date?

You are ready to date when your time of singleness is over. (translaton: you don't need to date)

I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. (I Cor 7:35)

You are ready to date when you find someone who is dateable.

1. A member of the opposite sex.
2. A Christ-Follower.
3. Living single with purpose.
4. Called to marry.
5. A person of godly character.
6. Willing and able to fulfill their marital role.

You are ready to date when you are dateable.

You are ready to date when it is time to find a spouse.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:24-25)

You are ready to date when you can handle the temptations that come with dating.

1. Sexual temptation.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.
(I Thessalonians 4:3-4)

Flee from sexual immorality. (I Corinthians 6:18a)

2. Idolatry.

You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)

The question of when is a question of lordship.

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. (I Cor 7:17)