“Lies Told & Believed”

Pastor David Moore 

New Testament reading: Matthew 7:15-23

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” 

“False hopes are more dangerous than fears.” ~J. R. R. Tolkien 

Today’s message finds Jeremiah at the temple gates to confront the false belief that God will not let harm come to the temple and the people. Jeremiah rebukes the idolatry, shameful behavior, and false religion. 

Old Testament reading: Jeremiah 7:1-11 

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Stand at the gate of the Lord’s House and there proclaim this message: “‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. 

But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”– safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! Declares the Lord.’” 

“Jesus today has many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who carry His Cross; many who yearn for comfort, few who long for distress. Plenty of people He finds to share His banquet, few to share His fast. Everyone desires to take part in His rejoicing, but few are willing to suffer anything for His sake. There are many that follow Jesus as far as the breaking of bread, few as far as drinking the cup of suffering; many that revere His miracles, few that follow Him in the indignity of His Cross.” ~Thomas A. Kempis 

False teaching: Come to Jesus to get health/wealth/prosperity. NO. Come to Jesus to get Jesus. YES. 

God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. ~Max Lucado 

Hebrews 13:16: Do good and share with those in need.

God isn’t interested in (a)_____________, but instead in the (b)____________________. 

(c)_____________________ are the result of (d)_____________ 

(e)____________________ are hopes without (f)__________. 

(g)____________________ is always in God. 

This week the question is: Is your belief centered on God and is that where you have hope? 

Pray this week, wrestle with God and your inner self to refine your beliefs and hope to be sure you are trusting God and not something else. 

God bless. 

Answers: (a) lip service (b) lives we lead (c) False hopes (d) lip service (e) False hopes (f) God (g) Real hope