Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Wednesday August 3, 2011

Download | Duration: 00:45:33

    Hurricane Warning

    Jeremiah 28

chart 606 BC – 1st stage of exile/Daniel taken (Jehoiakim’s reign)/598 BC – 2nd stage of exile/Ezekiel taken (Jehoiachin’ s reign)/587 BC – final stage

In 1st 2 stages, vessels from the temple taken to Babylon.  Nat’l catastrophe, for w/ these vessels/tools they served God (bowls/pans/ snuffers/trumpets/pots).  Their capacity for serving God was diminished.  This is exactly what sin does – it reduces a person’s capacity to serve God.  We see this w/ Samson/David – their vessels not used to serve God for a season.  The temple vessels were important.

In C27 the false prophets indicated that the vessels from the temple which had been carried to Babylon would soon be restored.  J said that just the opposite is true – that the vessels that remain in the temple will be carried to Babylon/won’t be restored until Israel has been fully disciplined.  He was predicting a 3rd/final stage of exile by Nebuchadnezzar/Jerusalem’s defeat.

1-4  Hananiah takes up the theme of the false prophecies in C27.

The vessels would be returned - the people loved this.  False prophets only tickle ears/never tackle sin. They never confront sin/pride/hatred/injustice of man.  It takes a lot more to tackle someone than to tickle someone.  One is a minor effort/other is a total commitment.  If you want to tickle me, I would probably see you as a friend.  If you want to tackle me – I see you as an enemy.

He is implying three things – (each of which contradicts J’s message)

God restores holy things to unholy people

The history of Israel is just the opposite – especially the lesson of Shiloh: God takes holy things from unholy people – He doesn’t restore them.  This is a false prophesy for it takes away from the holiness of God.

There is significant emphasis in the NT upon holiness.  A holy life is commanded/expected.  Rom. 12:1; 1C3:17; 2C7:1; E1:4; H12:10, 14; 1P1:16.  The pursuit of holiness will take everything you’ve got.  You don’t have to give much effort to sin; you have to give all your effort to a life of being set apart unto God.

Fish float downstream/swim upstream.  We’d rather float than swim!  We like effortless things - remote controls/microwaves/auto car washes/dishwashers/cars that park themselves!  I’ve learned that I can sin effortlessly.  It takes intentionality to live for Christ/pursue holiness.   

There can be restoration w/o repentance   God restores holy things to unholy people

David/Manasseh were not restored apart from deep repentance.  God does not restore w/o repentance.  This is a false prophesy for it takes away from the work of the Spirit convicting of unholiness in the heart.  False prophets diminish the holy nature of God/holy calling of man.

Lie: you don’t have to turn from sin for God to turn to you.  If you didn’t turn from sin and God turned to you, He would a ‘whatever’ God and not a holy God.  You do not serve a ‘whatever’ God; you serve a holy God.  This bothers some.  Look at it this way -  

The most tolerant parents in here have a line somewhere that if their children crossed it, they could no longer live in their home.  (Girls overnight/yes.  Smoke dope/yes.  Alcohol/yes.  Meth lab/no.  Aryan Club/no.)  There comes a time when they won’t say ‘whatever.’ And they couldn’t return until they repented/turned from the behavior that got them kicked out.  And it’s not a matter of love – its’ a matter of standards.  Many criticize God for having standards/then turn around and impose standards themselves.   

Lie: you do have to turn from sin b4 being welcomed by God.

There is restoration w/o the discipline that leads to obedience

God had ordained 70 years of bondage to Babylon because of the depth of the people’s unbelief/callousness to the word of God.  Hananiah said that Israel could be restored to her glory w/o all the messy business of discipline/judgment.   

This is a false prophesy for it dismisses the work that God wants to do in the character of the people of Israel.  Hananiah is saying that You can get back where you were w/o leaving where you are.  E.g., husband/wife are very happy – adultery – can’t get back to marital happiness w/o leaving marital unfaithfulness.

Hananiah exalted the love of God over the holiness of God.  “But doesn’t mercy triumph over judgment.”  Yes, yet in mercy, God’s holiness is maintained.  Toleration empties holiness of any meaning.  Mercy still sees sin as sin/calls sin, sin.  Toleration sweeps it to the side as not being worthy of consideration.  Mercy sees judgment and overrules it.  Toleration sees nothing to judge.

5-6  J mocks Hananiah

7-9  J gives criteria for true prophet of the Lord

Prophets normally speak of judgment.  Prophets are sent by God when the nation is in disobedience.  So, a word of peace goes against the historic norm of a prophet.  Therefore, if Hananiah’ s word comes true, it will be more plainly seen that he is a prophet from God.   

J is letting Hananiah know that prophecy is tested by history.  This is why Harold Camping should not be considered as a responsible Bible teacher.  He prophesied a historical happening and then when it didn’t come to pass gave it a spiritual meaning.   

10-11  Hananiah prophesies peace

“Let me go on record that I am prophesying peace/breaking of the yoke.”  He thought J’s warning of a Babylonian hurricane ahead to be out of keeping w/ the character of the Lord.   

In September, 1938, a man who lived on Long Island purchased a very fine barometer. When it arrived at his home, he was extremely disappointed to find that the indicating needle appeared to be stuck, pointing to the sector marked "Hurricane." After shaking the barometer, he sat down and wrote a scorching letter to the store from which he had purchased the instrument, and on the following morning, on his way to his office in New York, he mailed the letter. That evening he returned to Long Island - not only was his barometer missing, but his house, too. The barometer's needle had been right—there was a hurricane! ...E. Schuyler English  

J is Judah’s barometer and his needle is stuck on hurricane.  The whole book of J is a hurricane warning.   

12-14  J prophesies servitude to Babylon

Wood to iron – tropical storm to hurricane – the winds are building.   

15-16  J prophesies the death of Hananiah

Hananiah made the people trust in lie(s):

Holiness is of little concern to the Lord.

You are God’s special people whom He doesn’t judge.

17  Hananiah dies