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Today is Friday August 20, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Jeremiah, chapters 23-25. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-august-20

Today's Message: God's Warning To The False Church

I was watching a movie the other day and there was a quote that was said that came to mind as I read today's chapters, “God don't care what church you go to as long as you show up” This is the mentality of most people, including many Christians. The truth is, God does care what church we go to, the number one reason being, the wrong church can literally send a person to hell. There are churches deceiving people into thinking that they will get to heaven, even if they have to pay for it. There is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ, He paid the price already by dying for us and it is only by confessing and accepting Him personally as your Savior that you can go to heaven. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23. One time and One time only is what it takes to receive eternal life, yet millions of people will end up in hell because they refused to heed the warnings and ask Him personally to save them, all because they chose to believe in their church instead of God.

God has a warning for all the false pastors and priests, this is not something that has only happened in this present day and age, before the destruction of Jerusalem God warned the people of what was to come if they continued to ignore His warnings. Now, it is too late and Jerusalem is headed for disaster. Through Jeremiah, God said, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD....For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD. Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.”- Jeremiah 23:1-4,11,12. You know, we think of a church as a place that is safe, secure, and of God, but sadly, that is not always the case. Often people will get such a bad experience from a church that they assume all churches are the same and the majority of the time they not only walk away from the church, but God as well. We can not let one bad apple ruin the whole bunch, the important thing to look for when choosing a church is to look for one that bases it's authority on the Bible.

God warns those who continue to trust the false pastors and priests, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.” - Jeremiah 23:16-20. There is a warning here, do not believe their lies, Jesus is the church, if a church does not preach the true Gospel of Christ than it is not of God.

There is also a blessing here to those individuals who heed the warning, God assures all who follow Him in the midst of the destruction will be saved. “The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad....Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” - Jeremiah 24:1,2,5-7. God was sending the chosen figs into captivity to protect them from the crushing destruction coming on the bad figs. The Lord proclaimed hope for a future kingdom when the Israelites as well as Christians would be regathered from all the ends of the earth.

You have the right to know and understand the truth, and all you have to do to find the truth is to read His Word. God has told all in the pages of His Word, and everything will happen exactly as He has stated. A church or religion does not take anyone to heaven, Jesus does. Jesus is coming and those whom have not asked Jesus to save them will not be saved when He returns. It does matter what church you attend and God is telling all that remain faithful to a church that they have one more chance before it is too late. You never know when you last day on earth will be, once you die it is too late to save yourself. Instead of living in fear wondering if you will make it to heaven, be assured that as long as you have personally accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior than you have eternal life ans will be in heaven. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:10. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and your weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version.
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