My bones are on fire!

Tuesday 8-18-15 (Mount Lassen Campmeeting)

Scripture reading:  Jer. 26, 35, 36    John 20

S=Scripture O=Observation A=Application P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Jer 26:17-19  Then some of the wise old men stood and spoke to the people there.  They said, "Think back to the days when Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He told the people of Judah, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field; Jerusalem will be reduced to rubble! A great forest will grow on the hilltop, where the Temple now stands.'   But did King Hezekiah and the people kill him for saying this? No, they turned from their sins and worshiped the LORD. They begged him to have mercy on them. Then the LORD held back the terrible disaster he had pronounced against them. NLT

O.  Jeremiah had preached exactly what the Lord had given him, but his words sounded like treason to the people that heard it.  They mobbed him and were intent upon killing him.  But a few wise older men stepped in to intercede.  I was immediately reminded of the wise and highly honored teacher named Gamaliel that stepped in to intercede for the lives of Peter and John.  (Acts 5)  His argument was simply: if this is not of God it will self-destruct... “But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." NIV

A.  It is important to be on the side of the winners.  Jeremiah was true to God’s message and Peter and John had refused to stop preaching... true to Jesus’ great commission.  They were in danger and were destined to suffer greatly.  But Jeremiah writes: “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” Jer 20:9 NIV  These men of God could not help themselves.  They had to speak what God had given them.  I am asked, “You are retirement age now.  Why don’t you just hang it up and relax?”  But they cannot understand that... my bones are on fire.  

P.  Lord, please don’t send the fire department.  I cherish the fire in  my bones.  Instead, please stir it up.  Breathe upon it.  Make it hotter than ever.  And as You open doors sometimes to preach to large crowds or maybe to a small group of little children... may the fire burn in my soul and may Your words become my words.  Amen.

Ralph