Obey, and you will do well, and you will live

I invite you to open your Bibles in the Book of Jeremiah chapter 38. Last week my brothers, the Pastor brought a powerful message, a key message on obedience based on Jeremiah 35, the account of the Rechabites, a people that God praised and blessed for their radical obedience in sad contrast to the people of Jerusalem who were about to suffer a terrible judgment because of their disobedience.

How does this story end? In chapter 38 we find the last conversation between the prophet Jeremiah and Zedekiah, the last king of Judah before the exile to Babylon and shortly before the Lord's judgment descended. We can learn a lot my brothers from this exchange.

Perhaps you have never read this passage but for many of us this conversation, even though we have never read this passage, it will seem very recognizable to us, we are going to see each other, I see myself reflected in this conversation.

By the way, this comment is not in my notes. Perhaps this message will seem a bit strong to you, and it is, but I encourage you my brothers, listen well to the voice of love, listen carefully to the soft Voice of God's love woven into this Word.

Jesus: I cover myself with your blood at this moment, I am the first to submit to this Word prostrating myself before You declaring You King, asking for Your mercy and asking that You have mercy on all of us who yearn to love You as You wish to be loved. Breathe Spirit of God on this Word, quicken our souls through it in Jesus Name. Thank you brother.

Verse 14, Jeremiah 38 verse 14: "Then King Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought before him at the third entrance of the House of Jehovah; and the king said to Jeremiah, I will ask you a question, are you not hiding any of stuff?"

It is believed that the third entrance of the temple, my brothers, was an entrance dedicated to the king's use, his own connector between the king's palace and the temple, perhaps even an extremely private place where he met with the priests, perhaps in a time, his own chamber, his own place where the king, designed for the king of Judah himself to be alone with God, a special place. This is one of the last conversations that takes place in that place.

There King Zedekiah had his third and last conversation with Jeremiah. Verse 15: "And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, If I tell you, will it not be true that you will kill me? And if I give you advice, you will not listen to me. And King Zedekiah swore in secret to Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD lives, who made this soul for us "a strong oath, "that I will not kill you or deliver you into the hands of these men who seek your life."

The first time that Jeremiah brought this king a word from Jehovah, he was flogged and imprisoned in Jonathan's house, and he nearly died. The second time they dumped him in a muddy cistern and nearly died. It is understandable if poor Jeremías says: okay, here we go again, now what? will they hang me, the electric chair? you gotta be kidding me, here we go again. But the king insists: I swear, no one will harm you, what does the Lord say? says the king, what does He want from me?

Brethren: don't you think about why the king insists on hearing the Word of God from His prophet if he has already heard it twice? he has heard the same message and he did not like it, and even asking him, perhaps you are better theologians and commentators, you will know very well why he insists on asking the same thing over and over again, because we often ask God the same thing and again.

And I would say two very important reasons. Firstly, because things are not going well for Zedekiah. He can't find a solution despite all the cheap advice around him telling him what he wants to hear. He recognizes that there is power, there is life in the Word of God and in his bones he recognizes that the only hope comes from there. Since he has no choice, I have to hear what God wants even if I don't like it.

But, two: he hopes that maybe God has changed his mind, maybe God will say: just kidding! It was joke; He will tell you something more comfortable, something that costs less. But God hasn't changed his mind. (Drinking water) I don't know whose water it is but glory to God forever (laughs). God has not changed his mind, he has not changed his message, He receives the same Word.

Verse 17: "Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel: If you immediately surrender yourself to the princes of the king of Babylon, your soul will live, and this city will not be set on fire, and you and your household will live. But if you do not surrender to the princes of the king of Babylon, this city will be delivered into the hand of the Chaldeans and they will burn it, and you will not escape from their hands."

As he has done with many of us, sooner or later as the Lord will do with all of us, God gave Zedekiah a choice, gave him a choice. God tells you this, perhaps you have heard it: Zedekiah has to do something difficult, perhaps the most difficult thing you have done in your life, something that perhaps does not make sense to you, it is against everything you feel, it is against Everything you want but if you do, I'll be with you. If you do, you will live, you will save your family and this whole city, but if you do not believe me, if you do not listen to me, if you do not obey me, you will lose everything. Sooner or later in the long run God gives us a choice.

Maybe you know this moment already, maybe you are living this moment already. What did Zedekiah choose? Verse 19: "And King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hands and mock me." Aah, finally, after three conversations. At last the heart of Zedekiah in the light of day.

And do you know my brother? in the long run what lives in each heart will be revealed and at the bottom of Zedekiah's heart we find fear. If we do not obey, I suggest, it is not because of lack of information or lack of disclosure, but because of fear.

Zedekiah feared that the Chaldeans would hand him over to these Jews who had already gone over to them, perhaps even collaborating with the Chaldeans, and these Jews would retaliate against him as they used to in these wars. Despite the fact that God gives you His Word, God gives you His Word quite the opposite.

Verse 20, and if this message has a key verse it is verse 20 of this chapter, "And Jeremiah said: they will not deliver you up, now hear the Voice of the Lord." That Word that you see there "hey now" calls my attention that when translated it is "shema", shema, hear now. Because it caches my attention? because I know that it is the first word of the most sacred prayer in the whole world, in the whole Jewish culture, the first word that appears in Deuteronomy 6:4: "Shema Israel, Adonai Eloeinu, Adonai Echad, Hear O Israel, the Lord is God, the Lord is one" Shema, listen, another word: pay attention, or in other words: pay attention, or in other words: obey, obey the Voice of Jehovah that I speak to you and it will go well for you, and you will live. Obey and you will do well, and you will live.

"But if you do not want to give yourself up, this is the Word that the Lord has shown me: behold, all the women who are left in the house of the king of Judah will be brought to the princes of the king of Babylon and they" this is a humiliation, "they They themselves will say: They have deceived you and have prevailed against you, your friends sank your feet into heaven, they turned back; they will therefore bring all your wives and your children to the Chaldeans, and you will not escape from their hands, but by hands you will be captured by the king of Babylon and this city burned with fire. And Zedekiah answers Jeremiah: this is between us. No one knows these words and you will not die."

What do you understand? This is what I understand: Zedekiah fears these Jews more than God. Zedekiah fears the opinion of princes and officials more than God, although in the end what he fears most is what happened to him. Do you know why my brothers? because in the long run who or what you fear you obey. Whom you fear you obey.

And this is where it gets though, it's a very recognizable pattern. We fear or revere something, more than God, even if it is destroying us, even if it ends in our own harm, it is a pattern that is found throughout the story between the people of God and His Creator, it is a pattern that sooner or later we hear . Pastor, although I know that God will never bless this relationship, I know that it is drying me up or destroying me, or it is destroying my home, I am afraid that if I leave this person I will die, the world will fall apart. God answers: obey and you will do well, and you will live.

Pastor: I know that he is calling me to leave this addiction, be it pornography or drugs, or alcohol, or gambling, but I am afraid of what they will say about me, I am afraid of getting into a program and failing. God answers: Obey and it will be well for you, and you will live. Pastor, I'm afraid to forgive the one who hurt me and deceived me, I don't know how to live without these resentments. My brother, my sister God answers you: Obey and it will go well for you, and you will live.

Pastor: I am afraid of coming to this appointment in my immigration case and telling the truth, I am afraid that they will deport me, I am afraid of losing everything, and I see heroes here who have experienced this, and the Lord has told them, and they responded: obey and it will go well, and you will live.

Pastor: I am afraid that if I stop this practice that God hates, lying or cheating, or cheating, or using others, I could lose my job, I could lose my position, and how will we defend ourselves? God answers: Obey and you will be fine, you will live. See the pattern? No matter how little sense it makes, no matter how much he feels that he will die if he does, God responds: Obey and you will do well, and you will live.

Now, brother: haven't you thought about why so much emphasis on obedience? and obedience, obedience, obedience, why this obsession with obedience, why so much about obedience?

It is inescapable, by the way, from the first pages of Genesis, in the whole account of God with Israel in the Old Testament and the message of Christ in all the Gospels and in all the New Testament until the last words of Revelation I see the same thing. If there is a consistent message in the Word of God, it is this: a God yearning and waiting for a people who obey him. Because? Here I offer a couple of reasons.

First of all, obedience is their love language. Obedience is God's language of love. what do I want to say with that? and here I am doing a promotion, Gary Chadman (the Pastor picks up the book, shows it to the Congregation), Gary Chadman in his book "The Five Love Languages" which I recommend for any couple, it is a very accessible book, " The five love languages" read it in the original, it's excellent. Gary Chadman in his book "The Five Love Languages" says that each of us has our favorite love language.

There are five, words of affirmation is one, "I love you, I respect you, I admire you" etc. got the idea. "Quality time" that is, turning off the football game and walking hand in hand through the park, the boardwalk, got the idea? Third, gifts: flowers, a new suit on Father's Day. Acts of service, boys: take out the trash. Physical touch: holding hands, a kiss on the cheek, etc., etc., etc. (laughs). The key here is this idea. The secret of loving, even between us, the secret of loving is not to impose a thousand love languages on my spouse but to learn and love her according to hers. I mean, it's not (seriously) "love her my way."

Maybe I'd rather write Marina a poem and, I can do that, or bring her a bouquet of flowers, okay? flowers are not lacking at home, giving me a few points (laughs). But when I wash the dishes or pick up the leaves from the sidewalk or fold the clothes from the dryer Marina understands: "Oh baby ooh, yeah!" (laughs). That is their love language.

Or how many have complained about parents who say "I loved them my way" how many do? "They did not lack a roof, they did not lack a house, they did not lack food", but dad was not there when we needed it, you did not love mom, you did not give us affection! it is not loving our way, especially God.

Loving that Word, loving is not whatever we say it is. The Word that means what we think is best to say in the long run does not mean anything, did you hear? God is love, He is love. Only He has the right to define love and what it is to love, and for the human being, the supreme expression of love is to love God. The supreme expression for a human being is to love his God, to love his God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind. Before loving our neighbor, before loving ourselves, love God in His way. And God has been clear throughout the Word, His love language is obedience.

Loving him is obeying him first and foremost. Whoever says he loves God, I don't doubt his sincerity but let's know what we're saying. The one who says he loves God, the one who calls Jesus "his Lord" or "his owner, his master" and explicitly commits himself to obey him, to obey him. "If you love Me" declares Jesus in John 14:15 "keep" or in other words obey My commandments. And in the Old Testament in First Samuel when Saul tries to love God in his own way with nice words, offering God an offering of the fruit of his disobedience, imagine, the prophet of God instructs him in God's love language, and he explains: "Certainly obeying is better than sacrifices."

He receives his sacrifice but behind that sacrifice, behind that offering, the Lord is seeking obedience. Obeying is better than sacrifices, and paying attention than the fat of rams. And again, Jesus at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, having preached a message that one thing or another guaranteed that the sea was going to fall on these people, on this crowd so that they know that he was very serious, and where He was standing, He concludes the sermon with these words: "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but the one who does" that is, the one who obeys "the Will of my Father who is in the heavens."

"Many will say" He said "on that day: Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name and cast out demons in Your Name, and perform miracles in Your Name? And then I will declare to them: I did not know them" we were never close, our hearts they did not touch We never exchange love. You didn't love me, you didn't speak My love language, I don't know you. Depart from Me you evildoers." Strong, but what is behind it?

I didn't meet you, why? Because the people of God are known by obedience. What I mean by this? and this is God's purpose, and for this, ah, you have to trust your dad, you have to trust your dad, he knows what he brings behind this and why this is so important to him and to you, and for our eternity.

The author C.S. Louis in his book: "Mere Christianity" struggles with the idea of why God created, have you ever thought about this? Why did God create a being capable of disobeying him? If obedience is so important to Him, why did God create?

I don't know if you have thought about the Pastor's illustration last week, the Garden of Eden, the Lord creates these beings in the very center of the Garden of Eden, the blessed tree there, greeting him every morning saying hello, what was God thinking? C.S. Louis struggles with this, why would God do this crazy thing?

Do you know why? because some of those beings will obey. Some of them will obey him. Vanessa believe it or not I'm coming in for a landing, I'm more surprised than anybody else, because some of those beings will obey him despite the era in which they live, or in the culture in which they live, or the customs in which they live, whether in Corinth or in Rome, in New York or in Boston, whatever it costs them; their reputations, their jobs, their careers, their families, or it costs them prison or gluttony, or the gladiator and the beasts of the coliseum, or the sword of Isis, or the cross, whatever the cost these strange people choose to obey God . There have always been, a small remnant but there are always rare people who go against everything they see, against laws that allow them other things, against a liberal and libertine culture, and they choose to love it, they choose to obey it! he is chosen above all else, regardless!

And God declares: These people obey me, these people love me, and the gates of hell will not prevail against such a people. It's true. That is the record of history.

The one who preaches to you, if the Lord had allowed him an alternate life, would be a history professor somewhere, I love history, and the record of history is clear. The one who obeys God is on the right side of history, because history begins and ends with God. Allow me a sentence or two in English: to obey God is to be on the right side of history, because history begins and ends with God ruling and Lord of all in His Throne, reigning over the universe. The light of the stars extinguished and God ruling over His people, His people worshiping Him. To choose Him, to follow Him, to obey Him is to be on the right side of history.

When the governments of this world are reduced to dust and its great institutions forgotten in the wind, Jesus will continue for eternity on His Throne, His law governing the universe, that's why this matters. Furthermore, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, etc. etc It is almost a distraction, it is, it is a gigantic distraction and that is why Jesus implores us: obey for God's sake, obey and it will go well for you, and you will live. Deny yourself, he says, take up your cross, follow me and you will do well, and you will live. By the way, I have never preached a message that defines God's love more than the one I am preaching to you today, never, He knows your life, He knows your drama.

Sooner or later obedience will take you to the point that obedience costs you, each one. How do you know you got there my brother? Maybe you've already heard this, how do you know you've reached that crisis point? Lord, if I do what you ask of me, I'll die! if I do what you ask me to do, I die!

He listens to you, and that's the point. There will be parts of us that, by obeying the Lord, will die, I say it again. There will be parts of us that, by obeying the Lord, will die. And Zedekiah discovered: whoever wants to save his life will lose it, this is the frontier of faith, this is the tightrope of faith, radical obedience. And if you have reached there, my brother, my sister, if you my brother have reached that point, let what has to die, let what has to die die.

The Lord who reads hearts, receive this Word, you who are in this crisis, you who are thinking about it, you who are fighting it, I congratulate you because you are taking God seriously, I congratulate you because you have just heard the Lord's invitation, follow me, follow me, I want you to be My disciple. I want you to enter another stage of your existence, of your life, follow me, follow me.

He, the Lord who reads hearts, who sees our drama, hears you saying: Lord, this is going to kill me but I'm doing this for You Jesus, I don't want to do it, I don't want to do it, it's against everything I understand, it's against everything I know but if You say so, if You ask, if this is what You want from me, I do this for You, I do this for You Jesus! Knows? He approaches you, He gives you His arm and assures you: daughter/son, trust Me, you will do well and you will live, and you will live.