Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
It is to a nation who has lost it’s way that these words come from the mouth of God.
Jer 6:13-14 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
This exhortation is given to redirect Gods people, To awaken them to their personal responsibility to stand, to see, to ask for and to walk in the old paths = the good way.
Many of Israel’s prophets and even the priests had lost their fear of God and their love for God, they had become greedy and materialistic. They were performing their services out of covetousness.
They were prophesying falsely and deceitfully, They were saying what the people wanted to hear and not what God had said, In doing this it had produced a spiritual cancer that was destroying Gods people, they were covering their sins with religious activities.
This word from God from a true prophet (Jeremiah) told the people that they were responsible to know the truth for themselves and not to be deceived by these false priests, and false prophets.
It is very easy to get caught up in a gospel that is a gospel of convenience and comfort, a gospel without a cross, and a gospel that permits you to think, say, or do anything you want. A gospel that denys the grace of God, and exalts self to a status of Godhood, so that anything self chooses is considered right and acceptable.
Pr 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Pr 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Any time the bible says something 2 times word for word this close together it is vitally important.
Paul said,
Ga 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Today as never before we must heed this admonition to stand in the ways and see = consider, compare, Do you see the cross? Do you see the blood? Do you see the son of God dying for your sins? Do you see him raising from the dead? Do you see him coming to live in his children through the person of the Holy Spirit?
Do you see the requirement to crucify the self life with its affections and lusts thereof?
Do you see Jesus Christ as the only door and way to God the father?
Do you see clearly the dividing line between sin and righteousness?
We must look for the familiar landmarks: Is there an altar? Is there repentance for sin? Is there baptism in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, is there salvation, healing, and deliverance? Are there signs and wonders and miracles? Is there spirit led and spirit filled worship?. What about the gifts of the spirit?
These are all familiar landmarks (sign posts that mark the old paths).
Is there a concern and burden for the lost, is there weeping and travail? Have we gotten off the path and not known it?
We must never substitute Movement for progress, or Activity for power, or Gold for Glory.
I believe in progress, but all movement and all change is not progress, We must ask ourselves ( Do the changes bring us closer to the divine pattern of Gods word)?
1 chron 13: 7-12 David was led astray by the philistine spirit, He followed their example of putting the ark of Gods presence on a new cart.
He took the ark off of the shoulders of the priests, God ordained that the ark of his presence would be carried upon the shoulders of the priests, moving one step at a time directed by God.
It has always been so, * God has entrusted his presence and his power to the shoulders of men and women of prayer,
* Gods work in the earth is dependant upon the prayers and intercession of his people,
*The success of his work in the earth is dependant upon men and women waiting upon him for his guidance and direction.
The fact is it still takes prayer and fasting, it still takes sacrifice and self denial, it still takes travail, and it still takes waiting upon God in total dependence.
God interrupted David’s party with a funeral.
When uzzah took hold of the ark God slew him,
1Ch 15:2 Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
1Ch 15:13 For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.
Don’t be deceived by the spirit of this age,
You can’t go any where, think anything you want, say anything you want, watch anything you want, listen to anything you want and still be Holy, There is a price to pay.
Jeraboam became king in Israel, over all but one tribe which followed Rehoboam, But Jeroboam was afraid that the kingdom would turn to Rehoboam solomons son so he designed a plan, (it was in essence) a new way for Israel = Leaving the old paths
1Ki 12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
Bethel= House of God, Dan= Judge These actions were a complete pollution and corruption of the House of God, and rejection and rebellion against God as their Judge.
30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
This became a new way that turned the people away from God: They accepted a religion of convenience, that required nothing from them but their attendance from time to time, Their worship was false, and was a direct rebellion against the command of God, to not make any graven image, or worship any other God.
Finally The priesthood was polluted, by taking those who were unfit, unqualified, and chosen by man and not God to perform the services.
I hear the Holy Spirit saying again tonight,
Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Ask for the old paths, Many have departed from the old paths, Many have despised the old paths, many have traded his presence for his presents. Many have chosen gold over glory, And the praise of men over the praise of God.
*There is not a vast crowd in the old paths, but the ones who have walked there are the ones I want to be associated with.
*The old paths may not be the easy way, but it is the good way, and it is in these old paths = the good way That our souls will experience the true rest (peace of God).
