By: Gen. Jim — 3/29/24
The Spirit of prophecy has been speaking words of FIRE lately (see Jesuscallstoall.com/Words of The Spirit.net). By “FIRE” I mean Words that BURN (example: “Is not My Word like a FIRE says the LORD…” -Jer. 23:29). It was the LORD that put “Words of Fire” in the mouth of His prophet, Jeremiah. (example: “… Behold you speak this word; behold I will make My Words in your mouth FIRE…” -Jer. 5:14).
In the very beginning of Jeremiah’s ministry, the LORD put Prophetic Words in his mouth (see Jer. 1:9). Jeremiah was called to “root out & to pull down, to destroy & to throw down, to build & to plant” (Jer. 1:10).
Some folks believe that a prophet or prophetess merely predicts future events. Not so.
Some prophecies are fulfilled immediately; other prophecies have an intermediate fulfillment; finally, future prophecies are fulfilled.
While God puts His Words in the mouth of His prophets, He, at times, uses angels, visions, dreams. In ancient Israel, He used the mysterious Urim & Thummim (see Ex. 28:13-30 where we find the ephod & breastplate with the Urim/Thummim, called a “breastplate of judgment, see also Lev. 8:7,8/Ex. 29:1-37).
The N.T. speaks of prophecy (see 1 Cor. 12:10). Chapter 14 tells us more about prophets/prophecy (14:3-5,29-32,39).
Back To Jer. 23:29
Verses 28 & 29 draw a sharp contrast between the dream of the false prophet & the true prophet. God’s Word will BURN up the chaff (i.e. false prophecy); the true Word of the LORD (wheat) will remain. God’s Words are not merely predictions (which some certainly are) but having great force to accomplish what was intended -BURNING-CUTTING-SMASHING (sword/hammer/fire).
Today’s Churches have false prophets operating in them. Very few have true, fire-breathing prophets, where the Sword Cuts & the Fire Burns. This is what is needed – let the fire BURN the HELL out of us!
God is putting forth thru His prophets & prophetesses, prophecies about “Miracles of Mercy” & “Miracles of Misery.”
Jeremiah became very familiar with persecution, profound contempt & scorn for putting forth the Word of LORD. His profound intimacy with the spirit of prophecy got him into a heap of trouble – men/women/kings et al. did not like what he had to say to them.
Not so with the false prophets of the day – they were listened to. When anyone serves Him falsely, though they (or we) implore His name, He is infinitely far from them (us)!
What has chaff in common with wheat? What has darkness in common with light? The Word of the LORD/Lord, when spoken faithfully & truly, contains in itself the power of LIFE & DEATH. It is like FIRE which consumes the chaff of non-godly prophecy; it contains in itself the self-revealing power which, like a hammer, BREAKS in pieces the lies & hypocrisy.
How few in this hour & in this generation have the FIRE, the SWORD, the HAMMER of God.
What of the “burden of the Lord” for these days? What of Massâ’, which originally meant simply a “burden” or a “weight” to be carried (see Jer. 23:33,34). Who today carries God’s “burden” for the unsaved? Few compared to those who merely “play” Church. (The Heb. word Massâ’, from a root meaning “to lift up”) Massâ’ was also a technical term for a message or oracle of God, as in Nah. 1:1; Hab. 1:1; Mal. 1:1; et al. It is understood that the usage may have originated in the idea that the message (for the “mess age”) was a “burden” placed by God upon the prophet, which he (or she) in turn was expected to place on the nation or individual. It was most often used of messages foretelling catastrophe & doom! (see how many times Massâ’ is used; #4853 in the Strongs Con.: 53 times in O.T.)
Not all burdens/Massâ’ were “doom & gloom” – some were of liberation/healing etc.
But the Doom & Gloom prophecies were for the time in which God was dealing with backslidden Israel, so when, from the perspectives of the false optimisms engineered by the unfaithful prophets, the question was addressed to Jeremiah in mockery, “What is the burden of the LORD?” Jeremiah countered with, “You are the burden!” The false prophets told the king/people that nothing evil would befall them, although Israel was as backslid as Hell!! The false prophets, to please the king/people put forth “all is well,” not “all will be Hell!” They put forth the superficial for the real, the false for the actual.
Over the years we’ve been persecuted, prosecuted (even spent time in prison) for speaking/writing about the (real) “burden” of the Lord.
Jeremiah did not stop when persecuted/put in prison. NO Sir! He kept at it: “God is going to destroy Jerusalem!” The cup of Yahweh’s WRATH is going to be poured out! God has told us the same concerning this nation (USA). The reign of King Zedekiah ended when the King of Babylon broke in upon Jerusalem. (see chapters 34-39)
Nation/Culture
PAIN! Yes, America is in PAIN! We, as a culture, have become as Isaiah 53:6 describes: “All we like sheep did go astray, we turned every one to his own way; & the LORD has laid on Him (Christ) the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah was writing about backslid Jerusalem; this pretty well describes the new JerUSAlem (which many believe is America). Our pain is self-inflicted. We have alienated ourselves from the love, life, & light of Jesus Christ. The PAIN of this alienation manifests itself in depression, addiction, & many other hurtful/harmful things. Who is truly happy these days?
The Holy Spirit is giving us many Words that are frightening indeed (esp. the March 27th, 2024 one). Not only America in PAIN, but the whole world in general. Time to repent & be healed. His healing power is here still.