“For he…will not see when prosperity comes…Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”Jeremiah 17:6-8

God gave Jeremiah this powerful warning: “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD” (v. 5). We must be careful not to place our ultimate trust in people, because God knows that “the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick.” Having thoroughly searched people’s hearts and minds, He urges us to realize these truths about humankind. God provides a vivid contrast here. On one hand, we see the life of blessing and prosperity that He promises for those who trust Him. He offers a picture of continual supply, for those who trust in Him “will be like a tree planted by the water.” They will be in a position to receive from Him no matter what is going on in the world around them. Even in drought, they will prosper. In contrast, those who trust in other people find themselves detached from God. Not depending on Him, they will not receive His continual flow of blessings. Instead, they will find themselves living “in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant” (v. 6). God described the “wealth,” “treasure,” and “inheritance” He has prepared for His people (v. 3). But He also warned that they could lose it all if they trusted in the wrong people. They would not “see when prosperity comes.” Brothers & Sisters, the Bible makes it clear that God desires to bless every part of our lives. To receive these blessings, we must serve Him and keep His Word. Instead of being self-centered, we must be ready to give of what He has given us, seeking to bless others and further God’s Kingdom.

“Say to the king and the queen mother, ‘Take a lowly seat, for your beautiful crown has come down from your head.’ The cities of the Negev have been locked up…all Judah has been carried into exile, wholly carried into exile.”Jeremiah 13:18-19

Jeremiah was called to give a special message to Judah’s King Jehoiachin and his mother, Nehushta. Even though Jehoiachin reigned only eight years, he was an evil king. And his kingdom was besieged by Babylon. Feeling like they had no choice, Jehoiachin and Nahushta went out to meet Babylon’s king, Nebuchadnezzar, who then took Jehoiachin into captivity (2 Kings 24). But before this final act, Jeremiah warned Jehoiachin about his pride and his need for humility. Nevertheless, the king remained arrogant and defiant. God had called them to look around and see the danger coming. He asked them to account for the people who were their responsibility: “Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful sheep?” He warned that Jehoiachin would look back with regret. He might wonder, “Why have these things happened to me?” The answer? “Because of the magnitude of your iniquity.” God Himself would “scatter them like drifting straw to the desert wind” and expose their weaknesses openly—all because they had “forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood.” He had seen their “adulteries” and knew about “the lewdness of your prostitution” and their “abominations.” Neither Jehoiachin nor Nehushta took these warnings seriously. They refused to take a “lowly seat” or change. As God told Jeremiah, He hates pride, and He promised to “destroy the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.” There was hope, but only if they repented (Jeremiah 13). Brothers & Sisters, the message is the same for us today. Remember: God hates pride! “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate” (Proverbs 8:13). Be on guard against pride. Humble yourself before God.

“Even the stork in the sky knows her seasons; and the turtledove and the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration; but My people do not know the ordinance of the LORD.”Jeremiah 8:7

Year after year, birds follow precise migratory paths. They depart on exact dates and travel to specific destinations. Nothing is random or haphazard. They simply know what to and when to do it. There is no resistance or hesitation. These patterns are ingrained into their being. These migratory patterns teach us to marvel at God’s creative design. But they also provide an important message. For we, too, have been created by God. And He established patterns in our lives as well. We, too, have been given seasons to follow and fundamental needs to address. But there also are differences: While birds don’t question their core values or their nature, we have the ability to choose. We either can follow God’s patterns or go our own way. We can choose to obey Him or ignore and disobey His laws. Birds instinctively know there is a time to return to the foundations. But many people “fall and do not get up again.” They “turn away” and do not repent. They go down the wrong path and still won’t follow God’s design. The Lord saw how His people “turned away in continual apostasy.” Instead of being like birds and returning to their home, they refused to change, becoming “like a horse charging into the battle.” They just kept going, and they suffered the consequences. God has given us His patterns and principles for our good! He wants us to realize that obeying Him is the way to find fulfillment and maximum blessings…to peace and satisfaction…and to a life of purpose and meaning. This is what our Heavenly Father wants for us. Brothers & Sisters Today, be sure to make the right choices. Make God’s Word the foundation of your life. Seek to follow the seasons He has established, and live according to His principles.

"Behold, God is my salvation (Jesus in Hebrew), I will trust and not be afraid; 'For the LORD JEHOVAH, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation (Jesus). Therefore with joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation (Jesus)."Isaiah 12:2-3 ; "On the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any man thirsts, let him come to Me, and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."John 7:37-38

During the Feast of Sukkot, the Jewish people took part in a water drawing ceremony on the last day of the feast. They would go down to the Pool of Siloam, draw water and bring it to the Temple Mount. Then they would pour out the water and recite Isaiah 12, "and with joy you shall draw water out of the wells (springs) of salvation." In Hebrew, the word salvation and Jesus, in Hebrew, are the same. Imagine the scene at the time of Jesus' appearance. It is likely that in the midst of this ceremony, He stood up and proclaimed, "If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink." He who believes in Me as the Scripture said, "from His innermost being shall flow rivers of living water." Brothers & Sisters, this promise is true for us today. Our Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever. He did not promise a sprinkling or a tiny stream. He promised rivers of living water. Claim this promise today -- claim the fullness of life in Him. Draw from Him the peace that passes all understanding. Draw from Him pure love -- agape love. Draw from Him the joy that makes the trees clap. Draw all that you need, but in order to draw from Him -- you must go to Him. One cannot draw water from a spring unless one goes to the spring. Go to the spring that never runs dry -- go to your spring of Jesus! DRAW FROM THE SPRINGS OF JESUS!

"Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world: he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life."John 8:12 '; "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut."Matthew 25:1-10

During the feast of Tabernacles in Jesus' day, the temple priests would set up four great lampstands with golden lampholders, which they would light with the aid of enormous ladders in the Temple courtyard. The lighting of these lamps began the celebration of the "Great Hosannah" (Hoshannah Rabbah, in Hebrew). The celebration went on in to the wee hours -- with music and dancing and rejoicing, while the beautiful lights lit up the night. Jerusalem was a breathtaking, illuminated city on a hill. The following morning the Jewish people would recite the prayer for the eighth day of the feast -- "Be thou praised, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who makest light and causes darkness, who makest peace and createst all: the light of the world as the treasure of life…" Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world.". God is Light, He loves light, He creates light, He sheds light, He desires light. Lamps with oil produce light, both for those who carry them and for those who see the light bearers. "You are the light of the world", He said. So the Lord also expects light from and His people. The light of God in our lives comes from His Holy Spirit, and oil has always been associated with the Spirit's ministry in the lives of believers. Burning oil produces light. If we are spiritual "virgins"because we are betrothed to one Heavenly Husband, we ought to bear His light in this dark world. Yet He has told us that some virgins will not have the wisdom to do it, so it is a warning to us; a warning not to quench the Spirit, but be filled with Him and be the light of the world. Brothers & Sisters, some of us, though virgins, have been walking in darkness. This could change. The choice to light our lamps belongs to us. The gift of the Holy Spirit has been given to all true virgins. The wise among us will "buy oil" and maintain our lamps thoroughly filled. To "buy oil" means to "spend time" with the One who supplies it, asking Him to fill us up, and to clean out the impurities in our "lamps". You know what this means for you personally, and I know what it means for me. We ought to think about the joy of the wedding, and prepare our hearts with His light... illuminated beautifully for all the world to see, and to be ready! At midnight, when the Bridegroom suddenly appears, our joy will be unspeakable. FILL YOUR LAMBS!

“Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend shall perish.’”Jeremiah 6:21

God tried to get the attention of His people. He sent Jeremiah and other prophets to remind them of His Word and reveal their sins. Although He warned them of the consequences of their actions, nothing changed. Finally, God said He would “put problems in front” of them. They would face circumstances they could not ignore, ones they were unable to solve in their own strength. This would force them to turn to Him. God uses many ways to speak to us and get our attention…to help us evaluate our lives, actions, choices, priorities, and beliefs. At times, He may allow us to experience problems. We may have to go through circumstances that challenge us, frustrate us, or stretch us. We even may be tempted to become afraid or worried. As we face problems, we first may rely on our own skills and resources, our own thoughts and strength. We may turn to people we know or put our trust in governments and armies, businesses, and institutions. We may rely on the advice of counselors or educators, experts or scholars. Any or all of these might help us in the short run. But eventually, like ancient Judah, we may face problems too difficult for our human options. These may cause us to realize our need to turn to God. Today, don’t wait for a crisis to cause you to seek the Lord. Make Him the focus of your life. Seek to know His Word and obey it. Apply His principles to every situation you face. Brothers & Sisters always be conscious of God’s presence with you. Make prayer a central part of your life, praying continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16) and about everything (Philippians 4:6). Constantly seek His wisdom. As you face challenges and problems, listen to God and let Him guide you.

"And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be, that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them."Zechariah 14:16-17

The God-ordained Feast of Tabernacles is a prophetic feast, and one which will be kept by all the people of the world in the coming age. In resurrected bodies, we will be celebrating this feast, year to year in Jerusalem during the millennial reign of Jesus! Can you imagine it -- celebrating with the King of Kings! If that's not something to anticipate, I'm not sure what is! Right now, there's quite a bit of turmoil in the world, which is producing a level of uncertainty and anxiety that I've not witnessed as a believer. Yet despite all of these scary situations, we have something wonderful to look forward to -- and if you're like me, you can't wait! Brothers & Sisters, don't let the times we’re living in control your life; instead, use these turbulent times as an opportunity to display the goodness and grace of God in your life! As Jesus said, when you see these things begin to take place -- lift your heads high because your redemption draws near! REJOICE -- THE CELEBRATION AWAITS US!