Getting it twisted

Jeremiah 44:17-19

    "17 "But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For [then] we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble. 18 "But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine." 19 [The women also said], "And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make cakes for her, to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her without our husbands' [permission]?"

    The lessons in this passage are profound and vast. Be that as it may, I would like to discuss the profound simplicity of the wickedness in the hearts of these women and their husbands as a caution to women today- to people today.

    These women had performed offerings and sacrifices in the form of incense to worship the “Queen of Heaven” {aka. Semiramis, Oestre, Easter}. They did this because they were taught by their fathers to perform these worship ceremonies. This was abominable in the sight of God and it berated His heart with rejection. However, in His mercy and long-suffering, God did not allow calamity to come upon these people - even whilst they were engaged in overt worship of other gods. However, the wicked one, whom they were serving knows no loyalty and at last, these Jews in Egypt suffered the fruit of sowing what they reaped, however, the wicked one waited until they ceased their demonic activities to bring disaster upon them. Let's look at just this in perspective. The people were offering burnt offerings to demons {other gods} and they stopped. As soon as they stopped, the devil was furious and unleashed hell on their lives. The purpose for this was to drive them back to offering burnt offerings by confusing their minds into thinking that the false gods they were worshiping were responsible for blessing them. Then Jeremiah comes to them and warns them not to go back to sacrificing to demons and they rebel immediately. Their sentiment is clear, they believe that if they don’t return to demon worship, their lives will get worse and worse. This is my first point, so often I have heard believers say things similar to these women. I have even said things similar myself in my ignorance. I have heard believers say that before they decided to “get serious” about God, their lives were pretty good but as soon as they turned to God and tried to be who He created them to be and do what He called them to do, they experienced all hell breaking loose. The problem is that they truly believe two grave lies. First, they believe that if they live like they still belong to their former father the devil, then they will be better off. Second that God is not big enough to teach them how to get out of the hell they find themselves in. 

    Personally, I made a very detrimental choice when I was younger and when it came time to face the consequences thereof, I pridefully boasted that if I had to suffer the terrible consequences then I would just start a ministry anyway. Well to say that this statement enraged the kingdom of darkness is an understatement! I immediately felt the full-frontal attack of the enemy. Why? Because he was mad that I was making a stand and I wasn’t backing off or returning to his influence….period. It was like he said to me “I defy you to leave me and if you continue you will face my wrath!” Through the grace and mercy of my Father in Heaven, I was delivered entirely from that situation and the consequences of it and still started a ministry!! In the New Testament we find the truth of what happens when we turn from darkness to light. Hebrews 10:32 says:

 “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings."

One of the first things that happens to us when we make a stand on God’s word and direction is that we anger the kingdom of darkness and feel an attack. We should expect this and be ready for it but what we should NOT do is blame God!

    The next point I would like to bring out is the fact that these women practiced their abominations without their husband’s permissions. This is important for two reasons. First this clearly shows a lack of submission to authority. These women didn’t honor their husbands - for verse 19 reveals they acted without their husband’s permissions - how in the world would they now obey God? Second they believed that God was to blame for their sufferings. This is never, ever the case…ever. 

    Further, they stated that “they would surely do what had gone out of their mouths.” {v. 17}. Then in verse 25, God drops the hammer… 

                "25 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'You and your wives have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands, saying, "We will surely keep our vows that we have made, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her." You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows!' 26 "Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: 'Behold, I have sworn by My great name,' says the LORD, 'that My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, "The Lord GOD lives."

    Basically God said to them “Oh yeah? Is that how it is? Ok since you rejected me and don’t want to speak my name {which,  by the way is the only way out of this mess} then I will see to it that no one of your people ever speaks my name again!” 

    This is very, very , very bad because if there is no ability to speak the name of God, there is no ability to pray to God for help and thus there is no help!! That is exactly what happened too!! The effectively cut themselves off from ever receiving any relief. 

    So what is the take away? There are three first, wives submit to your husbands in the Lord and you husbands follow the Lord your God and make sure you are aware of your wives’ practices. Second, don’t be deceived into thinking that somehow God is bringing calamity on you or allowing it to happen when you take a stand for Him or learn a new revelation- that is the devils department. Third, understand that if you are in dire straits, the only way out is God- all else is futile. Pray, ask God for His wisdom then read the word to find what you need if at first you don’t hear His voice immediately. This will save you for there is no wisdom, no counsel, no understanding against the Lord!