PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Stand for godly change; be a catalyst for good (Jer 15:1-4). #StandForGodliness #CatalystForChange #StandInTheGap

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

The line of unrepentant sin had been crossed by Judah. It started with king Josiah‘s father (Manasseh). The people of Judah may have thought there sin was no worse than the people of Manasseh’s time. But it was by their own choice that they continued in their sin. Not even the prayers of Moses or Samuel could save them.

Judgment by disease, the sword, famine and captivity was now eminent. Devastation will come by the destroyers. Their bodies would be dragged away by wild dogs, picked clean by vultures and devoured by other animals. In short, the nation would be decimated.

America should take a lesson from history. When the “body politic” perpetuates sin and tolerates godless leadership, the entire nation suffers. Lord, may the godly stand up to the status quo, turn the tide of godless ideologies and be the genesis of change.

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Own your sin; don’t presume upon God’s goodness (Jer 14:19–22). #SinOfPresumption #OwnYourSin #Don’tBlameOthers

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Once again there is a prayer of contrition (see vv 7–9). But it is without true repentance. The people of Judah presume upon God‘s goodness. They say, “Of course we have sinned God – so did our ancestors. Still you saved them – save us. Don’t you have a reputation at stake here? What about your Covenant responsibility? Surely you are the best of the gods…You can send rain.“ PRETTY WEAK.

Is this old sentry (is America) like Judah? Do I take responsibility for my own sin? Do I view God as simply the best among many gods (v22). Do I point my finger and remind God of his Covenant duty (v21), and forgotten my own? Lord, may I (my beloved nation) not presume upon you. My sin is my own and I must own it, humbly repent and appeal to your grace alone for salvation.

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Give us a vision of the road ahead paved in unrepentance (Jer 14:17,18). #TheCostOfUnrepentance #TurnNowToGod https://bible.com/bible/1588/jer.14.17-18.AMP

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

The Lord sets Jeremiah aweeping. He envisions Judah – Jerusalem – as a precious virgin daughter, a woman in her young prime, struck down, lying mortally wounded. Oh what sorrow the Father must endure. In the countryside dead bodies are strewn, slaughtered by the sword of war (a judgment blow).

In the city there are more dead and dying in the streets from famine (another judgment blow). Sadly the false prophets and priests are not only still spewing their lies, they are led into a tragic captivity and there they will die. Not a pretty picture.

Lord, it is NOT hard to imagine an America where her leaders (civic and religious) have lied and led a gullible godless people into a place of devastation. There is no hope, UNLESS, there is true and genuine repentance in the land.

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

May the mouths of God’s genuine messengers clearly speak TRUTH (Jer 14:13-16). #SpeakTruth

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

After being told the third time by God not to pray for Judah’s unrepentant people, Jeremiah reverently speaks up to God. “But God, false prophets have been leading the people astray. They tell the people that you say all is well.“

God speaks to Jeremiah, “I did not send them. [Iimplied here, “I sent you“].” “They speak lies [you speak truth]. They were not sent by me [you were]. Their visions are foolish, made up in their own heads [you Jeremiah have heard straight forward truth from me].“

Then God said, “False prophets will go down in flames. They will be among the first to die in judgment. As for those who listen to them [and not to my true prophets], they to will die in judgment.“

Culture is fond of saying, “Speak your truth.“ THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUTH! Lord, how important it is that the genuine messengers of God continue to speak the truth of your Holy Scriptures.

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Present to God a genuinely surrendered heart (Jer 14:11,12). #Repentance #TrueRepentance #TurnNowToGod #WakeUpAmerica #Awakening

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Again (3rd time), the Lord instructs Jeremiah not to pray for Judah (see also 7:16; 11:14). Implied here, in context, is that their fasting, worship and offerings are no substitute for genuine, sincere repentance. Worship and stone cold hearts toward God are “NONSTARTERS.“

God cannot and will not be bought off by religious activity. Instead God vows to destroy this people with the sword, famine and disease – “three hammerblows of divine judgment” (e.g. 26:23–26; Ezk 5:12).* Lord, there is NO substitute for a genuinely surrendered, yielded, heart to you.

Like Judah, the only hope for America is a genuine turning back to God. America, sitting in church pews across the country, with stone cold hearts is no substitute for genuine repentance.

* Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Express genuine mourning over our sin (Jer 14:7–10). #SincereRepentance #UnqualifiedRepentance

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

So, what is wrong with the apparent repentance of Judah, that God would not withhold his judgment? Well, the people seem to be blaming God for their troubles. In verse (v7) they say, “OK God we’re caught – yes, we have a habit of sin.“ Then, in vv8,9, they essentially blame God for their woes.

They say, “God, you act like you don’t know us. Are you confused? Are you helpless to save?“ Then, they tell God, “We are known as your people, you can’t abandon us now!“ Really? You see, “Sorry“ only works so many times. Insincerity is the height of indifference. Only a genuine morning for sin will bring a merciful God back to the table. Lord, may this old sentry know a genuine mourning for sin. May my beloved country know such mourning.

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Walk in humble acknowledgment of God‘s sovereign Grace and holiness (Jer 14:1–10).

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

Here we see God sending a drought on Judah for her rejection of him. This should not have been a surprise. God warned them (Deu 28:22-24) this would happen if they turned their backs on him. The drought was devastating the city, the farmers and the livestock. Nobles, who never seem to be without, send servants for water. They returned with empty pitchers because the cisterns are empty.

The people had rejected the Living Water for false empty cisterns (2:13); false gods who offer no life-giving water. Their grief and crying is not for sin but for their own personal comfort. God will not answer. Lord, your warnings are clear. May we pay heed to the signs of judgment. May we acknowledge you as sovereign and humbly repent, while we still can.

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Seek out godly leaders who will rule in righteousness and wisdom (Jer 13:21b-24). #EveryLeaderAccountable #Repent #PrayForGodlyLeaders #InWithTheGoodOutWithTheBad #TrunNowToGod

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

God turns to the people of Judah. He speaks in broad terms. Though there is a remnant who love and follow God, Judah, as a people, had left God behind. They have tolerated unrighteous and godless leaders. They held them UNACCOUNTABLE.

So, now God says the people cannot repent. They cannot repent any more than the African can change the color of his skin or the leopard can remove its spots. For Judah repentance is not an actual impossibility. It is, sadly to say, for them a moral impossibility. They could repent, but they will not.

So for America the question is not will she repent. The question is can she repent. Has she crossed the line of moral imperative. No one but God would know that. It remains for those who still can repent and will repent to continue speaking for God; raising the issue of repentance at every opportunity. Will we, like Jeremiah, now find ourselves weeping for the leaders/shepherds? They have failed to follow God. The sheep are being scattered. Will the remnant hold to a standard of righteousness and hold her leaders ACCOUNTABLE?

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Live by the counsel of God‘s word (Jer 13:18,19). #GodDoesWhatHeSays #BelieveGodsWord #GodsWordIsTrue

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

These two verses are a reminder to me that prophecy is real. Here Jeremiah predicts the fall of Judah. King Jehoiachin along with his widowed Queen mother, Nehushta, would be captured and sent into exile. Jeremiah exhorts them to humble themselves for their capture an exile were eminent (Jer 29:2; 2Ki 24: 1–15).

Nebuchadnezzar would capture the surrounding towns of Jerusalem. He would cut off any retreat of those fleeing Jerusalem from the invading army. The fall of Jerusalem came in 587 BC. What God says, he will do! Lord, I put my whole trust in the counsel of your Word.

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Listen, heed God’s warnings and turn to him (Jer 11:1–5). #ListenHeedTurn #Repentance https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.11.1-5.NLT

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

This passage begins a fourth general prophecy/message dealing with Israel’s failure to keep covenant with God. Message #1 (2:1–3:5) revolved around Judah’s unfaithfulness to God; message #2 (3:6–6:30) is a summons to repent under king Josiah‘s godly reign; message #3 (7:1–10:25) exposed Judah’s false religion (confessing God with their lips but doing something entirely different).

Here, message #4 (11:1–12:17) focuses on Deuteronomy 28, where God explains the blessings of obedience to him and the consequences of disobeying him. The Takeaway for Judah then (and us today) is this. God gives man ample time, warning and instructions before acting in judgment. Lord, may I (my beloved nation) have the spiritual vision to see, understand and respond accordingly to you.

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Boast not in self but boast in God’s greatness (Psm 75:7–10). #GodIsGreater

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

There are those who boast in their own greatness independent of a sovereign God. But it is God who decides greatness; who rises and who falls.

God further holds the cup of ultimate judgment. The wicked, the proud and the arrogant will be forced to drink from this cup, and drink it down to the last drop of sediment. God will break the strength of the godless and he will exalt the godly. Lord, may I not boast in my own accomplishments, but boast in you alone.

PRAYING FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHURCH AND NATION

Surrender your life and plans to an INFINITE OMNISCIENT GOD (Psm 75:2,3). #GodsCalendar #GodsInfinitePlans #Omniscience

MORNING WATCH NOTES:

God says, “At the time I have planned.“ I am treading on holy ground here. I (the finite one) am going to make an educated guess at how I think the INFINITE ONE works in time. That’s a pretty silly sounding thought. I’ll give it a shot.

God is at work in his calendar of time. He knows the appointed times of his justice, judgment and redemption. He knows how and what circumstances he will forge in the affairs of men. In all of that, he also takes into account the free will of man and how man will respond to him (Note Pro 16:9).

When I put things down in my calendar they are always tentative. Circumstances I am unaware of may change my plans without notice (Jas 4:13-16). God on the other hand is omniscient and knows all from beginning to end (Isa 46:9,10; 1Jn 3:20). When God created his calendar of time he did so with complete knowledge of all the events and circumstances of men.

The most important thing this old sentry can do is to humbly yield my plans and responses to circumstances to the INFINITE CREATOR GOD.