Have you ever experienced a situation where someone comes asking for your help or opinion but you can tell it's all a ruse; they know exactly what they intend to do? That's the situation having an idol leaves you in whenever you go to GOD for help, you would eventually lean towards whatever your idol says or wants from you. The LORD says he will never have that, for those who worship him, it must be in Spirit and in truth, nothing else. LORD I surrender to your sovereignty over my life.

In our reading today, one statement keeps reoccurring; "Then they will know that I am the LORD." It felt like the people of Israel needed some things to happen before they believed it was God sending this messages to them. Do you need a tragedy, a calamity or pain to happen to you before you believe that there is a God who rules in the affairs of men? I certainly hope not. LORD, you do not need to prove anything to me, I declare you are the LORD, that is your name.

I asked a question three times in today's reading; are you trying to chase the presence God out of your life? You ask, but is that even possible? In Ezekiel chapter ten, we see that it is; the glory of God in a sense, bodily left the holy of holiest, first to the entrance of the temple and then altogether, out of the temple. Why you ask? Idolatry, it literally says to God you are not welcome here. The New testament says we are the temples of God and idolatry in a believer's life is simply saying to God, you are not welcome here. As for me, I say to the LORD, you are always welcome in my life.

It must be a dangerous thing to both make God your enemy and then make him angry at the same time. That was what Judah had succeeded in doing. God, once their defender and protector was now out to see them destroyed because they had prostituted themselves to other gods. His anger was righteous and just but it was palpable destructive, it reduced the once great nation to nothing. I know what I will choose, I don't definitely want God as my enemy. I would rather worship the covenant keeping God.

The book of Ezekiel is a terrific and amazing book. Difficult to understand for a lot of people but so interesting when you understand the basics of interpretation. It's events coincides with Jeremiah prophesying in Judah as Ezekiel, who had earlier been carried off into exile, prepares the people for their 70 years stay in exile in Babylon. Ezekiel's message sort to confront Judah's idolatry, point them back to God and give them hope of a restoration captivity. Lastly, Ezekiel presents the goal of every other prophets in the old testament, to point Israel to the coming Messiah. When you read the book of Ezekiel, again let it help you realise God will judge the sins of his people and in turn the world, but he also makes provision for a restoration. Secondly, God appoint Ezekiel as a watchman over the nation. We all must take up the same mantle to be watchmen at the least over our families. Lastly, as you read the book of Ezekiel, ask the Lord to open your eyes to see Jesus in the words of Ezekiel.

We round up the book of Lamentations with this understanding that sin has its consequences.The pain here is palpable, the sorrow so real. Whether it's in a marriage, a family, a career, a community, the society at large, sin will throw you under the bus like it has done to Judah here. Still, these words were given to us so don't have to experience the same. Scripture says, sin shall not have dominion over you. Lord we thank you for the grace and freedom in Christ Jesus to live for you, not for sin. Halleluyah!

Oh the joy of being able to call on the name of the Lord and to know he will answer. Jeremiah says here that God's faithful love will never end, his mercies never cease. His faithfulness is great, his mercies begins afresh each morning. Every time we see the sun come up, it is proof, God is still faithful and he will do his promises in our lives. Halleluyah! I don't know what you are hoping in God for but I say, the Lord will answer you, in the might name of Jesus.

There is a consequence for sin, for living habitually in sin. You might disagree and think, nah, it's perfectly okay, I will leave just the way I want. However, just take a look at how Israel and Judah turned out and learn. You might not have realisd it but setting you and I free from sin cost God the life of his only begotten son.

In today's readings, Jeremiah prophecies against and about the city and the kingdom of Babylon. Isaiah before him did the same in Isaiah chapter 21. That prophesy will eventually be fulfilled in the book of Revelation, chapter 18. Babylon represents more than the nation led by Nebuchadnezzar, it is a system of government, a spirit, the spirit of the antichrist that is at work even right now in the end time. Our charge this morning is to remember to live for the Lord and for his kingdom and not become influenced by the spirit of Babylon. Second, Babylon will eventually be destroyed.

Jeremiah had a message for the nations that had right from the onset when they left Egypt, led Israel and Judah astray to worship other gods; Moab and their god Chemosh, Ammon and their god Molech, Edom, the Assyrians who had carried off Israel into exile earlier and finally, the Babylon themselves would be judge. As you read today, understand that while God does not want the destruction of people, he will always judge idolatry wherever it is found. However, God has a message for you, he loves, he gave his only begotten son for you so that you will not experience such judgement. Accept Jesus into your life today as your Lord and saviour.