Old Testament Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 29:8 – 14 (KJV)
Jer 29:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
Jer 29:9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jer 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away
New Testament Scripture Reading: John 8:30 – 38 (KJV)
Joh 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) Just as it was in the days of Jeremiah the Prophet of the Most High God, there will always be people professing to “know God” but they give advise based on their own personal desires and goals, rather than from the Word of God, the Scriptures, so it is today; this is why we must keep our minds filled with the Word of God so that we can experience true interior freedom based on what God has actually promised to us!
2) Regardless of how we are “physically”, “Circumstantially”, or “externally”, we can be free in the Spirit of God, because the outward appearance can be oppressive being manipulated by men and conditions, but the promises of the Word of God shall always prevail for us if we believe Him.
3) Jesus already knew that there would be some surface followers of Him who were not truly committed to His service because they are really only interested in the pleasures of this life and not to the overall, plans and purposes of God, Who gives vision to everyone who continues in His Word!