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Jeremiah, who preached only the word of God

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[ Jeremiah 27:9]

So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’

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The people of Judah, who were chosen by God, fell apart from the Word of God. They did not serve God but worshiped idols. Leaders also gave suffering to the people for their own benefit.

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God warned the people through Jeremiah. “It is the Word of God. If you do not obey me, I will destroy this temple. Jerusalem will be a curse for men.”

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God's warning was a message that they should repent and return. But they did not want to hear Jeremiah's words to repent. They also regard Jeremiah, who says that Jerusalem will be destroyed, as a rebel of the nation, and have captured Jeremiah to kill. The leaders of Judah also came to the temple to judge the sins of Jeremiah.

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The people shouted to kill Jeremiah who made a bad prophecy against the nation of Judah. Jeremiah boldly declared the word of God in his place, not afraid of them. “All you have heard is what the LORD has given you. Change your life so you can do the right thing. If you obey God's Word, you will reap the plagues that you were about to make.” Jeremiah did not give up proclaiming the word of God even in a dangerous situation where he might die.

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People were more excited about killing Jeremiah. But some elders and a man named Ahikam defended Jeremiah. Fortunately, Jeremiah was saved from death. Jeremiah was a prophet who boldly proclaimed the word of God at any time.

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God appeared again to Jeremiah and said: “Make a yoke with a string and a rod and put it on your neck.” Jeremiah made a yoke with ropes and sticks as God said.

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God told Jeremiah what to say to the people. The first is not destroyed by surrendering to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and serving him. The second, do not listen to false prophets saying that you do not have to serve Babylon.

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Jeremiah, who heard the word of God, took the yoke he had made and went to King Zedekiah and preached the word of God.

“If you serve the King of Babylon, you will not perish, but the people will be able to live in their own farms. If you do not, you will die of war, hunger, and plague. Also, do not listen to the false prophets who say you do not have to serve Babylon. God said that they would die.”

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Jeremiah also spoke the words of God to the priests and the people. “It is a false prophet who predicts that Babylon will be able to retrieve the goods of the temple of Jehovah that have been taken away. Do not listen to them. Rather, if we serve the king of Babylon, we will live.”

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But the prophet ‘Hananiah’ made a completely different prophecy from Jeremiah. “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. I will cut off the yoke which the king of Babylon gave to Judah. In two years, I will bring back the goods they took from the temple. I will bring the people of Judah who were captives to Babylon again.”

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The people followed Hananiah more than Jeremiah's words. Jeremiah told Hananiah. “In order to prove that you are a true prophet of God, two years from now, the peace you have spoken will be proved.” It is to inform the people that this word will never be fulfilled.

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Hananiah took the yoke on Jeremiah's neck and broke it and continued to make false prophecies. “God said to me in two years that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon would break the yoke on the neck of this kingdom, as I have just broken your yoke.” The people rejoiced over the false words of Hananiah, rather than the words of Jeremiah.

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After that, Jeremiah told him to tell God to tell Hananiah. “Hananiah, hear me. Jehovah did not send you. Yet you have made these people believe in lies. Therefore, God said: ‘Look!  I will soon destroy you from this land. You will die this year. For you have taught the people to betray the LORD.’”

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In the name of God, he made a false prophesy and stopped the people from repenting by saying what they wanted to hear. He died two months after Jeremiah's prophecy. God revealed that Hananiah was a false prophet and punished him.

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The people of Judah, who did not listen to the words of Jeremiah, who preached the true word of God, but believed more and trusted the words of the false prophet, were destroyed by Babylon. Like Jeremiah's prophecy, the temple has completely collapsed. The leaders and the people of Judah were brought to Babylon captive and suffered greatly. Because they believed in false prophecies, they were paid a hard price.

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We must not do the same thing as the people of Judah. Children of God who have been saved by believing in Jesus must love to hear God's right words.

When we hear that Word and repent of what is wrong, we receive the greater grace of God. Like Jeremiah, it must be the children of God who do not neglect to preach the word of God to others.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)