Post by Foghorn on Sept 8, 2016 4:11:39 GMT
Jeremiah A Broken Book A Broken Man
The book of Jeremiah is the prophecy of a man divinely called in his youth from the city of Anathoth. Now... Jeremeiah was not only a prophet but a priest, and not only a priest, but the son of a priest, in a city of priests. ( No pressure there, right! ) In fact.... Jeremiah was despised and persecuted by his countrymen. He spent over forty years.... proclaiming a message of doom to the people of Judah. I’ll have to admit several people questioned why I wanted to begin with such a lesson as this. Well yes this is a very difficult book to understand, and no Jeremiah is not nearly the most well known prophet, but he is the most heroic, and possibly the most poetic. Jeremiah was born into a time of trouble. Israel was divided. The southern kingdom, the tribe of Judah descended from the tribe of David, and kept the name of Israel. The northern kingdom consisting of the other 11 tribes, kept the capital city of Jerusalem. The people of the northern kingdom had sinned against God, so he allowed them to be taken into captivity by the Assyrians. All the while the people of Judah, watched what happened yet followed the same course. God sent Jeremiah to warn them, but they would not listen. I see us in a similar situation today. Just in my life I can say I have seen the moral decline Jeremiah warned of. I have witnessed the social and spiritual decline, just in the few short years I have been alive. People of our time have seen things change more rapidly than any other people at any other time since time began.
Take our country for example... a little more than 200 years old. how much have we changed? Good, Bad, or Indifferent, our country has changed. We have changed. With that said, lets open our books to Jeremiah. I would like for you all to consider this as we begin with verse 4. “Are you ready to know God?” Jeremiah 1:4-5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” This is one of my favorite verses, it speaks to me on so many levels.... It strikes me as the first key in knowing God. To think.... after all we have gone through in our lives to get to a point to meet God and to know God, he already knew us. Not only did he know us but, he loved us and had a plan ready for us. Now in verse 6 I think Jeremiah felt as we all feel at times. That we can not possibly do, that we are not prepared for what God has planned for us.
If you truly want peace in your life you have to give up the anger, give up the lies, and bitterness and hatred, give it up…
Give it up to God, and then you will find peace, then and only then, When you are willing to answer God with “ Here I am. “ will you be in a Position to truly receive God’s blessing.
* Benjamin Franklin once wrote in a letter to his Father and Mother… “ it is no more in man’s power to think than to look like another, methinks All that should be expected from me is to keep my mind open to Conviction, to hear patiently and examine attentively whatever is offered Me for that end; and if after all I continue in the same errors, I believe your Usual charity will induce you rather to pity and excuse than to blame me. In the mean time your care and concern for me is what I am thankful for.” This speaks to me… because I spent thirteen years of my life running from What God called me to do.
Now, I had faith but… I did not have enough faith. I fought the spirit to please the fl esh. So… for a long time I heard the call But, did not answer. For a long time I accepted what God gave me as pity, and was thankful for that, which I did receive. And, even though I fought him, God still loved me enough to grant me this charity. To excuse me from blame and continue to bless me. It was not until I gave up the fi ght, and turned my life back over to him completely, and answered him with… “ Here I am, Lord… here I am. “ That I fi nally began to receive God’s true blessings. It wasn’t until I got down on my knees and said, “ Lord Lead me where you want me to be, where ever that is, what ever it Is that YOU want me to do… Here I am.”
I became willing to change my life, to change my ways, And take my place on the path I was called to walk. And for this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But at the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in Your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and dominion forever, Amen. 1 Peter 4:6 - 11
I say to that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”
Think of it a good Shepard will not rest if a single sheep from his flock has gone astray. He does not hesitate. A good Shepard is relentless in his effort to find the one which he lost. One. And, when the one is found… A good Shepard will gather his friends to rejoice. It makes me wonder? Am I a “ good “ Shepard? Am I willing to sacrifice everything… to go after the one? As Christians we should feel a sense of loss when one of “ our “ sheep become lost. As a Christian I feel an obligation to go out into the wilderness… and recover those lost sheep! And… as Christians we should gather together and rejoice upon recovering just “ one “ lost soul. Just as the good Shepard, just as the woman who found her coin, and… Especially as the man with two sons rejoiced, we should rise up in VICTORY… and rejoice. “ Here I am. “ Abraham responded when God called him, here I am. Think of the possibilities of what we could do in this world, if we answered God’s call with “ Here I am. “ imagine for a moment, what God could do in your life if you answered his call as Abraham did! Abraham did not waiver in disbelief, he found strength in faith, and found righteousness through his willingness to serve. Now I now it hard for us to step outside of our comfort zone. But, when God calls us we need to be ready to step out of a comfortable situation, and place our trust in him. You don’t need to rationalize how and why… if you have faith God will provide. We have got to be willing to accept what we are called to do, we have to be willing to change. Change our minds… our lives… our situations… Because if we are not willing to change the environment in which we dwell, we will fi nd ourselves in a place where we are unable to receive God’s blessing. If you are not able to give up old habits, How do you expect to form new ones?
Abraham did not question God, He rose early in the morning saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Now I have be honest I have a real hard time wrapping my mind around this one! but Abraham said to his young men… stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you. (WE… will come back to you.) Now that…. Is faith. Abraham did not understand God’s request, but he did not question what he was called to do. Is your faith strong enough to answer the Lords call with “Here I am.” Here I am Lord, where do you need me? What will yo have me do? It seems like a good part of our lives are spent lost in the ways of the world uncomfortable, and completely blind to the spiritual greatness, that faith can offer us. In this place there is no middle ground, all we can see is the unrelenting desperation of a life spent apart from God. But, Jesus changes all of that. Our faith in him frees us from adversity. Our faith in Jesus provides us with peace no matter what unfolds before us. I believe as Jesus said in John 15:18 - 21 “ If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you of the world, the world would love you as it’s own. Yet Because you are not of the world, but I choose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me , they will also persecute you. If they kept my word they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my names sake, because they do not know him who sent me.” To me nothing speaks more clearly of victory… than the story of the prodigal son. (turn with me to the book of Luke.) Chapter 15 verses 4 -7 “What man among you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which he lost until he fi nds it? And when he’s found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘rejoice with me, for I have found what I lost!’
As Christians we expect and depend on God’s guidance. As Christians we are commanded to obey God’s will.
As men… we are given the gift of free will, because God’s wants for us to choose to do what is right. God wants us to come to him willingly. It is the devil who takes souls by and force. It’s the devil who deceives us, and confuses fact with fi ction, and denies Our victory.
It was by faith that Moses led his people from bondage.
It was by faith that David conquered Goliath, and it through faith that we are saved.
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5 Faith is our Victory… say it with me now,
FAITH IS OUR VICTORY!
We must have faith “in” faith to walk the way of faith. For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Without faith it is impossible to please God. If we don’t believe we won’t Achieve victory. As Christians faith is our strength… faith is our freedom. So… I say to you, free yourself from that which binds you, pray for more Faith; and become a warrior…
CLAIM YOUR VICTORY!
I’ ve seen it to many times before, I’ ve watched great men with no faith fall. I have seen great minds with huge hearts perish beneath an ounce of pride. For Abraham it took over forty years to humble himself before the Lord in true faith. And… with that in mind I ask you again, How strong is your faith? How many men here could do what Abraham was asked to do? How many of you could march into the wilderness with that on your heart,
As we read in Genisis 22...
Now it came to pass that God tested Abraham. He said now take your Only son Isaac, whom you love… (whom you love.) and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering.
Jesus said “Father if it is your will take this cup away from me; nevertheless not My will, but yours, be done.” He understood the promise before it had been fulled, and because of that, we are forgiven.
Now, he had insight that we do not, but if we follow his example, and believe in the promise, imagine the work that God could do through us, and for us. when the world takes from us, our condence, and tests our faith... we need to be reminded of this. When we are struggling through life, uncertain, we need to be reminded that God’s rst promise to us is love. God also promises us Victory through his beloved Son Jesus Christ. you see...
The resurrection of Jesus changes everything,
It announces the reign of God has begun and will fi nally be victorious! For Whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome our world - our faith. 1John 5:4 Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
We all have hopes, we all have dreams, but, faith… faith itself can move mountains. Faith can conquer army‘s, and heal the sick. How strong is your faith?
Faith is not just how we believe… but, how we behave. Our faith shows in what we do, and how we respond to God’s will and the direction he has chosen for our lives. the faithless here God’s call and refuse to act, but those who are truly faithful, hear the call and act without hesitation. Not with eyes service, as men pleasers, but… in sincerity of heart. Colossians 3:22
As men, both of these letters can serve to remind us of our purpose, and our promise; As sons, as husbands and fathers, (as men...) Peter reminds us of the tools that God has given us for spiritual success, for spiritual growth, and the key in which to unlock the promise.
2 Peter 3:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. You see God promises us access to things which we do not deserve. On our own, there isn’t one of us who could make it through the pearly gates into heaven. Only through grace do we make it, and Peter reminds us of this.
2 Peter 3:5-9 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither baren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is short sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
How many of us forget sometimes that we have been forgiven? It’s nice to be reminded. If things are hard... It’s because God has great things waiting for you on the other side, of the storm somtimes we struggle through storm after storm, after storm, but when the sun returns and the clouds have passed; we nd ourselves in the place where God wants us, and life is sweet. God is honored when we seek out and accept His promises to us. But we have to remember... Every promise is designed for a particular situation.
I can’t stand here expecting to befit from your promise, because that promise was designed for you. I can’t use his promise, or the purpose of the promise is lost. If we look past the current promise that God has put before us, we risk losing it’s power, and interupt the will of God.
Promise
Promise, What is a promise? A pledge, an oath, a commitment, It’s funny... There is no Hebrew word in the Old Testament for Promise. The words ( word, speak, and say ) being used instead. Our words are our promises. “I have many things to say, (Jesus said in John 8:26) and to judge concerning you, But He who sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” See... He knew before you ever found yourself in whatever situation you’ve found yourself in, and set into motion a whole chain of events that takes this person all the way across the country, across the world, or even just across the room, to this place right over here; and God knew what this person here had gone through... and knew that he had over come that particular struggle, and when this guy here called out in need. They were already here!!!
(Jesus says in John 8:43) “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.”
If we do not understand the promise... It is because we have not listened to God and so we haven’t heard His word. His promise.
Now in 2 Peter 3, Simon Peter writes; Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, I love this part because he begins this part of his letter with the word beloved. (greatly loved; one very dear to others) This tells me how much he cared about those to whom he wrote these letters. But, he also states “ I stir up your pure mind by way of reminder. ” If we consider that this letter was written to the people in the church, we can assume that they already knew... but, needed to be reminded. This is crucial to the promise. There are times in our lives that we need to be reminded, we know that our mothers and fathers, husbands, and wives, our children, our friends our community and our church, need us and love us, We all know this... but, it’s nice to be reminded.
When I think of my life and what I have gone through to get to this point, at this moment in time where I can stand before you and honestly say that I have been where you are, I have struggled
I have had my heart broken and my dreams shattered. But, I can also stand here and say that.... God was with me. Even when I was not with God.... He was with me. So, now when I feel this way.... I get down on the floor and open my book and look. And each time I find in here, exactly what I need to get through what ever it is I am going through. When I need help.... and there is no one out there who will return a call, I turn here.
When I am struggling I turn here, and find words of encouragement. Like.... Psalm 32:7-8 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. Psalm 32:7-8 Or.... when I am struggling through I turn to.... Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 This is my strength. This is my comfort. This is my Bible.
Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” Jeremiah 1:6 What we have to come to understand is that WE alone may not be able to do it, WE alone may not understand what it is that we must do. But, in the very next verse God answers Jeremiah. But the Lord said to me: “ Do not say, ‘ I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. And... God continues to explain giving Jeremiah ”understanding.” Jeremiah 1:7
and then continues in verse 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord
Now.... the way I look at it, “ EVERTHING ” we have gone through in our lives prepares us for what God asks us at this point. What we can learn from Jeremiah is that God is not calling on us for our successes he is calling for faithfulness. Every struggle teaches us something we can use to glorify God beyond the struggle. Every mistake teaches us, what is truly important. Every triumph strengthens us in our walk with God. Everything we are and everything we do is a lesson that WE individually must experience, to understand who and what we are. Now through all of the turmoil, and disaster and doom Jeremiah sees in the coming verses, this book ends with a verse that gives me strength when the world is crumbling around me.
They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you.“ says the Lord “ to deliver you.” Jeremiah 1:19
Had to go through eight gates of hell to retrieve this one but, I thought a very good friend of mine was in need of this tonight.
~ Foghorn
