020506

Serving on Purpose
Starting Now
Jeremiah 1
February 5, 2006


Jeremiah 1:1-3 (Monday)
“The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.” (NIV)
1) Interestingly, Jeremiah was already serving God when he received this word from the Lord and his eventual calling. How was he serving?
2) Jeremiah was one of the priests, living in the territory of Benjamin, no less! Scripture tells us that this tribe of the Israelites were the smallest—the less significant (1 Samuel 9:21!) Yes, Jeremiah was just one among many. Just another face in the crowd. Probably no one even noticed or bothered with him. Ever felt that way? Read 1 Corinthians 1:28!
3) Just a little sidebar, but quite profound: Jeremiah means, “may Yahweh lift up,” “throw,” or “found.” Believe me, in this world he was anything but “lifted up.” The people despised him! How should we seek our own lifting up (James 4:10?)
4) I like my study helps for this week. It believe they come from Wiersby. Anyway, the commentary points out that the role of the priest and prophet are quite different in nature. The priest’s duties were easier and predictable—all he had to do was follows the instructions already laid out for him by God under the Law. His duty was not only to perform but to make sure the ancient precepts were properly observed. The priests never preached, while the prophet addressed the whole nation, even ruling authorities! This is why the prophet’ had to be prepared to hear from God at all times. Another big difference in these roles was that the priests received respect and even their incomes from the tribes of Israel—God Himself made sure they were well provided for. The prophet had not guaranteed income and respect? Well, many of them were slain! This is probably because the prophet’s role was all about change! He was moved to change the peoples’ path, or direction, but more so, their hearts! Far more difficult a task indeed!
5) Look around church this Sunday. Seek out those who quietly and faithfully serve the Lord—behind the scenes. No one ever notices them, much less acknowledges their gifts and talents. Take the time to speak to or even embrace them! Tell them how much you appreciate all that they do!
6) Notice that the people of Jerusalem were in exile—away from their home (Jeremiah, too!) Have you ever stopped to realize that it is quite often in our low places that God reaches down to us? What sort of things happen to us when we are alienated, or, as I call this exile time—our wilderness places, that draw us closer to God and make us ready servants?
Jeremiah 1:4-8 (Tuesday)
“The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, `I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.” (NIV)
4) Does you heart ever cry out for someone who really knows and understands you? To whom, where or what do you turn to fulfill this aching need? How or does that person or thing satisfy? Explain.
5) Ahh, the LORD knew Jeremiah and He knows us, too! The whole world can misunderstand us, judge us, ignore us, even hate us—but, the LORD God knows us--right down to the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30)! Take time today to read Psalm 139! Known indeed! Hallelujah!
6) Think on this: God formed us, God knows us, God appoints us (He has a job for each and every one of us!), God is always with us and God rescues us! What a mighty, awesome God we serve! Whom shall we fear indeed!
7) When does God’s plan for our lives begin? How does this speak to the sanctify of life?
8) What may be some of the reasons our calling is not immediate (Luke 2:52; Ephesians 4:1-15; James 1:2-4?)
9) Is youth ever a reason for not answering God’s call (1 Chronicles 29:1; Luke 2:42 and 1 Timothy 4:12?)
10) How do you know it is God calling or speaking to us?
a) I have to go back to “Experiencing God,” by Henry Blackaby. He says it is not as important knowing how God speaks, but knowing that He speaks! He speaks in a way that:
i) is unique to the individual (Exodus 3!)
ii) the person is quite sure that it is God doing the speaking (Exodus 3:14; Judges 6:21-22!)
iii) we know with a certainty what He says!
iv) His speaking to us becomes our own personal encounter with God!
(1) Specifically, by His Holy Spirit, God uses several says to speak to His people:
(a) His Word
(b) Prayer
(c) Circumstances
(d) The Church Body
b) “The Holy Spirit gives clear [very specific] instructions today. …If you do not have clear instructions from God in a matter, pray and wait. Learn patience. Depend on God’s timing. His timing is always right and best. Don’t get in a hurry. He may be withholding directions to cause you to seek Him more intently. Don’t try to skip over the [love] relationship to get on with [the] doing. God is more interested in a love relationship with you than He is in what you can do for Him.”
c) “God speaks when He has a purpose in mind for your life.”
d) “The moment God speaks to you is the very moment He wants you to respond to Him.
e) “The moment God speaks to you is God’s timing.”
11) Don’t be too quick to fault Jeremiah here! Almost everyone that God calls has this same response—WHO ME, or, worse, WHY ME? One of the greatest examples of this is Moses (Exodus 3:11.) The apostle Paul is another (2 Corinthians 2:16!) Very few of us feel up to the task, and truthfully, in our own power and strength we are not! What is really behind our hesitation and perhaps refusal to obey God’s calling in our lives (Romans 4:20—speaking of Abraham; Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 4:10-11?)
12) What is it that enables us to step up to the task(s) set before us (2 Corinthians 3:5-7?
13) How has fear of what others may think, say or do robbed you?
14) Fear of anything other than the LORD God always, always leads to spiritual bondage (Romans 8:15 and Hebrews 2:15!)
15) What frees us from fear (2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:5-6; 1 John 4:18 and Revelation 1:17!) Oh, sisters! Fear not!
16) What are some ways God rescues us? God:
b) rescues us from our enemies (Luke 1:68-75)
c) rescues us from our sinful natures (Romans 7:24-25)
d) rescues us from this present evil age (Galatians 1:3-5)
e) rescues us from the dominion of darkness (Colossians 1:13-14)
f) rescues us from God’s coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
g) rescues us from persecutions (2 Timothy 3:10-11)
h) rescues us from every evil attack (2 Timothy 4:18)
i) rescues us from trials (2 Peter 2:9)
Jeremiah 1:9-10 (Wednesday)
“Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."” (NIV)
1) Oh, how I wish God would reach out and touch my vile mouth!
2) Okay, we all have some things in our lives that we need to uproot, tear down, destroy, and overthrow. Care to share? How are we able to do this?
a) Our faith enables us (Matthew 9:27-29!)
b) The Lord makes us to stand (Romans 14:4)
c) The Lord establishes us (Romans 16;25)
d) God makes His grace abound in us (2 Corinthians 9:8)
e) God’s power is working in us to do more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)
f) God guards our souls (2 Timothy 1:12)
g) God’s Word equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
h) Because Christ was tempted, He know how to help us in our temptations (Hebrews 2:18)
i) Jesus saves us completely and lives forever to intercede in our behalf (Hebrews 7:25)
j) As our Lawgiver and Judge, He is able to save us (James 4:12)
k) Jesus keeps us from falling and is more than able, with great joy, to present us before God without fault (Jude 1:25!) Amen!
3) We are also told to build and plant. What is God speaking of here? What are some “things” we need to build and plant in our lives?
4) Have we been “set apart” and “appointed?” What does that mean?
5) How does God put his words in our mouths today?
Jeremiah 1:11-16 (Thursday)
“The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled." The word of the LORD came to me again: "What do you see?" "I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north," I answered. The LORD said to me, "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms," declares the LORD. "Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah. I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.” (NIV)
1) Now, people don’t want to hear about God’s judgment! That’s one reason some “television evangelists” are so popular today. Beware! No, not all of us are going to be rich and bursting with youth, health and vitality! And, no, not all of us are going to have a caddy parked in our 3 car garage!
2) If God was giving Jeremiah this vision, why did He ask him what it was he saw?
3) Being faithful to the vision! There were plenty of prophets during this period, and woefully, even now—all prophesizing to the people that all would be well—God was on their side—victory was theirs! Israel would be saved! Liars all (Jeremiah 14:15-16!) Itchy ears, turning away from sound doctrine and truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4!)
4) True, our God is compassionate and merciful. If that were not true, we would all be consumed! And, yes, sometimes He does not immediately judge our sins—He is so patient and longsuffering with us—thank God! But, be sure—if we continued in our sin, as Israel did, refusing to repent—God will judge! Does judgment differ from chastisement? Explain.
Jeremiah 1:17-19 (Friday)
“"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land--against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.” (NIV)
1) How do we prepare ourselves for the Lord’s service?
2) Jeremiah was called to preach and prophesize judgment, even doom! He is often referred to as the “weeping” prophet. You yourself may be in right standing with God, like Jeremiah, but, do you weep over sin and the coming judgment of others? Should we?
3) Do you find it hard to stand and do God’s will when others are blatantly coming against you? Who is really behind this type of activity? What helps you to stand your ground (Ephesians 6:10-18?)
4) Really now, do you think of yourself as a fortified city—an iron pillar, a wall of bronze? That portrayal is pretty invincible wouldn’t you say? Do you think Jeremiah thought of himself in that way? Isn’t it neat how God uses word pictures to describe the “true” us? Do you think this was helpful in allowing Jeremiah to see himself as the LORD God saw him?
5) Do you see any evidences of out and out opposition happening to Christianity, even against good (there is a difference) in our society today? Explain.