021906

Serving on Purpose
Dealing with Doubt
Jeremiah 20


Jeremiah 20:1-6 (Monday)
“When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the chief officer in the temple of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the LORD's temple. The next day, when Pashhur released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD's name for you is not Pashhur, but Magor-Missabib. For this is what the LORD says: `I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will hand all Judah over to the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword. I will hand over to their enemies all the wealth of this city--all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.” (NIV)
1) Obedience to God can be costly! In fact, Luke 14:28-33 Jesus actually warns us to consider the cost of following Him. What has following Christ cost you?
2) Has speaking spiritual truth ever proved costly to you? Explain.
3) How does 1 Peter 2:19-23 bring encouragement and hope to us when we have been unjustly accused or when we suffer for doing right?
4) Pashhur’s name means, “liberation.” As a priest of the Most High and the chief officer in the temple of the LORD, Pashhur was in a position of great authority over the people. It is important to know that Pashhur was also a false prophet and had been assuring the people that God was for them and no ruin would come. Of course, Pashhur wasted no time in having Jeremiah wrongfully imprisoned for speaking the truth of Judah’s certain ruin and exile. Therefore, the LORD renamed him, Magor-Missabib which means “terror from all around.” What happened to Judah?
5) What possible benefit(s) would Pashhur have gained if his lies were believed?
6) Even today we have false prophets and false teachers (Matthew 7:15-20.) What are some of the lies they spout?
7) Why would people rather listen to lies than truth?
Jeremiah 20:7-10 (Tuesday)
“O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived ; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.” (NIV)
1) Really, the word here is stronger than implied in the NIV. Jeremiah is saying, “God—You seduced me, and I fell for it hook, line and sinker! Whoa! Seduction is major because the connotation is that God fully or partially lied or concealed the full ramifications of Jeremiah’s faithfully speaking God’s word to the people. This is a pretty serious charge against God because there is only one seducer—satan! Read Genesis 3. What were some of the tactics satan used in his seduction of Adam and Eve? How do you think God felt upon hearing his servant say these words to Him?
2) Have you ever felt that the Lord has seduced, deceived or tricked you, too? Your Christian walk just hasn’t been all that you thought it would be? Perhaps, like Adam and Eve, (and every one of us following in their footsteps) you feel that God is holding back His best from you? I know! It certainly doesn't help when day after day, we sit and watch those who do not seek His face or His ways pass us by—promotions, prestige, friendships, prosperity, health, marriage, children. We do sometimes ask ourselves—what’s going on? What’s wrong with this picture? As we just read in Genesis 3, we’re not the first to question God’s motives and plans for our lives. How did satan seduce Eve into believing that God was holding out on her? What was the tragic result of believing that lie?
3) What does God say about His plans for us in Jeremiah 29:11?
4) Do you feel Jeremiah sinned here—by accusing, being angry at and questioning God? Are you afraid to bring your accusations and doubts to the Lord? What do you think His response would be? Beloved, Jesus was never angry with someone’s sincere questioning, and believe me, straight to the feet of Jesus is the only place we should take such questions and doubts—because He alone has the answers!
5) Does God ever excuse us for doubting, for failing to believe and move forward into His divine will for our lives? (Philippians 2:13).
6) How do you respond to the impossibilities in your life (Matthew 19:26?)
7) God always responds to our doubts by building up our faith! Here’s just a few examples:
a) Abraham and Sarah—too old and way too tired to conceive! How did God answer their doubts in Genesis 18:14?
b) Moses stuttered! How could he make pharaoh let God’s children go? How did God respond to him in Exodus 3:11-22?
c) Jeremiah felt he was too young to be called into service. What was God’s response to him in Jeremiah 32:17-22?
d) Mary, the virgin mother of Jesus. Don’t you just know she had some major doubts and/or questions? How did God answer her questions in Luke 1:37
e) Nicodemus – Oh, he had questions, doubts and fears! How did Jesus respond to him in John 3:1-18?
f) Martha, sister of Lazarus—she thought it was too late, questioning and limiting Jesus’ power and authority! How did Jesus respond to her in John 11:1?
g) Thomas, the disciple—Oh, hearing that Jesus had risen was not enough for him! No, he needed that little added “touch!” How did Jesus respond to him in John 20:19-29?
8) Has God ever responded to your own questionings, doubts, fears? Did you come away weaker or stronger in your faith? Please share.
9) What is saving faith or belief? (See Romans 3:20-27 and Romans 4:3.) By the way, ours is an unseeing faith! (See 1 Peter 1:8-9.) Jesus, Himself said that we are blessed because we believe and have not seen (John 20:24-29.)
10) If you every find yourself doubting, or not feeling very strong in your faith, remember Mark 9:24. Don’t be afraid to admit your weakness—ask for more! God promises that His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9.)
11) Our God and Christ knows all about insult and reproach. Read Isaiah 52:10-15; Isaiah 53; Matthew 27:26-32, 33-50; Mark 15:15-37; Luke 23:7-11; John 19:1-7)
12) Oh, my prayer for each of us is that God’s word would burn like a fire in our bones! I truly want to be filled (continually) with His holy fire and I pray you do too! If this were to take place in our hearts—there is no end to what we could accomplish in His name! Why? (John 3:14-18; 12:32-33; 34-36!) Like Jeremiah, the fire in our bones should burn to speak the name of Jesus Christ! If we fail to do so, the very rocks will cry out (Luke 19:37-40!)
13) Oh, Jeremiah is not alone here! The world is waiting and watching for you to slip, too! Why? (John 15:18-22 and John 17:14-26)
14) What happens to us when we are troubled by something but pretend not to be? What’s another word for this?
Jeremiah 20:11-13 (Wednesday)
“But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.” (NIV)
1) It doesn’t take Jeremiah long to regain his senses! In the midst of his suffering, what is his response (if not immediate?)
2) What does it mean to “commit our cause” to God?
3) Go back! If you think God has somehow deserted you—go back to the last time you knew, that you knew, that you knew! Reflect on how He showed you His faithfulness! This is how we get back on track—by remembering WHO God is!
4) Will we always see our persecutors stumble and prevail? Explain.
5) As Christ followers, can we pray for or seek vengeance upon our persecutors? Why or why not?
Jeremiah 20:14-18 (Thursday)
“Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, "A child is born to you--a son!" May that man be like the towns the LORD overthrew without pity. May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle cry at noon. For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever. Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” (NIV)
1) Oh, boy! I’ve been here, more than once! Well, not actually cursing the day I was born--but, wishing I hadn't been born! Sometimes this battle called life can make us so weary! Sometimes, it does seem as if the trouble, sorrow and shame of life will go on forever! Jesus even assures us that, “In this world, you will have trouble (John 16:33.”) Trouble, yes, but what are some of God's rich promises for our faithfulness?
a) (Matthew 10:32) Jesus acknowledges before the Father as His own!
b) (Matthew 12:50) We join the family of God!
c) (Matthew 11:28-30) Our souls find rest in Him!
d) (Matthew 5:4) We will be comforted!
e) (Matthew 5:6) Our hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled!
f) (Matthew 5:7) We will be shown mercy!
g) (Romans 6:4) We are raised from death to new life!
h) (John 10:10) We have abundant life!
i) (John 15:11) We have His complete joy!
j) (John 14:27) We have His peace!
k) (1 John 3:2) When He (Jesus) appears—we shall be like Him!
l) (Matthew 5:8) We will see God!
2) What is it that keeps you in the battle called life? Share.
1 Cointhians 1:26-31 (Friday)
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (NIV)
1) Why is it that the influential, those of noble birth, those who are wise by the world’s standard have a hard time accepting God’s offer to “Come and see (John 1:43-46!?”)
2) Romans 1:21-25 probably explains why God chooses the foolish things in this life to exalt! Aren't you glad!
3) Why do you think it is important to God that we not be able to boast in our own salvation, gifts, abilities, even our own calling and the lives we live (Exodus 20:1-6; Isaiah 42:8; Isaiah 48:11 and 1 Corinthians 1:26-31!)
4) So, since we cannot boast in ourselves, what can we boast in (2 Corinthians 11:30; 2 Corinthians 12:5?) Why (2 Corinthians 12:9-10?) Oh, sisters! Let’s boast in our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:25-31!) To Him be all glory, honor and praise!
5) A recent sermon series reminded us that “it’s not about “me”—it’s all about God (or God in “me”!) Because it is all about God, it is also all about His glory—not ours! That’s why there can be no boasting in and of ourselves! Some reason’s as to why we cannot, dare not, boast in ourselves are:
a) God loves first! While we were dead in our sins and He made a way to rescue us from our sins through His Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9-10!) Glory!
i) God loves us and has called us to be saints (Romans 1:7!)
ii) God has lavished His love upon us (1 John 3:1!)
iii) God has poured out His love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5!)
b) Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35!)
c) God alone purchased or brought us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20!)
d) God alone has rescued us (Colossians 1:13!)
e) God alone is our shield and our exceeding great Reward (Genesis 15:1!)
f) God alone has become our salvation (Exodus 15:2; Psalms 118:14 and Romans 5:9!)
g) God alone sustains us and keeps us from falling (Psalms 55:22!)
h) God alone satisfies us with His unfailing love (Psalms 90:14!)
i) God alone has become our Fortress, our Rock and our Refuge (Psalms 94:22!)
j) God alone forgives us, heals us, redeems us, crowns us with His love, satisfies our desires, renews our youth, does not treat us as our sins deserve, etc., etc. (Psalm 103:1-18!)
k) God alone comforts us (Isaiah 12:1!)
l) God alone takes upon Himself our burdens (Isaiah 53:1!)
m) God alone has set us free through Jesus Christ His Beloved Son (Luke 4:14-19 and John 8:35-36!)
n) God alone has become for us our wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption (Romans 3:21-24 and 1 Corinthians 1:30!)
o) God alone is our High Priest, our Mediator before God (Hebrews 6:20 and 1Timothy 2:5!)
p) God alone has made us holy and blameless in His sight through Jesus Christ our Lord (Ephesians 1:4-6!)
q) God alone is our Guarantee of what is to come (Hebrews 7:22!)
r) God alone has planned an awesome future for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11!)
s) God alone will fulfill His purpose in our lives (Psalms 138:8!)
t) God’s will for us is to bear much fruit and enables us by his Holy Spirit to do so (John 15:3-9 and Galatians 5:22!)
u) God alone works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28!)
v) God alone ensures that we walk in the light of goodness, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:6-10!)
w) God alone makes us to walk in the very works He Himself has planned for us to do (Ephesians 2:10!)
x) God alone equips and puts into our hearts the desire to do His perfect will (Hebrews 13:20-21 and Philippians 2:13!)