LESSONS FROM JEREMIAH JEREMIAH 1:4-7

Age doesn’t matter to God. Young or old it doesn’t matter to God. He will use you for His service. Do not use your age as an excuse not to do the Lord’s work. Our attitude should be “Here am I. Send me!”

Pray For Those Sinning Jeremiah loved his country-men. Jeremiah would often pray for the people, even though God had told him not to. (Jeremiah 14:7, 20; 7:16; 11:14; 14:11) We should pray that something might be said or done that will open their eyes to the Lord’s way. We should also remember to hate the sin, but love the sinner. Prayer can work wonders. James 5:16 The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Along the same line we should grieve over sin. Jeremiah lamented and mourned over the sins of his people. (Jeremiah 7:29; 8:21; 9:1, 10, 20) Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, Matthew 23: Sin separates people from God. We should grieve and mourn when people fall into sin and away from God.

God means what he says. Moses had warned the people to do all what the Lord commanded them to do and all would go well. If they didn’t they would have to suffer the consequences. Jeremiah told the people because they had forsaken the Lord they would have to suffer from His wrath. Today we are told that if we give our lives to the Lord and we walk righteously before Him we are going to receive the reward. If we are unwilling to do this than we also must suffer the consequences.

Beware of false prophets. Jeremiah not only had to preach God’s word faithfully, he also had to contend with false prophets. Jeremiah 6:13-14 From the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, `Peace, peace!' When there is no peace. Today we also must contend with false prophets. I Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, Jude 3 Earnestly contend for the faith.

The word of God should never be perverted. It was Jeremiah’s job to preach the word. Jeremiah 1:17 Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Today we have the same job. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WORD OF GOD!

We need to have faith. Jeremiah said he couldn’t. Jeremiah 1:6-7 Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.'' God said he could. 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. Today there are time we may think “I can’t.” All long God saying, “Yes you can.” Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

We should toss fear out the window. Jeremiah could of let fear stop him. He suffered persecution He was beaten Put in the stocks. Put under house arrest. Stoned to death in Egypt Today we may have a lot of things in our lives to fear. But we cannot let fear and worry stop us. Jeremiah was not left alone to fin for himself. Jeremiah 1:8 Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,'' says the Lord. We are not left alone either.

Hebrews 13:5-6 For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.'' So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'' Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? II Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Idol worship is condemned. One reason Judah was being punished was because they had forsaken god and turned to idols. Jeremiah 16:10-12 "And it shall be, when you show this people all these words, and they say to you, `Why has the Lord pronounced all this great disaster against us? Or what is our iniquity? Or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?' then you shall say to them, `Because your fathers have forsaken Me,' says the Lord; `they have walked after other gods and have served them and worshiped them, and have forsaken Me and not kept My law. And you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, each one walks according to the imagination of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me.

Do we have the same problem today? Any time we allow things to get between us and God it has become our idol. Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said to him, " `You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. I John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Do not envy the wicked. In Jeremiah 45 Baruch seems to envying someone. Jeremiah 45:5 "And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,'' says the Lord. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.'' Perhaps it was his brother who occupied an important position under King Zedekiah.

Psalms 37:1-5 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. I Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Individual responsibility. God is not only concerned with the nations, but also each individual. Jeremiah along with Ezekiel are considered “the prophet of individual responsibility.” Everyone has an individual responsibility to God. Jeremiah 31:29-30 "In those days they shall say no more: `The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Each one of us has an individual responsibility to God. Galatians 6:5 For each one shall bear his own load. Romans 14:12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? ARE YOU FULFILLING YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LORD?

As judgment came to Judah it will also come to us. Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment. Judah could not escape the Lord’s judgment. We will not be able to escape the Lord’s judgment. II Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. Numbers 32:23 Be sure your sin will find you out.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE LORD’S JUDGMENT?

Given by David Hamlin on am Hollister, Missouri church of Christ