Back to the OT this week as we look at the first nine chapters of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 1:
1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,
2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.
The Call of Jeremiah
4 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth."
7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD."
9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
11 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see an almond branch."
12 Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it."
13 The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north."
14 Then the LORD said to me, "Out of the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land.
15 For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah.
16 And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.
17 But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.
18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you."
Jeremiah 2: Israel Forsakes the LORD
1 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, "I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the LORD."
4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel.
5 Thus says the LORD: "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
6 They did not say, 'Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?'
7 And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.
8 The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.
9 "Therefore I still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your children's children I will contend.
10 For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing.
11 Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,
13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.
14 "Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?
15 The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.
16 Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
17 Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way?
18 And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
19 Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.
20 "For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, 'I will not serve.' Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.
21 Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?
22 Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.
23 How can you say, 'I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals'? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done--- a restless young camel running here and there,
24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.
25 Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, 'It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.'
26 "As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,
27 who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave me birth.' For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, 'Arise and save us!'
28 But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah.
29 "Why do you contend with me? You have all transgressed against me, declares the LORD.
30 In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.
31 And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, 'We are free, we will come no more to you'?
32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33 "How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.
34 Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things
35 you say, 'I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.' Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, 'I have not sinned.'
36 How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.
37 From it too you will come away with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them.
Things to think about…
1. Jeremiah 1 is encouraging in the fact that God has prepared Jeremaih for his task, even from birth, Jer 1:5. But look at the ministry he has for him. These people will not repent. No wonder he was called the weeping prophet. He was told right at the beginning as a young man that he would speak against nations and that they would not listen, vs 10. None more so than his beloved Israel.
2. Jeremiah in Jer 1:6 is called by the Lord and just like Moses says that he is unable to complete the task because he says, “I do not know how to speak”. Without the Lord’s Spirit this is indeed true, but as Paul tells us “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, Phil 4:13. As the Lord said to Moses, He is the One who forms the eye, the ear and the mouth, Ex 4:11. He is the One who is able to speak through us. When the Lord calls us, our simple yet humble response should simply be ‘yes Lord’. We also know the year that the Lord began to call Jeremiah “in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign”. King Josiah began to reign in 640BC, so Jeremiah’s call began in 627BC.
3. If you are truly called to speak for the Lord, like Jeremiah the Lord will say “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth”, Jer 1:9. In the same way He will give you a vision for the ministry, “Jeremiah, what do you see?" He will confirm His call in your life as you see what He has for you, Jer 1:14-16. The nations that the Lord is calling from the north, vs 15 would be the Babylonians. This was a fearful thing to hear because this is how the 10 tribes in the north were taken by Assyria 120 years earlier in 722BC. The Lord then says, “dress yourself for work”, Jer 1:17. We are dressed in the righteousness of Christ. There is no better clothing to carry out Christ’s call in your life. We can do all things through Christ whop strengthens us, Phil 4:13.
4. As with the calling of Joshua who was told to be courageous and strong, Josh 1:9, the Lord says to Jeremiah and to us “for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you”, Jer 1:19 as we are obedient to His call in our lives.
5. Jeremiah like Isaiah who was before him had to speak to the rebellious heart of Israel. He says in the wilderness when the Israelites rebelled, “They did not say, 'Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt…” Jer 2: 6. The implication is that this is what they are saying now. Just because the Lord is not answering or appearing to you as He may have done in the past does not mean He is not there listening and acting. He knows the best for His people. Obedience to what He has already revealed to us is necessary when we do not feel He is present or acting.
6. The Lord asks to check out other nations, Jer 2:10. He says “Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods”, Jer 2:11. The response is “they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves”, Jer 2:13. I believe in large part the West including Australia has turned its back upon Christ, the One who has been our Living Water and we have dug our own wells of materialism and self-sufficiency. May these things not be named among the Lord’s people.
7. The Lord asks what Israel gains by drinking from the wells of Egypt or Assyria, Jer 2:18. These things will eventually be used by the Lord to judge them “Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you”, Jer 2:19. A desire for the world and its ways will eventually consume you and will be used as instruments of discipline to bring you back to Christ.
8. Israel says they “say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave me birth”, Jer 2:27. The Lord says let them save you, Jer 2:29. The world’s wealth cannot save the soul from sin at the time of greatest need.
9. Egypt will judge Israel as Assyria did beforehand, Jer 2:36. The earthly things we put our trust in will fail in the end.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “Proclaiming Christ”
Reading – 1 Corinthians 12, 14
1. We all love receiving gifts. Especially if they have been well considered with who we really are and what we like. What is the most thoughtful gift you have ever received?
2. As Christians we all have a spiritual gift/s. What is yours? Are you using it to build up the body of Christ?
3. Paul says not to be ignorant of spiritual gifts, 1Cor 12:1. But there is a lot of confusion regarding the spiritual gifts of especially surrounding tongues and prophecy. Tongues as described in these 2 chapters (1Cor 12, 14) speak of known languages in the world, 1Cor 14:10, 11. Discuss how this gift is abused in some church contexts. How should it be used as outlined by Paul?
4. The gift of prophecy is also not well understood in the modern church. The 1st century Christians did not have the entire bible and needed revelation. We have the complete revelation in scripture and hence saying “Thus says the Lord” as the OT prophets declared is not the role of prophecy as described in 1 Cor 12&14. How do we discern the difference between a genuine prophetic word for someone or the church and a false prophecy?
5. Pray for the use of all the spiritual gifts in the church with a right discernment in their use.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
2. Pray for those on holidays and travelling.
3. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
5. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
6. Sunday’s message from Jer 1 - “Not the calling I’m after” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors on Sunday.
2. New cell groups.
3. Praise and worship – thanks Rod, Rin, Molley, Riley, Zac, great job.
Announcements
1. New Cell groups starting up. Find one near you.
2. PlayPatch starting up next term for toddlers at church. See Maddison for details.
3. Men’s brekky TBA. But will be down at Colleges Crossing within the next month or so on a Saturday morning.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
