The Call & The Promise
Notes
Transcript
Change happens!
Change happens!
In fact, I could argue the pace of change has only accelerated in the past 15-20 years.
We grasp at anything that will give us security.
We grasp at anything that will give us security.
Some of the things we go towards are not bad, others very much so.
We need a voice of truth AND hope!
We need a voice of truth AND hope!
Not just one or the other but both. I am becoming convinced our world is running on short supply of hope.
Enter the prophet Jeremiah.
Enter the prophet Jeremiah.
Picture on next slide. He lived and ministered for about 40 years during a time of monumental change and shifts in the nation of Judah.
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.
Jeremiah is the “weeping” prophet.
Jeremiah is the “weeping” prophet.
This was partially because of waht he spoke but also because of what happened to him. He also wrote I believe the book of Lamentations.
The Lord knows us.
The Lord knows us.
Look at verse 4-5. Before conception our Lord knows who we are.
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.”
Therefore, all life is valuable!
Therefore, all life is valuable!
What is true of Jeremiah is true of you and me. It is also true of those not like us. It is true of those in their mother’s womb and also those on death row. Notice the hope in this statement.
God hears our “excuses”.
God hears our “excuses”.
God is not put off by our excuses, always. He hears them. As we have learned the past two weeks with the story of Hagar: God hears and God sees. Add to this our point just a moment ago and we have God knows.
Therefore, God provides!
Therefore, God provides!
There is hope! God not only hears our excuses but provides for our excuses.
God calls His people for service.
God calls His people for service.
Jeremiah was called by God for God to do the work of God. He was to be a “prophet to the nation” (verse 5) but also gave him the message (verse 10). We cannot miss all the message.
Therefore, God is calling you and me to service.
Therefore, God is calling you and me to service.
We are like Jeremiah called for a purpose, God’s purpose.
God gives a promise!
God gives a promise!
Notice the words of 7-9.
Therefore, God is with you!
Therefore, God is with you!
This is a constant promise of Scripture.