Receiving God's Guidance
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812. The British soldiers were told to overwhelm the American forces, but when fired upon, they stopped to shoot back. This allowed the Americans to annihilate the British column. Instead of following their commander’s orders, the soldiers did what they felt was best and they paid a hard price for it.
Scripture Introduction
Jerusalem has fallen.
The governor the Babylonians appointed had been assassinated.
Some of the leaders were contemplating going to Egypt because of the assassination and fear of Babylonian retaliation.
They seek Jeremiah out to seek God’s direction for their next step.
Connection: A deceitful mind that hinders us from obeying God’s spoken directions to us.
Potential Impact
Jeremiah (42:6) warns us that our minds can be deceitful and difficult to understand. Despite this deception, God has provided us with guidance to help us avoid its traps. Today's passage helps us identify and pursue the qualities necessary to hear the voice of our Shepherd as He calls out to us.
Take Home: Cultivating qualities such as patience, faithfulness, peace, and self-control are essential for receiving guidance from God.
Message Focus: Four questions to help us lean into the qualities conducive to obeying God’s will.
A Plea To God For Guidance 42:1-6
A Plea To God For Guidance 42:1-6
That the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do.
Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.”
God’s Faithful Response 42:7-22
God’s Faithful Response 42:7-22
Pursue what God wants to do in you.
Patience
Patience
At the end of ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.
Imagine a farmer who plants seed in his field and then tills it back up after a day because nothing happened.
God’s timing will test our willingness to obey
Enablement: Cost
What would be the cost of being wrong?
Faithfulness
Faithfulness
If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you.
In the Book of Ruth, we find a story of faithfulness that transcends ordinary loyalty. Ruth chose to stay with Naomi, her mother-in-law, despite the uncertainty of their future. Her famous words, 'Where you go, I will go; where you stay, I will stay,' exemplify an unwavering commitment to family and faith. This biblical narrative teaches us the beauty of remaining faithful in relationships and to God Himself, even when the path ahead is unclear. True faithfulness is often shown through our actions and the steadfast spirit we maintain amidst life's challenges.
Remain
One of the hardest things to hear from God when the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
Relent
God is willing to end the judgment that has been occurring against Judah. Not an abstract statement of God’s thoughts.
Enablement: Avoiding Responsibility
Are you avoiding needed personal growth in your own life by going someplace that you think will better fit your preferences and perceived needs? -Dean Taylor, The Problem of Church Hopping in my Community
Peace
Peace
Jeremiah 42:11 (ESV)
Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand.
Two artists set out to make a picture representing perfect peace. The first painted a canvas depicting a carefree lad sitting in a boat on a little placid lake without a ripple to disturb the surface. The other painted a raging waterfall with winds whipping the spray about. On a limb, overhanging the swirling water, a bird had built its nest, and sat peacefully brooding her eggs. Here she was safe from her predatory enemies, shielded and protected by the roaring falls. Real peace is the result of remaining CALM and COOL in the midst of trial.
It is always safest to obey God.
Enablement: Ps 23
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Stronghold
Light: How we can go through tribulation recognizing Jesus has overcome the world.
PD201 Introducing Spiritual Formation (Illustration: John Ashcroft)
Sometimes God can ask us to do the right thing, and then let us pay the price for doing that.
We need to get our eyes off of things only of this world and consider Eternity and our role in advancing the the Kingdom of God.
Is your focus on God or something else?
Self-Control
Self-Control
Then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die.
In the Bible, Jonah famously ran from God's call, hopping on a ship to escape Nineveh. Trouble didn't evade him; instead, he faced a violent storm. As adults, we often think that by avoiding our problems, we can find peace. Yet, like Jonah, we discover that running only leads to greater turmoil until we confront the issues head-on. Jonah eventually learned that true peace comes from obedience and facing our responsibilities, even when they're uncomfortable.
Running from our problems
Enablement
We don’t realize we are running from our problems. We have our excuses.
People may agree with you, and the law may defend you; but if God cannot bless you, don’t do it! -Warren W. Wiersbe
Can God bless what your doing?
And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God in anything that he sent me to tell you.
A Rejection of God’s Reply 43:1-4
A Rejection of God’s Reply 43:1-4
Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there.’”
Remember their promise in Jeremiah 42:6, Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of Yahweh.
But Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may kill us or take us into exile in Babylon.
So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the Lord, to remain in the land of Judah.
Caution
Discernment can be side railed by self
Summary
Cultivating qualities such as patience, faithfulness, peace, and self-control are essential for receiving guidance from God.
Four questions to help us lean into the qualities conducive to obeying God’s will.
Patience
What would be the cost of being wrong?
Faithfulness
Are you avoiding needed personal growth in your own life by going someplace that you think will better fit your preferences and perceived needs?
Peace
Is your focus on God or something else?
Self-Control
Can God bless what your doing?
A Possible Next Step
When you have a decision to make and you need to hear from God, put some of the lessons we have learned over the past few weeks into action.
