Jeremiah 6.10-19 At the Crossroads”

At the Crossroads” 2 Oct 16

“Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people” (). God brought His people to the crossroads and pleads with them to choose the “old paths” and you will find rest for your souls (). Jesus offers the same truth – “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who enter in by it” (). God, through Jeremiah, offers many invitations to His people. Five times, God invites His people to Return (, , , ; ). Twice Israel says they will return ( [NAS] and 3.22). But Israel/Judah returned to the Lord in pretense not with sincerity (). God invites Judah/Israel again in .

again in .

I. The Warning Siren Ignored –

A. Jeremiah’s lament –

1. “My people are foolish, they have not known Me” –

2. To whom will I give warning?

3. Can Jeremiah, if he preaches in the right way, change people?

B. Only God can change a heart!!

1. God’s people Israel wanted to repent –

2. But they did not because their motivations were to love this world instead of loving God – ;

3. The heart of the people is an abomination – ,

C. God must open hearts

1. Lydia is an example –

2. No one comes to the Father unless the Father draws him –

3. God commands the light to shine out of the darkness to give the light of the glory of God – ; ; , ;

4. God alone gives a new heart – ; . Sadly, God’s people have no delight in the Word of the Lord – loving God’s Word is the evidence of repentance – ;

have no delight in the Word of the Lord – loving God’s Word is the evidence of repentance – ;

II. Failed Leadership –

A. Everyone is motivated by covetousness

1. Prosperity is the American dream and increasingly people see it as a right

2. Why are people looking to the government for prosperity? The government that bestows rights and entitlements can also take them away unless you submit to their authoritarian rule –

bestows rights and entitlements can also take them away unless you submit to

their authoritarian rule –

B. The leaders speak of peace falsely

1. Neville Chamberlain, British Prime Minister, proclaimed Peace for our time on September 30, 1938 – a peace treaty between the United Kingdom and Germany

2. Less than a year later Hitler invaded Poland, and the UK and France declare war on Germany

3. Pastors and ministries that proclaim a “therapeutic gospel” that helps only temporarily are declaring false peace – . They take away the blood atonement of Christ in exchange for emotional peace.

4. People search for the gospel they want to hear –

C. Christ alone is our peace – and

1. His atoning death gives us peace with God –

2. We can have genuine peace with God and peace within ourselves –

III. Invitation Rejected –

A. You will find rest for your souls –

B. God has provided pastors after His own heart – ; to invite us to Himself –

Q. 31. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening

our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. - Westminster Shorter Catechism

C. Judgment is coming –

Seek the Lord while He may be found –