A Second Chance

You're listening to Mount Carmel Baptist Churches weekly Sunday worship service message at 11 a.m. Mount Carmel Mt. Carmel Demorest. Thanks for listening.

Jeremiah chapter 19 we're going to read the whole chapter and actually go in to chapter 20. through verses 1 through 6

I want to preach you this morning a message that I've been titled. a second chance

a second chance

Do you believe in a god of a second chance?

What if I told you that you're wrong?

You said that's not true. That can't happen. Always gives us a second chance. And my question to you is are you willing to bet your soul on it?

What if you're wrong? Is today's Bible passage? Many of the Jews believe because of their ancestry and nationality. They were impervious to God's judgment that they literally couldn't be judged. They thought because of their great great great grandfather Abraham, who is it emits man of faith. And that because God station his temple in their city that God could not help but bless his quote chosen people. No matter how they behave with his name.

I want you to go ahead and get this deep in your soul early in this message. Nothing can substitute for personal trust in Jesus and faithfulness to him. No matter what you believe about yourself. or about our nation or about going to church

God in his great Mercy continue repeatedly to reach out to the Jews through the prophets like Jeremiah calling them to repentance. Please remember this word repentance write this down repentance means to change your way of thinking and living To change your way of thinking and living if you are persisting in this particular fault belief or worldview repentance calls you to change that if you're persistent that particular attitude lifestyle or action or behavior repentance cause you to change that behavior and say God is calling his people through the prophets to repentance change this way of thinking that just because you have Father Abraham in my temple that you're impervious to my judgment. He demands faithfulness.

From the people that he has saved from slavery in Egypt. My question before you today, it's in front of this text. And it's in front of all of us. Is what happens when we were Jack all God's call to change the please notice what I'm saying? What happens when we reject every attempt from God's preachers his people to call us to repentance what happens when you reject all of those calls to change our lives just look at versus 19 1 through 5. Jeremiah this is what the Lord says. This is Jeremiah going to speak through the Lord the Lord will speak for Jeremiah. He tells Jeremiah the S go and buy a potters clay jar. Now. This is a clay pot the jar that that Jeremiah probably bought was one that you can fill it full of liquid have any car you can pour it out. That's not to garden with it was to consume or to contain water water pieces. Go to a Potter's Goodbye potters clay jar take some of the elders or the leaders of the people of Judah and some of the leading priests and go out to Ben hinnom Valley near the entrance of the potsherd gate to Ben hinnom Valley and departure Gates and Proclaim their the words. I speak to you. Here's what he say that but just imagine Jeremiah has this big old pot underneath his arm. And this is what he tells the leaders of his nation and the spiritual leaders of his religion Judaism. He says this say hear the word of the Lord Kings of Judah & residence a Jerusalem who they represent. This is what the lord of armies the God of Angel Armies the god of Israel said now, this is important to know some historical context. This is somewhere on the 600's to 500 BC you need to remember in 722 BC. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was obliterated by the Assyrians and it's interesting here. Comes and speaks to the Jews the people of Judah and he calls himself the god of Israel Never member what happened to Israel not long ago, honey years ago obliterated to the Lord of Angel Armies. The god of Israel says, I'm going to bring such a disaster on this place that everyone who hears about it will shutter. Because they have abandoned me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in it to other gods that they need their fathers and the kings of Judah have never known that didn't save them. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent. They have built hot places to build the false god on which to burn their children in the fire as burnt offerings to Bell the mistress. You always speaking something. I have never commanded or mention. I'm never entertained the falls. What happens when we reject all God's calls to change what happens when we reject to repent the very first thing that we see here in a text is that we sacrifice what is precious? Listen to me church, when we refuse to repent we sacrifice what is present Jeremiah precious Jeremiah buys this clay jar. He persuades the VIPs of Judah the one who have power to make public policy and they go out to this Valley called Ben hinnom. Everybody say Ben hinnom that's going to become important. Remember this Ben. Hinnom is a garbage dump. It's the city's landfill. It was used for burning garbage and for cremating bodies and in the middle of this garbage dump. They had erected an altar to Baal and it's interesting to know cuz this will come in later. This is a story you got to set it up. They walk you through what gate you need to stay in the text today. What gate do they walk in through to go to the garbage dump the potsherd gate? This is where you know how to go to the garbage dump their like here's where you put the papers. Here's where you put the plastic over here. This guy. That's why you took all the ruined pottery clay jars and you broke them and put them there. China magic, he's there Walker on pot shirts as they enter through into this dump. That's about going to become important.

What is happening to Judah the Lord of armies? The god of Israel is going to send such a disaster on him on them that everyone who hears about it all the nations around with shutter and what God does it'll make them scared. Why because first God's people so to speak the professed people of God had abandoned him. The idea is literally they had been unfaithful to him. Like when we are Unfaithful in our marriages God has set up a covenant relationship with them member God save them from Egypt delivers them from bondage at Sana. They become a covenant Nation. Please notice this church. God was good to them ever before the people of Israel were good to God. That's how God in his goodness and loving kindness and mercy Works. He's saved them and redeem them and then when he brought them out, they kind of made vows to one another we're going to enter into a relationship and I I want you to be faithful to me and as long as you're faithful to me, you don't have to say to me. I'll bless you and you will prosper in the land, but if you turn your back on me. Will be consequences.

And then the other thing he cites them with her invites him with his not just abandonment that they literally made God's country a foreign place to who God. Goddess Entertainer my temple is there. I know my home is there I know my dwelling-place is there but I'm not there anymore. Because of your attitudes and actions of evacuating my temple, I need you to know this there is nothing for me left in this land. You become foreign to me and I've become foreign to you. And what was the reason the reason was idolatry they were sacrificing to an object to get what they want. You may want to write this down when we sacrifice to anything or to anyone to get what we want. Now, this is important. Who is The Giver of every good gift. And we have to learn to be content and satisfied and overflowing with joy with what God gives us and what he withholds from us. We have to ultimately trust that it is for our good. Guess what sometimes you don't like how God deals with us and so will erect Idols. Both Pretenders false gods that are made in our image so that we can have all the things God promises without the faithfulness. We can have safety fertility help well prosperity and sacrifice, but I want you than success. But I want you to notice this even false gods demand a sacrifice every thought about that if we know that their fault that there's nothing really behind them. Why is it that they demand vicious sacrifices? Because here's what's more important when we follow false god a sacrifice as a one-time thing. It's not a living God who demands faithfulness from his people every single day the god of Israel wants our faithfulness not sacrifices. He wants our obedience not our confession. That doesn't mean that were always perfect and we never slip up. That's why I've gotten his grace extends a covering for our sins in Jesus Christ. But the point is this what would God rather have he wants you to be faithful to him day in and day out. What's a good thing about a false god, and she can fire sacrifice something else one time and it'll pees him. I want you to think about the Living God with the Living God did for you. Is he sacrificed his own son and in response to his son we sacrifice Our Lives. here What are the false god require of them they sacrifice to their children? What is most precious to Living God will say you lay down your life a false god will say laying down everything else. That's most precious. What false gods do. Can I make this personal? This is the part of the sermon I don't like but I got to tell you the truth. United States is not a covenant Nation like the people of Israel, but I do want think I want you to hear me even non Covenant Nation. You didn't enjoy this special marriage like relationship with God would come under God's judgement the cause of the shedding of innocent blood. Remember Jonah went to a a foreign gentle City Middlebrook and. Country was called Assyria. This was not a covenant Nation, but did they still come under God's judgment. Even in his grace and mercy go out and send a prophet to call them to repentance. Yeah. That's why Jonah hated it. I know if I'm sending a profit there's a chance they might turn around.

Here's what I need you to know why we may not be a covenant Nation. We can fall under God's judgement you and I especially when it comes to this issue of the shedding of innocent blood. I submit this with gentleness and respect every American has blood on their hands. On the altar a woman's product Reproductive Rights. We are spilling the blood of Innocents everyday in our abortion facilities across the country.

We want to be great. We want to be good tell me Church. How can we be great and good when that goes on.

We can't. That's kind of funny that we say is the church. That's their problem. We we don't believe in doing something like that. Let me tell you what else we sacrificed. On the altar of the American dream and the American work ethic. We will sacrifice the poor. Will sacrifice overworked and underpaid employees. Will sacrifice immigrants seeking Refuge? We'll sacrifice a day of rest. Who sacrificed time with our families? Will sacrifice time with this Gathering? I will sacrifice giving for the spread of the Gospel through all the nations were so we can have our money.

It will bring God's judgement. There's nothing wrong with a sparring from work. There's nothing wrong with the good work ethic but you better look and see what else you're sacrificing. when you do it On the altar of individual Freedom we sacrifice the sacredness of our bodies made in the image of God and the sweet spiritual intimacy of God's design for marriage so that we can have pornography sex before marriage divorce same-sex marriage and self-identifying gender. Why because it's my right. It's my freedom and I'm glad we have rights and freedoms, but you better look and see what you're sacrificing in the name of them. On the alternative happiness and escaped. We sacrifice our mental and physical health our livelihoods and those who depend on us so that we can have drunkenness drug addictions and gluttony. Nothing wrong with some happiness, right? But what are we sacrificing in order to get it? And then in case you're sitting there feeling really good about yourself saying, you know what I'm not done any of those things. on the altar of self-righteousness and morality We will sacrifice the only gospel. That we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as revealed in scripture along to the glory of God alone. It's not of Works. No so that no one can boast.

Would you know what we'll do in sacrifice the gospel will trust in never taking a drink. I will trust in never looking at pornography will trust in always minding our manners being good citizens of America and missing the kingdom of heaven.

I just want you to look at what we might be sacrificing on altars. today No matter what we decide to call them always remember this church anytime you hear a name, especially from a politician. It's good for something else.

I think there's a reason why Jeremiah he brought those leaders out. He says any tavius at the beginning of my Ministry King Josiah tour this whole place down in just a few short years you built it back up.

Play some jamming hear the difference between a theocracy and a democracy or monarchy and democracy everybody in Washington represent to We the People. If we tolerate it in our land it's because we tolerate it in our lands and I'll tell you even this I'll go one step further we tolerated in the church. Where should not once be named Among Us. What are we the church sacrificing but Gospel of Jesus?

for something that we enjoy what happens when we were Jack all God's calls to change its look at verses 6 through 9. He says there is therefore look like pay attention to what I'm about to do. The days are coming. This is the Lord's declaration when this place will no longer longer be ptosis with me a place to spit. And Ben hinnom Valley but Slaughter Valley. He's a God's got a name name for this place, but we alter but we sacrifice on the altar to Baal Veer 7. I will spoil the plans of Judah and Jerusalem in this place. I Will Make Them Fall by the sword before their enemies by hand of those who intend to take their life. I will provide their corpses as food for the birds of the sky and for the wild animals of the land. I will make this city desolate an object of scorn everyone who passes by it will be appalled and skull because of all of its wounds. I will make them eat the Flesh of your sons and your daughters and they were each other's flesh and The distressing Siege inflicted on them bother enemies who intend to take their life. God's judgment necessitates a new name for Ben hinnom and he calls it Slaughter Valley. Dennis Dillon Valley a garbage place it already stinks to high heaven will become an even more grotesque picture bodies would call her for the birds to eat Gentile nations with ridicule God city of Jerusalem as it sits in Ruins Under The Siege the people who sacrificed their own children will stoop so low to eat them to start the stop starvation Define grotesque picture. It should make a shutter.

Do you know in the New Covenant in the New Testament that it's even worse of a picture for you and all who reject all God's calls to repent? T Jesus does a name change so to speak Jesus the son of God with the authority of God who gives us the final interpretation of what God is going to do in his Sermon on the Mount. You can read it and Matthew 5 22 29 330. You can read it in Mark 9:43 and Luke 12:15. Instead of calling it been hit him. He calls it the henna. Henna, it's a transliteration. It's the same thing and it is Jesus's name for the final place of punishment for the ungodly. We know it in one word. It is hell. When you save well good thing. I'm never sacrifice to Baal. Or sacrifice my children because I don't want to participate and Slaughter Valley or help. You need to go and read Jesus's Sermon on the Mount you said I'm not a murderer he goes. Do you have lotions lips? Have you ever called someone an idiot or an idiot or moron because you deserve the henna because you have murder in your heart. You sure I'm not in adultery. I wouldn't abandon God or my wife or my husband my spouse because he have you had a restful. Look at someone you fantasize about 1. See what's on the inside too. You got what we are. I only tell White Lies little lies because God's people are people of the truth. They never lie. What is an, it takes one word from our lips? Please get this one word from our lips one ruler from her one just half-truth and we're in bed denim. Where in the henna the Lake of Fire the bottomless Abyss where the fire never dies when we reject all God's calls your pennis. Listen, what happens number 2 we go to hell? We got to help please listen to church. Nobody gets excited about that. When do with the Prophet Jeremiah does what should we do? We shudder at the thought we shake at the thought Jeremiah has no Glee and see if his people turn into Slaughter Valley. I have no products no enjoyment and telling you if you don't turn from your sin and Trust Christ the lord the place according to God's word that's reserved for you at the end of your life is Everlasting help. There's no joy in it. And so I beg you I'm pleased for you repent and be saved.

Surely there's more you said what gets worse than sacrificing. What's most precious what gets worse than going to hell look at verses 10 through 15. He says then you shot her that jar you take that jar and you shot of that jar in the presence of the people going with you and your to Proclaim to be on this is what the lord of army says. I will shatter these people and the city like one shot Erza Potter shark that can never again be mended. They will bury the dead and purpose because there's no other place for burials. This is what I will do to this place. This is the Declaration of the Lord and its residents making the city like topaz like spit the houses of Jerusalem and the houses of a Kings of Judah will become in pure like a place of paint with all the houses on Whose rooftops. They burn incense to all the stars in the sky and poured out drink offerings to other gods. By the way. I'm aware of that will only goes on in my temple and in this garbage. I know what's happening in your homes. I didn't notice what Jeremiah does first 14 Jeremiah return from topaz or the Lord sent them to prophesy. He stood in the courtyard of the word simple. He went to the church house. So to speak and Proclaim to all the people who claim to know God. This is what the lord of armies the god of Israel says, I'm about to bring on this shity and all of its cities every disaster. I spoke against it, but they have become abstinent stubborn not willing to change not obeying my words with a sudden Grand move Jeremiah list that Potter store and he throws it on the ground. I remember once he standing on shards of clay

I want you to think about this. I'm not going to shatter it here at Saturday night at home. Scotland had fun with me doing this as I did this and thought about what it meant and signified of this passage just to hear the sound.

Here's what I want you to think about. When he shatters that pot not only it's not like here in the pots collected we might have a chance of going it back together. God's got Sovereign. He didn't do this by accident. He went to the place where there was a ton of other Pottery right? Where was this shot is scattered across all other kinds of jars in pot that have been there. And I almost get this chance. It's like God saying, go ahead. Judah see if you can put it back together. Interject me. You stay obstinate you don't listen to my prophets you refuse to obey go ahead. Find the pieces. Put your life back together.

that generation that Jeremiah Was prophesying to had forfeited all hope of repentance reshaping and Reformation. Here's what happens to church when we reject all calls to change and repent number 3. We ruin our lives beyond repair. We ruin our lives beyond repair listen to this and this is what we don't like. We'd like to hear there's always a chance of redemption. We love that. That's what you're going to say. After this is going to be false prophets that prove that come up and say there's a chance there's a chance that their mother. No, there's not there's no

this is a point of no return for them. This is a time when God no longer grants repentance. Think about it. Layson gentleman. Think about it judgment eventually does

It eventually does, it eventually catches up to us. Why why has it not caught up with all ready? Because we're good. No, God's Great inpatient. Who suffers long?

In wow, wow how they become stubborn simply because they wouldn't and Listen and Obey God's word.

They refused to listen to the prophets.

We've come to a point to concede. We know it all we're in control. There's nothing else you could tell us that we don't already know and turn my sitter going was in there. Just do what this book is telling you to do do what God is telling you to do and you won't get to a place where your lives are in ruin. They become smarter than it's it's a it's a preventative thing.

Well, let's look at verses 21 through 6.

Remember Jeremiah's backup now in the courtyard of the temple Pastor the priest the son of in Marin the chief official in the temple of the Lord heard Jeremiah prophesied these things but this is the main man in the courtyard of the temple. He heard this man run around its disaster is disaster. You become stubborn. You become I sent your heart to become hard is this. The only thing I can do is break it that's it. That's all God's got left. You got me and Pastor didn't like that message. Hey, I like to preach forgiveness. I like the preach Redemption people will eventually get around.

So controversial to have the Prophet Jeremiah beaten and put them in stocks at the upper Benjamin gate in the Lord's Temple. He literally became a laughing stock for a day. First three the next day when Pastor released Jeremiah from the stocks Jeremiah said to him I can almost I don't know if he whispered it. I just see that my safe-deposit imagination, please like I got to work for you. Okay, and this is not from Jeremiah's or imagination. This is from the Lord is I've been sitting here thinking and praying that God told me to tell you something. This is the Lord does not call your pasture. But terror is on every side which weight danger everywhere when I see you. I see Danger.

Uses for this is what the word says. I am about to make you pasher a terror to both yourself and those you love they will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes. I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon and he will Deport them to Babylon and put them to the sword. I will give away all the wealth of the city all of its products and bibles indeed. I'll hand all the Treasures of the kings of Judah over to their enemies. They will plunder them sees them and carry them off the Babylon asked for you passion and all who live in your house. You'll go into captivity you taken out of this Temple, you will go to Babylon there you will die there you will be buried notices outside of God's country and you and all your friends to you prophesied loss.

Terror is on every side.

What happened here? McCall's pasher preferred laws to the truth His good feelings and opinions of himself and his people to God's holy word. Told him. You're going to become a terrorist and when we think of terrorists, we think of the terrorists who attacked foreign places listen to us number for Here's what happens when you reject God's cause you're pissing before we become a terrorist to ourselves and our loved ones.

We become a terrorist to ourselves in the gods loved ones. How have you think about this with Jenna disrespect? I can become a terrorist to myself and a terrorist to my family. Why when I reject this book, When I refused to Listen and Obey this book, I've been even worse when I tell them things that aren't in this book. You get me when I make promises and true statements that don't line up with this. I am putting myself and everyone I know in what danger. I'm putting you in danger.

Brother Ricky he was praying back there and I told him to text for this week in advance and I just heard his Praises northsteppe Josh preach Jeremiah. And the gospel. Because I knew I knew he's read it, right. There's just the holy hush. Where's the hope? That's why we all her we're all waiting for was waiting for this to magically get back together, aren't we?

In 586 BC Nebuchadnezzar comes and kicks down the door and they do exactly everything. God said

Now here's what I want you to think about the Jeremiah's audience the speed people. He spoke to the kings in Judah at that time that the chief priest and Pastor sure they didn't get a second chance. I need you to stand it. Had spoke to them spoke to them spoke to them. And finally what happened judgment cane But here's what I want you think about it if it got eliminated all this people, but then what unit is the book ends like the whole Bible is right here. Digital happy does it look like I do that's a good thing that don't end right here my letter don't stop here you catch me. Bible verse in Jeremiah 33 says hey there's a day coming, but I told him that I want to set up a new covenant.

And it's going to include all people answer. They paid with a blood. Oh, that's priceless its Eternal. It's so good. It isn't discover or mask sent it erase it erase them so far. It eradicates them from my mod. I can't ever come to place a judgment on these people. Ocean one other thing and not New Covenant. I'll give them my spirit and I can take hard heart and I'll make them moldable again.

But for them it's done. Here's what I need to know for Jeremiah's Aldean to be reading this book and all of us today. We do have hope. forgotten generation it would depend on their response to God's message and for us it depends on our response to God's message. Are we going to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ or we or will we repent today change our way of thinking and living and be a part of the New Covenant where God forgives our sins gives us eternal life and we are no longer. Can you say how was Scott able to do this? This is the good news Jesus Christ the son of God came and took our judgment for us. He bore our sins on the cross spilled his blood erased our sins and to prove to you that this appease the wrath of God that we deserve Eternal fire and judgement by raising from the daddy said in this man's name Prince the Forgiveness of sins and eternal life if you'll turn from your sins and Trust Christ Alone,

I like what King Jesus the Risen Jesus told the church and Revelation 2 26 through 28. He says this the one who conquers and who keeps smileworks to the end. Did you notice this people who had already put their personal trust in Jesus and he says if you'll stay faithful to me even in the middle of the worst persecution listen to what Jesus promises his people I will give him that person authority over the nation's and that is what happens. He will rule with an iron scepter and he will shatter them like pottery And that is what Jesus said just as I have received from the father. You know where that Rod of judgement and correction where it where it where it's whose hand it's in right now Jesus. And church he's coming again. And here's the here's the father think you can either be ruled by Jesus or ruin by.

Will he passed that on to you and go roll with me? Or will he go? It's got to be broken. Every ejected every call to repentance. I need to know this write this down. I'm not saying that God doesn't forgive and he doesn't call but I do need to know there comes a day when there is five words. There is no second chance. Cuz if we really believe that don't judge me that you know, what happened. I wouldn't judge Sinners because he would be a second chance. I need to know the way that bookends Revelation 20 it says hey, we all stand before the great white throne. And the only hope that I can give you is that on that day. You've come true turn from your all your since you've turned from trusting in yourself and you just trust Jesus alone for salvation. That's the only satisfaction that we have. And here's what I lost. You also found that when you serve Jesus when you give your life to Christ hear some things that I can't tell you while he'll call us to come and die. I never heard Jesus once told me to go sacrifice my Scotty. These are good. Not once paper. I have no promise of Hell in my future. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt if I died today, I spend eternity in heaven with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I'm not saying I've got my wife all together, but it's not in shambles. He's keeping me put together. You understand this?

Let me tell you this every every word that comes out of this book from his mouth. Yeah, sometimes it hurts but it heals. It's not a danger to me anymore. It's a source of comfort and the light and joy. That hurt that second chances because only found in Christ and when we reject everything to do with Christ, there is no second chance.

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