The Non-Negotiables

Jeremiah 2:13 KJV 1900

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Jeremiah’s ministry extended from the13th year of the reign of Josiah(Jer 1:2) until the exile of the Jerusalemites (1:3). Thus, he prophesied from about 627 b.c. until at least 586b.c.

Judah would fall to Babylon and this would be God’s judgment for her idolatry—forsaking God and worshipping what their hands had made.

2:6- Their faithfulness to God after the Egyptian bondage didn’t last.

2:8- Jeremiah singled out 3 groups—

Priests who were to instruct the people in the ways of God, didn’t know God;

Pastors, leaders, who handle the law appointed by God to guide and protect the nation were themselves in need of correction; the

Prophets, instead of declaring God’s word of rebuke and correction, they prophesied by Baal and urged the people to follow worthless idols.

2:13—Two Evils

forsaken me the fountain of living waters

- (Omission) they had turned away from God

hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water

(commission)—she had replaced her true God with false idols. The had turned from a dependable, pure stream of running water, to a broken cistern that holds no water.

We have a problem and its called SIN. Adam and Eve sinned against God and the fall of man was present; The world was so evil that God looked and He was not pleased—He sent a flood and destroyed mankind, saving Noah and his family; The children of Israel built a “golden calf” to turn their hearts to; Today, in America, we have turned away from God.

Religion is the greatest impostor the world has ever known.

Christianity is not a religion, but rather a relationship!

Sometimes, we want to “negotiate” with God—we try to deal with God, have conference and even compromise, even dispute with Him.

What are the “non-negotiables” of our life? While there are many, we will talk about the following:

Repent

—to turn back; to be sorry; regret.

Jeremiah 8:6 KJV 1900

I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

Ezekiel 14:6 KJV 1900

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

Matthew 3:2 KJV 1900

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 2:17 KJV 1900

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV 1900

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Mark 1:15 KJV 1900

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Faith

-Our walk proceeds from faith in God--By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name (Rom 1:5).

Faith in God, in general, is, and must be, the principle of all obedience. It is called “The obedience of faith,” Rom. 1: 5; that is, of faith in God by Christ.

Faith is not intellectual assent to a series of propositions but surrender to the one who asks us to trust him. To surrender is to obey.

Obedience is the true measure of one’s faith.

As it is said, in general, that “he that comes to God must believe that he is;” so, in particular, as to the new covenant, Christ says of himself, “I am the way:” there is no going to the Father but by him, John 14: 6. They who have believed in God, must be careful to maintain good works, Tit. 3:8.; that is, they who have believed in God through Christ.

We will be obedient to what we have placed our faith in—money, sports, family, church, religion.

Paul has told the Romans that he is a servant. He is God-appointed, not self-appointed. He is separated out for the gospel. His entire horizon, the very atmosphere of his life, is dominated with the resurrected human-superhuman Christ. His purpose was to lead the Gentiles to faith in Christ and to the obedience that should follow sincere faith.

Perfecting Holiness

—God told Abram to “Walk before me, and be thou perfect,” Gen. 17:1. It was said of Noah, that he was “perfect in his generations,” Gen. 6:9; as it is also said of many others.

David bids us “mark the perfect man,” Ps. 37:37; that is, the man that walks with God according to the tenor of the new relationship.

And our Saviour, calling for this obedience, commands us to “be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect,” Matt. v. 48.

We are said to be perfect, “complete” in Christ,

Colossians 2:10 KJV 1900

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

In Heb. 12: 23, we read, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Just men are not thus made perfect until their spirits be brought into the presence of God. This perfection is the aim of Christ’s redemption,

“that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:26-27

According to 2 Cor 7:1, Our life should be characterized as

“perfecting holiness in the fear of God”

There is no word in the Scripture whereby this perfection, and being perfect, is expressed, that in its use is restrained to such an absolute perfection as should admit of no mixture of failing or defect.

In the New Testament —a perfect man is described as, “one that cannot be justly blamed,” or reproved, “for dealing perversely”; to be “complete”, “mature”, “grown up in one’s likeness to God”, “blameless”, and “fully equipped”.

Constant Progress

-- progressive motion towards a mark before us. Walking is a constant progress. He that is walking towards a place that he hath in his eye may stumble sometimes, yea, perhaps, and fall also; but yet, whilst his design and endeavour lies towards the place aimed at.

In Phil 3:14, Paul wrote, “ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Press—dioko—present, active, first person

The word means to “to impel”, “set in rapid motion”, “to pursue”, “to press toward”, “to chase”, “to hunt”

There is a constant pressing forwards required in our obedience.

However, to sit down and give over to temptation is a clear picture of sin making our walk non-existent. To engage in such a course of sin is to walk contrary to God, not with Him.

In 1 Cor 9:24,he bids us “ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain”.

“Run”-trecho- rush, exert oneself, make progress. Running means prompt obedience which will be attended by blessings.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (Gen 17:1). It is called “walking before him,” before his face, in his sight. The performance of all duties of obedience as under the eye of God, is required unto this walking with him.

As you walk:

Acknowledge God’s omniscience and presence

-- as “all things are open and naked before him,” Heb. 4:12; on this consideration, that he knows all things, — that his understanding is infinite, — that nothing can be hid from him, — that there is no flying out of his presence, nor hiding from him, the darkness being light to him. Men may have a general persuasion that they are under the eye of God: and this is in the thoughts of all.

Understand God’s Concern for Obedience

God says to David, Psa 32:8, “ ‘I will guide thee with mine eye.’ The consideration of mine eye being upon thee, shall instruct thee, or teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. Mine eye is on thee, as concerned in thy ways and obedience.”

Delight in God

Our delight should be in him to the outcome of obedience

“Delight thyself in the Lord,” saith the psalmist, Ps. 37:4; — When a person aims in every duty to meet with God, to have converse with him, to communicate his soul to him, and to receive refreshment from him; when on this account our duties and all our ways of obedience are sweet and pleasant to us; — then do we in them walk with God.

The Believer’s Covenant of Repentance and Prayer

Living in First Love Obedience and Power

(by Dr. Gregory Frizzell)

Seven Points of Obedience for Empowered Christians

1. Lord Jesus, You are worthy of my deepest love and continual worship.

I confess and repent of any ways my first love passion, service or worship have become lukewarm, routine or ritual.

2. Blessed Lord, Thank you for your grace to live in Your closeness, fullness and power.

I confess and repent of any neglect in personal prayer, Scripture reading or Holy Spirit empowerment.

3. God because You are holy, I desire to revere You in ever-deeper holiness.

I confess and repent of any neglect of daily love and spiritual cleansing, moral purity, godly relationships and denying self.

4. Lord Jesus, thank You for grace to love and seek reconciliation toward all.

I confess and forsake any ignoring of damaged or inappropriate relationships in my present and past.

5. Lord God, thank You for the power to build my family and relationships on the rock of Christ.

I confess and forsake any failure to read Scripture and pray with and for my family.

6. Father God, I praise You for the power and privilege of being a witness for Jesus.

I confess and repent of any failure to pray for global missions and lost souls. I repent of any negligence in sharing my faith.

7. Lord Jesus, I praise You for Your power to sweep the world in revival and spiritual awakening.

I confess and repent of any failure to pray for a revived holy Church, spiritual awakening and God’s glory to cover the earth.

What are you negotiating with God today?