Keep Moving Forward

Jer. 7:22-28

Jer 7:22-28 ““For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ “Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. “Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them. “Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers. “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you. “You shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the …”

Introduction

Called to greatness, is a great way to see yourself when reading Jeremiah.

Most of the prophets center around God warning His people about their present course. Jeremiah is no different and God warns of a rejection of God’s word.

It’s easy to just see this book as “doom and gloom” but there is a message for the christian today

The major theme is that the people have forsaken God but in ch. 7 God’s attention is on the ‘worshippers’.

The message to Israel was this

Hear My Words - “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say,” (7:1)

Stop trusting in ritual/ceremony and trust me (7:4)

vs. 5-10 shows the hypocrisy

vs. 14 is a reminder of Israel making the same mistake (1 Sam 4 )

I care more about obedience than sacrifice (7:22)

WARNING! There’s a warning here for God’s people. - We must be careful of trusting more in our activity than the God for whom the activity is for! Jer 7:4

God was more interested in right hearts than right offerings at the temple

When God gave instructions about the temple and tabernacle it was for Him to dwell there Jer 7:12

Jer 7:3-5

God is more interested in hearts that are aligned with His word and His will than activity you do in His name.

What we notice about God is that He is not willing for any to perish but all come to repentance.

ENCOURAGEMENT! Have we truly amended our ways so that we can keep moving forward?

The message for us is this

Hear what God has to say

Even today the same warning is given that “some will turn away their ears from the truth” 2 Tim 4:4

We see the willingness of God Jer 7:25 ““Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them.”

Sadly, Jer 7:26 ““Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers.”

APPLICATION: I may need to consider how much time I spend consuming the word of God.

Amend our ways

To be in a state or perform according to what is expected, NOT BY THE CHURCH, but God! Jer 7:4 No doubt these were priests (spiritual men)

Don’t trust in deceptive words - Don’t trust the ritual to make you right! [I can’t trust in my function to make me right I need to hear God and amend my ways. Preachers wives, church programs, eldership, Sunday worship etc.]

Sometimes the activity becomes the focal point and not God

APPLICATION: AM I STILL THE SAME?

Adjust our Hearts

Jer 7:24 ““Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.”

The text teaches plainly that the reason the “way” was not right and the “ear” did not hear was because the “heart” was not adjusted.

As a result, they “went backward and not forward”

This is how I can move forward, this is how I keep moving forward

Final word of encouragement

Philippians 4:13 NASB95

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

You are not in this alone

It’s not you doing the changes it’s God’s Spirit working in you. But He can only work with the word!!!