The Power, The Privelege, and the Prosperity of Knowing God
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“The Privilege, Power, and Prosperity of Knowing God”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” [1]
Intro:
Charles Swindoll in his book “Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back” tells the story of a farmer who wanted to impress his hunting buddies.
To impress them, he bought the smartest, most expensive hunting dog he could find. He trained this dog to do things no other dog on earth could do---impossible feats that would surely amaze anyone. Then he invited the neighbors to go duck hunting with him. After a long patient wait in the boat a group of ducks flew over and the hunters were able to make a few hits. Several ducks fell in the water.
"Go get ‘em!" shouted the proud owner to his magnificent dog.
The dog leaped out of the boat, walked on the water, and picked up a bird and returned to the boat. As soon as he dropped the duck in the boat he trotted off across the water again and grabbed another duck and brought it back to the boat. The owner beamed with pride as his wonderful dog walked across the water and retrieved each of the birds one by one. Unable to resist the opportunity to brag a bit he asked his fellow hunters, "Do you notice anything unusual about my dog?”
One of them rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Yes," he finally said. "Come to think of it, I do! That silly dog doesn’t know how to swim does he??"
Isn’t is amazing the things we will find to brag, or boast, about!
Isn’t it amazing that in the light of a holy God that created so much, and has done so much for us, we will find things to brag about.
We have all been around those people that no matter what you have to say, they have always done something a little bit bigger or a little bit better.
You tell them about the time you broke a finger, they’ll tell you about the time they broke 2. You tell them about your trip to the Grand Canyon, they’ll tell you about their trip to Paris.
Worse yet is when you are sharing about something that you have seen, done, or acquired and the person you are sharing with dismisses it as unimportant.
This evening we read Jeremiah 9:23-24.
In verse 23 Jeremiah, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us 3 things that we must not boast in. I am not going to spend a lot of time on these 3 things. I do want to say a few things about them though.
Jeremiah says do not boast about your wisdom, your might, or your wealth,
I promise you that if you spend time boasting about these things you will eventually come across someone that is smarter, stronger, and richer than you.
On another note, all three of these things are exhaustible!
The very context of these verses is that there are hard times coming.
For years the nation of Israel had turned from God’s commands. They had transgressed His commandments. They had taken other religions and idols and allowed the world to creep in and destroy the sanctity of the relationship God desired with them.
Jeremiah is warning them that these things that people tend to brag or boast about will do them no good. The things that they THINK they have to brag about will pass away.
As we age, our minds fail. Our bodies fail. And eventually there is the chance that we run out of money.
But you know what is inexhaustible.
You know the one thing that you can brag on or boast about until the end of time. You know the one thing that will never wear out or disappear?
GOD!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Taking that into account we can look back over the ages and we can see the mighty deeds, the signs, miracles, and wonders.
We can look back to the Red Sea, the Jordan River, the Wall of Jericho. We can remember how a young boy took down a giant warrior.
We can read about 3 Hebrew children going into a fiery furnace and coming out without even smelling like smoke.
We can read the Word of God and build our faith by hearing what it has to say to us personally, and corporately.
We can allow it to pierce us like a 2 edged sword, dividing our flesh from our spirit.
We can trust God at His Word and believe that not only can He do it all again, BUT HE DOES IT REGULARLY.
We use the Bible to Get to know God, and that is exactly what this passage of Scripture says…
Instead of boasting in wisdom, strength, or money, BOAST THAT YOU KNOW GOD!
I want to do something a little different tonight.
Week after week we come to church, we pray, we sing some songs, we hear the Word of God preached…BUT IS THERE MORE???
Hebrews 10:19-25 says…
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Since we have knowledge or confidence in all that Jesus has done for us we stimulate each other to love and good deeds…We encourage one another.
When we come together it isn’t just about me preaching or Kristi leading us in some songs.
It is about ALL of us hearing how God is working in each others lives.
Granted, this should also be happening DAY BY DAY. It should be part of the relational process between ourselves and between the individual and The Lord.
So tonight we are going to SHARE! Tonight we are going to BOAST IN THE LORD
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Boast in Salvation
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Boast in Miracles
In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
Boast in Healing
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Boast in Financial Miracles
However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Je 9:23–24.