Called for a Purpose: An Invitation for Success.
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Called for a Purpose: An Invitation for Success.
Called for a Purpose: An Invitation for Success.
Jeremiah 1:1-19/
Opening Prayer
Today’s Objectives:
Demonstrate that we live precisely when God means to use us.
Demonstrate that we are called for a purpose that is assigned by God and nothing else.
Demonstrate that a successful life is measured in our obedience to live out God’s calling.
Jeremiah was born when God planned to use him.
The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,
Jeremiah - “one whom Jehovah appoints”
“Son of Hilkiah” - He was a priest in Anathoth.
How do we know that?
One of the priest … in Anathoth
He was of the priestly line of Aaron
Lived in a “priest” city
Allotted by Joshua to the priest
Being born into the line priest’s he knew what his life would be like.
Perform ceremonies
inspect the sick to see if they are clean/unclean
read scripture
make judgment in conflicts
to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
List’s the kings of Judah: which gives us an idea of what life was like during Jeremiahs ministry.
He began his ministry when Josiah was king of Judah
Josiah was a Godly king
Found the scrolls during his reign
Reinstitute mosaic law and sacrifices to God
Josiah was the last righteous king to serve over Judah.
It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.
Jehoiakim
Godless man!!!
Persecuted Jeremiah (for speaking out)
Actually burned scroll of Jeremiah (chapter 36)
Zedekiah - who was king when Jerusalem would fall
God’s people would be exiled
What time to be born a priest?!!!
But God knew what was going on what what was going to happen.
Jeremiah was born to be used by God during this time in history.
Think about the world we were born into.
Think about the good and the bad.
Think about those who are righteous and wicked in your life (or your past)
Just like Jeremiah, you were born at this time for a reason.
Why do I say that....
Jeremiah was called for God’s purpose.
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
“I formed you”, “I knew you” & “I consecrated you”
God made Jeremiah for His purpose.
God knew Jeremiah before anyone
God set Jeremiah aside for His purpose.
“I appointed you a prophet”
You mean a priest?
Nope! He appointed Him as a prophet!
A prophet TO THE NATIONS!!!!
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”
(seems like a reasonable point)
But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
It is a mistake to think, “ God called this person to that ministry because they have this or that ability”
Rather… “They have that ability because God has equipped them for that ministry.”
This doesn’t negate our responsibility to prepare ourselves for the ministry to which we are called.
But we should never limit God calls on our life based on out own perception of ability.
So God had to realign Jeremiah’s thinking.
But God was also going to change Jeremiah’s expectations of his own life.
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
The source of power was God - “The Lord ...touched my mouth.”
Jeremiah was simply a mouthpiece for God (no boasting)
The truth of the message was from God - “I have put my words in your mouth.”
The authority of his calling was God - I have set you over nations and kingdoms
Speaking the truth of God to the world can be a source of great joy and a source of intimidation.
Think about it
You are speaking absolute truth.
You are speaking for the one who hold absolute authority.
You are speaking against most of the powers and influences in the world that opposes your message.
Jeremiah was successful because he was obedient.
But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.
And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”
Closing Prayer