Pastor's Sermon Notes
April 11, 2010
Jeremiah--prophet from last half of Jehoiakim’s reign into the exile (about 41 years). Isaiah was
just before the end. Jeremiah takes them to the end, then prophecies in Egypt for a bit. Jeremiah
is the weeping prophet, Lamentations
Jeremiah 1:4-5
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew
thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a
prophet unto the nations.
God had Jeremiah’s life all laid out before he was born. What a great honor to know you have
been chosen by God to serve God. Sanctified--nothing to do with forgiving sins, but a setting
apart to a special use.
Jeremiah 1:6
6Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Typical response of most guys who are called by God--Me? Seriously? I have no skills. “Child”
--young man. Probably less than 25.
Jeremiah 1:7
7But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send
thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Don’t think that you are the same guy once I come on you! Don’t talk that way!
Jeremiah 1:8-10
8Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9Then the
LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have
put my words in thy mouth. 10See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the
kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to
plant.
Tear down first, then prop back up--repentance. Sounds like a good gig, sure it is much more
than Jeremiah would have ever expected out of himself, but the Lord is with him, what could go
wrong?
Jeremiah 1:19
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith
the LORD, to deliver thee.
Jeremiah’s life is going to be miserable and his mission will be an absolute failure, if you look at
it by the numbers, but he is doing what God called him for
Galatians 1:13-16
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond
measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14And profited in the Jews' religion
above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of
my fathers. 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called
me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;
immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Paul was separated for service from his mother’s womb, just like Jeremiah. Saul was messed
up and God let him be so. But then God had a plan that was worked out by God’s grace and
now all men glorify God for his work in Paul!
Ephesians 1:4-9
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of
the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he
hath purposed in himself:
We too are all called, before the foundation of the world. He does His will in us and we find out
what that will is as we present our bodies and prove it.
--Believers are in Christ, we have His Spirit and His Spirit brings gifts.
--All believers are gifted to edify the Body of Christ.
--We think “I can’t do that, I’ve been with me my whole life.”
--God does not call the mighty, but the meek and weak
--This is not about boosting your self-esteem, you are just as pathetic as you know you are and
even more so
--Serving God is not about who you were or who you are; it’s about who Christ is!
--To know your gift, don’t study the gifts; study the Giver
--To know who you are in Christ, leave off introspection and take up Christospection.
--It is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me. Grow in the grace and the knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah--prophet from last half of Jehoiakim’s reign into the exile (about 41 years). Isaiah was
just before the end. Jeremiah takes them to the end, then prophecies in Egypt for a bit. Jeremiah
is the weeping prophet, Lamentations
Jeremiah 1:4-5
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew
thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a
prophet unto the nations.
God had Jeremiah’s life all laid out before he was born. What a great honor to know you have
been chosen by God to serve God. Sanctified--nothing to do with forgiving sins, but a setting
apart to a special use.
Jeremiah 1:6
6Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Typical response of most guys who are called by God--Me? Seriously? I have no skills. “Child”
--young man. Probably less than 25.
Jeremiah 1:7
7But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send
thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Don’t think that you are the same guy once I come on you! Don’t talk that way!
Jeremiah 1:8-10
8Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. 9Then the
LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have
put my words in thy mouth. 10See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the
kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to
plant.
Tear down first, then prop back up--repentance. Sounds like a good gig, sure it is much more
than Jeremiah would have ever expected out of himself, but the Lord is with him, what could go
wrong?
Jeremiah 1:19
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith
the LORD, to deliver thee.
Jeremiah’s life is going to be miserable and his mission will be an absolute failure, if you look at
it by the numbers, but he is doing what God called him for
Galatians 1:13-16
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond
measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14And profited in the Jews' religion
above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of
my fathers. 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called
me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;
immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Paul was separated for service from his mother’s womb, just like Jeremiah. Saul was messed
up and God let him be so. But then God had a plan that was worked out by God’s grace and
now all men glorify God for his work in Paul!
Ephesians 1:4-9
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of
the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he
hath purposed in himself:
We too are all called, before the foundation of the world. He does His will in us and we find out
what that will is as we present our bodies and prove it.
--Believers are in Christ, we have His Spirit and His Spirit brings gifts.
--All believers are gifted to edify the Body of Christ.
--We think “I can’t do that, I’ve been with me my whole life.”
--God does not call the mighty, but the meek and weak
--This is not about boosting your self-esteem, you are just as pathetic as you know you are and
even more so
--Serving God is not about who you were or who you are; it’s about who Christ is!
--To know your gift, don’t study the gifts; study the Giver
--To know who you are in Christ, leave off introspection and take up Christospection.
--It is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me. Grow in the grace and the knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ.