Pastor's Sermon Notes
May 9, 2010
Jeremiah 10:2-5
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of
heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3For the customs of the people are vain: for one
cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4They deck
it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5They
are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go.
Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
It’s stupid to live for physical things--whether an actual idol or just stuff to own and use. They
have no power to do anything, good or bad. Why would you give up the living God for a non-
living thing?
Jeremiah 10:6-7
Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in
might. 7Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as
among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
God is great and it’s pure stupidity not to fear Him.
Jeremiah 10:12-13
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath
stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of
waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he
maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
No thing or idol made the earth! When He speaks, creation moves. He has power, again no
created thing can do this so why live for them?
Jeremiah 10:23,24
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his
steps. 24O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to
nothing.
We are created things! We also have no power, not even over our own life. The desire of a
man should be that the all-powerful and loving God direct his steps in His mercy rather than too
late when it will be in judgment.
Do we desire to go God’s way?
Psalm 139:23,24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be
any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Unsaved men do not want God poking around in their heart. They do not like the light that
manifests hidden works. But to be led God’s way, we can’t go ours!
Matthew 7:13,14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is
the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The way is narrow, not just the gate! The way to hell is as broad as the way, can’t get lost on it,
it’s so broad.
Romans 3:12
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that
doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:17
And the way of peace have they not known:
We naturally go the wrong way. Even after conversion, we have a pull within us to go the wrong
way. We often drift. The believer wants to get back on the right way.
Two main ways God corrects His people
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews 12:5-11
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son,
despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth
not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not
sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them
reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For
they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we
might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous,
but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them
which are exercised thereby.
Jeremiah 10:2-5
Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of
heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3For the customs of the people are vain: for one
cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4They deck
it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5They
are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go.
Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
It’s stupid to live for physical things--whether an actual idol or just stuff to own and use. They
have no power to do anything, good or bad. Why would you give up the living God for a non-
living thing?
Jeremiah 10:6-7
Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in
might. 7Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as
among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
God is great and it’s pure stupidity not to fear Him.
Jeremiah 10:12-13
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath
stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of
waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he
maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
No thing or idol made the earth! When He speaks, creation moves. He has power, again no
created thing can do this so why live for them?
Jeremiah 10:23,24
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his
steps. 24O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to
nothing.
We are created things! We also have no power, not even over our own life. The desire of a
man should be that the all-powerful and loving God direct his steps in His mercy rather than too
late when it will be in judgment.
Do we desire to go God’s way?
Psalm 139:23,24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be
any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Unsaved men do not want God poking around in their heart. They do not like the light that
manifests hidden works. But to be led God’s way, we can’t go ours!
Matthew 7:13,14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is
the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The way is narrow, not just the gate! The way to hell is as broad as the way, can’t get lost on it,
it’s so broad.
Romans 3:12
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that
doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:17
And the way of peace have they not known:
We naturally go the wrong way. Even after conversion, we have a pull within us to go the wrong
way. We often drift. The believer wants to get back on the right way.
Two main ways God corrects His people
2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews 12:5-11
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son,
despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth
not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not
sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them
reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For
they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we
might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous,
but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them
which are exercised thereby.