God Calls Jeremiah. Session

Transcription

1 Session 10 God Calls Jeremiah THEOLOGICAL THEME: God equips those He has chosen to minister in His name. Imagine that someone close to you is having a birthday party, and the only thing they want is a certain kind of cake. Because you love them, you want to give them this gift. Problem is, though, you don t know a spatula from a measuring spoon. You ve never melted butter, measured flour, or melted chocolate for icing. In fact, the only thing you have as an asset to your cause is a picture of a perfectly formed and created birthday cake. But you have to move from Step 0 to the final product all on your own. When have you felt unequipped to do something you had been asked to do? What did you do in response? Some of us feel the same sort of intimidation when considering what it means to follow God s will for our lives. We have been called to be salt and light, to love the world without being corrupted by the world, to be heralds of the gospel of Jesus Christ wherever our foot falls. It s the greatest task in the universe, and because it is, we might feel unequipped for such a mighty cause. Jeremiah felt that way too. But God s prophet learned, as we will, that God does not leave those whom He has chosen unequipped. Instead, God equips those He has chosen to minister in His name. 92 Date of My Bible Study: 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

2 Jeremiah was called, even before he was born, to be God s prophet. Because his prophetic message was contrary to what his people wanted to hear, Jeremiah faced opposition and persecution. Nevertheless, Jeremiah remained faithful to God s call despite the obstacles. In Jeremiah s grief, we see a picture of the tender heart of God, most fully expressed in Jesus weeping for the unrepentant people of Jerusalem. From Jeremiah, we also learn that the God who calls us to deliver His message is the God who will empower us for His mission. 1. God s plan for us precedes our birth (Jer. 1:4-5). Voices from the Church Sometimes God s people sow in tears of intercession, weeping on behalf of others and making appeals for their sake. Like the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, sometimes God s people sow in tears of compassion, weeping over the brokenness of this world grieving with those who have lost and identifying with those who suffer. 1 Mary Willson Prior to Jeremiah s birth, Judah found itself wedged between two world superpowers. The tiny kingdom was set between Egypt and Assyria, and for the last hundred years or so, Assyria had brought the entire region into its empire. Any attempt at rebellion had been squelched. The Northern Kingdom of Israel, for example, had tried to rebel, but she was overrun and her people were deported. Her existence as a kingdom was ended by the bully on the block. In Judah, King Josiah had come to power at the age of 8. When he was 20 years old, Josiah began a sweeping reform of the nation, calling people far and wide to return to the Lord and destroy their idols. It was during this period of spiritual awakening that Jeremiah was called to begin prophesying and preaching: 4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 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. These two short verses provide powerful insight into the character and power of God. Sometimes, even as Christians, we tend to think of ourselves as victims of circumstance. But if we really believe what the Bible says about God, then we must accept that God actively forms and calls us to fulfill His will. Session 10 93

3 God actively forms us. As a part of his call, God reminded Jeremiah that he was intentionally put together. And God s formation was not limited to Jeremiah; He is actively involved in the formation of every man, woman, and child. We live in a culture of self-improvement. Go to any bookstore and you ll find one of the largest sections of written material devoted to this end. We want to improve our minds, improve our bodies, and improve our spirits. Those are fine pursuits if they have the right end. We should, for example, use our minds for the glory and honor of God. Part of that means pursuing education and being in a posture of constant learning. Too often, though, we become preoccupied with the betterment of ourselves to the point we begin to call into question our physical and mental makeup. We drift into the idolatry of mind and body, failing to recognize that we have been fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14). God was intentional when He formed us, and our formation should point us back to Him. What are some ways we might fail to properly recognize God s activity in the formation of human beings? How does the way we look at ourselves and our children change when we recognize that God has truly formed us? God actively calls us. God formed Jeremiah in the womb. That means He intentionally gave Jeremiah the physical and emotional capacity he would need for his prophetic mission. But God not only forms us in the womb, leaving us to live our lives as we see fit. He also actively calls us, just as He did Jeremiah. God reminded Jeremiah before giving him his task that his days had already been planned from the beginning. God put him together on purpose, and He was intentionally sending him on a mission He had planned beforehand as well. 94 Personal Study Guide

4 How often do you think about the fact that God has a plan and purpose for your life? Why is that? How would doing so more often change the way you approach your daily activities? 2. God s presence with us overcomes obstacles to our mission (Jer. 1:6-8). 6 Then I said, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth. 7 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. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord. Do you see where Jeremiah s focus was? Look at his use of the word I in his response to the Lord in verse 6. Jeremiah was focused on himself his own shortcomings, his own limited abilities, his own inexperience. It s not unlike Moses, centuries earlier, who also protested to God s mission, claiming that he could not speak and that the Israelites wouldn t listen to him (Ex. 4:1,10). God s response to Jeremiah, like His response to Moses, was not so much a counter to his objections. God never denied that Jeremiah didn t know how to speak, nor did He encourage Jeremiah by saying, You re more mature than you think you are. Instead, God refocused Jeremiah s gaze to where it should have been in the first place, on God instead of on himself. The question for Jeremiah was not so much whether he was ready and capable; the question was whether God was ready and capable. And the Lord was. Session 10 95

5 Why is it important to have your focus fixed on God instead of yourself when you are attempting to live on mission for Him? What happens if we don t fix our gaze upon Him? It s not a question of who we are and our abilities; it s a question of the Lord s presence. God s abiding presence helps us overcome obstacles to our mission. We should stop here for some clarity, though. Just because God will be with us, and just because God was with Jeremiah, doesn t mean that we will be successful in that mission. Then again, that depends on how we define what success really is. Voices from Church History The Lord delivers not so that the prophet will be free of persecutions and difficulties, for we read that Jeremiah was severely afflicted. Instead, the Lord liberates one who suffers everything to overcome these tribulations rather than yielding to them. 2 Jerome (circa ) Success in God s eyes is measured less by results and more by faithfulness. When we are faithful to say what God has called us to say to whom God has called us to say it, then the mission is successful. We have been faithful to the Lord. What kinds of obstacles do you see in your way to being a messenger of the gospel? How does God s abiding presence answer those hesitations? 96 Personal Study Guide

6 3. God s proclamation should be on our lips (Jer. 1:9-10). 9 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. 10 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. What an amazing thing to be able to say Thus saith the Lord. Jeremiah was given the very word of God to speak throughout the land, and that word came with power. The message of Jeremiah would not be empty rhetoric but instead would be given power. No matter what else might come in his life in the future, the weeping prophet (his message was so emotional to him personally that he often wept as he delivered it) would know that he was speaking the very word of God and could stand on it. As Christians, we don t function in the same way the prophets did in the Old Testament; we don t have God telling us His message in private for us to declare in public. But God has not left us without a word. What are some of the obstacles to us having God s proclamation on our lips? What must we believe to be true about the Bible in order to live this out? The Bible is the living, active, and unchanging Word of God. God has not only commanded us to share the gospel to the ends of the earth, He has also provided the message for us. Just as Jeremiah had the proclamation of God on his lips, so should we be so familiar with the Word of God that our language drips with it in regular conversation. But in order for that to happen, we must know the Word, and we must speak the Word. Session 10 97

7 Know the Word. Never before has the Word of God been so accessible, and yet we are finding more and more that we are illiterate of what it actually says. We must, if we want to follow Jesus, be people of the Word. We must treat it with care, loving it, cherishing it, and committing it to memory. When we do, we will see that the Word of God finds its place in us, and having been established in us, it will naturally come out. There s an old expression that goes like this: What s down in the well comes up in the bucket. It s a way of restating what Jesus has already told us: For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34). Though He gave this teaching in a negative way to the Pharisees, telling them that of course they speak in an evil fashion for their words reflect their hearts, the same principle applies here. When we hide God s Word deeply in our hearts, it will overflow in our speech. Speak the Word. We start with knowing God s Word, but then we must make the active choice to speak God s Word. Over time, choices like this become easier and easier, but we must make a start at it. We have to choose actively to speak the Word of God, even though it might not be well received and it might not be popular. God s Word trumps our opinions. It trumps our agenda. It trumps our priorities. When we make the choice to start proclaiming God s Word in the various arenas that He has given us to influence, we ll see the power of God work to transform them for His glory. 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 87. Evangelism It is the duty and privilege of every Christian and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man s spirit by God s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all thus rests upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle. 98 Personal Study Guide

8 Conclusion Jeremiah reminds us of another prophet in another time, one who felt even more deeply for the people He was charged to speak to. He too wept over the lack of repentance and understanding in His people, longing for them with all His heart to return to God. Jesus Himself shows us the depth of the heart of God as He lamented over the same people God was pursuing in the days of Jeremiah: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. (Matt. 23:37-39) Voices from the Church The more we know God, the more we should want to make Him known to a lost world. 3 Greg Laurie If we want to follow Jesus, then we must not only be faithful to God s call, regardless of the perceived results, but we must pray to possess the heart of God as we reach out compassionately to those around us with the message of the gospel. CHRIST CONNECTION: Jeremiah s love for his people was so great that he often delivered God s message in tears, to the point that he is known as the weeping prophet. In Jeremiah s grief, we see a picture of the tender heart of God, most fully expressed in Jesus weeping for the people of Jerusalem who would not repent. Session 10 99

9 HIS MISSION, YOUR MISSION MISSIONAL APPLICATION: God calls us to trust Him to overcome the obstacles we may face in carrying out His mission in our lives. 1. What missionary steps is God calling you to take, and how can your group support you and encourage you in obedience? 2. Identify your excuses for not sharing the gospel with a family member, friend, or coworker. What do you know of God and His promises that should overcome your excuses? 3. What habits can we cultivate in our lives in order to grow our love for and knowledge of God s Word so we can share it more readily and faithfully? 100 Personal Study Guide

10 Notes SESSION 1 1. A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: HarperOne, 1961), J. D. Greear, Only One God Was Mutilated for You, JDGreear.com [online], 10 July 2013 [cited 15 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: 3. Michael Catt, The Power of Persistence (Nashville: B&H, 2009), 20. SESSION 2 1. Martin Luther, as summarized in Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther, by Roland Bainton (New York: Meridian, 1995), Paul Gerhardt, Give to the Winds Thy Fears, Indelible Grace Hymn Book [online; cited 21 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: 3. Gary Inrig, 1,2 Kings, vol. 7 in Holman Old Testament Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2009) [WORDsearch]. 4. Dane C. Ortlund, Edwards on the Christian Life (Wheaton: Crossway, 2014), 95. SESSION 3 1. Larry Crabb, Inside Out (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2007), Oswald Chambers, Biblical Psychology (Oxford: Partridge, 1920), Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000), 25. SESSION 4 1. Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, Experiencing God Day by Day (Nashville: B&H, 2006), Gary V. Smith, Isaiah 1 39, vol. 15a in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2008) [WORDsearch]. 3. Reginald Heber, Holy, Holy, Holy, in Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: LifeWay Worship, 2008), Mount St. Helens: From 1980 Eruption to 2000, U.S. Geological Survey [online], 1 March 2005 [cited 27 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: 5. Trevin Wax, Counterfeit Gospels (Chicago: Moody, 2011), John N. Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1 39, in The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986) [WORDsearch]. 7. Gary V. Smith, Isaiah 1 39, vol. 15a in The New American Commentary [WORDsearch]. 8. Robert Speer, quoted in The Contemporary Christian, by John R. W. Stott (Downers Grove: IVP, 1992), 328. SESSION 5 1. Anonymous, The Epistle to Diognetus, in The Apostolic Fathers in English, by Michael W. Holmes (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006), C. H. Spurgeon, Expiation, The Spurgeon Archive [online], 1864 [cited 28 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: SESSION 6 1. Ken Hemphill, The Names of God (Nashville: B&H, 2001) [ebook]. 2. Scotty Smith, Objects of His Affection (Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 2001), 29. SESSION 7 1. Victor Hugo, Les Miserables, trans. Julie Rose (New York: Modern Library, 2009), Nancy Guthrie, The Word of the Lord: Seeing Jesus in the Prophets (Wheaton: Crossway, 2014), Philip Bliss, I Will Sing of My Redeemer, in Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: LifeWay Worship, 2008), 281. SESSION 8 1. Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God s People (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), Trevin Wax, Jonah and the Mission of God, in The Mission of God Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2012), John Chrysostom, quoted in The Prophet Jonah in the Writings of the Church Fathers, Mystagogy [online], 21 September 2009 [cited 15 February 2016]. Available from SESSION 9 1. Oswald Chambers, in The Quotable Oswald Chambers, comp. and ed. David McCasland (Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 2008), George Whitefield, in Whitefield Gold, comp. Ray Comfort (Gainesville, FL: Bridge- Logos, 2006), David Prior, The Message of Joel, Micah, and Habakkuk, in The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove: IVP, 1998), David Wilkerson, God Will Restore Your Wasted Years! World Challenge Pulpit Series [online], 26 March 1990 [cited 15 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: SESSION Mary Willson, Tears in Memphis, The Gospel Coalition [online], 11 September 2014 [cited 15 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 2. Jerome, Six Books on Jeremiah, , quoted in Jeremiah, Lamentations, ed. Dean O. Wenthe, vol. XII in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Old Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014) [WORDsearch]. 3. Greg Laurie, Let God Change Your Life (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2011), 171. SESSION Ravi Zacharias, The Grand Weaver (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), John Wesley, The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart, Christian Classics Ethereal Library [online], 21 April 1790 [cited 16 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 3. Rhett Dodson, Our Hearts, Desperately Deceptive, The Gospel Coalition [online], 18 March 2012 [cited 16 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 4. Francis A. Schaeffer, True Spirituality (Wheaton: Tyndale, 1971), 15. SESSION Lesslie Newbigin, A Walk Through the Bible (London: Barefoot Ministries: 2011), W. A. Criswell, Is There Any Word from the Lord? Criswell Sermon Library [online], 12 January 1964 [cited 16 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: SESSION Matthew Henry, Ezekiel: Chapter 37, The Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible [online; cited 17 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 2. C. H. Spurgeon, The Restoration and Conversion of the Jews, Spurgeon s Sermons Volume 10: 1864 [online], 1 June 2005 [cited 17 February 2016]. Available from the Internet: 3. Cyril of Jerusalem, Lecture XVIII, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, vol. VII, eds. Philip Schaff and Henry Wallace (New York: Cosimo, 2007), Personal Study Guide

11 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Personal Study Guide ESV Volume 5, Number 1 Fall 2016 Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer General Editor Trevin Wax Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Personal Study Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Personal Study Guide ESV (ISSN ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unit 1: Mary Jo Sharp (sessions 1,2,4) is an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist University and is the founder and director of Confident Christianity, a non-profit apologetics ministry. A clear communicator with a heart for people, she finds great joy in sharing the deep truths of her Lord and Savior. She and her husband, Roger, have one daughter. Adam Dooley (sessions 3,5,6) serves as the senior pastor of Sunnyvale First Baptist Church on the northeast side of Dallas. He is a two-time graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he has also served as an adjunct professor. Adam is married to Heather, and they have three sons and one daughter. Trillia Newbell (provided the unit 1 session plans) is the author of Enjoy (forthcoming, 2017), Fear and Faith, and United. She is the Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Trillia is married to Thern, and they reside with their two children near Nashville, Tennessee. Unit 2: Michael Kelley lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Jana, and their three children: Joshua, Andi, and Christian. He serves as the Director of Discipleship for LifeWay Christian Resources. Michael speaks across the country at churches, conferences, and retreats and is the author of three Bible studies and the book Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal: A Boy, Cancer, and God. WRITERS