PowerPoint Presentation

1Life and Ministry of JeremiahTraining of Gods servant in the end days

2Life and Ministry of Jeremiah1. The setting of Jeremiah2. The person of Jeremiah3. The ministry of Jeremiah

3ClarifyWe might not all be called to be a prophetBut we are all called to serve4Consider the Setting13th year of Josiah, king of JudahAlso during reigns of:Jehoiakim: vassal of EgyptZedekiah: vassal of BabylonAbout 100 years after Israel taken captiveLord had spoken through many prophets: Isaiah, Joel, Micah, Zephaniah, etc.Little response to Gods Word5Jeremiah CalledTo wake up southern kingdom: JudahLast cry of Gods love before judgmentTragically most did not respond

Today in His Love God is calling usMany similar circumstances as JudahMany lessons for us to learn6Cry of Gods LoveGods love is many sidedIn Jeremiah we see:Sorrow of Gods loveJealousy of Gods loveJudgment of Gods love

Much we can learn from Jeremiah. Will we?

7Outline of JeremiahJer 1: Jeremiah's call and commissionJer 2-20: Reign of JosiahFall of JerusalemJer 21-35: Reign of Jehoiakim (Egypt rule)Jer 36-45: Reign of Zedekiah (Babylon rule)Jer 46-51: Prophecies to the nationsJer 52: Recount of the fall of Jerusalem8Reign of Josiah2 Chronicles 34-35Vs. 1: Became king when 8 years oldVs. 3: Age 16 began to seek the LordVs. 3: Age 20 began purging Judah of idols Age 21 Jeremiah called to serviceVs. 8: Age 26 Repaired the temple, discovered book of the Law & celebrated Passover

9Reign of JosiahAppeared to be a great revival

But what was the true spiritual condition?10Jeremiah 7:1-11Addressed to those coming to worship the Lord

Vs. 3: Amend your waysVs. 4: Do not trust in deceptive wordsVs. 8: Again, trusting in deceptive wordsVs. 10: All done while in House of the Lord

Great contrast with 2 Chronicles

11The Heart of Jeremiah's CryJeremiah 7:3-4Do not trust in deceptive words: Temple of the LordRepeating what they were sayingRight words but no inward reality

How about us? Right words vs. inward reality

12The Heart of Jeremiah's CryJeremiah 7:8-10Trusting in deceptive words but of no profitVs. 9: their immoral actionsVs. 10: then come into My house Say, We are delivered: an abomination

How about us when come to His Table?

13A Love Cry of SorrowJeremiah 7:11My house has become a den of robbersRobbed God of His gloryRobbed Him of His rightful placeHad lost sight of being the people of God

How about us? Have we robbed Him of His glory?14Cry of Love in the End DaysGod did not give up, but called JeremiahCharacteristic of Gods people in end daysDont know their true conditionBut God raises up a voice of love:Malachi: How have you loved us?Laodicea: Say you are rich, but are poor

May we have an ear to hear what Spirit says

15The Hope of LoveOur God is a God of hopeJeremiah 29:10 "For thus says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

1617Jeremiah the PersonJeremiah 1Lord forms JeremiahLord prepares JeremiahLord comforts JeremiahLord equips JeremiahLord empowers JeremiahLord calls Jeremiah to respond18ClarifyWe might not all be called to be a prophetBut we are all called to serve19Lord Forms & Prepares JeremiahJeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Key word: I

Do we realize God has done the same for us?

20Lord Comforts JeremiahJeremiah 1:6-8Acknowledges Lord Sovereign & MightyNot rebellion but humilityMary's response How can this be?

Lord responds to Jeremiah: Dont say I am a youthNatural perspectiveI am with you21Lord Equips JeremiahJeremiah 1:9

He puts His word in Jeremiahs mouthNot expecting him to speak his own wordsJeremiah was available to the Lord for service

22Lord Empowers JeremiahJeremiah 1:11-15The visions of the almond tree/boiling potAarons rod bloomed & others did not (dead)Speaks of resurrection lifeHe would go forth not in his natural powerBut in the power of resurrection lifeDifficult message of judgment, but with hope

23Lord Calls Jeremiah to RespondJeremiah 1:17-19

NOW!! Gird up your loins, arise & speak

I have made you:A fortified city: DefendedA pillar of iron: Stand under pressureAs walls of bronze: Unbreakable24Jeremiahs EnvironmentMany will fight against you, but not overcomeHis message would be one of judgment He would be despised, rejected, beatenOnes in his hometown try to kill himHigh priest arrests him & puts him in chains

Such is the nature of end time ministry25Jeremiahs TestimonyJeremiah 20:7-11Vs. 7: Why have you deceived me?Vs. 9: Tries to stop but cannotConstrained by the love of ChristVs.7 & 10: Laughingstock, mocked, whisperings

Vs. 11 The Lord is with meThrough trials & testing it became reality2627The Ministry of JeremiahThe character of his ministryThe cause of his ministryThe comfort of his ministry28The Character of His MinistryJeremiah 1:10To root up/ pluck upTo break down/pull downTo destroyTo overthrow/throw downTo buildTo plant

29Consider Our Lords MinistryFirst to CalvaryTo root up, breakdown, destroy & overthrow

Then PentecostTo build and to plant30The Cause of His MinistryJeremiah 1:16

Two main issues with JudahForsaken Me for other godsWorshipped the works of their own hands31Forsaken MeJeremiah 2:10-13

Israel has changed their godMy people have committed two evils:Forsaken the fountain of living waterHewn their own cisterns32Cry of Love to Return2:20-21 Reminds them of His provision2:29 Why do you contend with me?2:30 In vain I have disciplined you (Heb 12:6)2:31 Heed My wordWhy say we are free to roam33What is True Freedom?Many believers declare: we are freeWhat are we set free from? Sin, world, corruption, selfWhy are we free? To do His willWhat have we been set free to be? Bondslaves of God, slaves of righteousness Today many misunderstand this freedom Abuse it for own self-interest and pleasure34Cry of LoveIn judgment God remembers mercy3:12-14 Return, repent, be restored3:22 Return & I will heal

Jeremiahs heart for the people4:19 My soul, my heart is in anguishGods burden is his burden35Condition of the People5:1Key words: justice & truth5:4-5 Neither poor nor great know the Way5:7Again, forsaken Me (also vs. 19)5:31My people love this poor condition6:16-17We will not walk nor listen

Picture of Gods people in the last days

36Jeremiahs SorrowJeremiah 8:18-9:1Lords burden had become his burdenEmbodiment of sorrow of Gods loveTrue power of a man of GodNot a mere channel/pipelineBut has heart/desire of His MasterDifficulties/trails train servants of LordPaul/Joseph: prison John: Isle of Patmos37Jeremiah PersecutionJeremiah now trained through persecution11:1 Faithful messenger of Lord11:18 Persecution from home town12:1 He cries out to the Lord & Lord responds12:5If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? 38Gods Training ProcessHow do we react when:Rejected by those close to usThe trial seems much stronger than youThe circumstances are overwhelmingChallenged as a false servant17:15 Where is the word of Lord

39Jeremiah: Faithful ServantJeremiah was faithful in spite of:An unpopular messageA rejected messageAn unfulfilled messageSaw captivity but not return

Can we stay faithful when rejected and do not see much fruit?40Longsuffering Love of GodThrough Jeremiah we see longsuffering lovePhrase used 9 times in Jeremiah7:13 "And now, because you have done all these things," declares the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you but you did not answer(Also see 7:25; 11:7; 25:3-4; 26:5; 29:19; 32:33; 35;14-15; 44:4)41The Comfort of His MinistryJeremiah 30-31God is a God of HopeYes, He will tear down but He will recoverKey phrase: I WillWhat a glorious hope Israel was givenSadly only few responded

How will we respond in this hour?42