Scripture: Matthew 16:13-15

C.I.: Reluctance is Not New!

New series, Jeremiah – His message was not one that people wanted to hear – but it was what was desperately needed! – Yet he, like many of us, is reluctant to speak God's message. – Lets listen as God gets him started!!!

•  Jeremiah's Call and Commission, (Chapter 1)

•  Jeremiah believed himself to be inadequate for the task, (vs. 4-10)

•  There is a sense on which all of us are inadequate for the task God has placed before us

•  ( Quote Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 2:16; 3:5 ), “Go and make disciples…” – “Who is adequate for these things?” Then he answers his own question, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider as anything coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God!”

•  God has created His people to be successful – in His work, ( quote Eph. 2:10; II Cor. 5:17 ).

•  ( Jer. 1:4-6 ), “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you , before you were born I consecrated you ; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

•  We may sometimes believe God has too high an opinion of our abilities – but He doesn't.

•  ( I Cor. 15:10 ), “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove in vain; but I labored more than all the others, yet not I, but the grace of God in me

•  Notice, when we work according to God's grace – it is the grace of God that is at work!!!

•  If we are not involved in the Lord's work – then His grace towards us has been in “vain” !!!

•  ( vs. 7-8 ), “Then I said, ‘Alas, Lord God, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth.'”

•  What is your favorite rationalization for not speaking to others…? (Age, knowledge, fear…)

•  “But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am a youth,” because everywhere I send you, and all that I command you, you shall speak.' Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver y

•  Note 3 things God says which removes all of our excuses:

•  Speak “God's commands,” II Tim. 4:2

•  “don't be afraid,” II Tim. 1:7

•  “I am with you,” Matt. 28:19-20 .

•  What has God said to Jeremiah – that He has not also said to God's people today??!

•  Reluctance is NOT new!!! - But then, neither are the answers to our reluctance!!!

•  ( vs. 9-10 ), “Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have put My words into your mouth. – See I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and break down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.'”

•  God's word is powerful in physical & spiritual realms, ( Heb. 1:3 ), “…He upholds all things by the word of His power,” ( Jms. 1:18 ), “He brought us forth by the word of truth

•  God's words in our mouths have the power to create ( I Pt. 1:23 ).

•  Jeremiah's success wouldn't be because of clever speeches, cunning diplomacy, skillful psychology. – He heard God's word, took it to heart, and proclaimed it fearlessly!!!

•  Three promises to prepare Jeremiah (us) for the mission, (vs. 11-19)

•  The almond tree, ( vs. 11-12 )

•  “And the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?' – And I said, ‘I see a rod of an almond tree.' – Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.'”

•  A play on words: Almond = shaqued, and watch = shoqued. ILLUST.: morn vs. mourn.

•  God is watching over His word – for He is always faithful to what He has said.

•  ( Isa. 55:11 ), “My word which goes forth from My mouth shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

•  Therefore, God's word will be successful – all we have to share it with others, ( I Cor. 1:17; 2:2 ), “God sent me to proclaim the gospel, not in cleverness of speech that the cross of Christ should be made void … I desire to know nothing among you, except Jesus….”

•  The boiling pot, (vs. 13-16)

•  “The word of the Lord came to me a second time saying, ‘What do you see?' And I said, ‘I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north' Then the Lord said to me, ‘Out of the north the evil will break forth on all the inhabitants of the land… against all the cities of Judah.'”

•  Sadly God's people were always looking elsewhere (Egypt, Assyria) for help (but not God)!

•  So God is warning His people that the nation from the north (Babylon) was coming to them.

•  Today people are still looking everywhere for answers to their problems – except to God!!!

•  ( v. 16 ), “‘And I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshipped the work of their own hands.” – The particular SIN God is speaking about is the sin of IDOLATRY!!!

•  Idolatry = Anything that comes between us & God (material things: jobs, education, $, etc.)

•  Yet it can also include false spiritual beliefs– ( I Jn. 5:23 ), “…guard yourselves from idols.”

•  Therefore, God's judgment is certain! We need to tell others before it is too late!

•  So what do you think? – Is there a need for God's people to become like Jeremiah today???!

•  The city, pillar & wall, (vs. 17-19)

•  “Now, gird up your loins, and arise, and speak to them all which I command you … behold, I have made you this day a fortified city, and as a pillar of iron, and as walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its princes, to its priests and to the people of the land. – And they will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,' declares the Lord.”

•  God promises Jeremiah he has nothing to fear – because of what God has done for him!!! – As we speak to others about Jesus – we still have this promise!

•  Yet the church remains silent… why? - Is it so we can remain safe, well liked, secure…?!

•  In this we have a choice to make. – Jesus said, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple,” ( Lk. 14:26 ).

•  Thus, we can either conform to the crowd – or to the cross!

•  In light of what God has done for us (vs. 1-10), and the promises He has made (vs. 11-19) – let us all seek to respond to God's call and to answer His commission!

•  If you are visiting with us today – Jesus also calls you ( II Th. 2:14; Rom. 1:16; Mk. 16:16 ).