WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.540 Good morning, everyone. I'm going to be reading from chapter 1 of the book of Jeremiah. 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:19.580 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:27.960 to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah, the son of Ammon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:37.340 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, 00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:43.320 the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month. 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:47.280 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:53.659 Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you. 00:00:54.140 --> 00:00:56.420 I appointed you a prophet to the nations. 00:00:56.420 --> 00:00:57.940 Then he said, 00:00:59.039 --> 00:01:00.880 And then I said, 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:04.760 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:06.200 For I am only a youth. 00:01:06.380 --> 00:01:08.000 But the Lord said to me, 00:01:08.440 --> 00:01:09.200 Do not say, 00:01:09.380 --> 00:01:16.320 I am only a youth, for to all whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 00:01:16.820 --> 00:01:21.520 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord. 00:01:22.380 --> 00:01:26.860 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, 00:01:26.859 --> 00:01:30.079 Behold, I have put words in your mouth. 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:36.239 See that I set you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, 00:01:36.780 --> 00:01:43.859 to pluck you up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant. 00:01:43.859 --> 00:01:46.879 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:48.920 Jeremiah, what do you see? 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:50.159 And I said, 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:51.560 I see an almond branch. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:53.480 And then the Lord said to me, 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:57.879 You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it. 00:01:58.620 --> 00:02:02.000 The word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:03.460 What do you see? 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:04.379 And I said, 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:07.719 I see a boiling pot facing away from the north. 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:09.859 Then the Lord said to me, 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:15.039 Out of the north, disaster shall be let loose upon the inhabitants of the land. 00:02:15.699 --> 00:02:20.259 For behold, I am calling the tribes of the kingdom of the north, declares the Lord, 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:26.979 and they shall come, and everyone shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, 00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:31.780 against all its walls, around and against all the cities of Judah. 00:02:32.020 --> 00:02:37.479 And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. 00:02:38.500 --> 00:02:43.060 They have made offerings to other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:46.800 But you dress yourself for work. 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:50.520 Arise and say to them everything that I command you. 00:02:51.060 --> 00:02:55.199 Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 00:02:55.199 --> 00:03:06.280 And I behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:13.399 against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 00:03:14.019 --> 00:03:17.500 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:20.799 For I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you. 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:25.260 Good morning, everyone. 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:35.760 Well, I'm going to be speaking this week and next week from the opening chapters of the book of Jeremiah. 00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:42.060 And let me just say briefly how that came about, and then we'll get into it. 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:42.840 How did it come about? 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:46.959 Well, some of you will have received an email this week, or most of you probably, 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:52.079 to say that I've started work as a pastor here as of this month, 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:54.840 which is we moved the start date forward a month. 00:03:55.800 --> 00:03:56.920 And I think maybe... 00:03:56.920 --> 00:04:04.820 I think maybe the elders were worried I'd sit around doing nothing, so they asked me to preach. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:09.600 And so we've pushed our series from Jonah back a couple of weeks. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:12.760 We'll start that in a couple of weeks, and I'll be speaking from Jeremiah. 00:04:13.720 --> 00:04:19.860 These talks have grown out of a series of talks I gave for NCS at Windicon a few years ago. 00:04:19.860 --> 00:04:23.040 So the book of Jeremiah had been largely opaque to me. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:27.980 I really...I knew some bits of it, but I didn't really have a sense of the book as a whole. 00:04:28.120 --> 00:04:31.240 And so I was eager to tackle it myself. 00:04:31.420 --> 00:04:34.480 It makes up 5.2% of the Bible, Jeremiah. 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:38.920 And yet maybe like me, you're sort of unfamiliar with it. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:42.240 So that's why I wanted to tackle it with NCS. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:46.400 And as I prepared that series, I fell in love with the book. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:49.399 But I was also sort of exhausted by preaching it. 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:54.399 And so after preaching it at a conference a few years ago, I then kind of just... 00:04:54.399 --> 00:05:00.599 I don't know, like I kind of hid it away in a cell in my mind and locked the door and threw away the key. 00:05:01.099 --> 00:05:09.599 But recently I've been sort of trying to peek in through the keyhole just to try and reabsorb some of the lessons I had from the book. 00:05:10.479 --> 00:05:13.019 And so it's something I've been thinking about. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:15.539 I thought it might be helpful for us to think about together. 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:25.439 I'm not promising a series on the book of Jeremiah, but we are just going to dip our toes in the water in the first couple of chapters over the next... 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:26.280 Oh, this week and next. 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:29.000 But I want to start by asking you a question. 00:05:30.300 --> 00:05:36.700 Do you expect it to be easier or harder to be a Christian over the next 40 years? 00:05:37.520 --> 00:05:43.120 If you consider the next four decades ahead of us, do you think it'll be easier to be a Christian or harder to be a Christian? 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:46.980 Now, I'm no expert when it comes to predicting the future. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:55.660 I think there can be a tendency among Christians to be doomsayers and pessimists, and I think we should resist that temptation. 00:05:56.620 --> 00:06:01.160 But I think we would be naive if we were to say we expect it to be easy. 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:08.400 Absolutely, in certain parts of the world, it will certainly not be easy. 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:19.200 I'm thinking, for example, of northern and central Africa, countries like Nigeria and neighbouring countries where Islamic extremists run rampant terrorising and murdering Christians. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:31.199 But even in the West, even in Western countries like Australia, politics and political discourse have become increasingly embittered. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:39.480 And sometimes Christians are either drawn into that or even fall afoul of it. 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:43.680 You might remember in September last year the assassination of Charlie Kirk. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:52.700 I think that's an indication that there's an undercurrent of resentment in our society that can turn violent. 00:06:53.700 --> 00:07:00.319 And it emerges particularly at the intersection of religion and politics and social issues. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:04.399 Now, I think outright violence will likely remain rare. 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:16.839 But sadly, violence is not inexplicable, given that there is, in some segments of our society, this undercurrent of hostility. 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:19.819 Of course, hostility is not the whole story. 00:07:20.139 --> 00:07:21.519 It's not the full story. 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:30.779 We're also, in our society, seeing a rise in sympathy toward Christianity and interest in Christianity. 00:07:30.899 --> 00:07:34.259 So I have a friend who's a university lecturer. 00:07:35.259 --> 00:07:38.379 And he's a lecturer in politics and political theory. 00:07:38.379 --> 00:07:47.779 As his university started back in the last couple of weeks, he's been teaching 800 first-year students in political theory and politics. 00:07:47.779 --> 00:08:05.139 And his interest in free speech and his argument against sort of the encroaching of post-modernism in academia, which has sort of led to an erosion of the concept of truth. 00:08:05.739 --> 00:08:07.719 So he's opposing that. 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:13.939 That has led him to greater openness towards Christianity and even to engaging with the Bible. 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:16.560 He's not yet a Christian. 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:25.939 But there is sympathy there because of how he feels, where he feels our culture is heading and his discomfort with that. 00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:32.879 But no doubt, hostility is also present in at least some segments of our society. 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:37.360 Now, in that present social climate, there are two risks, I think, for us as Christians. 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:39.200 Here are, or there may be a number of them, but here are two. 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:47.700 One risk is that we might become defensive, you know, develop an us-versus-them mindset. 00:08:49.080 --> 00:09:02.860 And so rather than trying gently to persuade those with whom we disagree, we, you know, we put the walls up and just aggressively assert our own rights, us-versus-them. 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:19.360 But there's another risk, and that is that we might, that Christians might become timid, fearful, withdraw, cowed into silence, keep our heads down, try not to be noticed, try to avoid trouble. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:22.519 That's a danger, too. 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:37.320 Well, the Bible passage today, Jeremiah chapter 1, will encourage us that we don't need to be defensive and we don't need to be timid as we engage with our world around us. 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:39.960 Will you join with me in prayer? 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:41.560 Then we'll come to the text. 00:09:41.559 --> 00:09:50.559 Heavenly Father, we thank you that we can gather here today and reflect on your word. 00:09:51.559 --> 00:10:00.759 And now we ask, Lord, that the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts may be acceptable in your sight. 00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:03.939 Our Lord, our Rock, our Redeemer. 00:10:04.719 --> 00:10:05.099 Amen. 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:11.080 We'll have a look again at chapter 1 of Jeremiah, verses 1 to 3. 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:18.720 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:27.300 to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah, the son of Ammon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:40.539 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month. 00:10:41.699 --> 00:10:50.659 The first two verses of the introduction to this book capture the dual nature of the text we're reading here and indeed of all the Bible. 00:10:50.659 --> 00:10:56.759 But the dual nature of the text here, verse 1, these are the words of Jeremiah. 00:10:57.699 --> 00:11:01.199 Verse 2, this is the word of the Lord. 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:06.039 That's the dual nature of Scripture, both a divine and a human word. 00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:14.199 The Scriptures, including the book of Jeremiah, is a divine word, infallible, perfect, true, powerful. 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:23.180 God asks in Jeremiah chapter 23, verse 28, what does straw have in common with wheat? 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.560 And he's talking about his word. 00:11:25.660 --> 00:11:35.280 He's comparing his word, which is true and good and which nourishes the soul, with the empty imaginings of false prophets. 00:11:35.680 --> 00:11:38.560 What does straw have in common with wheat? 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:44.500 In the next verse, Jeremiah 23, verse 29, God says, is not my word like a fire? 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:51.659 Is not my word like fire and like a hammer that breaks rock in pieces? 00:11:52.979 --> 00:11:54.239 God's word is powerful. 00:11:54.359 --> 00:11:55.559 This is the word of the Lord. 00:11:56.279 --> 00:12:01.659 But when we read Jeremiah, we are also reading the words of Jeremiah. 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:10.559 Jeremiah, now there are some books in the Old Testament where the author is unknown and essentially irrelevant, the human author, that is. 00:12:12.199 --> 00:12:14.199 Jeremiah is not one of those books. 00:12:15.199 --> 00:12:18.620 The man Jeremiah is very much present in this book. 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:25.399 These are his words and they can't be separated from the life he lived and the things he experienced. 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:33.600 Much of the book of Jeremiah, in fact, already existed in written form in his lifetime. 00:12:35.459 --> 00:12:44.699 But some ordering and framing took place after his death, like this introduction, verses 1 to 3, and a final chapter, an epilogue in chapter 52. 00:12:47.059 --> 00:12:48.340 But who was Jeremiah? 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:53.120 Well, Jeremiah, we're told, he was the son of Hilkiah, which is a common name, so that doesn't tell us much. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:56.480 He's one of the priests at Anathoth in Benjamin. 00:12:56.620 --> 00:13:05.240 Anathoth is near Jerusalem, so near the capital city, about five kilometres to the northeast of Jerusalem. 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:12.279 And so in this book, we'll often find Jeremiah in Jerusalem, at the temple or at other places in the city. 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:17.480 We'll see him speaking with priests and indeed with kings and officials. 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:29.840 His membership in a priestly family may have given him some access, some standing, but it seems he wasn't particularly of high rank himself. 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:37.680 Well, Jeremiah was a young man when the Lord called him and he had a long ministry spanning about 40 years. 00:13:38.560 --> 00:13:42.220 And spanning the reigns of five kings, three of those five kings are named here. 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:44.399 The other two only ruled for three months each. 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:56.340 And each of the three named kings, Josiah, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, are significant in the events that unfold, especially the second and third of those. 00:13:58.039 --> 00:14:05.840 But the events of the first chapter, his prophetic call, it seems, occurred in the 13th year of King Josiah. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:08.680 So this is around the year 626 BC. 00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:17.820 And yet at the outset, we're told about another event, an event that at that time was future, that would occur 40 years later. 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:26.879 At the end of Jeremiah's ministry, in the year 587, the end of verse 3, the captivity of Jerusalem. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:38.320 The captivity of Jerusalem was a series of forced deportations by the Babylonians of the people of Judah into exile in Babylon. 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:46.100 The most momentous of those was in 587, where after a horrific siege, King Nebuchadnezzar captured the city. 00:14:46.779 --> 00:14:48.279 He burned the city with fire. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:50.059 He burned the temple to the ground. 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:52.879 And he carried off thousands of people as captives. 00:14:54.239 --> 00:15:01.739 And for those who lived through Jeremiah's ministry, that's the captivity of Jerusalem. 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:02.599 That was future. 00:15:03.859 --> 00:15:06.199 And so in a sense, it was prospective. 00:15:06.419 --> 00:15:10.239 It was perhaps one possible future outcome. 00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:13.119 Maybe even a remote outcome in their minds. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:19.639 But for those of us who read the book of Jeremiah in its final form, that is in the past. 00:15:20.460 --> 00:15:24.659 And that terrible event casts its shadow over the whole book. 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:33.019 So that comment at the end of verse 3 is sort of a major spoiler of what was coming in the rest of the book. 00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:36.879 And it places Jeremiah in that biblical history for us. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:39.000 Well, this is where the book's heading. 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:47.039 But it begins with God calling young Jeremiah, this young priest, in the 13th year of Josiah's reign. 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.860 Verse 4. 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:51.700 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:56.419 Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. 00:15:57.320 --> 00:16:01.519 And before you were born, I consecrated you. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:05.740 I appointed you a prophet to the nations. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:13.059 I mean, we see here in verse 5 the breadth of the Lord's authority. 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:18.820 That God is sovereign over time, past and future. 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:23.580 Before I formed you, God says, I knew you. 00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:30.720 And we see that God's power is active at the macro and the micro level. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:37.180 God forms the unborn child in the womb of his or her mother. 00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:40.779 And God rules over nations. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:50.000 The same Lord who determines the fate of nations also assigns the place and the calling of each individual. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:54.879 He says to Jeremiah, I appointed you a prophet to the nations. 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:59.919 But Jeremiah himself is not so sure. 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:06.079 Now at times, God calls people who are eager for appointment. 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:14.839 So when God calls Isaiah, Isaiah says, or when God calls for someone, Isaiah says, here I am, send me. 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:21.179 But often God calls those who have their own self-doubts. 00:17:21.179 --> 00:17:30.259 So King Saul, on the day that Samuel presented him to Israel, had to be fetched from where he was hiding among the supplies. 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.659 Jeremiah had his doubts. 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:36.240 Verse 6. 00:17:36.580 --> 00:17:44.000 Then I said, ah, Lord God, behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth. 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:50.259 You know, I do not know how to speak. 00:17:50.580 --> 00:17:57.340 That objection had been tried by Moses before, as Lachlan mentioned in the kids talk. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:18:01.080 They've been tried by Moses, but God wasn't buying it. 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:05.740 And maybe Jeremiah knew that that objection wasn't good enough on its own. 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:07.279 So he adds, I'm only a youth. 00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:12.399 You know, Moses, he was a mature man when you call it, but I'm just a, I'm a youngster. 00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:15.639 But God will have none of that objection either. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.279 Verse 7. 00:18:19.159 --> 00:18:28.699 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. 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:39.500 Now, I don't know if, Lachlan, I don't know if you're reading the script of my talk, but I also had an illustration about a balance bike in here. 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:40.960 So I'm going to press on with that. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:53.079 When one of my kids is scared to try something new, I'll try to convince them that it's within their ability. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:55.839 That they're able to do it. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.679 You can do it, I'll say. 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.819 I'll try and encourage them. 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:11.139 And so, when they're making that transition from, you know, discarding the training wheels from their bike, I'll say, well, remember, when you rode a balance bike, you could balance on the balance bike. 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:14.459 You don't need training wheels on your pedal bike. 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.240 You can do it. 00:19:16.939 --> 00:19:21.459 I'll try to reassure them to bolster their self-esteem, their self-confidence. 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:24.740 Is that God's approach here? 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.819 Well, not exactly. 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:37.000 God doesn't say, well, Jeremiah, remember, like, you won a prize in school for public speaking? 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:40.019 You're the best man for the job. 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.140 He doesn't say that. 00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:47.100 In fact, he doesn't really engage with Jeremiah's objection at all. 00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:48.700 He just dismisses it. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:51.560 He just restates the call. 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:58.480 Don't say, I'm only a youth, for to all whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:03.880 Just restates the call in the form of, this time, of a command. 00:20:04.800 --> 00:20:05.720 You must go. 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:07.400 You must speak. 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:18.440 So don't be surprised if God calls you to a task that seems beyond your ability. 00:20:20.100 --> 00:20:26.320 God doesn't need our self-confidence, and God's not hindered by our self-doubts. 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:29.960 God doesn't call the gifted. 00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:33.540 God gifts the called. 00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.539 God's not hindered by our self-doubts. 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:35.539 God's not hindered by our self-doubts. 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:38.639 And sometimes the Lord sends us where we would not choose to go. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:43.019 But he never sends us on our own. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.220 Look at verse 8. 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:53.119 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord. 00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:59.299 God reassures Jeremiah, promising his presence and his protection. 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:03.019 I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord. 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:04.859 Now, and I guess it is reassuring. 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:13.579 But you might also realise it's reassuring in a foreboding kind of way. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:20.599 Like someone lending you a car for a long trip and saying, 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:24.960 just make sure you have NRMA roadside assistance on speed dial. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:29.319 You know, it doesn't really inspire confidence. 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:32.579 Or someone telling you as you head out for an ocean swim, 00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:35.299 don't worry about the sharks, they prefer surfers. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:40.720 Do not be afraid of them, says the Lord. 00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:42.019 Hang on, hang on. 00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:43.960 Why do I need to be afraid? 00:21:44.600 --> 00:21:45.579 Just slow down a bit. 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:49.740 I will deliver you, says the Lord. 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:50.779 Hold on up a moment, God. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.759 Why will I need deliverance? 00:21:55.679 --> 00:22:00.480 See, not only is God calling Jeremiah to something he doesn't think he can do, 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:04.619 but already Jeremiah will sense that there will be opposition 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:06.720 and there will be danger. 00:22:06.720 --> 00:22:12.160 But God will give Jeremiah what he most needs. 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.240 Verse 9. 00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:18.700 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth, 00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.880 and the Lord said to me, 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:27.039 Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:36.059 It's a symbolic action that illustrates Jeremiah's call to be a prophet. 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:43.019 Henceforth, Jeremiah's words would not be his own. 00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:46.279 He would speak as the mouthpiece of God. 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:51.500 But every word he needed, the Lord God would give him. 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:57.019 And finally, God again reiterates Jeremiah's call, 00:22:57.460 --> 00:23:00.180 filling out what his ministry would be about. 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:01.660 Verse 10. 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:07.519 See, I've set you this day over nations and over kingdoms 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:11.039 to pluck up and to break down, 00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:14.299 to destroy and to overthrow, 00:23:15.180 --> 00:23:18.059 to build and to plant. 00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:26.519 God repeats what he's already said in verse 5, 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:29.799 that Jeremiah's a prophet to the nations, plural. 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:35.539 There are times throughout the book where we might be tempted to forget that 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:37.980 and think that Jeremiah's just a prophet to Judah, 00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:39.619 just a prophet to the people of Israel. 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:41.759 But from the moment of his call, 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:45.900 God says his ministry has a wider scope. 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:47.240 It's to the nations. 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:51.160 But you'll see here, it's not just as in verse 5, 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.200 to the nations, 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:53.420 but here in verse 10, 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:56.859 I've set you this day over nations 00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:59.819 and over kingdoms. 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:03.200 In Jeremiah's day, 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:06.160 it would seem like the little kingdom of Judah 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:09.440 was utterly at the mercy of greater forces, 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.519 of world powers, 00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:12.359 of conquering invaders. 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.720 And humanly speaking, 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:15.920 it was. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:19.420 But the deeper reality is that 00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.940 all the nations 00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:23.660 and all the kingdoms of the world 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:25.019 and all their cities 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.360 and all their armies 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:28.680 are subject to the word of God. 00:24:31.060 --> 00:24:34.120 Nigeria, Yemen, Afghanistan, China, 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.779 the United States, Australia, 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.279 all subject 00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:40.940 to the word of God. 00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:42.240 The word of the Lord stands 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:44.700 over all nations and all kingdoms. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.039 And what was the word of God 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.860 regarding the nations and kingdoms 00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:51.880 of the world in Jeremiah's day? 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:56.039 Well, it's summarised in those six verbs 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:58.100 in the second half of verse 10, 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.920 to pluck up and to break down, 00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:01.600 to destroy and to overthrow, 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:04.060 to build and to plant. 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:08.519 Now, those six verbs are weighty ones 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.600 in the book of Jeremiah. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:11.639 When they pop up later in the book, 00:25:11.699 --> 00:25:12.759 it's worth taking notice. 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.699 But three things are evident 00:25:14.699 --> 00:25:16.899 just from Jeremiah's commissioning here. 00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:20.519 First, we see that Jeremiah's message 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.519 would be mixed. 00:25:24.219 --> 00:25:26.659 It would involve both negative and positive. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:28.619 There's plucking up, 00:25:28.659 --> 00:25:29.319 but there's planting. 00:25:30.879 --> 00:25:31.819 There's destroying, 00:25:31.939 --> 00:25:32.599 there's breaking down, 00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.319 but there's building. 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.539 There's a mix. 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.579 There's negative and positive. 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.659 But secondly, 00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:40.559 the balance would lean decidedly 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.480 in one direction. 00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.960 There would be more that is negative 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:45.200 than positive, 00:25:45.419 --> 00:25:47.220 more demolition than recreation. 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.500 And yet thirdly, 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:53.819 the negative precedes the positive. 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.799 First comes the destroying 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.879 and overthrowing, 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:58.359 then the building. 00:25:58.819 --> 00:26:00.319 First comes the plucking up 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.200 and breaking down, 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.240 then the planting. 00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:05.220 To borrow an expression 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.319 from one commentator, 00:26:06.679 --> 00:26:07.599 the message of Jeremiah 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.759 is that there would be 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:10.240 terrible trouble, 00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:13.559 but then wondrous renewal. 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:19.639 And we hear some of that 00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:20.919 same message again 00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:21.819 in the teaching of Jesus, 00:26:21.939 --> 00:26:22.319 don't we? 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:24.960 That there will be terrible trouble, 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:27.299 but there is wondrous renewal. 00:26:29.919 --> 00:26:31.019 Now, in one sense, 00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:32.519 the call of Jeremiah the prophet 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:34.639 ends at verse 10. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.720 And in the rest of chapter 1, 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:39.900 we hear the first two messages 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:42.000 the Lord gave to his newly 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.819 appointed prophet. 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:44.220 But they are messages 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.519 which clarify, 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.619 further clarify, 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.660 Jeremiah's call. 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:49.019 Now, I've divided them 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.900 into three points 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.819 on your outlines, 00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:52.200 just to make it a bit easier 00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.660 to follow. 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:53.779 But technically, 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:55.379 there are just two messages here. 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:57.200 You see the first one 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.500 in verse 11 introduced, 00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:59.559 and the word of the Lord 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.359 came to me. 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:01.279 And that one's brief, 00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:02.419 verses 11 to 12. 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:03.859 But then in verse 13, 00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:04.819 we have the word of the Lord 00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:06.639 came to me a second time. 00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:09.019 And that seems to encompass 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:10.559 all of verse 13 to 19. 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:13.179 Now, if verse 13 is the second time, 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:15.399 then verse 11 must be the first time, 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:17.000 which means that when it says 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.599 the word of the Lord 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:18.859 came to me in verse 4, 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:20.219 well, that's not counted 00:27:20.219 --> 00:27:22.079 in these two messages 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.859 in the second half. 00:27:22.939 --> 00:27:23.899 It's kind of in a category 00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:24.599 of its own. 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:27.039 So it's the verses 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:27.759 4 to 10, 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.699 like the commissioning, 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:30.199 and then these two words, 00:27:30.199 --> 00:27:31.699 which help explain 00:27:31.699 --> 00:27:32.459 the commissioning. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.179 So what are Jeremiah's 00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:36.819 first messages? 00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:39.500 They involve an almond tree, 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.500 a boiling pot, 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:42.259 a fortified city, 00:27:42.419 --> 00:27:43.079 an iron pillar, 00:27:43.179 --> 00:27:44.000 and a bronze wall. 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:45.299 So first, 00:27:45.419 --> 00:27:46.879 an almond branch. 00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.759 Look at verse 11. 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.119 And the word of the Lord 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.139 came to me saying, 00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:50.639 Jeremiah, 00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:51.639 what do you see? 00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:53.200 And I said, 00:27:53.300 --> 00:27:54.759 I see an almond branch. 00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:57.020 Then the Lord said to me, 00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:58.120 you have seen well, 00:27:59.020 --> 00:28:01.040 for I am watching over my word 00:28:01.040 --> 00:28:02.280 to perform it. 00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:04.500 Now, 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:06.740 how many of you like puns? 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:08.940 Gareth, 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:10.380 Gareth likes puns. 00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:10.620 Yep. 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.160 Simon likes, 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:11.420 yes. 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.160 Yep. 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.540 Joel, 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:12.900 yep. 00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:13.480 Okay. 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.140 I can see, 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:14.420 yep. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.400 Some people like puns, 00:28:16.440 --> 00:28:17.180 some people don't like puns. 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.340 Well, 00:28:17.380 --> 00:28:19.320 God obviously likes puns. 00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:20.780 So if you like puns, 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:22.299 you're in divine company. 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.960 Because what we have here 00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:24.720 is a word play. 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.660 Almond branch is the word 00:28:27.660 --> 00:28:28.379 shakade. 00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:31.359 And watching is the word 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.240 shakade. 00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:32.940 And in fact, 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.420 shakade, 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:33.819 shakade. 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.440 In fact, 00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:36.379 if you write them out in Hebrew, 00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:38.279 the consonants are identical. 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.039 It's only when you sort of 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:41.399 vocalize them out in vowels 00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:42.720 that you have a different 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:44.299 expression of those 00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.420 consonants. 00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.839 So the same three 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.559 Hebrew consonants. 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:50.660 So God's using a word play here. 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.480 He's using a pun. 00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.500 And the whole point of this 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.460 visual pun, 00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:54.640 the almond branch, 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:57.120 is I am watching, 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:59.019 shakade, 00:28:59.540 --> 00:29:00.940 over my word 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:02.080 to perform it. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.620 I am watching over my word 00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:06.300 to perform it. 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.940 Now there are two reasons 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.800 we need to know this, 00:29:08.860 --> 00:29:10.320 that God is watching 00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:11.040 over his word 00:29:11.040 --> 00:29:11.720 to perform it. 00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:13.320 First reason we need to know this 00:29:13.320 --> 00:29:14.700 is that if God is watching 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.360 over his word 00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:16.019 to perform it, 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.980 then his word 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:18.060 will be performed. 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.440 It will be fulfilled. 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:23.380 Everything God has said 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.060 will happen. 00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:26.960 Every promise God has given 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:27.660 his people 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.620 will be fulfilled. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:30.300 Every purpose God has 00:29:30.300 --> 00:29:31.279 will be accomplished. 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.960 God is watching over his word 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.600 to perform it. 00:29:35.820 --> 00:29:37.040 In the pages of Jeremiah, 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.680 there are people who say, 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.540 no, 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.120 God will not 00:29:41.120 --> 00:29:42.680 pluck up and break down. 00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:43.380 God will not 00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.680 destroy and overthrow. 00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:48.180 But God is watching 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.920 over his word 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:49.660 to perform it. 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.220 He will do 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.420 what he says he will do. 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:54.120 On the other hand, 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.799 when God's plucking up 00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:57.340 and breaking down 00:29:57.340 --> 00:29:57.960 is underway, 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.519 when he's destroying 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.420 and overthrowing 00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:01.200 is complete 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.940 in the 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:04.799 captivity of Jerusalem, 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:06.019 mentioned in verse 3, 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:08.720 at that time, 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:10.019 one could scarcely 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.220 dare to believe 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.019 so terrible 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:13.019 would the times be. 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.859 One would scarcely 00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:14.599 dare to believe 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.539 that God will build 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.099 and plant. 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:18.940 But God is watching 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.579 over his word 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:20.259 to perform it. 00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:23.619 And when you read 00:30:23.619 --> 00:30:24.619 in the word of God 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:25.980 that our saviour 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.879 will return, 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.759 that we'll see him 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.779 face to face, 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:32.940 that we'll be 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.200 raised like him, 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:37.259 that he'll transform 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:39.299 our lowly bodies 00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:39.859 to be like 00:30:39.859 --> 00:30:41.160 his glorious bodies, 00:30:42.440 --> 00:30:45.059 that as we saw 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:46.220 at the church camp 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:46.980 last weekend 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:48.399 in 2 Peter 3, 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.759 there is a new heavens 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:51.099 and a new earth, 00:30:51.139 --> 00:30:52.440 the home of righteousness. 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.980 And moreover, 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:57.700 when we read 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:59.940 that God is guarding 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:00.940 his people, 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:01.700 guarding us 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.960 until that day, 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.299 that God is 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:06.539 carrying on 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.380 the good work 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.559 he began in us 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.920 until it's complete, 00:31:11.340 --> 00:31:12.480 when we read 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.200 all these things 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:13.860 we can know 00:31:13.860 --> 00:31:15.140 that God is watching 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:16.299 over his word 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:17.080 to perform it. 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.220 His purposes, 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:18.860 his word, 00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:19.460 his promises 00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.320 will not fail. 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.039 There's a second reason 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:25.580 it's good for us 00:31:25.580 --> 00:31:26.180 to know that God 00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:26.920 is watching over 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:27.880 his word to perform it 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:28.320 and that is 00:31:28.320 --> 00:31:29.600 if God is watching 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.359 over his word 00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:31.179 to perform it, 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:33.299 then it is not 00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:34.579 up to us 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:36.059 to watch over 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:36.519 his word 00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:37.279 to perform it. 00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:38.419 Now let me explain 00:31:38.419 --> 00:31:39.219 what I mean there. 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:41.579 Of course we do 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:43.240 watch over his word 00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:44.459 as we wait 00:31:44.459 --> 00:31:45.439 for its fulfillment 00:31:45.439 --> 00:31:47.699 and we listen 00:31:47.699 --> 00:31:48.359 to his word 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:49.019 as we seek 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.779 to obey it, 00:31:50.459 --> 00:31:51.899 but we don't 00:31:51.899 --> 00:31:53.240 watch over God's word 00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:54.099 as God watches 00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:55.000 over God's word. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:56.700 That is, 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.259 we don't 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:57.980 arrogate to 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:58.720 ourselves 00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.859 the responsibility 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.619 to ensure 00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:01.220 God's word 00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:01.819 is fulfilled. 00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.900 That is God's 00:32:03.900 --> 00:32:04.160 doing, 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:04.859 not ours. 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.519 In the past 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.380 several decades 00:32:08.380 --> 00:32:09.519 there has been 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.359 much emphasis 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:11.839 on church growth. 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.500 Church growth 00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.059 manuals, 00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:15.559 church growth 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.019 conferences, 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:16.759 church growth 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.359 workshops 00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:21.879 and we expect, 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.099 can expect 00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:24.000 leaders of church, 00:32:24.179 --> 00:32:24.500 pastors, 00:32:24.659 --> 00:32:25.399 elders and so on 00:32:25.399 --> 00:32:27.619 to grow the church, 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:29.479 to have a vision 00:32:29.479 --> 00:32:30.099 for growth 00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:30.839 and so on 00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:33.659 with measurable 00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:34.819 goals and strategies 00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:35.619 to achieve 00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:36.399 those goals. 00:32:37.719 --> 00:32:39.000 But we must remember 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.939 it's Jesus Christ 00:32:39.939 --> 00:32:40.519 who said, 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:42.779 I will build 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.900 my church 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:46.539 and it's God 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.139 who places 00:32:47.139 --> 00:32:48.160 the parts of the body, 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:48.859 every one of them 00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:49.980 just as he 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.160 wants to. 00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:54.059 Now of course 00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:55.000 we, 00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:55.980 church leaders 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.720 but all of us, 00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.079 all believers, 00:32:57.180 --> 00:32:57.839 we need to give 00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.379 ourselves 00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:59.839 to the means 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.779 that God has, 00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:02.460 that Christ uses 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.279 to build his church. 00:33:03.379 --> 00:33:03.879 We must give 00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:04.599 ourselves to those 00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:04.859 means, 00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.680 to the word of God, 00:33:05.900 --> 00:33:06.539 to prayer, 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.740 to deeds of love. 00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.180 But remember 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:10.820 it's God 00:33:10.820 --> 00:33:11.400 who's watching 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.320 over his word 00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:13.600 to see 00:33:13.600 --> 00:33:14.560 that it's fulfilled. 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.440 It's God 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:16.320 who will do it. 00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:18.700 And that's the first 00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.420 message Jeremiah 00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:19.980 received, 00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:20.860 the almond tree, 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:21.720 the almond branch, 00:33:21.860 --> 00:33:22.539 God is watching. 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.519 What about the second 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:24.980 message? 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:26.140 The disturbing 00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:27.100 news for Jeremiah 00:33:27.100 --> 00:33:28.720 is that before 00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.200 the building 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:29.759 and planting 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:30.460 must come 00:33:30.460 --> 00:33:31.140 the plucking up 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:32.080 and breaking down, 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:33.160 the destroying 00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:34.920 and overthrowing. 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.960 Verse 13, 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.840 the word of the Lord 00:33:38.840 --> 00:33:39.320 came to me 00:33:39.320 --> 00:33:40.019 a second time 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:40.379 saying, 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:41.420 what do you see? 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:42.859 And I said, 00:33:43.639 --> 00:33:45.200 I see a boiling pot 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.740 facing away 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:47.559 from the north. 00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:49.480 Then the Lord 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:50.240 said to me, 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.879 out of the north 00:33:51.879 --> 00:33:53.160 disaster 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:55.379 shall be let loose 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.240 upon all the 00:33:56.240 --> 00:33:56.660 inhabitants 00:33:56.660 --> 00:33:57.440 of the land. 00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:58.720 For behold, 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.500 I am calling 00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:00.759 all the tribes 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.599 of the kingdoms 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:02.539 of the north, 00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:03.639 declares the Lord, 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.839 and they shall come 00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:06.139 and everyone 00:34:06.139 --> 00:34:07.359 shall set his throne 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:08.259 at the entrance 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:09.340 of the gates 00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.040 of Jerusalem 00:34:10.040 --> 00:34:10.920 and against 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:12.000 all its walls 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:12.760 all around 00:34:12.760 --> 00:34:13.240 and against 00:34:13.240 --> 00:34:14.100 all the cities 00:34:14.100 --> 00:34:14.600 of Judah 00:34:14.600 --> 00:34:16.000 and I will 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.660 declare my 00:34:16.660 --> 00:34:17.560 judgments against 00:34:17.560 --> 00:34:19.020 them for all 00:34:19.020 --> 00:34:19.560 their evil 00:34:19.560 --> 00:34:20.540 in forsaking me. 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.140 They have made 00:34:22.140 --> 00:34:22.980 offerings to other 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:24.060 gods and worshipped 00:34:24.060 --> 00:34:24.900 the works of 00:34:24.900 --> 00:34:25.840 their own hands. 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:25.880 Christians. 00:34:28.260 --> 00:34:29.019 Now this is what 00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:30.660 lay ahead for 00:34:30.660 --> 00:34:31.180 Jerusalem. 00:34:32.100 --> 00:34:32.840 This is what 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.579 lay ahead for 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.039 Jeremiah, 00:34:34.160 --> 00:34:34.640 for the Lord's 00:34:34.640 --> 00:34:34.980 prophet. 00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:37.780 The boiling pot 00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:40.059 tilting towards 00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:40.920 Jerusalem from 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:41.440 the north, 00:34:42.220 --> 00:34:42.980 pouring out 00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:43.620 disaster. 00:34:47.620 --> 00:34:48.620 Actually pouring 00:34:48.620 --> 00:34:49.180 out the worst 00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:50.100 kind of disaster. 00:34:50.680 --> 00:34:51.940 A disaster that 00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.700 was completely 00:34:52.700 --> 00:34:53.780 justified and 00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:54.780 thoroughly deserved. 00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:55.360 You know it's 00:34:55.360 --> 00:34:56.040 bad enough when 00:34:56.040 --> 00:34:56.760 we suffer and 00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:57.580 we don't 00:34:57.580 --> 00:34:58.300 deserve it 00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:59.960 because if we 00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.940 suffer and we 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:02.200 don't deserve 00:35:02.200 --> 00:35:04.000 it, then we 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:04.500 might at least 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.100 hope for some 00:35:05.100 --> 00:35:05.540 sympathy. 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:08.420 But to suffer 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.740 only the just 00:35:09.740 --> 00:35:10.780 desserts of our 00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:11.280 own wicked 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:13.780 deeds, as God 00:35:13.780 --> 00:35:14.420 says he is 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:14.980 doing there, 00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:15.760 here in verse 00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:16.400 16, I will 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.140 declare my 00:35:17.140 --> 00:35:17.920 judgments against 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:18.560 them for all 00:35:18.560 --> 00:35:20.000 their evil, to 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:21.080 suffer the just 00:35:21.080 --> 00:35:21.640 desserts of our 00:35:21.640 --> 00:35:22.019 own wicked 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.620 deeds as 00:35:22.620 --> 00:35:23.120 Jerusalem was 00:35:23.120 --> 00:35:23.720 about to do, 00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:25.439 what hope 00:35:25.439 --> 00:35:25.899 is there? 00:35:27.279 --> 00:35:28.139 What sympathy 00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:29.279 can there be? 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:33.779 All of this 00:35:33.779 --> 00:35:34.439 would have been 00:35:34.439 --> 00:35:35.819 very unwelcome 00:35:35.819 --> 00:35:36.559 news for 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:36.899 Jeremiah. 00:35:38.859 --> 00:35:39.859 Had he remained 00:35:39.859 --> 00:35:40.559 a priest in 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:42.219 Anathoth, his 00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:42.719 life would have 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.319 been much more 00:35:43.319 --> 00:35:43.839 serene. 00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:44.859 I mean, yeah, 00:35:44.939 --> 00:35:45.699 there would have 00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:46.299 been that trouble 00:35:46.299 --> 00:35:46.939 at the end of it, 00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:47.519 but he could have 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.480 avoided 40 years 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:48.900 of trouble. 00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:52.980 Jeremiah chapter 00:35:52.980 --> 00:35:53.679 one is not a 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:54.460 very encouraging 00:35:54.460 --> 00:35:55.240 job description. 00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:56.519 If I were 00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.079 Jeremiah, I'd 00:35:57.079 --> 00:35:57.639 probably be going 00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:59.199 back to seek.com.au 00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.019 and, you know, 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.559 trying to find 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:01.340 another time and 00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:02.000 place that needed 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.440 a profit. 00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:04.599 But of course, 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:06.099 that wasn't up 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.579 to Jeremiah. 00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:10.139 You may well 00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:11.820 remember Lord of 00:36:11.820 --> 00:36:12.340 the Rings, the 00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:13.039 words of Frodo 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:13.679 to Gandalf. 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.759 I wish it 00:36:15.759 --> 00:36:16.259 need not have 00:36:16.259 --> 00:36:16.940 happened in my 00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:18.779 time, said 00:36:18.779 --> 00:36:19.239 Frodo. 00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:22.320 So do I, said 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:23.659 Gandalf, and so 00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:24.599 do all who live 00:36:24.599 --> 00:36:25.980 to see such times, 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.300 but that is not 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:28.420 for them to decide. 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.960 All we have to 00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:31.119 decide is what 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:32.420 to do with the 00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:33.259 time that is 00:36:33.259 --> 00:36:34.420 given to us. 00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:36.980 And what must 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:38.619 Jeremiah do with 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.599 the time that was 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.340 given to him? 00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:41.920 Verse 17. 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:45.000 But you, 00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:47.480 dress yourself 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.659 for work, 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.639 gird up your 00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:51.099 loins, dress 00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:52.139 yourself for work, 00:36:52.900 --> 00:36:55.179 arise, and say 00:36:55.179 --> 00:36:56.400 to them everything 00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:57.300 that I command 00:36:57.300 --> 00:36:57.599 you. 00:36:58.619 --> 00:36:59.500 Do not be 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.380 dismayed by 00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:01.739 them, lest I 00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:02.599 dismay you 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.320 before them. 00:37:05.199 --> 00:37:06.699 And I, behold, 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.699 I make you 00:37:07.699 --> 00:37:08.759 this day a 00:37:08.759 --> 00:37:09.800 fortified city, 00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:11.460 an iron 00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:12.659 pillar, and 00:37:12.659 --> 00:37:13.739 bronze walls 00:37:13.739 --> 00:37:14.619 against the 00:37:14.619 --> 00:37:15.279 whole land, 00:37:15.379 --> 00:37:15.799 against the 00:37:15.799 --> 00:37:16.219 kings of 00:37:16.219 --> 00:37:16.659 Judah, its 00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:17.339 officials, its 00:37:17.339 --> 00:37:17.879 priests, and 00:37:17.879 --> 00:37:18.420 the people of 00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:18.920 the land. 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.059 They will 00:37:20.059 --> 00:37:20.759 fight against 00:37:20.759 --> 00:37:21.219 you, but 00:37:21.219 --> 00:37:22.059 they shall not 00:37:22.059 --> 00:37:22.819 prevail against 00:37:22.819 --> 00:37:23.839 you, for I 00:37:23.839 --> 00:37:24.639 am with you, 00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:25.539 declares the 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.420 Lord, to 00:37:26.420 --> 00:37:27.039 deliver you. 00:37:28.839 --> 00:37:29.839 The Lord says 00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:30.519 that the whole 00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:31.379 land would be 00:37:31.379 --> 00:37:32.259 against Jeremiah. 00:37:33.099 --> 00:37:33.980 The kings, 00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:34.779 Jehoiakim and 00:37:34.779 --> 00:37:35.699 Zedekiah, would 00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:36.440 be against him. 00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:37.099 Officials, 00:37:37.379 --> 00:37:38.239 priests, people, 00:37:38.339 --> 00:37:39.039 would be against 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:39.339 him. 00:37:39.340 --> 00:37:41.059 But as he 00:37:41.059 --> 00:37:41.840 spoke God's 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:43.280 word, this 00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:44.180 young son of 00:37:44.180 --> 00:37:45.220 Hilkiah, this 00:37:45.220 --> 00:37:46.280 reluctant prophet, 00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:47.740 would prove to 00:37:47.740 --> 00:37:49.579 be as unbreakable 00:37:49.579 --> 00:37:50.840 as the message 00:37:50.840 --> 00:37:51.600 he proclaimed. 00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:54.740 I make you 00:37:54.740 --> 00:37:55.480 this day a 00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:56.420 fortified city, 00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:57.360 an iron pillar, 00:37:57.519 --> 00:37:58.220 and bronze 00:37:58.220 --> 00:37:59.200 walls. 00:38:00.280 --> 00:38:01.300 There may even 00:38:01.300 --> 00:38:01.940 be some deliberate 00:38:01.940 --> 00:38:02.740 irony here, 00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.880 you know, that 00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:05.920 they're featuring 00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:06.880 in this book, 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:08.360 two fortified 00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:10.659 cities, Jerusalem 00:38:10.659 --> 00:38:12.280 and Jeremiah, 00:38:13.280 --> 00:38:14.680 and one would 00:38:14.680 --> 00:38:15.280 outlast the 00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:15.539 other. 00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.139 At the entrance 00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:18.760 to the temple 00:38:18.760 --> 00:38:19.960 of the Lord in 00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:20.659 Jerusalem were 00:38:20.659 --> 00:38:22.260 two great bronze 00:38:22.260 --> 00:38:24.820 pillars, each 00:38:24.820 --> 00:38:25.820 eight metres tall, 00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:26.460 you can read about 00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:27.119 them in 1 Kings 00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:28.320 chapter 7, two 00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:29.180 great bronze 00:38:29.180 --> 00:38:30.420 pillars, symbols 00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:31.340 of the Lord's 00:38:31.340 --> 00:38:32.000 strength. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.059 death. 00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:34.719 In Jeremiah 00:38:34.719 --> 00:38:35.539 chapter 52 00:38:35.539 --> 00:38:37.059 verse 17, when 00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:37.860 the Babylonians 00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:38.800 captured Jerusalem 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:40.019 and burned the 00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:41.099 temple, they 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:41.719 took those 00:38:41.719 --> 00:38:42.260 pillars, they 00:38:42.260 --> 00:38:42.860 broke them in 00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:43.559 pieces, and 00:38:43.559 --> 00:38:44.139 they carried the 00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:44.739 bronze off to 00:38:44.739 --> 00:38:45.019 Babylon. 00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.820 But though 00:38:49.820 --> 00:38:51.059 Jerusalem and 00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:51.760 the temple would 00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:52.639 fall, and though 00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:53.440 Jeremiah the 00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.019 prophet would 00:38:54.019 --> 00:38:55.400 suffer and be 00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:57.139 mistreated, he 00:38:57.139 --> 00:38:58.000 would nevertheless 00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:59.360 remain unbreakable 00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:01.660 because of God's 00:39:01.660 --> 00:39:03.640 protective presence 00:39:03.640 --> 00:39:05.420 and God's power 00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:05.940 to deliver. 00:39:10.340 --> 00:39:12.059 Julio Rubel 00:39:12.059 --> 00:39:14.420 was an evangelist 00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:15.140 in Colombia 00:39:15.140 --> 00:39:17.140 in the 1980s 00:39:17.140 --> 00:39:18.280 and 1990s, 00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:21.059 and God 00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:21.860 worked through 00:39:21.860 --> 00:39:23.860 him to save 00:39:23.860 --> 00:39:25.680 many, to 00:39:25.680 --> 00:39:26.340 bring many 00:39:26.340 --> 00:39:28.000 to know 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.639 Jesus and 00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:28.920 to bring 00:39:28.920 --> 00:39:29.519 renewal in 00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:30.079 the church. 00:39:31.659 --> 00:39:32.380 And yet 00:39:32.380 --> 00:39:33.480 his ministry, 00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:34.619 his evangelism 00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.300 and his 00:39:35.300 --> 00:39:35.980 ministry, he 00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:36.900 was constantly 00:39:36.900 --> 00:39:40.960 facing threats 00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:42.579 from drug 00:39:42.579 --> 00:39:44.800 cartels who 00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:45.380 opposed his 00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:45.739 work. 00:39:48.380 --> 00:39:49.400 After years 00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:50.000 of preaching, 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:51.719 he was 00:39:51.719 --> 00:39:52.559 eventually gunned 00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:53.039 down by 00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:53.719 assassins 00:39:53.719 --> 00:39:57.179 and died 00:39:57.179 --> 00:39:59.480 for the work 00:39:59.480 --> 00:39:59.959 of the Lord. 00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:01.599 But shortly 00:40:01.599 --> 00:40:02.239 before he 00:40:02.239 --> 00:40:03.119 died, he 00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:03.739 said this, 00:40:04.959 --> 00:40:05.539 he said, 00:40:06.179 --> 00:40:06.879 in the face 00:40:06.879 --> 00:40:07.179 of these 00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:07.679 threats he 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:08.279 was receiving 00:40:08.279 --> 00:40:08.599 from the 00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:09.159 drug cartels, 00:40:09.239 --> 00:40:09.599 he said, 00:40:10.339 --> 00:40:11.119 I know 00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:12.399 that I 00:40:12.399 --> 00:40:13.480 am absolutely 00:40:13.480 --> 00:40:14.239 immortal 00:40:14.239 --> 00:40:15.759 until I 00:40:15.759 --> 00:40:16.399 have finished 00:40:16.399 --> 00:40:17.299 the work 00:40:17.299 --> 00:40:17.879 that God 00:40:17.879 --> 00:40:18.519 intends for 00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:19.059 me to do. 00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:22.279 And the 00:40:22.279 --> 00:40:22.579 same is 00:40:22.579 --> 00:40:22.860 true for 00:40:22.860 --> 00:40:23.199 each one 00:40:23.199 --> 00:40:23.480 of us, 00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:23.679 isn't 00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:23.860 it? 00:40:25.619 --> 00:40:26.320 Each of 00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:26.639 us who 00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:26.940 have the 00:40:26.940 --> 00:40:27.420 gospel on 00:40:27.420 --> 00:40:27.860 our lips, 00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:29.279 who have 00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:29.759 a commission 00:40:29.759 --> 00:40:30.159 to the 00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:30.519 nations, 00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:31.619 who have 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:32.079 the promise 00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:32.619 of God's 00:40:32.619 --> 00:40:33.239 presence with 00:40:33.239 --> 00:40:33.659 us. 00:40:35.860 --> 00:40:36.460 God has 00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:37.719 prepared works 00:40:37.719 --> 00:40:38.219 in advance 00:40:38.219 --> 00:40:38.779 for you to 00:40:38.779 --> 00:40:39.179 do, he 00:40:39.179 --> 00:40:39.940 promises you 00:40:39.940 --> 00:40:40.219 that in 00:40:40.219 --> 00:40:40.539 Ephesians 00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:41.139 chapter 2. 00:40:43.099 --> 00:40:43.739 Some of 00:40:43.739 --> 00:40:44.679 those works 00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:46.259 may seem 00:40:46.259 --> 00:40:46.860 to be beyond 00:40:46.860 --> 00:40:47.500 your ability. 00:40:49.059 --> 00:40:51.019 some will 00:40:51.019 --> 00:40:51.519 be things 00:40:51.519 --> 00:40:52.039 you wouldn't 00:40:52.039 --> 00:40:52.559 have chosen 00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:53.219 for yourself. 00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:55.699 Sometimes 00:40:55.699 --> 00:40:56.579 people may 00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:57.239 even fight 00:40:57.239 --> 00:40:57.900 against you. 00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:01.360 But we 00:41:01.360 --> 00:41:02.340 are absolutely 00:41:02.340 --> 00:41:03.400 immortal until 00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:03.880 we have 00:41:03.880 --> 00:41:04.659 finished the 00:41:04.659 --> 00:41:05.299 work God 00:41:05.299 --> 00:41:06.079 intends us 00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:06.579 to do. 00:41:08.219 --> 00:41:08.460 For 00:41:08.460 --> 00:41:08.980 Jeremiah, 00:41:09.179 --> 00:41:09.460 that meant 00:41:09.460 --> 00:41:10.179 40 plus 00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:10.719 years of, 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:11.539 40 plus 00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:12.259 hard and 00:41:12.259 --> 00:41:13.360 painful years 00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:14.219 as he 00:41:14.219 --> 00:41:14.739 outlived 00:41:14.739 --> 00:41:15.299 kings, 00:41:16.360 --> 00:41:17.119 outlasted 00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:17.739 cities, 00:41:17.739 --> 00:41:19.299 and kept 00:41:19.299 --> 00:41:19.959 proclaiming 00:41:19.959 --> 00:41:20.339 the word 00:41:20.339 --> 00:41:20.839 of God. 00:41:23.779 --> 00:41:24.399 I wonder 00:41:24.399 --> 00:41:24.659 what it 00:41:24.659 --> 00:41:25.159 might mean 00:41:25.159 --> 00:41:25.639 for each 00:41:25.639 --> 00:41:26.059 of you. 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:30.519 Will you 00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:30.939 join with 00:41:30.939 --> 00:41:31.179 me in 00:41:31.179 --> 00:41:31.419 prayer? 00:41:31.419 --> 00:41:31.500 Amen. 00:41:40.639 --> 00:41:41.079 Heavenly 00:41:41.079 --> 00:41:41.399 Father, 00:41:41.519 --> 00:41:41.859 you are 00:41:41.859 --> 00:41:42.199 the Lord 00:41:42.199 --> 00:41:42.719 of nations 00:41:42.719 --> 00:41:43.379 and you 00:41:43.379 --> 00:41:43.979 are watching 00:41:43.979 --> 00:41:45.339 over your 00:41:45.339 --> 00:41:47.279 word to 00:41:47.280 --> 00:41:47.860 fulfil it. 00:41:49.860 --> 00:41:50.880 No word 00:41:50.880 --> 00:41:51.380 and no 00:41:51.380 --> 00:41:51.940 promise of 00:41:51.940 --> 00:41:52.420 yours will 00:41:52.420 --> 00:41:52.820 fail. 00:41:54.760 --> 00:41:55.640 We thank 00:41:55.640 --> 00:41:56.040 you that 00:41:56.040 --> 00:41:56.620 you are 00:41:56.620 --> 00:41:57.120 with us 00:41:57.120 --> 00:41:57.700 by your 00:41:57.700 --> 00:41:58.420 spirit to 00:41:58.420 --> 00:41:59.120 deliver us. 00:42:00.280 --> 00:42:00.960 Thank you 00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:01.560 that we do 00:42:01.560 --> 00:42:02.280 not need to 00:42:02.280 --> 00:42:02.720 fear 00:42:02.720 --> 00:42:04.860 whatever 00:42:04.860 --> 00:42:05.980 sufferings or 00:42:05.980 --> 00:42:06.560 threats we 00:42:06.560 --> 00:42:07.240 may face. 00:42:07.239 --> 00:42:13.339 Lord God, 00:42:13.439 --> 00:42:13.919 please give 00:42:13.919 --> 00:42:14.579 us hearts 00:42:14.579 --> 00:42:15.979 that are 00:42:15.979 --> 00:42:16.439 willing to 00:42:16.439 --> 00:42:17.139 obey you. 00:42:18.739 --> 00:42:19.599 Wherever you 00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:19.919 send, 00:42:20.099 --> 00:42:20.299 Lord, 00:42:21.079 --> 00:42:21.839 may we 00:42:21.839 --> 00:42:22.179 go. 00:42:23.379 --> 00:42:24.159 Whatever you 00:42:24.159 --> 00:42:25.259 command, 00:42:25.439 --> 00:42:25.679 Lord. 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:26.119 00:42:26.119 --> 00:42:56.099 Thank you.