Lessons From Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:5 (10/6/16)
October 6, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• Sweet Spot. • Read Jeremiah 1:5 then Psalms 139:16. • Every one of us were created with a pre-packed purpose by God and for God. • If you were created to be an apple it’s futile to desire to be a grapefruit. • The only way an apple seed can become an apple is to DIE to itself. • It can then become the specific nourishment for others God intended for it. • An apple has different vitamins and minerals than oranges - we need both. • We come into our purpose through FOCUS: 1. We don’t focus on a PLACE (a destination). 2. We don’t focus on PEOPLE (comparison). 3. We focus on a PERSON (God). • God asks us to die, to surrender all to Him. • When we focus on Him He reveals us to ourselves. • How do you know if you're following God's purpose for you? 1. When doors open automatically - you don't have to push them open. 2. When you are at total rest - you're not letting ambition lead. 3. When you feel energized the more you do it - it's not burning you out. 4. When you have the grace to handle the blessings that come from it - you don't get prideful or selfish. 5. When you feel God's power working through you - others will experience change (like Paul in prison when the other prisoner's chains fell off).
Jeremiah 1:7-8 (10/4/18)
October 4, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Notice the five commands God gives young Jeremiah: * 1) Don’t think about yourself - don’t say, “I’m too young.” * 2) Go where I send you - even if he didn’t understand why or where. * 3) Say whatever I command you - he wasn’t to consider his audience and tailor his message. * He was to start with God’s truth and then deliver to the people, not the other way around. * 4) Don’t be afraid - the message would tick people off. * 5) Get yourself ready (vs 17) - this is the same command Jesus gave His disciples.
Jeremiah 1:10 (10/10/14)
October 10, 2014 • Benham Brothers
God placed Jeremiah "over" all things - he could: Build and Plant. Pluck up and Break down. Destroy and Overthrow. The first four are negative - tearing things down. The last two are positive - building up. You have to tear down before you build up. He wasn't the prince (phsycial ruler) - he was the prophet (spiritual ruler). To remain in this position of authority Jeremiah needed to remain under God's authority. Matt 28:18 - Jesus was given this same authority. Matt 16:19 - Jesus granted access to this authority to the body of believers. As the church we have been placed "over" all things just as Jeremiah was. We can now: Build and Plant. Pluck up and Break down. Destroy and Overthrow. We don't have to be the prince (physical ruler), just the prophet (spiritual ruler). The goal of the church is to extend God's kingdom on the earth by ruling well, not to build BIG church. So long as our focus is kingdom and not church we will continue in His authority.
Jeremiah 1:11-13 (10/4/18)
October 4, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* God showed Jeremiah two pictures before He spoke His word to him. * God is always painting pictures for us. * He does it in Scripture but also in our every day life. * He asks us the same question, “what do you see?” * This is how two people can see the same thing and have different views. * The person who’s always looking and listening for God will have eyes to see when others don’t. * ex: my buddy who took over a dying church - he “saw” something.
Jeremiah 2:13 & 18 (10/10/14)
October 10, 2014 • Benham Brothers
God's people exchanged a spring of water for a pond of water. Man can't make a stream, only God can - it's produced (comes from within). Man can make a pond - it's manufactured (comes from without). They committed two great sins: 1) They forsook God - they turned their backs on the spring of living water, water that nourishes. They desired the blessings of God and not the God of blessings. ** When God is removed it leaves a vacuum that needs something to replace what was removed. 2) They replaced God - they built cisterns to hold water, water that cannot nourish. It took a lot of work to build a cistern - it took no work to have a stream. vs 18 - because they forsook the spring they now how to go to surrounding nations to find water. When you replace God you will long for nourishment but you'll look everywhere else but Him to get it.
Jeremiah 2:19 (10/4/18)
October 4, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* The Hebrew word for “dread” is “pahad,” and its sense is “terror.” * God was complaining that His people were no longer terrorized by His presence. * Yes, God is love and He is the source of all things good. * But He’s also the Creator and ruling monarch of the universe who can snatch life away in a split second. * The Israelites stopped trembling and started presuming. * So do we. * When was the last time you heard someone preach on the dread of God? * We have forgotten the words of Jeremiah. * We have converted a warning into a welcome. * We have divorced wrath from mercy and have an end-of-the-rainbow kingdom. * God isn’t here to make us happy, but to make us holy.
Jeremiah 3:10-11 (10/6/16)
October 6, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• Both Judah and Israel cheated on God. • But God said faithless Israel was more righteous than unfaithful Judah. Why? • Because they returned to Him in “pretense.” • They pretended to be something on the outside that didn’t mesh with what was going on in the inside. • They “looked” the part, but they weren’t the part. • So what do we do? • Jeremiah 4:4 - circumcise our hearts. • Remove the old and replace with the new so we are “set apart” (holy) to the Lord. • The happens inwardly and will manifest itself outwardly. • But it would involve an operation where a scalpel would be used - this isn’t a fun process. • Upon this type of repentance God would relent and forgive their sin.
Jeremiah 4:19 (4/10/24)
April 10, 2024 • Benham Brothers • Jeremiah 4:19
- When you draw near to God, He gives you eyes to see and ears to hear. - You will see & hear the spirit. - When Jesus returns, we’ll see Him and hear Him physically. - But we can do it now if we focus our spiritual eyes and tune our spiritual ears. - We won’t just see and hear God, we’ll see and hear the enemy. - EX: Jesus calling Peter “Satan.” - All through Christ’s ministry, He talked about those who don’t see or hear. - Jeremiah shows us what it looks like. - His culture was going to hell in a hatbasket, but everyone was having a great time. - They were building their churches and having their conferences and enjoying themselves. - All while the culture was going down the tube straight to hell! - vs 19 - “Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me; I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry.” - Jeremiah heard something nobody else did. - He heard it because his ears were tuned into God. - He saw it because his eyes were focused on the Lord. - We must do the same. - When we see God moving and hear Him whispering, we can prepare for what lies ahead. - EX: David and I speaking at a men’s event and charging the men to be bold. - Some of the staff might not say anything - maybe even distance from us. - But other men flock to us and are ready to fight! - They heard the battle cry! - But Jeremiah didn’t simply hear the battle cry, he also heard something else: - vs 31 - “I hear a cry as of a woman in labor, a groan as of one bearing her first child— the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath…” - He was soft-hearted toward people and hard-headed toward principle! - How do you tune your ears to hear God and focus your eyes to see God? - See like a Soldier - recognize that we’re in a spiritual battle. - Soldiers are always on the lookout. - They are surrendered to authority. - Process like a Parent - your role is to provide and protect. - So you speak truth in love. - Your provide boundaries for their blessing. - Study like a Scribe - devour the Scripture. - Don’t just read, but “study.” - 2 Timothy 2:15 - “Study to show yourself approved.”
Jeremiah 5:1 (10/9/15)
October 9, 2015 • Benham Brothers
• God’s dealing with Sodom was different than how he dealt with Israel. • Sodom needed 10 people to save them, but Israel needed 1. • The interesting point is the effect of righteous people on a nation. • A remnant of righteous people can literally save a nation from destruction! • Jeremiah 5:19 - Land Swap. • Because Israel served false gods He gave their land to foreigners. • Look at America today - our real estate is getting gobbled up by foreigners. • We are also taking in more people with false gods than ever before, and its affecting our culture. • The land swap is taking place.
Jeremiah 6:16-17 (10/14/21)
October 14, 2021 • Benham Brothers • Jeremiah 6:16–17
* When you’ve lost your way, God has a plan to get you back on track. * Backstory - God had just rebuked Israel for her sins and said His wrath was coming. * Vs 13-14 - Their spiritual leaders couldn’t be trusted. * They were “greedy for “gain.” * This isn’t just money - it’s a thirst for influence and powerful positions. * They “dressed the wound” - they recognized a problem but gave the wrong prescription. Why? * Because ambition blinds you - you focus on what you don’t want to lose in the physical rather than what you will gain in the spiritual. * So what were they supposed to do? * Vs 16 - 17 - Five components to getting back on track: * 1) Stand at the Crossroads and look - the crossroads represent a time when you have to make a decision. * Don’t blindly move forward - stop and consider where you are and where you’re going (which path will get you where you want to be?). * Look at those on both paths - who do you want to join? * 2) Ask - this puts you in the place of humility and aligns you in proper authority. * Asking implies you need something and don’t have it - this keeps you humble. * When you “ask God” it aligns you under His authority because it presupposes He is your superior. * 3) Ask where the “ancient” path is - the path that’s proven over and over to work. * It’s the “well worn” path. * EX: all fad diets bow to the ancient path - eat fewer calories than you burn. * God’s path - trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey! * The Bible gives us the ancient path. * 4) Walk in it - don’t just ask, DO! Follow the advice you asked for. * Action precedes motivation. * The ancient path has fewer people walking on it. * Principle - do the harder thing. * RESULT - you will find rest for your soul! * Mind, Will, Emotions will line up with God and you’ll experience peace. * FACT - you won’t do it (none of these steps are natural). * So what does God do? He appoints “watchmen!” * vs 17 - Those who see what’s going on in culture and are willing to blow the trumpet to warn you. * They were commanded to “listen” because it would be natural for them to tune it out. * What does a watchman do? (Spot, startle, stop, shift) * Spot the enemy - they watch while you work. * Startle you to attention - blowing a trumpet will tap into your brain power and produce adrenaline and cortisol. * Stop your normal routine - they get you outside yourself. * Shift your perspective - they give you a glimpse of what the enemy is up to and show you how to respond.
Jeremiah 7:27 (10/4/18)
October 4, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* God called Jeremiah to a no-win situation. * The people were NOT going to listen to him. * But he was to speak anyway. * He was to focus on faithfulness, not effectiveness. * This meant he had to keep his eyes on Jesus, not the people. * In the world’s eyes he was a huge failure. * But in God’s eyes he was a resounding success.
Jeremiah 9:11-13 (10/13/16)
October 13, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• Presuppositions - God judges people AND nations. • What would you think of a doctor who had the cure to someone’s sickness but refused to write the prescription for fear of what would happen to his reputation? • Well, this is exactly what happened during Jeremiah’s day with the spiritual leaders of his time. • They were the spiritual doctors of the day and because they refused to properly diagnose the problem and prescribe returning to God as the solution, their nation was being destroyed. • Look at what’s happening in America and what looms on the horizon - destruction. • Who should be stepping up and diagnosing the problem and offering the solution? • Spiritual leaders! • Look what happens to the people who listen to false prophets - Jeremiah 14:16.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (4/10/24)
April 10, 2024 • Benham Brothers • Jeremiah 9:23–24
* The people in Jeremiah’s day were prospering well. * But they started looking to themselves, which led to their boasting. * They had forgotten Isaiah 48:17 - “I am the Lord, who teaches you to profit…” * As God’s kids, they experienced God’s blessing on the earth. * Why? So they could prepare the way for the Messiah! * However, as they grew bigger and stronger they forgot their “why” and started started falling away from the Lord. * How? By focusing on themselves and no longer on God. * Same thing happened in Romans 1:21 - “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him…” * Look how God responds: * vs 23 - “This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches…” * They boasted in three things. * We have to make sure we don’t boast in these: * 1) Intellect - “the understanding or mental powers of a person.” * You see all over Twitter intellectuals arguing with each other. * 1 Corinthians 8:1 - “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” * You’ve elevated your intellect when you demand others to believe just like you. * 2) Influence - Israel had grown mighty in the world, so mighty that all the kingdoms of the world knew about them. * Social media has created “platform lust.” * People elevate Likes over Lives. * Ultimately, the platform is what keeps them silent about things that matter. * If God increases your influence, don’t forget why He’s done it. * 3) Income - Money represents your source of sustainability. * It’s not the source - God is. * Income can become your idol when impact isn’t your goal. * It cuts both ways: * Pride because of your surplus - this is dangerous because you don’t feel like you need God. * Fear because of your lack - this is dangerous because you don’t feel like God will come through. * But we are not to boast about any of these things. * vs 24 - “…but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” * EX: What’s better to brag about, the amount of money I make or the number of houses I have or the types of vacations I take …or that I was an intimate friend of Billy Graham and traveled everywhere with him since he was a teenager? * The same is true in our relationship w/God. * Let’s not boast about our life - Let’s boast that we know the Giver of Life! * That keeps the focus on Him and not on the "things" of Him.
Jeremiah 12:1-6 (10/14/21)
October 14, 2021 • Benham Brothers • Jeremiah 12:1–6
* Jeremiah had grown really discouraged. * He had been faithful to do all God wanted him to do yet nobody listened. * And his friends and family abandoned him. * So he took his plea to God. * Vs 1-4 - It’s ok to question God in private - don’t do it in public. * When we go through hardships, the proper question is not “HOW” can I get out of this, but “WHAT” can I get out of this? * God’s answer (vs 5) - “I’m training you!” * Three truths about your Christian life: * 1) It’s not supposed to be easy - it’s hard work to stay on the narrow path. * Running a race is always hard. * 2) It gradually gets harder - your convictions go deeper the more mature you are in your faith. * 3) It gradually gets better - we experience peace and rest in the middle of trials and tribulations. * EX: Getting in shape - it’s hard, and it gets harder the longer you go, but life gets way better! * TRUTH - If you’re faithful in little, you’ll be faithful in much. * That’s how we know if we’ll stand strong when the going gets tough.
Jeremiah 13:1-9 (10/10/19)
October 10, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* vs 1-2 - God was rebuking Israel for her idolatry. * The nation had been closely attached to God, as close as a waist cloth to a person. * The waist cloth was one of the most intimate forms of clothing and was made pliable by dunking it in water. * Jeremiah would now be uncomfortable with the thing that should be comfortable (like my son at the beach waddling from rash). * Because Israel left God He was now going to bring discomfort their way. * vs 3-5 - Jeremiah had to get rid of the waist cloth - he had to separate himself from it. * God was going to do this with His people. * vs 6-9 - Because the waist cloth was buried it was ruined. * God was showing how the people would be ruined if they didn’t honor Him and remain intimate with Him through total surrender. * Notice Jeremiah’s obedience - God only spoke to him AFTER he obeyed what he was told. * Understanding came after obedience. * We shouldn’t think in terms of effectiveness as much as obedience. * Bad thinking only considers the results - Good thinking considers the author of the message! * *** The waist cloth was now useless. Jeremiah could’ve gotten bitter about that. * Nothing we do out of obedience to the Lord is wasted! * Here we are thousands of years later talking about what he did!