Jeremiah 19 & 20 (10/16/14)

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Jeremiah 19 & 20 (10/16/14)

Gates of Hell

October 16, 2014 • Benham Brothers

I'm going to split Jeremiah 19 & 20 into three parts:
1) God's word to the people.
Jeremiah had to deliver the message at the Valley of Ben Hinnom in Topheth.
It is similarly important where Jesus delivered His "gates of hell" message.
"Hinnom" is similar to the Hebrew word "hell."
In this valley the Israelites did three things: 1. Worship false gods, 2. Sexual anarchy, 3. Child sacrifice.

In 2 Chronicles 28 we see Ahaz allowing the sacrifice of kids to the god of Molech in this valley.
This valley was literally the "gate of hell" in Jeremiah's day.
Not all Israelites sacrificed their kids and many thought it was wrong, but the law of the land made it possible, hence God had to judge the nation for it.
God was going to destroy these people and bury them in the same place they killed the kids (vs 11 - Topheth).
Then in verse 15 Jeremiah was to move away from the Valley and go into the court of the Lord's temple.
The shedding of innocent blood was going to be put onto the hands of the priests.
Now look at Matthew 16:13-20.
Jesus gave a "graduation speech" to the disciples and did it at Caeserea Philippi.
This was a city where people sacrificed their kids to the god of Molech, just as they did in Jeremiah's day.
At Caeserea they worshipped false gods, embraced sexual anarchy, and allowed for the killing of kids.
Caeserea was the twin city of Topheth!
Jesus explained that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church, while He stood at the gates of hell.
He was revealing that it's the responsibility of the church to show up at those gates where evil is rampant.
He then said He would give "keys of the kingdom" - these keys are biblical truths applied to a life situation.
The three keys of the kingdom are: 1) The blood of the lamb, 2) The word of our testimony, 3) Not loving our lives so much as to shrink from death.
If His church showed up they would have keys to open the gates so they would not prevail, but the church had to "go there" first.
We show up with the truth of God's Word and insert those truths into the proper lock (stronghold) on the proper gate. When we do this the gate will open - it will NOT prevail. Evil will flee and Truth will rule the day.
Satan sets up fortresses and erects high gates with big locks so Christians will stay away.
You know it's a gate of hell when satan has a stronghold over it.
America today - we've replaced God with man, we celebrate sexual anarchy, and we have legalized the murder of babies.
God will judge us.
2) The Priest's reaction (20:1-3) - He had Jeremiah beaten.
Kill the conscience!
Many religious people will buck against a message like this.
3) Jeremiah's reaction (20:7-10) - He didn't want to be the man with this message, but he couldn't hold it in.
If he didn't let the message out it would have burned him alive (brought about his death).
When we are faithful at the gate God shows up and takes over - all we have to do is face our fear so God will handle the fight!

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.