INS:JEREMIAH'S SUPPORT SYSTEM  by Mark S. Camp

   Jeremiah 1:4-10

   Introduction: The world today is in a state of chaos. Crime is on
the increase to such an extent that there is no longer any room in many
of our prisons to house the criminals. Each day the newspapers carry
stories related in some way to the wave of terrorism which is sweeping
the world. Governments of many countries are plagued by rebellion.
Financial and economic woes are besetting not only governments, but
families and individuals as well. The homeless wander our streets in
record numbers. The family is beset on every side by people and
theories that would seek to tear it down.

   Christians are not immune to these manifold difficulties. Churches
are not immune either. Just a short time ago, the members of two
churches in the St. Louis area were robbed and terrorized while
services were being held. The turmoil of modern day living takes its
toll even upon those in the ministry. One statistic put out a few years
ago reported that each year in the Southern Baptist Convention, over
1000 men leave the ministry because of the pressures of daily living.
Sometimes, the believer may wonder if it is even possible to live by
godly standards any more.

   Yet, the problems we face today are not new. Some of the forms and
technology may be new, but the problems are centuries old, and are
basically the same as faced the people in Jeremiah's day. There were
spiritual problems that seemed insurmountable; there was perpetual
sinning and continual backsliding; there was a great ignorance of
spiritual truth; and, sin did not seem to bother the people.

   Jer. 2:13 - "My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken
me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken
cisterns that cannot hold water."

   In the midst of all this, God called and sustained his prophet,
Jeremiah. God has also called us unto his service, and can and will
sustain us. Let us examine two aspects of the text before us:

   1. The CALL of Jeremiah

   2. The COMMISSION of Jeremiah

   I entitle the message - "Jeremiah's Support System."

   I. Let us note three things in the the CALL of Jeremiah.

   A. The sovereign prerogative (right) of God (v. 5)

   1. Jeremiah did not get into the ministry because of his natural
ability for public speaking.

   2. Jeremiah did not go into the ministry because he was looking for
a job, and after careful study saw a great need in church related
vocations.

   3. Jeremiah did not enter the ministry because his dear gray-haired
Sunday School teacher patted him on the head one day when he was a boy
and said, "Jeremiah, some day you're going to be a preacher."

   4. Jeremiah was not asked by a church to take a position of
leadership in the church because he was not regular in attendance and
someone felt that he might become more interested if he was given a
position of responsibility.

   5. Jeremiah entered the prophetic ministry because of the sovereign
purpose or prerogative of God. God says, "I set you apart, I appointed
you as a prophet to the nations."

   6. When God decides to act in fulfillment of his redemptive
purposes, man's desires and efforts do not hinder God from or help God
in carrying out his sovereign will.

   7. If you are a Christian, you were saved not because of your
efforts or desire, but because you were born again by the Spirit of God
acting in accordance with God's redemptive purpose.

   Rom. 9:16 - "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or
effort, but on God's mercy."

   Jn. 15:16 - "You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed
you, that you should go and bear fruit."

   READ Galatians 1:15-17

   B. The sure predestination by God (v. 5)

   1. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you."

   2. "Before you were born I set you apart."

   3. Here is sure predestination for all the world to see, and to deny
a Biblical doctrine of predesti- nation is to deny the plain truth of
God's inerrant, infallible, impeccable Word.

   READ PSALMS 139:13-16

   4. With every call from God comes the need for human response and
the exercise of human responsibility. Yet, the matter was settled in
eternity that Jeremiah would be a prophet.

   5. In the midst of troubles, trials, and tribulations, we have the
promise of the sure predestination of God to refresh and assure our
souls. We have the assurance of knowing that before we were born God
knew all of the eventualities and circumstances that would arise in our
lives. Nothing takes God by surprise; nothing happens by fate or luck.
Knowing all things, God has formulated his plans accordingly.

   6. Knowing the blessed promise of hope that comes by trusting in a
sovereign God can enable us to stand fast as we face the terror of the
lion's den. It will enable us to stand the heat of the fiery furnace.
It will enable us to sing praises in a Philippian jail at midnight. It
will enable us to to look forward to the crown of righteousness in the
hour of our death. It will enable us to ride out out the flood in the
safety of the ark.

   7. God has placed us where we are and he will work it out!

   C. The sovereign power of God (v. 5)

   1. Jeremiah was not born as the result of some planned parenthood
class. He was not born as a result of chance or fate.

   2. He was born because God exercised sovereign power. God says to
Jeremiah, "I formed you..."

   3. You and I look the way we do and are what we are because God in
the fulfillment of his redemptive purposes exercised sovereign power
and formed us.

   4. You may ask, why are children born deformed or why are children
born with some disease or disability? As strange as it may sound, we
are not to question God's reasons as the Creator. We are to humbly
acknowledge his sovereignty and realize that he has predestined all
things to work out for his glory.

   5. Why God causes or allows certain things we may never know this
side of eternity, but I tell you that unless we readily acknowledge
God's purpose, God's predestination, and God's power, we will make
ourselves into a mental wreck.

   II. Let us note four brief things in the COMMISSION of Jeremiah.

   A. God calls in specifics and not in generalities.

   1. He calls specific people for specific tasks.

   2. He equips specific people with specific spiritual gifts to be
used in the ministry of the kingdom.

   3. We must humbly accept our commission and say as does the old
hymn, "Where he leads me I will follow." (v. 6)

   B. God commanded what Jeremiah was to speak. (v. 7)

   1. If we are doing the clear will of God and ministering faithfully
on his behalf, he will equip us to do the task and we need not be
afraid.

   2. Far too many men preach and teach their own opinions instead of
God's Word.

   C. There were negative aspects to the commission.

   1. The Gospel is contrary to what goes on in society. Jeremiah would
not be popular.

   2. We are to take a stand against sin and call people to repentance.
We are to beckon them to come to the Savior without delay.

   3. We can stand on a stump and damn everyone to hell and back for
smoking, wearing miniskirts, playing cards and dancing, and still not
build the kingdom of Christ one bit. We must speak where the Bible
speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.

   4. We will reap enough negative responses just by preaching the
clear gospel. We need not add insult to injury.

   D. There were positive aspects to the commission.

   1. Jeremiah's ministry would be one of tearing down and uprooting.
Yet, it would also be a ministry of planting and building up.

   2. The gospel tears down and uproots, yet, it also plants and
builds. We must not fear then to declare the whole counsel of God.

   Conclusion:

   We see then, the call and commission of Jeremiah. We have seen the
sovereign power of God, the sure predestination of God, and the
sovereign prerogative of God. Have you grasped these things? Have you
bowed your stubborn and rebellious will to the sovereignty of God? Are
you worried about your family? Are you troubled by circumstances? Does
the world situation seem hopeless to you?

   Look to Jeremiah's support system. The same God who called and
commissioned Jeremiah has called and commissioned all believers. The
same sovereign God which upheld and supported Jeremiah is the same God
who is able to uphold and support you. Jeremiah's support system is
your support system also.
