Healthy Independence-6

HEALTHY INDEPENDENCE-VI—Jeremiah 17:1-14

Jn. 15:18-19—Jesus told His disciples:—“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Jn. 17:15-16—Jesus prayed for His disciples:—“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

God’s people must exhibit a ‘Healthy’ independence from the world in which they live.

?Are you living INDEPENDENTLY of that which has potential to destroy you?

The prophet Jeremiah contrasted two major aspects of Independence—Independence from God versus independence from the world.

*Dependence upon YHWH brings independence from worldly influence.

What can be gleaned by contrasting healthy & unhealthy independence?

*How can I be independent of worldly influence?

So far we’ve found that A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...

1. A RESIDENT REBELLION(:1)

2. An ABERRANT EDUCATION(:2)

3. BLINDLY SIGHTED BENEFITS(:3-4)

4. An ANGERING LIFESTYLE(:4e)

5. MISPLACED/Aberrant TRUSTS(:5)

6. The ‘CURSE’ Of MISPLACED/Aberrant TRUST(:6)

7. A CORRECTED TRUST(:7)

8—A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...

A TELLING PLANTING(:8)

Explanation:(:8)

:8—“For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

Very practically, by virtue of a person’s faithfulness to Almighty God, God’s ‘blessing’ is brought to him/herself. This “blessing” directly corresponds to or contrasts with the ‘curse’ which the unfaithful person brings upon themselves(:6).

•This verse(:8) pictures the “blessing” promised in :7. The promise is had by any & all whose lives are lived out by personal “trust” & “hope”(:7) in the eternal God, YHWH.

?Are you one of those faithful?...

Pay attention & we’ll see...

“For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,”

Again, a comparison is made in order to give the reader/hearer a practical application of the contrast between a life surrendered to an ABSENCE of faith in YHWH, VERSUS a life directly SURRENDERED to faith in YHWH.

•Here a “tree” is contrasted with ‘the shrub’ of :6. Everything in verse :7 relates to a picture of a well-watered “tree.”

•The “tree” is not just contrasted with the shrub, but also with the shrub’s setting. One’s ‘setting’ is ultimately brought upon a person by EITHER their personal LACK of faith, OR by the PRESENCE of personal faith & a reliance upon it... (CONT...)8—A Healthy Independence Engages...

A TELLING PLANTING(:8)

•It is not so much that a person’s actual outward circumstances change by faith, so much as their faith-filled RESPONSE to their circumstances changes!?•A Christian may actually LIVE in a physically desolate situation, & be surrounded by a POTENTIALLY languishing situation. BUT the Christian will approach those same outward circumstances very differently from the non-Christian. The non-Christian will approach their setting(‘planting’) from the standpoint of a perpetually thirsty “shrub”, whereas the Christian will approach their setting(‘planting’) as a well-watered “tree.”

•This is NOT an example of looking at a glass as being half-full or half-empty! This is rather an example of approaching & experiencing life via the empowerment offered thru two different & opposing means...This “tree planted by the waters” is an example of approaching & experiencing life via the empowerment offered thru what or who a person trusts in.

What you do with YOUR ‘planting’ is very TELLING, because it signifies the RESOURCE from which YOU draw sustenance. What you do with your ‘planting’ is accomplished by what is ‘brought to the table’ thru your trusted resource!

In the ever-changing situations & circumstances of daily life, the people who have faith in the self-revealing & eternal God, will be reminiscent of “a tree planted by the waters.”

A TELLING PLANTING is:

A.—An INTENTIONAL planting!—“Like a tree planted”—Note that the “tree” is “planted.” It is NOT some willy-nilly happenstance. That is, there has been intentional intervention by God for the believer’s sake! God has your best interests at heart/in mind!?•When you put your trust in God, ALL the POWER of HEAVEN becomes available to you!...Never to misuse or abuse for self, but rather, so in your own unique way, you will commit your unique makeup in Christ, toward giving all glory to Almighty God. And thus the power of the Kingdom of Heaven is neither given to yourself nor to anything or anyone other than God.

i.—Who “planted” you?—YHWH, the ever-present God!—Upon an initial trust of Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God permanently transforms you...So that HE compels you to ‘bloom where you’re planted.’