Nothing Is Hidden From The Lord

NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM THE LORD (Outline)

July 30, 2023 – Pentecost 9 – JEREMIAH 23:23-29

INTRO.: The Lord God knows everything. He knows our hearts. Hears our words. Sees our actions. There is nothing done or not done that the Lord does not see. Or know. “For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” (MARK 4:22-23). From our text today we discover: NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM THE LORD.

I. The Lord knows the lies. II. The Lord shows the truth.

I. THE LORD KNOWS THE LIES.

A. The Lord called, anointed, and appointed Jeremiah as his prophet. To proclaim his word.

1. The Lord sent Jeremiah to Judah (southern kingdom) with words of repentance, judgment.

2. Judah rejected the Lord. The Lord was preparing judgment for their idolatry.

B. Verse 25. The Lord heard the false prophets’ lies. They had a dream. But it was not from God.

1. Jeremiah preached doom and gloom. Many false prophets came with different messages.

2. Verse 26. Lord called false prophets “lying prophets”. Serious charge. Told only fantasies.

C. Verse 27. False prophets were leading God’s people away from him. Made people forget his name.

1. Sad. Israel delivered from Egyptian slavery. Provided for 40 years of wilderness wandering.

2. Lord directed them to the Promised Land. Milk and honey. Judah forgot God’s goodness.

3. Turned to false gods. Desecrated the temple. Offered child sacrifices. Forgot Lord’s name.

D. How could anyone forget the name of the Lord? Or the name of Jesus? Not me. I will not, no never ever forget the Lord’s holy, precious name. The name given above every name. That every knee on earth and in heaven bow to Jesus. Jesus’ name means to save. We live in world filled with alluring attractions. These worldly attractions easily become distractions from the one thing that is needful. All of have complained about the increase of electronic devices. People are drawn into a solitary, selfish life. Wealth and prosperity seem to be the only goals all too many feverishly pursue. “Do not give me poverty or riches. Give me food in the amount that is right for me. Too much, and I may feel satisfied and deny you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Too little, and I may become poor and steal and profane the name of my God” (PROVERBS 30:8b, 9). Too much stuff, we forget God. Too little, we steal and dishonor God.

E. Sadly, the world is not the only one distracting people. Today there are dangerous false teachers. These are the “lying prophets” who tell people what they want to hear. Not what they need to hear. We need to hear about sin. Knowing our disobedience drives us to the One and only who obeyed perfectly. Jesus. Law and Gospel. So important for every person, every believer to hear over and over and time and time again and again. Where is this precious message? Too often it is missing. Absent. Forgotten.

“For there will come a time when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, because they have itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in line with their own desires” (2 TIMOTHY 4:3).

F. We are living in the times of fulfillment of God’s Old Testament prophets. They warned God’s people in their day. Many did not listen. God’s call to repentance is just as important for us and our world today. But things seem to be turned upside down. And they are. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who substitute darkness for light, and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (ISAIAH 5:20). Many things that are good and right in God’s sight are called evil. Followers of Christ understand the importance of human life. All life. It still amazes me that our government wants to end life whenever it is inconvenient for a mother. Abortion is the false god that many worship.

NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM THE LORD. The Lord knows the lies.

II. THE LORD SHOWS THE TRUTH.

A. Verse 23. The Lord offers questions with an obvious answer. Is God only nearby, not far away?

1. Verse 24. Can anyone hide from God? Do I not fill heaven and earth?

2. God is the God nearby and faraway. None can hide from God. God fills heaven and earth.

3. The Lord wanted Judah to remember these truths. False gods unable to do/be these things.

B. Verse 28. False prophets spoke of their false dreams. Own human fantasies.,

1. God’s prophet, Jeremiah was commissioned to “speak my word faithfully”. Responsibility.

2. The Lord God serious about his word. His truth. Jeremiah knew God’s call/purpose for him.