OUR LORD APPOINTS US (Outline)
February 1, 2009 --
EPIPHANY 4 --
Jeremiah 1:4-10
INTRO: Another new government administration brings another round of presidential appointments. The super bowl will choose another most valuable player. Such appointment or choices come with a certain amount of earthly glory, honor, fame, and power. None of us may ever be a most valuable player on any sport team. But today God reminds each of us that we are most valuable people in his eyes. Why? Simply because God has chosen and appointed us as his very own. "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other" (JOHN 15:16,17).
OUR LORD APPOINTS US.
I. Through divine grace.
II. With a divine promise.
III. With his divine message.
I. OUR LORD APPOINTS THROUGH DIVINE GRACE
A. Verse 4. It is crystal clear that the words here are the words of the Lord, not the words of Jeremiah.
1. This was an awesome responsibility that Jeremiah was appointed as God’s spokesman.
2. Verse 6. Jeremiah felt unqualified. Jeremiah tried to find an excuse from this calling.
B. Verse 5. God makes it very clear that this divine choice for Jeremiah is beyond his changing.
1. The Lord intimately knew Jeremiah even before his conception. Imagine that!
2. Even before his birth the Lord had set apart Jeremiah for great and godly things.
3. After his birth the Lord appointed Jeremiah as a prophet to nations. No excuse changes.
C. Our Lord has chosen each and every one of us to live in his light! We no longer sit in the darkness as so many millions still do in this world today. The Lord sought us when we sought him not. The Lord chose us when we were still his enemies. The Lord loves us in spite of our selfish, lovelessness toward him and others. The Lord, our Lord appointed (chose) us through divine grace. "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will"(EPHESIANS 1:4,5).
D. We might try to make excuses because of the awesome responsibility God has given each one of us. Jeremiah tried. The apostle Paul tried. Moses tried. "But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’"(EXODUS 3:11). Moses continued with many more excuses. But the Lord did not excuse Moses. Humbly we realize we are not even worthy to be called God’s own, but we are. Humbly we realize our Lord has chosen to be his own to do great, godly things.
OUR LORD APPOINTS US through divine grace even though we are not worthy and deserve nothing.
II. OUR LORD APPOINTS US WITH A DIVINE PROMISE
A. Jeremiah tried to use the excuse that he was “only a child”. He did not feel ready to speak for God.
1. Verse 7a. The Lord said that is not an excuse. Jeremiah was only a child – a child of God!
2. The Lord had great plans for Jeremiah. Verse 7b. Jeremiah must go and must speak.
B. Verse 8. Jeremiah would not go alone. God would be with Jeremiah and rescue him always.
1. This was a low point in Jewish history. Bad kings misled God’s people. They hated Jeremiah.
2. Jeremiah remembered God’s promise often. God always came to his rescue to spare his life.
C. God promises us his abiding presence and rescue still today. We may not feel qualified. We may make tons of excuses to soothe our guilty consciences. Our Lord reminds us we are not alone, never. The encouragements of God’s promises are given us in his word. Seeking, knowing, and confessing the Lord first is the answer to any and every excuse our sinful nature makes. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"(1 PETER 3:15). There are many, many people filled with fear in this trouble world today. More and more than ever more and more people need to hear the promises of God. They need to hear God is with them. God can calm all their worries and fears.
D. All of God’s promises are sure. Not one of them has ever failed. Take time to read Romans, chapter 8. The Lord reminds us that all things work for our good. Then the Lord provides his ultimate assurance.
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"(ROMANS 8:31). Following this verse is a list of things that could cause fear in this earthly life. But none of them can or do.
OUR LORD APPOINTS US through divine grace.
By God’s grace we know and believe his promises.
III. OUR LORD APPOINTS US WITH HIS DIVINE MESSAGE
A. Jeremiah only gets one chance to make an excuse. The Lord God stops any more excuses.
1. Verse 9a. You can picture the Lord reaching out to stop excuses from Jeremiah’s lips.
2. Verse 9b. God’s word is in Jeremiah’s mouth. He is ready to go speak. Faith is in his heart.
B. Verse 10a. The Lord God Almighty repeats Jeremiah’s appointment. It is God’s choice for him.
1. Jeremiah was appointed over nations (not just Israel) for a harsh message, verse 10b.
2. Four of the six verbs are negative, destructive. Two imperatives are to build up. Law/gospel.
3. God’s law and gospel works in this very same manner. Law shows sin. Gospel shows Savior.
C. God put his message in the mouth of Jeremiah. God puts his message in our mouths today. God’s word is still God’s powerful, living, and active word today. The law overthrows our sinful nature. The law destroys our sinful pride. The law tears down any thoughts of worthiness on our part. The law uproots every evil in our hearts and lives. This is the law that shows to each of us our sin. God’s law cannot be changed. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"(2 TIMOTHY 3:16). God’s word = inspired from “God-breathed”..
D. Just as harsh as the Law of God is so soft and sweet is the Gospel of Christ. We need God’s law to reveal to us that only God and his gospel can save us. This is the message we have heard. This is the message that God has planted in our hearts. In our hearts we believe what we confess with our lips. God’s message has not, does not, and will not change. "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 COR. 15:3). We know this message of salvation. Most of us have known this simple message a long time. This is God’s message the world needs.
CONC.: Appointments and choices made by man are not divine. The appointments and choices of men are sure to fade away. God’s appointments and choices are filled with divine, eternal power and wisdom. By grace the Lord has appointed us as his children. Only a child?!? Yes! A believer is only a child – a child of God! We are each appointed as members of God’s family through divine grace. Just as any father would our heavenly Father promises us his very best. Different than our earthly fathers is the fact that our heavenly Father has the power to carry out all his promises to provide us with the very best. Our heavenly Father promises never to forsake us. Our heavenly Father provides us forgiveness. This message of God is to be seen in our lives and spoken with our lips. "I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand-- I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’" (ISAIAH 51:16). God’s grace calls us his people. God protects us in the shadow of his hand. His words (message) are in our mouths. Today, friends – family – believers, our world needs this message more than ever. Today OUR LORD APPOINTS US: through divine grace, with a divine promise, and with his divine message. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun) / 7:00pm @ Living Savior, Hays (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM
EPIPHANY 4 readings:
DEUT. 18:15-20;
1 CORINTHIANS. 8:1-13;
MARK 1:21-428;
(PSALM 1)
