HEALTHY INDEPENDENCE-III—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.”
Some of you who consider yourselves to be independent, are not really independent from anything except God!
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 have 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)
Today we’ll find that...
5—A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...
MISPLACED/Aberrant TRUSTS(:5)
Explanation:(:5)
:5—“Thus says the LORD:
Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the LORD.”
'Misplaced'—"Incorrectly positioned'...In our case, That which positioned apart from God's guidance.
‘Aberrant’—'That which departs from a standard'...In our case, That which departs from God’s standard.
“Thus says the LORD:”
The eternally existing God( YHWH) now declares a general principle which always holds true, & is intended for my/your/our enlightenment. That ‘general principle’ is viewed from two contrasting positions, highlighted here in :5, & it’s opposite in :7. Both contrasting positions highlight the fundamental principle of “trust.” And highlights a fundamental Christian principle...
•An individual’s personal “trust” is fully determinative of the ‘benefit’ a person receives, from who & what he/she “trusts” in.
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man”
•A single aspect of the “trust” principle is stated in :5-6. This negative viewpoint highlights a decision to place “trust” in the world, rather than in YHWH God.
The “curse” which comes upon those whose “heart departs from the LORD”, comes upon them passively & continually(Participle Passive) as a result of their continual personal choices to “trust in man.” They have invited God’s “curse” upon themselves.
The “man” upon whom the “curse” of God remains(“Cursed is the man”), is no insignificant “man.”
•The Hebrew word translated as “man”(rbg) hints that this is someone who is recognized for his strength & ability. He is respected among others for his valiance, & intelligence. He is a warrior or strong man.
“Cursed”—rra aw-rar’—Qal Participle Passive—1) To curse—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To curse, 1a2) Cursed be he(participle used as in curses), 1b) (Niphal) To be cursed, cursed, 1c) (Piel) To curse, lay under a curse, put a curse on, 1d) (Hophal) To be made a curse, be cursed Strong—To execrate; a primitive root.
“Man”(See :7)—rbg geh’-ber—Noun Masc.—1) Man, strong man, warrior(emphasizing strength or ability to fight). Strong—properly--A valiant man or warrior; generally--A person simply.
“Trusts”(See :7)—xjb baw-takh’—Qal Imperfect—1) To trust—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To trust, trust in, 1a2) To have confidence, be confident, 1a3) To be bold, 1a4) To be secure; 1b) (Hiphil)--1b1) To cause to trust, make secure; 2) (TWOT)--To feel safe, be careless. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To hide for refuge[but not so precipitately as hox]; figuratively--To trust, be confident or sure.
“Man/Mankind”—Mda aw-dawm’—Noun Masc.—1) Man, mankind—1a) Man, human being, 1b) man, mankind(much more frequently intended sense in OT), 1c) Adam, first man, 1d) City in Jordan valley. Strong—Ruddy i.e. A human being(an individual or the species, mankind, etc.).?From—Mda aw-dam’—To show blood(in the face), i.e. Flush or turn rosy.
“And makes flesh his strength,”
This phrase is a restatement & clarification of the previous phrase. Together with the first phrase—what it means to “trust in man”—is elucidated, highlighted, brought to light, or made plain.
“Flesh” is granted the fullness of it’s power, in a person who would see fit to willingly “make flesh” their “strength.”
•Such a person intentionally sets up(“makes”) or depends solely upon fleshly means to give them their “strength”—literally-‘arm’(as symbolic of “strength”). The ‘arm’(“strength”) is the means by which a person accomplishes his work(s).
“Makes”—Mws soowm OR--Mys seeym—Qal Perfect—1) To put, place, set, appoint, make—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay(violent) hands on, 1a2) To set, direct, direct toward—1a2a) To extend(compassion)(figuratively), 1a3) To set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix, 1a4) To set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix, 1a5) To make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give; 1b) (Hiphil)--To set or make for a sign; 1c) (Hophal)--To be set. Strong—a primitive root; To put(used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, & elliptically).
“Flesh”—rsb baw-sawr’—Noun Masc.—1) Flesh—1a) Of the body—1a1) Of humans, 1a2) Of animals, 1b) The body itself, 1c) Male organ of generation(euphemism), 1d) Kindred, blood-relations, 1e) Flesh as frail or erring(man against God), 1f) All living things, 1g) Animals, 1h) Mankind. Strong—Flesh(from its freshness); by extension--Body, person; also by euphemism--The pudenda of a man.
“Strength/Arm”—ewrz zer-o’-ah, OR(shortened)--erz zer-o’-ah, AND(fem.)--hewrz zer-o-aw’, OR--herz zer-o-aw’—Noun Fem.—1) Arm, forearm, shoulder, strength—1a) Arm, 1b) Arm(as symbol of strength), 1c) Forces(political & military), 1d) Shoulder(of animal sacrificed). Strong—The arm(as stretched out), OR (of animals)--The foreleg; figuratively--Force.
“Whose heart departs from the LORD.”
To “make flesh” your ‘arm’ or “strength” is to reject, refuse, or deny, YHWH the access He needs to work in your life.
A person makes that willful choice—to trust flesh— because their “heart” compels them to that action. That is, the “heart” here refers to much more than the physical organ that pumps blood thru your body. Here, the “heart” is representative of the very center of a person’s being. It is the seat of your mind, moral appetites & character...It’s the seat of your passions, & determinations. The “heart” is the seat & center of a person’s decision to continually or constantly “depart from” YHWH the eternal God.
“Heart”(See :9)—bl lab—Noun Masc.—1) Inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding—1a) Inner part, midst—1a1) Midst(of things), 1a2) Heart(of man), 1a3) Soul, heart(of man), 1a4) Mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, 1a5) Inclination, resolution, determination(of will), 1a6) Conscience, 1a7) Heart(of moral character), 1a8) As seat of appetites, 1a9) As seat of emotions & passions 1a10) as seat of courage. Strong—The heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for--The feelings, the will & even the intellect; likewise for--The centre of anything.
“Departs From”—rwo soor OR--rws soor(Hos. 9:12)—Qal Imperfect—1) To turn aside, depart—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To turn aside, turn in unto, 1a2) To depart, depart from way, avoid, 1a3) To be removed, 1a4) To come to an end; 1b) (Polel)--To turn aside; 1c) (Hiphil)--1c1)--To cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose, 1c2) To put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish.; 1d) (Hophal)--To be taken away, be removed. Strong—a primitive root; To turn off(literal or figurative).
“LORD”—hwhy Yeh-ho-vaw’—Noun Proper Deity—Jehovah = “the existing One”—1) The proper name of the one true God—1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of ynda Ad-o-noy’. Strong—from hyh[To exist, be, become, come to pass]; (the)Self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.
So we have highlighted here in verse 5, an intelligent, respectable person who makes an overt, conscious personal decision, from the center of their being, to:
A.—Trust in Man(:5a).
B.—Set up “flesh” as the source of “strength.”(:5b)
C.—Willingly, trustingly remove their “heart” from it’s rightful place with YHWH.(:5c).
All of those willful decisions, invite YHWH’s unlimited power—the eternal, ever-existent God, His power—to bring a “curse” upon, to, & against themselves!
•Despite & contrary to what popular opinion says, neither you nor anyone else has an ‘innate goodness’ about themselves!...You may be civil & civilized, but you are not ‘good.’ You must be ‘declared’ ‘good’ by God Himself. To hold to mankind’s determination of what is ‘good’ is an aberrant trust.
Rom. 8:1-2—“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin & death.”
Gen. 18:14—When God promised Abraham & Sarah a son in their old age, He asked Abraham:—“Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, & Sarah shall have a son.”
Num. 11:23—When God promised Moses that Israel would have their lust for meat satisfied—“And the LORD said to Moses, “Has the LORD’S arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”
Jer. 32:17—“‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens & the earth by Your great power & outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
Mat. 14:15-21—Jesus fed 5000 people with minimal physical food—“When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, & the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages & buy themselves food.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves & two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves & the two fish, & looking up to heaven, He blessed & broke & gave the loaves to the disciples; & the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate & were filled, & they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women & children.”
Mat. 15:32-38—Jesus later fed 4000 people with minimal physical food—“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself & said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days & have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, & a few little fish.” So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves & the fish & gave thanks, broke them & gave them to His disciples; & the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate & were filled, & they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women & children.”
Argumentation:
Php. 3:3-14—“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, & have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ & be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him & the power of His resurrection, & the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind & reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
*Paul exchanged his confidence in the fleshly trappings of empty religion—in his case, it was Judaism...He exchanged his ‘empty, useless’ confidence in his own ability, for confidence in Christ Jesus!
Illustration:
‘No Confidence’—Twila Paris
The Lord does not delight in human reckoning
He offers us the wisdom of the spirit
The idols of an age are falling all around
But we are told to stand & not to fear it
We find our strength in Him alone
We have no greatness of our own
We put no confidence in the flesh
We will trust in the Lord our God
We put no confidence in the flesh
We will trust in the Lord our God
And we will shine like the stars
We will shine like the stars
In a darkened world
We turn away from hoping in chariot & horse
We come aside to listen & to wait.
The one who brought us here will speak & lead us on
Go forward on a path of simple faith
We will find our strengths in Him alone
We have no greatness of our own
We put no confidence in the flesh
We will trust in the Lord our God
We put no confidence in the flesh
We will trust in the Lord our God
And we will shine like the stars
We will shine like the stars
In a darkened world
Shine, shine, shine, shine
Shine in a darkened world
Application:
?Are you properly engaging(dealing with/handling/managing) MISPLACED/Aberrant TRUSTS?
?Are you exhibiting A Healthy Independence?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Jn. 15:19—Jesus told His disciples:—“If you were of the world, the world would love its own.”...“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[God the Father] 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.”
Action:
A Healthy Independence Engages(deals with/handles/manages)...
5. MISPLACED/Aberrant TRUSTS(:5)
1. A RESIDENT REBELLION(:1)
2. An ABERRANT EDUCATION(:2)
3. BLINDLY SIGHTED BENEFITS(:3-4)
4. An ANGERING LIFESTYLE(:4e)
Pt# 5 only! Video only! Presented 07/19/2020am to:
1BCCbelle(Video to YouTube shared to Facebook @ ‘Byron Sherman’ & ’First Baptist Church Carrabelle’)
206 SE Ave. A(Storrs Ave.)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
