Jeremiah 1: 5-9
In these passages of scriptures, we see and read how the prophet Jeremiah had described how he was called to the prophetic ministry. In Jeremiah 1:4-5, Jeremiah says, “then the word of the Lord came unto me saying, ‘Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nation.”
Each of us has been created uniquely by God for a reason. God has an ultimate plan for each of us as much as HE had for Jeremiah.
1. God knows us personally.
Now, what Jeremiah was telling us here in this passage of scriptures is that when the Lord called him to the prophetic ministry, God told him that before he was born, before he had ever existed, God already knew him. And guess what? It is the same with us. God knew all of us before we were born. He knew all of us before all of us had ever existed on this earth because God is an omniscience God, which means God is all knowing. The reason why God knows all about us before anybody else and before we even come to know ourselves is because God is our Creator, and He is the one who has made us. And since He is the one who has made us, He knows all about us. (cf. Psalms 139: 13-16)
No one is born by accident. God knew us even before we were born and HE allowed us to be born for a very purpose. The Psalmist says we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139: 14). Wow! God took time to design each of us. You are so special in the eyes of the Lord. Please do not let anyone or any circumstances make you think otherwise. You are the masterpiece of God’s creation. You have HIS breath in HIM. Your life is worth living because your life does not belong to yourself but to the Maker of Heaven and earth, Lord God of the Host.
2. God has a plan for each of us.
What God had told Jeremiah is that before he was born, before he had ever existed, He had a calling on his life. Before He was born, or ever existed, God had already sanctified and ordained Jeremiah to be a prophet.
Now the word, “sanctified”, means “set apart”, and the word “appointed”, means “to be chosen.” God had already chosen and set Jeremiah apart to be a prophet before to be a prophet before he was born.
And guess what? God has already chosen us and set us apart for a specific ministry before we were born as well. You may not be called to be a prophet, pastor, minister, Sunday School teacher, evangelists, or whatever, but you still have been called, sanctified, and chosen by God to do a specific ministry for the Lord. Your calling may not be like my calling, but you still have been called by God. My calling may not be like your calling, but we still both have been called by God to do a specific ministry for the Lord.
You see, when God calls us, He first calls us to salvation. That is, He calls all men, women, boys, and girls everywhere to repent and come to His Son Jesus Christ to be saved. Secondly, when God calls us, God calls us to discipleship. That is, after we get saved by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, God calls us to discipleship, that is, He calls us to follow Jesus Christ, He calls us to study His Word so we can learn more about who Jesus Christ is, and to live for Him. Last but not least, when God calls us, God call us to minister. He calls us to witness and to evangelize the world about the saving power of Jesus Christ, and this where all of us get into the different ministries in the church. The Apostle Peter beautifully summarises this in 1 verse, 1 Peter 2: 9. – HE called us out of darkness into His marvellous light (that is our Salvation); - HE chose us as a race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a people for HIS own possession (chosen as Disciples); - that you may proclaim the excellencies of HIM who called you (call to minister – preach the Gospel)
You see, not everybody in the church can pastor, not everybody in the church preach, not everybody in the church can teach, but everybody who has been born again can tell somebody the good news of Jesus Christ. You see, you don’t have to be in the pulpit to tell somebody about Jesus Christ.
If you are born again, you have a ministry, and your ministry is to share and tell somebody about the saving power of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now when God told Jeremiah that He has called him to be a prophet unto the nations, Jeremiah told God, “Ah, Lord God! Behold I cannot speak: for I am child.” What Jeremiah was telling the Lord that he couldn’t be a prophet because of his age. He felt that he was too young to do that type of work. Jeremiah felt that he was not old nor experienced enough to be a prophet. But God told Jeremiah, “Say not that you are a child, for thou shalt go to all that I send thee, and whatsoever I command thee, thou shalt speak.” God was telling Jeremiah not to say he was too young to be a prophet, nor use his age or his lack of experience to become a prophet.
Today many of us are also like Jeremiah, we find excuses for not doing what we should be doing. Some says to evangelise if not my calling, some says I can’t speak or explain well like pastor and others with various other excuses.
You see, it does not matter how old you are, or, how young you are, God can use anybody. It doesn’t matter if you are 6, or 66 years old. God can still use you in His service. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, God can still use you in His service. It doesn’t matter if you been saved for three years or thirty years, God can still use you in his service. It doesn’t matter if you have graduated from seminary or not, God can still use you in His service. It doesn’t matter if you sit in the pulpit or not, God can still use you in his service. For if God can use a little boy named Josiah at the age of 8 and use Moses at the age of 80, He can use anybody in his services. God can use anybody.
The question is; are you availing yourself to be used by God? The general call for all mankind is to “go and make disciples” Matthew 28: 19.
3. When God calls – He supplies
Jeremiah was afraid of rejection (vs.6). He was a young man who doubted his ability and authenticity of being a prophet of God. In verse 8, God tells Jeremiah not to fear anything but just to say what the Lord wants HIM to say. How is this relevant to me today? Can I just open up my mouth and say whatever I feel in my heart and say it is from the LORD? NOT AT ALL!! During Jeremiah days he had no Bible the written and complete revelation of GOD. The most he could have read is the Torah and it would have been in the Temple. Today, we share the Gospel by proclaiming what is written in the Bible. There can be NO Other revelation greater than the Bible in the New Testament Church.
I am saying this, because I don’t want anyone of you becoming self-made prophet or prophetess by saying “Thus says the Lord” but rather say “Thus written in the Word of God”.
Being a Pastor for the last 22 years, the most common excuse that I get from my people for not getting involved in the works of evangelism is “I do not know what to say”, “I can’t preach”, “I do not know how to teach the Bible” – All that you need to do is to read your Bible faithfully and pray unceasingly.
God’s assurance is given in vs. 9: He will supply the adequate knowledge to you and protection when you share about HIM to others. Vs. 9 says HE will put HIS word in our mouth…..only if we avail ourselves to be used by HIM.
Conclusion:-
I want you to be assured that God knows you very personally. HE knows all your circumstances. Because HE has known you HE has also called you (saved you) and set you aside for HIS glory (called to follow HIM as HIS Disciples). HE has destined you to serve HIM by preaching HIS excellencies to this fallen generation.
Acknowledging this, would you commit your life to seek HIM earnestly – Being faithful in reading of HIS Word; praying unceasingly and sharing the Good News to others?
