HELP IS ON THE WAY!
JEREMIAH 31: 27-34
NOVEMBER 2, 2003 PM WORSHIP SERVICE
INTRODUCTION: When Jan Paderewski was to leave his native Poland to play his first recital in London, he asked an influential compatriot to give him a letter of introduction to a leading figure in Britain’s musical world, who might be of assistance should anything go amiss. The letter was handed to him in a sealed envelope. He hoped that everything would proceed smoothly and he would not have to use it. He did not; his debut was a success and no snags developed. Some years later, while going through his papers, he came upon the letter and opened it. It read:
"This will introduce Jan Paderewski, who plays the piano, for which he demonstrates no conspicuous talent." Bits & Pieces, January 9, 1992, p. 1- 2.
The soldier’s first article of faith is summed up nowhere more eloquently than in an 1865 letter from William Tecumseh Sherman to U.S. Grant: "I knew wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place you would come--if alive."
Source Unknown.
The Handbook of Magazine Article Writing contains this illustration by Philip Barry Osborne: Alex Haley, the author of Roots, Has a picture in his office, showing a turtle sitting atop a fence. The Picture is there to remind him of a lesson he learned long ago: “If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he had some help.” Says Alex, “Any time I start thinking, Wow, isn’t this marvelous what I’ve done! I look at that picture and remember how this turtle -- me got up on that post.”
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Our text for tonight offers hope and exclaims help in dismal situations. Jeremiah proclaims to us concerning our God of MERCY, JUSTICE AND GRACE. Yes, there is Grace in the Old Testament, for the OT points to the Christ of the NT. So let us look at the help Jeremiah offers to the People of his day and allow it to speak to us this day!
THESIS SENTENCE: GOD DESIRE IS TO BLESS AND NOT CURSE!
I. OUR HELP IS IN THE GOD WHO REVERSES THE PAST (vv. 27-30, 34e)
A. REVERSING THE PAST IS FORGIVING THE PAST
The God who watched over His People to uproot, tear down, overthrow, destroy, and bring disaster is now the God who will watch over them to build and to plant.
1. Once sin is punished, God no longer holds the past over His people. 2. Verse 34 “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Our God is a God of Forgiveness and Mercy. Note Ps. 103 & 130. 3. God’s eternal purpose is to bless His people and not to curse them!! 4. From the beginning of time, God has sown the seed of His creation to thrive and not wither away and die.
5. Verse 27: “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of animals.” Our God has a “Green Thumb.”
6. THOSE WHO RECEIVED THIS MESSAGE KNEW THE THOROUGHNESS OF JUDGMENT, AND THEY ARE INVITED TO BELIEVE THAT THE LORD’S VIGILANCE WILL ALSO BRING ABOUT THE PROMISED RESTORATION, NOT ONLY FOR LANDS AND CITIES, BUT FOR THEIR LIVES AS WELL. GOD WANTS TO BUILD HIS PEOPLE UP AND PLANT THEM IN THE FERTILE SOIL OF HIS KEEPING!
B. REVERSING THE PAST IS REMOVING COMPLAINTS VV. 29
The God of past complaints is now the God of who removes all cause of complaints.
1. It is never fair, though often happens, to be blamed for the actions of others. God will no longer hold the sin of past generations over this present generation. 2. God establishes real accountability: I will only punish individuals for the sins they have committed. NO MORE SOUR GRAPES!!!!!
3. Ezekiel dealt with the same kind of complaint as Jeremiah heard as the people saw sin punished. Once more the Lord responds to complaints. 18:29-32: “Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ ‘Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust? Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the sovereign Lord. Repent and live!’”
ILLUSTRATION: ACCOUNTABILITY?
THIS REMINDS ME OF THE NEW DODGE COMMERCIALS. THE SALESMAN STATES DODGE HAS CHANGED ALL THE RULES. THERE IS A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME NOW! THE PAST IS FORGOTTEN AND WE ARE LIVING IN THE FUTURE!
C. REVERSING THE PAST IS A PRESENT CHOICE
Are you holding the past against you? Are you living in some past experience? Or, are you living in the Present with the past forgiven? God calls us to the reality of the Present, a present where we are condemned or forgiven for our sins. Only our refusal to seek forgiveness makes the past the present! Some of us need to live in the present realty of forgiven sin! If you have confessed, He has forgiven!
ILLUSTRATION: FORGIVEN SIN! PSALM 103 AND 130
TRUTH: OUR GOD’S DESIRE IS TO FORGIVE OUR CONFESSED SIN!
QUESTION: HAVE YOU ASKED GOD TO FORGIVE ALL YOUR SIN?
II. OUR HELP IS IN THE GOD WHO OFFERS A FUTURE (27,29,31)
A. OUR HELP IS IN AN EVER PRESENT GOD
Where the Lord is still at work there is hope and Help!
1. God never leaves his people in bondage or exile, HIS long suffering and tender mercy; His very character will not allow it.
2. Our God sees beyond the present reality of our existence and is completely in charge of all reality. His focus is the deliverance of His people.
B. OUR HELP IS GOD’S PROMISE
The Lord says to his people: “The Days are coming,” “In Those Days,” and “The Time is Coming.”
1. Though reality states that we must live where we are, God’s desire is that we know that this present reality is not our eternal reality. The night only last so long, and morning must come. Rain may last for a few days, but the sun will surely shine again.
2. The Lord says to us once more, “For I know the plans I have for you plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). 3. FINAL THOUGHT HERE: GOD KNOWS ALL! HE KNOWS THE PAST, PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE. HE IS IN CONTROL OF EACH! HE HAS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE WE CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE THOUGH RECORDED IN HIS WORD. HEAR NOW THE FUTURE!
ILLUSTRATION: THE FUTURE? We’re like the little boy who was sitting in church one day. The preacher was going on and on about how great heaven would be. He talked about the streets of gold and the angels and about seeing God face to face. He concluded his message by asking the members of the congregation to raise their hands if they wanted to go to heaven. All hands went up into the air, except for one little boy. He sat there looking scared. The preacher bent down and asked, "Son, don’t you want to go to heaven one day?"They little boy said, "Oh, yeah, one day I do. I thought you were gettin’ up a load to go right now."
Contributed by: Joel Smith
TRUTH: OUR GOD HAS PLANS FOR OUR FUTURE!
QUESTION: DO WE TRUST GOD FOR A FUTURE?
III. OUR HELP IS IN THE GOD OF THE NEW COVENANT (vv. 31-34)
A. THE NEW COVENANT IS A NEW BEGINNING
The term New Covenant states that there was an Old Covenant.
1. A Covenant is a legal agreement between two parties (e.g. husband and wife). God had a previous legal agreement with His People, but they broke it. It was rendered null and void. This is why punishment or payment had to come.
2. The key here is the contrast of the two.
3. The New Covenant will be different than the Old Covenant. Note the Terms “Not Like (32),” and “No Longer (34).” IT WILL BE DIFFERENT.
B. THE NEW COVENANT IS FOR OUR BENEFIT
1. Instead of having to read the law, as Deut. 31 explains, The Law will be place in our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit!
2. No longer will God be the figurehead of the Religion of the people, God will be the personal God of each person. Note that no longer will others have to intercede between God and the People as Noah, Abraham, or Moses, especially Moses who gave the people the Law of God so they could know God and Fear Him, and to teach the people who God is. They can each now know God personally.
3. The limitations of the written law are gone. There is a move from the external to the internal.
4. The term heart in this text speaks to the Hebrew understanding of Heart, which was the seat of the conscious decision of the will, and of under-standing. 5. The understanding of the word “to write,” had the connotation of surgery which would be performed by God’s own hand. ONLY SURGERY CAN OVERCOME THE STUBBORNNESS OF THE PEOPLE AND PREPARE THEM FOR LOYAL OBEDIENCE.
6. All people will be able to know God, Not just the Hebrews, all people, all ages, all economic levels. God will be known by all for no person will teach the law to another, Christ in the heart through salvation, will teach the law: We cannot straighten up until we come to Christ. That is His responsibility!!!!!
ILLUSTRATION: Hebrews 8:7-8, 13; 9:1, 11-15 TELL THE STORY OF THE NEW COVENANT: READ IT!
C. THE NEW COVENANT OFFERS US FORGIVENESS!
The New Covenant offers us forgiveness of wickedness and offers us eternal forgetfulness of sin by our God.
TRUTH: OUR GOD WANTS US TO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY!
QUESTION: DO EACH OF US HAVE A PRESENT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR GOD?
CONCLUSION: Jeremiah, often depressing because of his hard stance that God was bringing destruction and punishment for sin, offers Help to the Helpless. He sees the lives of utterly ruined and broken people and he holds out a hope far beyond their wildest dreams. He speaks to them of a time when God will be intimately close and sin will be forgiven, not yearly but eternally. Jeremiah only spoke of what would come to pass “one day.” The true help he spoke of is for us a present reality. We live in the age of the New Covenant. We can know God intimately and have all our sins forgiven. OR WE CAN LIVE IN THE PAST WHERE WE DON’T KNOW GOD OR HIS FORGIVENESS. THE CHOICE IS OURS.
