Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG)
*Jeremiah 1:5 (GW)
7 May 2006
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service
Taegue, South Korea
BIG IDEA: The Lord who formed and shaped us knows the particular PURPOSE he intended us for, but unless He Sanctifies us by His Holy Spirit, we will never be prepared and fit for His Holy Service.
REFERENCES: Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end; Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for; Psalms 22:10 (GW) I was placed in your care from birth. From my mother’s womb you have been my God; Isaiah 44:24 (MSG) GOD, your Redeemer, who shaped your life in your mother’s womb, says: "I am GOD. I made all that is. With no help from you I spread out the skies and laid out the earth."; Isaiah 49:1 (GW) Listen to me, you islands. Pay attention, you people far away. Before I was born, the LORD chose me. While I was in my mother’s womb, he recorded my name; Job 10:8a (KJV): Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; Proverb 16:4 (MSG): GOD made everything with a place and purpose; Proverbs 6:6-8 (KJV) "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest"; Jeremiah 20:9 (KJV) But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay; Romans 12:5-6 (KJV) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 1 Corinthians 12:4-8 (KJV) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Jeremiah 1:5-10 (MSG)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Jeremiah 1:5-10 (MSG)
III. READ THE TEXT:
Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations;
Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG) "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—
*Jeremiah 1:5 (GW) “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”;
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate hearers to affirm to others that before they were born God had formed and shaped them for a particular PURPOSE, which requires His Holy Spirit to set them apart in preparation for His Service.
INTRODUCTION: The Holy Spirit (the paraclete) is in this place! There’s no question in my mind. Not only is He in me … but I tell you … I can feel His presence in this place …
Turn to your neighbor … and say neighbor … “I don’t know about you … b-u-t …I …f-e-e-l … something … something that I didn’t feel when I left home this morning … something that is encouraging me to put my hands together in a clapping motion … something that is talking to my feet … making my feet itch to dance … CAN I GET A WITNESS up in here?
*****Take 5 Beats ******
MOVE 1: The Holy Spirit is in this place!
a. There’s no WONER why … Jeremiah said (in Jeremiah 20:9a)
b. … the WORD of God in his heart … was as a FIRE … SHUT in HIS BONES ….
c. *The question is why HAS the HOLY SPIRIT shown-up so STRONG? Forwhat PURPOSE has He come?
d. Now, my brothers and sisters … the WORD … PURPOSE … is defined by Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary as “an anticipated outcome … that is intended … or that guides your planned actions …
e. In other WORDS … GOD deliberately made each of us … with the intent of FILLING us with HIS HOLY SPIRIT … with a conscious aim and plan of answering immediate needs in ONE ANOTHER LIVES!
*****Take 5 Beats ******
MOVE 2: Turn to that person sitting beside you or behind you and say: “Neighbor … God PURPOSELY created you to be a blessing to me; and I to you (RIGHT NOW)!
a. Each of us … have been given a particular gift that is to be used RIGHT NOW for the upward building of God’s Kingdom.
b. God has PURPOSELY given some the Gift of Speaking in Tongues (not for themselves) but for the immediate need of Glorifying HIM
c. … in the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters.
d. He has PURPOSELY given some the Gift of PROPHECY (not for themselves) but for the immediate need of Glorifying Him
e. … in the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters.
*******Take 5 Beats******
MOVE 3: God has PURPOSELY given some the Gift of TEACHING (not for themselves) but for the immediate need of Glorifying Him … in the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters.
a. HE has PURPOSELY given some the GIFT of HEALING (not for themselves) but for the immediate need of Glorifying Him …
b. … in the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters.
c. Therefore, I submit to you this afternoon that the HOLY SPIRIT has come to SET US (obedient believers) APART …
d. for a particular mission … that He has already planned in our lives.
e. For … long before we were born …
f. God had formed and shaped us for a particular PURPOSE. God intentionally used our parents, grandparents, and great grand parents to PREPARE us for SERVING HIM …
g. BUT, GOD’s PURPOSE requires THE HOLY SPIRIT to SET US apart in preparation for His Service.
h. For you see, WE are UNIQUE believers … no one else can do WHAT GOD has planned for you and I to do in HIS MINISTRY! For all of us are called TO DO MINISTRY … ACCORDING TO THE GIFT GOD HAS GIVEN OF US.
******Take 5 Beats*****
MOVE 4: Likewise, in our particular text this afternoon, we find ourselves …
a. witnessing how God PURPOSELY prepared AND SET APART … the young Jeremiah to minister to the nation of Judah during the SPIRITUAL DECLINE OF of its nation.
b. Israel (the Northern Kingdom) had already been taken into captivity by the Assyrians and the morals of Judah were declining FAST.
c. God had to gradually prepare Jeremiah for his assignment. As he does you and me. For don’t you remember – Jeremiah was what many of us would call a P.K. (Preacher’s Kid)… BECAUSE HIS FATHER WAS A PRIEST!
d. “Now … the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you …”
e. In other words, God tells Jeremiah that HE had gotten to know him … before he was even conceived in his mother’s WOMB … and it was in that state … that God had CALLED and prepared him for SUCH A TIME AS THIS ….
f. GOD KNEW JEREMIAH’S PERSONALITY PROFILE. And He knew his strengths and his weaknesses.
f. As a result, God had already set him aside for a SPECIAL MINISTRY PURPOSE … during a particular time of Israel’s History.
g. Likewise, God’s HOLY SPIRIT … SETs US APART for this TIME IN HISTORY … to be used by HIM.
*******Take 5 Beats *******
MOVE 5: But, … We can’t do … and be like everyone else … and expect THE HOLY SPIRIT TO REMAIN IN OUR LIVES … – We must be SET APART in preparation for GOD Service!
a. And that’s the PURPOSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT coming in our lives; and into this building today! It has come to CALL, PREPARE and EMPOWERS US to conduct ministry … ONE TO ANOTHER ….
b. For don’t you remember the PROVERBIAL WRITER said in Proverb 16:10 (MSG) “God made everything with a place and purpose …”
c. And who can ever forget what GOD told Jeremiah (29:11) … For God said:
d. “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
e. Likewise, many in here today (under the sound of my voice) aren’t aware of what God has charged, formed, and created them to do – one to another- for Him.
*******Take 5 Beats *******
MOVE 6: As a result, there are many churched and unchurched, believers alike, that aren’t AWARE of their PURPOSE in God.
a. They DON’T KNOW WHY GOD CREATED THEM.
b. THEY HAVE NO IDEA OF WHY GOD EVEN MADE THEM;
c. AND THEY ARE UNAWARE OF THE SPECIAL EXPERTISE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM.
d. Therefore … my brothers and my sisters … I have questions for you.
e. WHO … would want to be created a YOUNG LION; and NOT KNOW that you have been made … to be fearless … strong and brave … KING OF THE JUNGLE … in which you live?
f. WHO … would want to be created an EAGLE; and NOT KNOW that you have been made to SOAR above the storms of life with … swiftness of flight…
g. WHO would want to be an EAGLE and NOT KNOW … that you’ve been created to set your nest in high places … with VISION POWER … to see your goal (and your prey) before either sees you … hundreds of miles away …?
*******Take 5 Beats*******
MOVE 7: WHO would want to be created an ANT …
a. … And NOT KNOW that you have been created to be a WORKER …
b. NEVER TO BE DISCOURAGED … a WINNER … and NEVER a QUITTER …
c. … For WHO WOULD want to be a QUEEN ANT and NOT KNOW …
d. …. that you have been created to mate ONCE in your lifetime … and be able to produce at least 15 years of eggs… ?
e. It’s UNFORTUNATE …
f. but Hundreds of thousands of church going folk … around the world … are clueless about the PURPOSE for which God has created them.
******Take 5 Beats*******
MOVE 8: Perhaps, some of you …. are also in the same boat: STRUGGLING WITH THE QUESTION OF IDENTITY.
a. The renown Christian Author, Dr. Myles Munroe, (in his book “Understanding The Purpose and Power of Woman”) …
b. … calls this STRUGGLE with THE QUESTION of IDENTITY: the Dilemma of Identity.
c. Dr. Munroe ascertains that People around the world have their own ideas about their identity and role.
d. Likewise, in spite of having educated and Holy Ghost filled Pastors who are rightly dividing The Word….
e. Still … believers in many churches around the world have their own ideas … about their Christian Identity and role.
*******Take 5 Beats*******
MOVE 9: The question for many is “What is it that I am suppose to be doing for God?”
a. God has sent a Purpose-driven WORD today.
b. A WORD that will allow believers and seekers to FIND themselves
c. … and the purpose for which they have been created.
d. Rick Warren, pastor of The Saddleback Church in Orange County California, says …
e. “that we were shaped to serve God. God deliberately shaped and formed us to serve him in a way that makes our ministry unique.
f. God carefully mixed the DNA … chemistry … that created us.”
*******Take 5 Beats******
MOVE 10: Likewise, who can ever forget the fact that King David (the Psalmist) praised God for this incredible … personal attention to detail … which was given in designing each of us in Psalms 139:13.
a. For don’t you remember David said unto the LORD:
b. Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb.
c. Not only did God shape us before our birth, but He planned EVERY DAY OF OUR LIFE TO SUPPORT HIS SHAPING PROCESS.
d. For don’t you remember, it was this same David that later said (in Psalms 139:16) to God:
e. “Everyday of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
f. In other words, my brothers and sisters, there is nothing that happens in our life that is insignificant.
g. God uses all of it to mold us for our ministry to others; and shape us for our SERVICE to Him.
h. The Apostle Paul , in the New Testament, said it best in Romans 8:28 (KJV)when he said: And we know … that all things work together for good … to them that love God, … to them who are the called … according to his purpose.
i. Someone else said and I agree, GOD NEVER WASTES ANYTHING or ANYBODY!
*******Take 5 Beats******
CELEBRATION: Now before I take my seat there is a story about a conqueror called Timour ….
The celebrated conqueror, Timour the Tartar, was once forced to take shelter from his enemies in a ruined building. There he sat alone for several hours.
After some time, desirous of diverting his mind from his hopeless condition, he fixed his attention on an ANT which was attempting to carry a grain of corn, larger than itself, up a high wall. Its efforts, however, were unsuccessful.
Again and again it strove to accomplish its object -- and failed. Still undaunted, it returned to its task, and sixty-nine times did Timour see the grain fall to the ground. But the seventieth time the ant reached the top of the wall with its prize; and "the sight," said the conqueror, who had just before been despairing, "gave me courage at the moment, and I have never forgotten the lesson it conveyed."
Nor should we forget it. We should first see if a thing is worth doing, and if it is, and we fail, we should try again and again, and persevere until it is accomplished. If an ant were not discouraged by sixty-nine failures, when should a little boy or girl be disheartened
