Jeremiah 20:1-18 Sungei Way Subang Methodist Church

Sunday 27 May 2012

THE CRY OF TORMENTED FAITH

� Background Jeremiah given Mission to preach Repentance to a Nation gone astray from God:

cf Jer 5

1. SELF-CENTRED FEELING 20:7-8

GOD’S MISSION MISINTERPRETED cf Jer 5

�  Deceived by God v7 cf Jer 1:6-8

�  Ridiculed by men v7b

�  Insulted and reproached within v8 cf Jer 17

2. FAITH-CENTRED FEELING 20:9-10 GOD’S WORD AND URGENCY � The Word of God is Unquenchable v9

� The Word of God is Unrestrained v10; cf 1 Cor 9:16

� The Word of God is Unshame-able Jer 20:10b; cf 2 Cor 5:13

3. GOD-CENTRED FEELING Jer

20:11-13 A. GOD’S PRESENCE AND POWER 20:11 � Persecutors will stumble; not prevail � Persecutors will fail and be disgraced � Persecutors’ shame will be long lasting

v11

3. GOD-CENTRED FEELING Jer

20:11-13 B. GOD’S JUDGMENT AND

VINDICATION 20:12

� The Righteous will be probed in Heart

cf Ps 139:23

� The Righteous will vindicated � The Righteous will Sing to the Lord � The Righteous will be rescued

4. PROBLEM-CENTRED FEELING 20:14-18 GOD’S GIFTS REGRETTED 20:14

A. Beginning of Life � Not Blessed – His Birthday � Not Happy – His Birth Announcement � Not Auspicious – His Birth as a Son

4. PROBLEM-CENTRED FEELING 20:14-18 GOD’S GIFTS REGRETTED 20:14

B. Celebration of Life 20:16

� Thrown down and not pitied � Mourning Cry and Battle Cry

4. PROBLEM-CENTRED FEELING 20:14-18 GOD’S GIFTS REGRETTED 20:14 C.  End of Life 20:17

� Better to Die – in the womb, still born ○ Mother’s womb his tomb

� Better to be Unborn ○ Not to witness Trouble AND

Sorrow ○ Not to end Life in Shame

Jer 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Isa 51:7“Hear Me, you who know what is right, you people who have My Law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults.

�  1 Cor 4:9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

THANK YOU

May our Lord Bless and Watch over you in your deep spiritual struggles, that in the end, your Faith might be

Stronger and your Fellow Believers and Disciples might be challenged to

Walk Closer with God.

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