Drawing Near to the God Who Commissions His People
Christopher Patton
Jeremiah 1:4-8
August 23, 2020
Sermon Audio & Video
[4] Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, [5] “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” [6] Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” [7] But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. [8] Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”
Introduction
“The church is, to put it charitably, very distracted right now.” – David Wells
I. Called
Galatians 1:15 [15] But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, (ESV)
Ephesians 1:3–4 [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…
Ephesians 2:10 [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (ESV)
II. Commissioned
“we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us (2 Cor. 5:20).”
III. Protected
God promises to protect and sustain Jeremiah through persecution. God’s presence (for I am with you) makes him like a fortified city (v. 18), able to endure what will follow, and the calling, word, and presence of God keep him safe. – John Calvin
Conclusion
Three points of application for your consideration:
- Draw near to God, asking God to renew your sense of call as a Christian.
- Draw near to God, asking God to give you at least one specific evangelistic assignment. Ask God to show you who He would have you to reach out to in hope of sharing the gospel with them.
- Draw near to God, asking God to give you creative outreach ideas that you can implement with other people in the church.
Questions For Discussion/Application:
- Re-read the text, Jeremiah 1:4-8. What initial observations and insights do you have from reading this text?
- What does it mean to be someone who is “called?” When did you first hear the call of Jesus and come to saving faith? Feel free to share some of your testimony.
- What was Jeremiah’s commission? What is ours as believers?
- What is the significance of 2 Cor. 5:20 for the believer–that we are Christ’s ambassadors?
- God promised to protect Jeremiah, yet that didn’t mean Jeremiah wouldn’t suffer harm. Please read the Calvin quote from point #3 above. What is Calvin saying? How does this truth apply to us?
- Consider taking time to pray, that God would renew for each of us a sense of call and that He would help us to effectively represent him in the community around us.