Jan 17, 2019
Then I said, “AHHHH, Lord God!”
In Jeremiah 1, God called Jeremiah and defined his Identity, Purpose and Vision. Jeremiah’s response, which I think is very relatable was, “Ah, Lord God!” The desire to run and hide is shared by other important people in the old testament: Moses, Gideon, Saul. However the only reason why we would want to run, is because the view we hold of ourselves is inaccurate.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Then I said:
“Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
But the Lord said to me:
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to whom I send you. And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pulldown, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”
God spoke to Jeremiah and said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart as holy, you are a prophet to the nations.” God is laying out the reason Jeremiah is alive. Jeremiah hears what God says and very quickly, his belief about himself rises to the surface, which causes him to blurt out, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” God’s immediate response was, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to whom I send you. And whatever I command you, you shall speak.” It’s like Joshua 1 when God said, “Only be strong, and very courageous.” When what God says is different then what you think, it’s time to change the way you think. God was saying you can no longer think such weak and limiting thoughts about yourself. I have big plans and these plan necessitated the correct image of yourself.
Now here is where it gets real fun. God continues and says, “ Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. Don’t be afraid of their faces. That means that people’s faces will let you know what they are thinking. And they are thinking, “I don’t like this guy or what he is saying.” To the point where people said,” If you don’t stop prophesying these things we will kill you”. But look, God is setting him up for success. God is giving him the true picture of what is going to happen, so that when it does he wont be afraid, or doubt his call and mission. “For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. If you have a deliverer, it’s because you are going to need it! “But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” Hebrews 10:39
So God gave Jeremiah purpose and perspective, then God touched his mouth and said, “Behold I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pulldown, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”
God gave him “his words” which a prophet would need to prophesy. Then God gave him power and authority, “See(believe what I am telling you), I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms.” And here is what you are to do with your authority, “to root out and to pulldown, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” This is vision. So God told Jeremiah “who”(Identity) he was, “why”(Purpose) he was and “what”(Vision) he should to with his life. My good peoples, when those three things are defined the next step is to believe and take action.
Whatever God has called you to, he has equipped you to accomplish. Believe that and prove it threw what you do!