Class Lesson August 5, 2012

Hey Gang,

This week we begin a new series from selected incidents in the life of Jeremiah, the prophet, our study will focus on how we too can be the kind of person through whom God works to carry out His purposes in the world. The challenge for all believers is to answer the call to serve God, to understand both the costs involved and the divine resources available, and to resolve to be faithful to Him regardless of the costs or outcomes.

What is a calling?

What is a calling? People feel called to the church, to a ministry, to the mission field, to the medical field, to the military, to some type of volunteer work, and some feel called to understand the mysteries of the kingdom.

Keep in mind that there are 6.7 billion people in the world:

• A third or 2.2 billion believe.
• A third or 2.2 billion have heard the gospel but choose not to follow Christ.
• A third or 2.3 billion have never heard the gospel.

What is a calling?

1 Thessalonians 5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Galatians 1:6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

1 Corinthians 1:26 Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.  
 
Matthew 22:14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
 
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

Matthew 13:11 He answered them, “Because the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given for you to know, but it has not been given to them.

One source says that a calling is understanding the truths of God when you see, read, or hear them.

• Do I understand Bible teachings and truth when I hear them?
• Do the Scriptures about the gospel of the kingdom of God, the plan of salvation, the purpose of human existence, prophesies fulfilled and unfulfilled, and warnings in the Bible, make sense to me?

Are people called today like Jeremiah was in the Old Testament to preach to a nation of coming judgment? Two events coming up very similar to Jeremiah's call to the nation of Judah.

Greg Laurie will preach a message to America on August 26, 2012 to come back to God.

Billy Graham will preach his final call to America in November of 2013.

Jeremiah was called to preach a message of warning to the nation of Judah - repent and come back to God or there is going to be a disaster to the entire nation. 

Our series is from the life of Jeremiah and we open with his call from God.

• Jeremiah’s 40 year ministry spanned the reign of Judah’s last five kings. The Southern Kingdom was on the path to destruction, which ended with its fall to Babylon in 586 B.C. (2 Kings 21-25). Jeremiah preached repentance and warned of sure judgment, with God using the Babylonians as His instruments of judgment. For this Jeremiah was accused of being a traitor. He suffered poverty and extreme opposition. He was imprisoned, thrown into a cistern, deported to Egypt against his will, and rejected by neighbors, family members, false priest and prophets, friends, his audience, and kings. He was charged with treason. He has become known as “the weeping prophet.” 

I. GOD CALLS – JEREMIAH 1:4-8

The Call of Jeremiah

4 The word of the Lord came to me: 5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. 6 But I protested, “Oh no, Lord, God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.” 7 Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. 8 Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you. This is the Lord’s declaration.


Do you believe that God set you apart before you were born for a special purpose?

• Before Jeremiah’s birth, God set him apart to be a prophet.
• Just as God had a plan for Jeremiah’s life, He has a plan for every child of His.
• Does God choose, form, and set apart every believer for service before they are even born, or is Jeremiah’s type of calling just for him? (Ephesians 2:10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.) How can we know if a call to service is just a random thought, an urgent plea from a church nominating committee, or a genuine word from the Lord?
• Jeremiah was a person with a distinctive call; each believer is called to serve God, but each is called to serve in a distinctive way.
• When the New Testament speaks of a Christian being “called,” it usually means called to obey the gospel. On the other hand, when Jesus calls James and John to follow him (Matt. 4:21), they are being called to “be fishers of men,” a very specific task.
• Although we have many examples of God calling an individual to a very particular task–Abraham, Moses, Gideon, the Apostles, among many others–I can find no doctrine that Christians are, as a body, each called to a very specific task.
• On the other hand, there’s no reason to suppose that God no longer wishes particular people to take on particular tasks. For example, we know that the Spirit gives particular spiritual gifts to us, and we are called to use those gifts in God’s service. If my gift is encouraging, then I’m called to be an encourager. In this very real sense, as everyone has at least one gift, everyone has at least one calling.

What was Jeremiah’s initial response to God’s call? What were his excuses? How did God respond to Jeremiah's excuses?

• Jeremiah’s initial response to God’s call was to make excuses. He said that he was too young and could not speak in public. Who does this sound like? (Moses)
• The Lord told Jeremiah not to say such things He would be with him.

How do you suppose his responses changed over time?

• Just as Jeremiah asked questions about his adequacy to fulfill his calling, so do we sometimes offer excuses based on our feelings of inadequacy.

How do you know when it’s God asking us to do something rather than ourselves or someone just needing to fill a spot at church?

• This goes to the larger question of how we know God is speaking to us. God speaks through His Word, prayer, and wise Christians.
• Just because someone asks us to serve, it doesn’t mean God is calling, but we should always be open to the possibility that He is.
• If it conflicts with Scripture, it is not of God.
• If wise Christians question it, you should too; they may not be right, but they may be. · Just as Jeremiah heard God’s plan for his life, we need to be open to God’s will for us.

Make no mistake about it, when God calls a person to serve, don’t you think He knows what He is doing? We all have inadequacies, things we think we can’t do. Do we really believe that God doesn’t know what we can do and can’t do – Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The real call is to be obedient to the call. Make no excuses!

Now, let's see how God equips those He calls for service.

II. GOD EQUIPS – JEREMIAH 1:9-10

9 Then the Lord reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with My words. 10 See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.




Do you think God literally touched Jeremiah’s mouth? What are ways God equips people for service besides providing words to speak?

• God provides attitudes, wise family and friends, talents, spiritual gifts, abilities, skills, wisdom, learning, leadership, guidance, and other believers to work alongside us.
• God’s equipping and empowering continues over time. It comes in many forms.

Does God equip believers instantly, or is the equipping more often a lifetime process? Do we have a role in this equipping process? If so, what would that be?

• We need to follow God’s direction day by day. When Saul of Tarsus encountered the risen Lord, he prayed, “What should I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). This is a prayer for all seasons, and it should be our prayer for each day.

What if I don’t feel that God has given me anything to say?

• We should know, use and rely on Scripture in speaking for God. Hasn’t He said enough?
• Just as God reassured Jeremiah, so He reassures us of His abiding presence and adequate help in doing what He wants us to do.

Just as God equips us for the service He calls us to perform, He also affirms His calling. In Jeremiah's calling he was given two visions.

III. GOD AFFIRMS – JEREMIAH 1:11-14, 17-19

Two Visions

11 Then the word of the Lord came to me, asking, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I replied, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I watch over My word to accomplish it.” 13 Again the word of the Lord came to me inquiring, “What do you see?” And I replied, “I see a boiling pot, its lip tilted from the north to the south.” 14 Then the Lord said to me, “Disaster will be poured out from the north on all who live in the land.

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17 “Now, get ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them. 18 Today, I am the One who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population. 19 They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you.” This is the Lord’s declaration.


What was the meaning of the branch of an almond tree? What was the meaning of the boiling pot? Who were the enemies from the north? For what sins was Judah punished?

• God gave Jeremiah two visions for reassurance and challenge. God concluded His call of Jeremiah with a challenge for courageous action. He assured Jeremiah of strength to withstand enemies.
• God caused Jeremiah to see a branch of an almond tree as a sign of God’s watchfulness.
• He saw a boiling pot as a symbol of invading from the north.
• Judgment was coming on Judah because of its idolatry.

How does God affirm those whom He calls?

• The Lord gives His servants all they need to do His will.
• God never calls anyone without equipping them to fulfill His calling.
• He promises to give us all that we need to do what He called us to do.

Why do Christians need to get busy serving God? How would you answer, “I’ve already served, it’s someone else turn now.”

• The result of hearing God’s call should be to get busy serving.
• We should not let the opposition of others intimidate us.
• We should go to all those to whom God sends us.
• God’s word encourages saints, but judge’s sinners.
• God moves in the affairs of nations and individuals to bring in His kingdom.
• If we are sincere about following God as Lord of our lives. He will show us what to do and how to do it. We need to keep listening until we grasp God’s good answers.

The focus of this lesson has been on the folly of making excuses to avoid doing what God is calling us to do.

• God will not keep secret what He wants you to do. He will move your interest in an area he is calling you to. Your feeling for this area of service will grow.
• If your hearts right, He will make it known. It is the will of God for you to know His will.

        1. Have a clean heart.

        2. Surrender your will to His.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, thank You for calling me to opportunities of service to You. Help me not to fail You. Amen

Be in prayer this week as we begin this new series on God's Calling for you - are you going to be a person God uses?

See you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan