Bible In One Year-Day 138 (Sunday, May 18, 2014)

Commentary: Jeremiah1-3. Prophet Jeremiah, a symbol of God’s purpose and intention, was born 70 years after Prophet Isaiah died.

Jeremiah 1:5 “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.”

His life reveals to us that we cannot know who we are and what we are created for without the Spirit of the Creator. In the testimonies of the Bible, we could see that many did not know purpose and essence of their being until after they encountered the Divine, our Creator. Such people include Moses who never mentioned God before he came in contact with God on the mountain. He asked God to teach him how to introduce Him to the Hebrews. Gideon did not know who he was also. The Angel of the Lord called him “mighty man of valor” but he described himself as ordinary man and the least of his kindred. Jeremiah is not exempted in this wise also. In the following verse, he described himself the way he perceived himself;

Jeremiah 1:6 “Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.”

But God told him to stop regarding himself as irrelevant based on age or the way he viewed himself; with ordinary eyes. Immediately after this correction, he was transformed into another man when God’s Spirit entered him in form of His word.

Jeremiah 1:9 “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.”

His life never remained the same again; he started seeing beyond the ordinary and fear disappeared from his heart; people that mattered did not like him for his rebuking messages. He had a positive ministry but full of powerful oppositions which landed him prisons, went through physical abuses and suffered great deal of rejection. The step to his empowerment started from his acknowledging his weaknesses and limitations; this is humility which God desires in His own. Jeremiah had his weaknesses which were evident in his emotional breakdown in delivering God’s messages. He delivered heartbreaking messages against the sinfulness of the people of Judah for forty years. He had his struggles, but God saw him through. His prophecies were not written in the order in which they were delivered.

There are two things to learn from this man’s life; ability to see well and correct interpretation of the divine assignment. Before the Spirit of God came into him, he could not see well and, as such, could not properly understand God’s presence, purpose and intention. But after his encounter, the story changed;

Jeremiah 1:11-12 “Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.”

In the womb, Jeremiah was prepared, made and ordained for a purpose which was hidden from him. This means there was a treasure in him which was hidden and it took the Spirit of the Person who put the treasure there to expose it. God had perfected His agenda in Jeremiah right from the womb but the authority to release this was not given to him until God officially authorized him to do so. The ability to release this purpose is POWER which lies only on God. God will only work on His word.

2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

The release of the preciousness of this treasure is ONLY of God and not of human being. This lies in the similar narration of Isaiah’s prophecy in Isa45:3;

Isaiah 45:3 “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”

His calling is based on what He has invested in you; the treasures of darkness, the hidden riches of secret places. These are not physical things but spiritual matter. God must be glorified in the release and the use of this power. When you see people boast of these, then such still has some problems to solve.

Isaiah 10:15 “Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.”

Ephesians 2:9 “Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The release of the power is in HIS own way and not ours. The manner in which He does it in the calling of Brother A is different from that of Brother B; they are also in diverse measures but for the same purpose.

Jeremiah 9:24 “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

Jeremiah was called in the womb but was commissioned in Jeremiah 1:9-10. To be called is not to be commissioned or chosen. To be commissioned is to be chosen or appointed or specifically assign a task in a project, activity or operation.

Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

When you are called, remain under instructions; don’t set out! If you are to set out, the owner of the work will give you the Spirit of the assignment. God will never send you out without giving you power and authority that will soar you over all oppositions (Matt20:1/ Mark6:7);

Luke 9:1 “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.”

No person in the scripture made it without the Spirit of the assignment. If you reject instructions under the supervision of another person God is using to prepare you, you cannot fully obey and be submissive to the Spirit of the assignment if He ever gives you; and God’s calling is all about OBEDIENCE; obedience to the WORD of God and not to emotional weakness. Apostle Paul was called but waited for his divine commissioning, appointment and separation;

Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

Paul was called but had a different time for his separation. Since God is Spirit, His things are done by His Spirit and in the spirit; not in the soul of man (emotion, will and mind of man). Attempt to get things done outside of this truth is seeking for trouble from Satan and from God. Things of the spirit must be addressed spiritually. God will begin to perform His works when He has proved His word in you. Jesus testified to this;

John 14:10 “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

You can only know who you are when the Spirit of truth rests on you and you could truly understand divine things only by the interpretation of the Spirit;

John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”

From Jeremiah’s appointment, we could see that God is omniscience, (knows individual in and out), can appoint anybody for any task without seeking permission from anywhere and He only gives His authority to whoever He appoints. These are what change a person’s status which makes demons and problems tremble. But if you allow offences and bitterness to separate you, the same will be the message on the pulpit and God is not where His word isn’t. You need to be commissioned by His Spirit for the right task; this is His WILL. Our reading for today is Jer4-6. Keep the fire burning and alive

1 Corinthians 12:3-7 “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

2 Corinthians 10:13 “But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even to you. And you can truly”