The Big Read – Jeremiah

Powerpoint Pictures: Wrecking Ball; Bricks; Seeder; Explosives; Weed Killer; Weights; Mouth

Can you tell me whether the following things are used to build / grow things or smash up / destroy things? [Wrecking Ball; Bricks; Seeder; Explosives; Weed Killer; Weights; Mouth].

The book of Jeremiah is about a man who used his mouth to both build and destroy.

Listen to what God says to Jeremiah at the start of this book:

“Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:9-10)

Jeremiah was told by God to preach a message that would tear down and build, and the rest of the book of Jeremiah tells us how and that he did this.

Jeremiah told the people of Judah that God was going to judge them and send them into exile because of their idol worship.

But he also told the people that God would in the future, forgive their sins, give them a new heart that is able to obey God’s commands, and they would enjoy a new relationship with God back in the Promised Land.

This would happen with the arrival of a future King whom God would send to save His people.

That King is the Lord Jesus, and He has made it possible for the sins of everyone who trusts in Him to be forgiven because His death has taken God’s judgment that we deserve.

As well as being forgiven, those who trust in Jesus are also given His Spirit that transforms their hearts so that they can now obey God’s commands, and the hope of being with Him in heaven.

Jeremiah tells us that although we deserve to be destroyed, if we repent of our sins and trust in Jesus, we can be built up and saved.