Jeremiah the prophet, like every true prophet, spoke from God - and spoke for God - and his words came true – this is what marks him out as a true prophet
Deuteronomy 18 verse 22 - where we read of the mark of a true prophet - and the mark of a false prophet. Beware of the man who says something is going to happen and it does not.
1 – The prophet is key to what God is saying to the church – or to the world. The prophet reveals or interprets what God is doing in the world or what He is about to do. We must take care not to lose the key – or to throw away the key – in Jeremiah’s day these people did.
2 – Jeremiah wanted to give up or give in, before he even started. He wanted to shrink back – to slip away. That can be a good sign, but he could not, because he was called by God, and soon there would be a fire burning in his bones.
3 – The prophet cannot keep silent. It can be most disturbing to have a prophet around – especially is this true where sin abounds.
The prophet upsets, disturbs, challenges, and shakes you – you see him coming and he reminds you of God
4 – The prophet cannot tolerate injustice - hypocrisy - falsehood – oppression.
5 – The prophet is ever seeking to please God. Jesus in his prophetic ministry always sought to please the Father. Jesus is called the prophet
Jeremiah pleased God – as did John the Baptist and Peter and Paul.
How a man of God is called is important. What God says to him is important – and how he reacts to God – and how people respond to his ministry – these are all important in different ways and to varying degrees – and there are consequences.
Consider how the disciples responded to the call of Jesus – and men like Zaccheus and Paul – there is a positive response.
Jeremiah prophesied for some 45 years. It was as though he was building a wall for God, brick by brick, stone by stone, as visions and words and pictures tumble out.
Jeremiah kept ministering through all kinds of attacks and trials and tribulations and troubles and imprisonment.
Regularly vandals would come along and try to break down the wall he was building for God – but Jeremiah kept on going – ministering and speaking out, because he knew he was called and chosen by the living God
He is predestined to carry out this role. He predicts what is going to happen. He also knows God will protect him – even when he has to experience suffering. He knows God can deliver those whom he calls.
In Jeremiah we see God's omnipotence – God is all powerful – God's omniscience God is all knowing – God's omnipresence - God is with you at all times, and on all occasions.
God had taken the time the plan Jeremiah's life, even before he was born. We learn that from these opening verses in Chapter 1.
“Loving God – as we look at the prophetic nature of Jeremiah’s life and ministry and preaching, we thank You for each of the various prophets we read about in scripture – and we thank You for those who have exercised prophetic ministries throughout these past years – and those who continue to do so. Thank you, Lord Jesus, when we are aware of the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit leading us to deeper depths and more loving service.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.