The Person God Uses

1. The Person God Uses Persevere in Obedience Jeremiah 37:11 – 38:18 www.doubtlessliving.com

2. Smooth Sailing…

3. Smooth Sailing…or Not? Sometimes the Christian life can be smooth sailing, and sometimes not.

4. Persevere in Obedience • Jeremiah certainly had more difficulties in his life than times of ease and comfort. But through it all, he persevered in obedience to God. • Today, we’re going to see what this looked like in Jeremiah’s life during a particularly trying set of circumstances. www.doubtlessliving.com

5. Endure Attacks • After hearing that Pharaoh’s army had also invaded Judah, the Babylonian army besieging Jerusalem departed. • Jeremiah figured this would be a good time to return to his home territory to check on some land he had purchased from his cousin. • But, acting on this reasonable idea led to harsh, and unexpected consequences. www.doubtlessliving.com

6. Jeremiah 37:11-17 11When the Chaldean army withdrew from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh's army, 12Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to claim his portion there among the people. 13But when he was at the Benjamin Gate, an officer of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, and he apprehended Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "You are deserting to the Chaldeans." 14"That's a lie," Jeremiah replied. "I am not deserting to the Chaldeans!" Irijah would not listen to him but apprehended Jeremiah and took him to the officials. 15The officials were angry at Jeremiah and beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison. 16So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeon and stayed there many days. 17King Zedekiah later sent for him and received him, and in his house privately asked him, "Is there a word from the Lord?" "There is," Jeremiah responded, and he continued, "You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.” www.doubtlessliving.com

7. False Accusations • Can anyone describe a time they were falsely accused of something? How did you handle it? • What did Irijah suspect when he saw Jeremiah leaving Jerusalem through the Benjamin Gate? • Why do you think Zedekiah talked to Jeremiah in private instead of in a public place? • Do you think Jeremiah was tempted to give good news or tell the king what he wanted to hear? • What did Jeremiah tell him instead?

8. Don’t Waver • Despite what Jeremiah had endured, he refused to change his message when called before the king. • Instead of telling the king what he wanted to hear, Jeremiah told the truth. The king could have made life easy for Jeremiah, but Jeremiah refused to compromise the Lord’s message. www.doubtlessliving.com

9. Jeremiah 38:4-6 4The officials then said to the king, "This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not seeking the well-being of this people, but disaster." 5King Zedekiah said, "Here he is; he's in your hands since the king can't do anything against you." 6So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king's son, which was in the guard's courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud. www.doubtlessliving.com

10. Illegally Detained • What made the king’s officials so angry? • Do you think we should always speak the truth, no matter how discouraging or demoralizing it might be? • Why do you think they lowered Jeremiah into the cistern? Why not just kill him? • How is God able to use for good even what other people mean for evil?

11. Always Speak God’s Truth • God’s servants sometimes have to endure much pain and humiliation because of their determination to serve Him faithfully when others waver. • As you can see, Jeremiah always spoke God’s truth, even if it meant being lowered into a cistern, even if it meant not telling the king what he wanted to hear. • As we wrap up this lesson, we’ll look at Jeremiah’s final words to King Zedekiah. www.doubtlessliving.com

12. Jeremiah 38:14-18 14King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of the Lord's temple. The king said to Jeremiah, "I am going to ask you something; don't hide anything from me." 15Jeremiah replied to Zedekiah, "If I tell you, you will kill me, won't you? Besides, if I give you advice, you won't listen to me anyway." 16King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in private, "As the Lord lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who want to take your life." 17Jeremiah therefore said to Zedekiah, "This is what the Lord, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive. 18But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape from them.‘" www.doubtlessliving.com

13. Straight or Sugarcoated? • How do you like to receive bad news? • Does it depend upon the message? • Could Jeremiah have softened the message? • What can we learn from Jeremiah’s example? • Faithfulness to God’s Word is more important than telling someone what they want to hear. www.doubtlessliving.com

14. God’s people often find themselves in peril because of their refusal to compromise the trust of God’s Word. • God’s people can expect God’s enemies to treat them as their enemies. • God’s servants may experience great suffering because of their faithfulness to Him. • God’s servants are called on to persevere through difficult circumstances, knowing that God’s Word is more important. Much of the content in this session has been taken from: LifeWay Christian Resources, “Living Beyond Yourself,” Life Truths Leader Guide, Volume 6, Number 4, Summer 2012, pp. 150-161. www.doubtlessliving.com