Jeremiah 1:10
God's method is to destroy and rebuild, rather than trying to reform or work with existing sinful structures.
Chuck Smith discusses God's methods as illustrated in Jeremiah 1:10, emphasizing the dire state of a nation that has forsaken God, relying instead on their own strength and alliances. He highlights Jeremiah's challenging task of uprooting and demolishing the false security and superficial reforms of the people, stressing that true change requires a complete destruction of the old ways before God can build anew. Smith encourages believers to recognize that when they feel brought to nothing, it is often the precursor to God's transformative work in their lives.
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GOD'S METHODS
Intro: Jeremiah while still just a youth was called to a thankless, hopeless task. Watch the
death of a nation. A nation plunging toward doom.
I. THE STATE OF THE NATION.
A. Described by God in 2:13.
1. Forsaken Me - "Fountain of living water".
a. They had ceased trusting in God.
2. Hewed out cisterns - broken cisterns.
a. Trusting in own genius.
b. Relying upon alliances with other nations for their security.
B. This was the nation specially chosen by God to reveal His Grace to the world.
1. Adoption - glory - covenants - law - service - Fathers - Christ.
2. In spite of these advantages, they failed.
3. Advantage is no guarantee of success.
C. When the Word of the Lord first came to Jeremiah they were in the midst of a
national reform.
1. Josiah was a good king. He came to throne in the hour of great
decadence.
a. He ordered the idols destroyed.
b. He ordered the Temple restored.
1. Book of law discovered.
2. Ordered celebration of feasts.
2. It was only a surface reform, people following a popular king.
a. Going to the temple became the "in" thing. There in body, not in
heart.
II. JERIMIAH'S TASK.
A. "Root out" - pluck up by the roots.
B. "Pull down" - demolish.
C. "Destroy" - leave to die.
D. "Throw down" - grind to powder.
E. To build, and to plant.
A. Here is a tree bearing bad fruit, God's method is not to cultivate it,
prune it - work with it to produce good fruit.
1. We try so hard to reform.
a. We are conscious of the evil fruit.
b. We hate the evil fruit.
c. Transplant it (change environment).
d. Fertilize it (only succeed in getting larger rotten fruit).
2. God says pluck it up - destroy it.
a. Bring it to the cross.
b. Put it to death.
c. We are always so anxious to try any other method to overcome the
flesh.
1. Cast it out.
B. Here is a building with a rotten foundation.
1. Paint it.
2. Put a new roof on it.
3. Remodel it.
4. God says demolish it.
C. God may be in the process of bringing you to nothing.
1. We yell, we scream, we threaten, we kick, we get despondent.
a. The flesh struggles so hard.
b. Crucifixion is so painful.
1. With Christ we cry, "if it be possible let this cup pass
from me."
D. When we get to nothing then God begins His work, to plant, to build.
1. We think its the end. No, just the beginning.
Sermon Outline
- The State of the Nation
- Jeremiah's Task
- Root out, pluck up, pull down, destroy, throw down
- God's method is not to reform, but to destroy and rebuild
- National reform under Josiah
Key Quotes
“Advantage is no guarantee of success.” — Chuck Smith
“We try so hard to reform. We are conscious of the evil fruit. We hate the evil fruit. We transplant it (change environment). We fertilize it (only succeed in getting larger rotten fruit).” — Chuck Smith
“God says pluck it up - destroy it. Bring it to the cross. Put it to death.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We should not try to reform or work with sinful structures, but rather trust in God's destruction and rebuilding process.
- God may bring us to a place of nothingness in order to begin His work of planting and building in our lives.
- We should not rely on our own efforts or methods, but rather trust in God's sovereignty and methods.