At the Mouth of Jeremiah

A Bible Study on Jeremiah 45:1

Jer 45:1 ¶ The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,

A Deliverance Center Publication

A Reason for Trials, Tests and Temptations

To prove your faith.
To strengthen your testimony.
To manifest God through strong faith. 1 Pt. 1:7-11

1 Pt. 1:13—Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Ye Greatly Rejoice Ye are in Heaviness

These are not mixed emotions to strive through.
This is not a man struggling, trying to find his way.

Matt. 5:12—Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

James 1:2—My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Joel 2:26—And ye shall:

1. eat in plenty,

2. be satisfied,

3. praise the LORD

4. never be ashamed.

Acts 5:41—And they departed …rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Heb. 10:32-39—v. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

A Need for Trials, Tests and Temptations

Heb. 12:1-15, 25-29

Chastening
Shaking / Proving

Heb. 12:11—Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Heb. 12:27—And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

There is a need for us to choose to be under the load.

To bear up under a strange load.

-Though free, choosing to be bound.

To continue to carry a load in its heaviness.

-Committed to victory and to seeing it through.

Not only is there a need for the trial but also a need for us to choose to be under the heaviness of the trial.

It is a Choice:

To face persecution and remain unmovable
To greatly rejoice, rather than to complain of being under the heaviness of the load.
To trust God when you cannot do anything else.

Ps. 22:8—He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

Matt. 27:43—He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

2 Kings 18:5—He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

Prov. 3:5—Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding

1 Pt. 1:6—Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

It is your choice. 🡪Do you discern your responsibility?

EXAMPLE: Heb. 12:2—Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

HEAVINESS: Christ was able to bear the burden of the cross with joy because he understood the great need of His sacrifice.

(THE NEED: Unless Christ died, all men would be lost.) a) Christ saw the extent of the need.

b) Christ understood His responsibility to that need.

(i.e. Neh. 1:4; Paul, Col. 1:24)

JOY: This joy is evidence that faith is at work. This faith knows:

1) Heaviness is temporary and victory waits in the end

2) Obedient sacrifice is never a waste’ but is greatly profitable.

Why would being in heaviness ever become necessary?

First, WE HAVE NEEDS. God uses difficulties, temptations to work negative things out of us.

Secondly, OTHERS HAVE NEEDS. Every Believer has certain divinely given responsibilities and these are confirmed in burdens. The attitude of Cain’s words exposed a man that was not faithful in his responsibilities: Am I my brother’s keeper? It is not enough that I alone enjoy success, but I have a certain responsibility to my brother, as well. (i.e. Matt.18:6; 1 Cor. 8:13; 2 Cor. 6:10; 8:9; 9:8 Matt.10:8; Luke 10:36; Gal. 6:1-2; Prov. 28:27)

Eph. 5:17—Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

🡪We cannot allow the complexity of a trial or our own confusion to keep us from seeking to understand. It is unwise to NOT understand.

Heb. 5:14—But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

🡪It is a mark of maturity to seek for understanding and knowledge of the will of God.

Isa. 6:8—Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me

🡪Isaiah was a man that understood the will and work of God. That kind of man is more concerned with the accomplishment of God’s will than any adversary, hardness or heaviness. These are details of his journey, but whether there be many or few are not his concern. His portion is to glorify God in every situation and no matter what! (II Cor. 12:7-12) - God’s Grace

1 Pt. 5:8—Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

John 15:20—Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

2 Tim. 2:3—Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Matt. 8:20—And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Luke 9:23—And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

John 4:6—Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Suffered Many Things

Mark 4:37—And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

🡪Jesus is able to calm the storm within.

Heb. 5:-7-9—Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Luke 22:44—And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Matt. 26:37—…began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Mark 14:33—…began to be sore amazed, … very heavy;

Luke 6:22—Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you…

Luke 6:23—Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

2 Cor. 1:4—Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2 Cor. 1:8-9—would not…have you ignorant of our trouble

Though severely tried,

Faith makes way for rejoicing

Hab 3:16-19—When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

Even to a man of prayer…

-hearing God

-full of faith

-obeys Word

-led by Spirit

-strong

-courageous

-great success

-surrendered

-doing God’s will

…comes temptations, persecutions, afflictions, slanders, false accusations, misunderstandings.

(BUT, not without reward!)

James 1:12—Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

You can stop a servant of man, but not a Servant of God.

Acts 14:22—Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 20:24—But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Rom. 9:2—… great heaviness and continual sorrow…

1 Cor. 4:9—For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death:…

1 Thess. 1:6—And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1 Thess. 3:3—That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for…we are appointed thereunto.

🡪Difficulty and affliction are part of the Christian life.

1 Thess. 5:9—For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

🡪The afflictions of the godly will not destroy them. The destruction of the wrath of God is reserved for the rebellious and unrepentant.

🡪Difficulty is not God’s wrath on the Believer, but God’s providential dealing—correction of a father.

Rev. 12:11—And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

John 13:16—Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

1 John 3:1-3—Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 Cor. 10:13—There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

True soul-winners that suffer persecution are more than conquerors but they are Overcomers.

2 Cor. 4:8-18—

Testimony of Faith: We are troubled on every side, yet:

not distressed
not in despair
not forsaken
not destroyed

The strong feelings of discouragement and defeat must be held captive by God’s Word. We must make confessions of faith in the midst of the battle if we are to overcome. (2 Cor. 10:5)

II Cor. 4:10-11The life of Jesus made manifest in our mortal flesh.

🡪The faith that produces such a testimony is a gift of grace. We are totally dependent on God’s grace.

🡪that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

🡪 though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

🡪For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal… glory

🡪 for the things which are seen are temporal;

Col. 1:24—Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, …

Php. 4:4—Rejoice in the Lord alway:

Deut. 27:7—… rejoice before the LORD thy God.

Matt. 5:10-12—Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Rom. 8:18—For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Cor. 11:20—For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

-Going the extra mile is a worthy cause.

Acts 23:2—Ananias [said]…smite him on the mouth.

Jer. 20:2—Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet…

John 18:22—…struck Jesus with the palm of his hand…

(Deut. 32:10; Zech. 2:8) - (you are the) “apple of his eye”

2 Tim. 1:12—For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2 Tim. 2:12—If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

2 Tim. 3:12—Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

2 Tim. 4:12—And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

Every Christian should be a soul-winner.

Gal. 6:1-18 Details the Burden of a Spiritual Man

🡪ye which are spiritual, restore…in…meekness

🡪Bear ye one another's burdens… fulfil the law of Christ

🡪For every man shall bear his own burden.

1) BEAR BURDEN: A man must not leave off his own duty in helping another. …mine own vineyard have I not kept. –S.O.S 1:6 🡪Busyness is no excuse.

2) HIS OWN: Not doing just anything, but tending to that which is HIS RESPONSIBILITY to perform. Luke 11:42—…these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Matt. 23:23) 🡪For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

-True humility is a right estimation of self-

🡪And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

-God always honors faithfulness-

🡪 As we have…opportunity, let us do good unto all

🡪But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross…

-There is no substitute for taking up the cross.-

This is the true circumcision of a true Israelite.
Detached from worldliness and attached to Jesus

🡪For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

🡪… for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

1 Pt. 1:2—REMEMBER:

by faith, we are the elect of God
Sanctification is of the Holy Ghost
Salvation is through the Power of Jesus’ Blood
Constant supply of Grace and Peace for the humble

1 Pt. 1:5—Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Pt. 3:14—But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror…

1 Pt. 4:12-16—The Fiery Trial is no Strange Thing

🡪rejoice,… as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;

🡪 for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you

🡪 on your part he is glorified.

🡪 let none of you suffer as a murderer,…thief …[etc.]

🡪Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1 Pt. 5:5—… be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Pt. 5:10—But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Matt.10:38—And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)

Luke 14:27—And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

John 10:27—My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

John 13:36—Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

John 21:19-22 —Follow me.

🡪 PETER: Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

🡪 PETER: Lord, and what shall this man do?

🡪 If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

…follow thou me.

1 John 3:16—Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Holy Ghost anointed Preaching of Jesus Christ

providing Salvation through the

old rugged cross

is what will reach this lost and dying world

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

Mt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mr 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.