Sermon on Jeremiah 12:5

1. Run with the Horses Jeremiah 12:5

2. Jeremiah 12: 5 “ If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (NIV)

5. MAJOR EVENTS DURING JEREMIAH’ TIMES (BC) 686 Manasseh becomes sole king; Josiah born 642 Amon succeeds Manasseh as king 640 Josiah becomes king 633 Josiah at 16 seeks after God 628 Josiah at 20 begins reforms 627 Jeremiah at 20 called as prophet 621 Mosaic Law found in the temple 612 Nineveh destroyed as Nahum prophesied 609 Josiah slain in battle at Megiddo; Jehoiakim becomes king 586 Zedekiah flees July 18; destruction of Jerusalem begins August 14 JEHOVAH times Keeping you up to date since the Garden of Eden - Since creation- Rembrandt’s Jeremiah

6. King Josiah’s Reforms Jeremiah 11:6 2 Chronicles 34 The covenant (Deut.28) is broken

7. Kings during Jeremiah’s Times Michelangelo's Jeremiah on Sistine Chapel Josiah (Judah’s last Godly king) Jehoiakim (ungodly, scripture burning king) Jehoiachin (a ninety-day wonder judged by God) Zedekiah (Judah’s last king) Nebuchanezzar (Babylon conqueror) Gedaliah (Babylonian appointed governor of occupied Jerusalem) Johanan (successor of Gediah who was assassinated) Jeremiah 12:5

8. Jeremiah 12: 5 “ If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (NIV)

9. JER 11:18 Because the LORD revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. 19 I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more." JER 11:20 But, O LORD Almighty, you who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.

10. JER 11:21 "Therefore this is what the LORD says about the men of Anathoth who are seeking your life and saying, `Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD or you will die by our hands'-- 22 therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: `I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. 23 Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the men of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.' "

11. JER 12:1 You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? JER 12:2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

12. JER 12:3 Yet you know me, O LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! JER 12:4 How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, "He will not see what happens to us."

13. JER 12:5 "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? The LORD

14. JER 12:6 Your brothers, your own family-- even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you. JER 12:7 "I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies. JER 12:8 My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her. The LORD

15. how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? how can you compete with horses? Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth The nation of Judah and the nation of Judah and the surrounding nations Spiritual warfare If you stumble in safe country, “ If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, The plot on Jeremiah’s life (11:18-20) The refusal of the people to listen to Jeremiah and repent (11:21-23) and “Why does the wicked prospers?” (12:1-4) Idolatry Opposition Problems

17. Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth, the royal household, the nation of Judah (12:6) The nation of Judah and Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites, Ammonites, Babylonians how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? how can you compete with horses? more sufferings for Jeremiah as he continue to prophecies God’s judgment on Judah (12:7-13) and God’s judgment on the surrounding nations (12:14-17) Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth The nation of Judah and the nation of Judah and the surrounding nations Spiritual warfare If you stumble in safe country, “ If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, The plot on Jeremiah’s life (11:18-20) The refusal of the people to listen to Jeremiah and repent (11:21-23) and “Why does the wicked prospers?” (12:1-4) Idolatry Opposition Problems

19. Is God angry with Jeremiah?

20. JER 1:17 "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land--against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

22. “ God never calls a man to content with horses until He has practiced him with footmen; that God has never yet send a man into the wilds of Jordan until He has trained him in the land of peace… It is a great principle, always obtaining in God’s method with His servants, and in all His dealings with His people”

23. Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth, the royal household, the nation of Judah (12:6) The nation of Judah and Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites, Ammonites, Babylonians how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? how can you compete with horses? more sufferings for Jeremiah as he continue to prophecies God’s judgment on Judah (12:7-13) and God’s judgment on the surrounding nations (12:14-17) God has helped us in our struggle with our problems in the past and is helping us in the present God has his own timing God is with us Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth The nation of Judah and the nation of Judah and the surrounding nations Spiritual warfare If you stumble in safe country, “ If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, The plot on Jeremiah’s life (11:18-20) The refusal of the people to listen to Jeremiah and repent (11:21-23) and “Why does the wicked prospers?” (12:1-4) Idolatry Lessons for us Opposition Problems

24. In spiritual warfare Satan uses WMD

25. In spiritual warfare Satan uses WMD Weapons of Mass Discouragement

26. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Eph. 6:12-18

27. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

28. God will help us in our struggle with our problems in the future God’s judgment is just Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth, the royal household, the nation of Judah (12:6) The nation of Judah and Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites, Ammonites, Babylonians how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? how can you compete with horses? more sufferings for Jeremiah as he continue to prophecies God’s judgment on Judah (12:7-13) and God’s judgment on the surrounding nations (12:14-17) God has helped us in our struggle with our problems in the past and is helping us in the present God has his own timing God is with us Jeremiah’s family and the men of Anathoth The nation of Judah and the nation of Judah and the surrounding nations Spiritual warfare If you stumble in safe country, “ If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, The plot on Jeremiah’s life (11:18-20) The refusal of the people to listen to Jeremiah and repent (11:21-23) and “Why does the wicked prospers?” (12:1-4) Idolatry Lessons for us Opposition Problems

30. Jeremiah 12: 5 “ If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (NIV)

31. If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? Morgan: “ In my contending with horses, I shall also and again be weary; but I shall win, for I have already won by Thy strength in running with footmen” G. Campbell Morgan, Studies in the Prophecy of Jeremiah , 1994, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 93

32. If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Morgan: “ that He is God, though in the wilds I shall oftentimes be assaulted by fear, yet I shall win, as I have won in the land of peace” G. Campbell Morgan, Studies in the Prophecy of Jeremiah , 1994, Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 93

33. God is with you, will give you strength and will not let you face problems more than you are able to overcome sermon statement

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