The Peril Of Unrepentant Sin
Jeremiah 19:1-13
I want to tell you a story about a local church: They had a Pastor with a message straight from God. In fact this Pastor is an ambassador who came on behalf of God with a word of warning. The words that the pastor shared were not his own, but God’s This pastor began by illustrating how much God loves His people. The people seemed to enjoy this story of mercy and love. But the Pastor was faithful to his calling and he shared a bold message that proclaims that if God’s people fail to repent, they will suffer some tragic consequences. The people were not as impressed with the word of wrath as they were the proclamation of God’s love. The people were offended and ignore the warning of the coming wrath of God. Some of these people joined together and plot against the pastor and begin to ignore his message and then spread lies about him. The people of the congregation enjoyed their sin and had no plans to cease their sinful lifestyles. The pastor warned them again and they failed to repent.
I know you are curiously awaiting the name of this church…. Well, I am actually referring to Israel & Jeremiah! Notice verses 11&12 of Jeremiah 18 -“Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘this is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’”12 But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.”
It is amazing to think that the people of God could be so blatantly rebellious unto God. The fact is that it happened then and it still happens today. Join me as we preach on the subject… “The Peril Of Unrepentant Sin”
Imagine a man departing from Birmingham on his way to San Francisco, turning his car toward the east instead of the west. He realizes his error, but does not want to turn around; and so, as he journeys, with intentions and desiring to go to the Pacific coast, he one day ends up confronted by the Atlantic. He finds himself in the complete opposite end of the country…. As a result of his own choices.
In Jeremiah chapter 18 verses 1-6 we find a beautiful illustration of God’s love for His people.
The Lord sent Jeremiah to a potter working at his wheel. The vessel the potter was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. The Lord made it clear to Israel that “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand”
We find in these verses that the Potter Works:
1) Passionately – He is constantly molding and fashioning the clay into a vessel that He can use.
2) Personally – The clay is always in the hands of the potter.
3) Precisely – He knows exactly what He wants the vessel to look like and what He desires to use it for.
These verses show God’s love for Israel but the next two verses show a clear warning to them as well - Jeremiah 18:7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
These are some very bold words spoken to His chosen people! In fact the boldness illustrates the extent of His love for them. Consider - Revelation 3:19 as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Repent {H} – (shoob) - to turn back.
Repent {G} - (metanoeō - met-an-o-eh'-o) - to think differently.
J.R Miller Says - Sorrow for a wrong way does not take us out of that way. Tears of penitence will not blot out sin; we must turn about and walk in holy paths. Repentance is ceasing to make blots on the record, and beginning to live a fair, clean, white life.”
A Sunday School teacher once asked a class what was meant by the word “repentance.” A little boy put up his hand and said, “It is being sorry for your sins.” A little girl also raised her hand and said, “It is telling God about your sins and being sorry enough to quit them.” —Donald Grey Barnhouse
That little girl has wisdom that many believers do not possess. They recognize their sins but they are not SORRY ENOUGH TO QUIT THEM! There are severe consequences that come when God’s people fail to repent. Let us begin by examining:
i. The Evil Plot Against Jeremiah - v18 ¶Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
“Let us smite him with/on the tongue”—Lying and false testimony are punished in the eastern countries, by smiting the person on the mouth with a strong piece of leather like the sole of a shoe.
“Let us devise devices against him” – (let’s plot a way to stop Jeremiah. We have plenty of priests and wise men and prophets. We don’t need him! Let’s spread rumors about him and ignore what he says.”)
Jeremiah was not the enemy but they treated him as such. In fact he was an advocate, attempting to spare them extreme trouble.
He was doing a work similar to that of Paul Revere… He was crying out to the people of God “DANGER IS COMING. DANGER IS COMING” They ignored his warning and turned against him.
As a result of this Jeremiah was angered and seeks the Lord and shares his burden. You may think that his response is harsh but I want you to see that he didn’t seek vengeance through his own power…. He realized the principle that “vengeance is mine saith the Lord”
Consider:
ii. Jeremiah’s Plea To The Lord - v19 Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me. 20 Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them. 21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle. 22 Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet. 23 Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.
Understand this: Jeremiah is not speaking of the heathen… He is referring to the people of Judah & Jerusalem. Note: You will find in later chapters that these same people will entreat Jeremiah to go to the Lord on their behalf.
As we arrive in at chapter 19 we find a painful account of “The Peril Of Unrepentant Sin”. I want you to keep in mind that these people had an opportunity to turn from their wicked sinful lifestyles. – 18:7 If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, 8 but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned.
Israel has sown the seed… soon they will reap the harvest. I want to see 5 things that come as a result of unrepentant sin.
(19:1) At God’s instruction Jeremiah took several leaders & priests with him on a little walk.
They went to “the valley of the son of Hinnom” - Jeremiah delivered another message from God. God tells the people “I will bring a disaster so great on this place, that the ears of those who hear about it will ring!
iii. The Sin Is Clearly Explained – v4-5
Back to the earlier reference from Revelation. The Lord promises to “REBUKE & CHASTEN” – This means He will whoop you and tell you why He is whooping you!
v4 …they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents; 5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
1) Israel forsook the Lord
2) Turned the Valley into a place of wickedness
3) Created altars and burned incense to Baal
4) Sacrificed their children to Baal
5) And many other things that the Lord never had, nor never would think of commanding them to do!
On top of all this, when confronted with their sin… God’s people refused to repent! Unrepentant sin brings several severe consequences.
I. Unrepentant Sin Brings Discipline v3b &6
v3b Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
v6 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.
God never has and never will tolerate sin! He proclaims that the discipline that He will render will be so terrible “the ears those who hear of it will ring”
Jeremiah 10:10 …the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
It was discipline of sin that caused
o …Adam & Eve to be cast from the Garden!
o …the great flood!
o …Lot’s troubles and the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah!
o …hindered Moses from entering the promised land!
o …all of David’s troubles!
o …robbed Samson of his sight & strength!
o …Alexander & Hymenaeus to be turned over to Satan For the destruction of the body!
o …caused all of the troubles for Israel that we read of in God’s Word!
And it is discipline from God that has caused some of the issues you have faced, are facing and will face! Unrepentant sin brings discipline in the lives of the children of God!
II. Unrepentant Sin Brings Disgrace v8-9
Jeremiah 19:8 And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof. 9 And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.
Israel would face utter disgrace as a result of their unrepentant sin. The place would become a monument of their error. When people pass through the desolate city they would gasp at the sight of it! The Lord would remove the hedge and the enemies would overtake them.
Things would become so bad that they would have to become cannibals to survive. These people who had experienced God’s divine favor would be the laughing stock of their enemies. They had experienced God’s protection & provision in the past but they have forfeited the right to His blessings.They chose this path… they had every opportunity to avoid the heartache but they refused to repent. Now they would be DISGRACED!
A few months ago we witnessed a legitimate war hero, who was one of the most respected men in this country reach a point of disgrace. Gen. David Petraus served this country faithfully with honor & integrity for many decades. Then one selfish sinful choice has overshadowed all of the good that he has done. We have witnessed first hand a mighty warrior brought down in disgrace.
Israel turned form God time and time again and were disgraced as a result. Often we look to them as an example of what not to do! Friend if you continue to refuse to repent you will find that it will bring you to a place of disgrace! A place where all of the good that you have done will be overshadowed by the disgrace that comes when your sins are brought to light!
III. Unrepentant Sin Brings Devastation v10-13
v10 ¶Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee, 11 And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury….1 3 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.
The Lord instructs Jeremiah to smash the jar that he brought with him. He told them that “as the jar is shattered so will The Lord shatter the people of Judah & Jerusalem”- The houses in Jerusalem & the Kings houses in Judah will be defiled
He reiterates the purpose of this devastation - because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods. The Lord will not tolerate idolatry! Anything that comes before God is an idol and is subject to destruction! Notice that nothing was immune to this devastation:The people suffered the consequences The rulers suffered - Houses and property would be destroyed. There would be a famine...The enemies of Israel would be victorious over them. People would die.
Friend, when there is unrepentant sin in your life every area of your life is subject to devastation! The source of Israel’s sin was idolatry.
What comes before God in your life? Is it worth God using that idol to get your attention? Let me illustrate… Does your job come before God...? Don’t think that He can’t remove it! Is it a relationship…? Don’t think that He won’t separate it! Is it material goods…? Don’t think that He can’t destroy them! Is it your own personal aspirations…? Don’t think that He won’t shatter them!
God will not tolerate unrepentant sin in your life and you may find that when you refuse to repent, it will bring DEVESTATION! We have seen that Unrepentant Sin Brings Discipline, Disgrace & Devastation… finally we will see that Unrepentant Sin Brings Death! Yes, The ultimate attention getter!
IV. Unrepentant Sin Brings Death v7&11-12
v7 And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth…..v11b and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury. 12 Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof and even make this city as Tophet:
God says “I will allow the people to be slaughtered by invading armies, and I will leave their dead bodies as food for the vultures” There will be so many corpses that they will run out of room! The Lord reaffirms that HE WILL DO THIS! – “Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof”Don’t think that God will not take this step in the lives of His people who have gone so far astray that they are doing more damage than good to His name!
We have already examined Alexander & Hymenaeus but I would like to look at what Paul says about them in 1 Timothy 1:19 …which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.I have witnessed this first hand! To put it as simple as I can… YOU CAN”T SIN AND GET BY! The consequences are real and they are severe!
You will never be able to say that you didn’t have a chance to repent!
I want to tell you a story about a local church: They had a Pastor with a message straight from God. In fact this Pastor was a representative of God with a word of warning. The words that the pastor shared were not his own, but God’s This pastor began by illustrating how much God loves His people. The people seemed to enjoy this story of mercy and love. But the Pastor was faithful to his calling and he shared a bold message that proclaims that if God’s people fail to repent, they will suffer some tragic consequences.
The people were not as impressed with the word of wrath as they were the proclamation of God’s love. The people were offended and ignored the warning of the coming wrath of God.Some members of the congregation didn’t hear the message because they chose not to attend worship. Some members of the congregation failed to hear the message because it was delivered on a Sunday or Wednesday evening. Others missed the most important portions because they were surfing the web on an I-Phone. Some actually heard every word that was sent from God. But refused to heed the warning. Some members of the congregation enjoyed their sin and had no plans to cease their sinful lifestyles. The pastor warned them again and they failed to repent. As a result their unrepentant sin brought severe consequences into their lives… It brought:
a) Discipline
b) Disgrace
c) Devastation
d) Death
Oh what a tragedy… Oh “The Peril Of Unrepentant Sin”
