If You Think Things Are Bad Now

Jeremiah 12:1 - 17 IF YOU THINK THINGS ARE BAD NOW

Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? Jeremiah's Problem with :-

1. The PROSPERITY of the WICKED, Jer. 12:1-4

12:1 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Jeremiah's Estimation Of :- (a) The Lord Righteous art thou, O LORD, Righteous In His Words, In His Works, In His Ways. (b) The Law let me talk with thee of thy judgments (c) Life Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? A. The Wicked are Prosperous and I'm not Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? B. The Wicked are Happy and I'm not 12:2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

C. The Wicked are Heading for Judgment and I'm not 12:3 But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. Psalm 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Truth is on the side of the Godly 37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright Time is on the side of the Godly 37 for the end of that man is peace Trust is on the side of the Godly 40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Jeremiah's Problem with :-

2. The PERFORMANCE of the SAINTS Jer 12:6-11 He Saw a Picture Of :-

A. DESOLATE work, 12:6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.,

B. DEAD ministries, 12:7 I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.

C. DEJECTED workers, 12:8-9 Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it. 9 Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

D. DESTROYED lives, 12:10-11 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.

Jeremiah's Problem with :-

3. The PATIENCE of GOD, Jer 12:12-15 A. The Expectant JUDGMENT of Sinful people, 12:12-14 The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.

B. The Expectant RESTORATION of Sinful People, 12:15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. Jeremiah's Proposition 5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? How wilt thou do? Note its a:- (a) Practical Question Death is universal, unpredictable, individual, unavoidable (b) Personal Question - "how wilt Thou do?" Romans 14 v. 10 - 12 "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (c) Pre-eminent Question a matter of life and death "What shall it profit a man?" (d) Profitable Question - Deuteronomy 32 v. 29 "O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!" (e) Peaceful Question as far as Christian is concerned Hebrews 9 v. 28 "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them hat look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Note the:- (1) Redemption Here - "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." (2) Restriction Here - "And unto them that look for him." (3) Revelation Here - "Shall he appear the second time without sin." (4) Reunion Here - "Unto salvation"