Two weeks ago we had a sermon fromm Jeremiah 18 about the Potters house.
I want to follow on from there with the next part of the passage.
We read that God is the potter and that He has the authority to do whatsoever he wishes with his creation. If he is unhappy with what is forming then he will make it into something else.
We know that he is making something good in our lives and will continue to do so until we go to glory.
Listen to the words of Jeremiah as he continues his discourse.
Jer 18:7-10 "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, "if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. "And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, "if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.
We can see this in the story of Jonah – God intended to punish a nation for its wickedness but gave them an opportunity through His prophet Jonah to turn from their ways. They did so and God relented.
Word against Israel
Jer 18:11 ¶ "Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good."'" 12 And they said, "That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart."13 Therefore thus says the LORD: "Ask now among the Gentiles, Who has heard such things? The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing. 14 Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon, Which comes from the rock of the field? Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters? 15 "Because My people have forgotten Me, They have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in pathways and not on a highway, 16 To make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And shake his head. 17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back and not the face In the day of their calamity."
Israel had walked away from God – time and time again we see the people of Israel turn their backs on God and adopt idols and statues as their focus of worship. Baal and Asherah were the main idols to which they turned. Why would you replace the truth for a lie? Why would anybody walk away from what is alive to what is a piece of wood or metal? I guess we all have stories of people who once walked with God and then for some reason or another decided to turn aside and do their own thing. To walk according to their own plans. You may have noticed that it was more of a process than an off the cuff decision.
If we are not careful we can easily replace being a disciple to being spoon fed. From being dependant on God to being dependant on somebody else. If we work it out ourselves then it sticks a lot better than if we hear it from somebody else. Somebody else’s testimony should encourage us to go out and get our own. If God can do it for you then He can do it for me.
Our priority must always be – God first.
When I study I ask God for understanding and read a little from people much more intelligent than I will ever be.
When I go through a difficult situation – Go to God first then people.
When I am hurt - God first because He is my healer.
When I am lonely - God first because he is my constant companion closer than a brother.
When I need strength and acknowledge that I am weak then He promises to make His strength perfect in my weakness.
When I need a fresh infilling of His power then I know that He is the source of all spiritual power and He will fill me again.
Which leads me to the verse I want to concentrate on a little this morning
Jer 18:14 Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon, Which comes from the rock of the field? Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters?
Description of Mountain range, Lebanon. Running parallel to the Mediterranean Sea coast, it is about 150 mi (240 km) long. The northern section is the highest part of the range and includes the loftiest peak, Qurnat al-Sawda', at 10,131 ft (3,088 m) in elevation. On its western slopes are the remaining groves of the famous cedars of Lebanon. The snowy peaks may have given Lebanon its name in antiquity; laban is Aramaic for "white."
The Lebanon was poetically called the “rock of the field.”
Imagine the cool clear water that runs off the mountain into the valley refreshing the plants, animals and people.
When I was in Sri Lanka a few years ago I stayed at Mount Carmel Bible College there. They are situated in the mountains near the middle of Sri Lanka and their source of water is straight out of the mountainside. It is cool and clear and pure to drink. There is nothing like a refreshing drink of water on a hot day.
Illustration.
I have brought some water with me this morning that is from a glacier. I have it on good authority that the more water you drink the more you can taste the regional differences.
I have here a glass of Yorkshire Tap water and a glass of glacier water – anybody want to do a taste test?
I was sent a text the other day that said “the grass may be greener but you still have to mow it.”
They say that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence but with God it is not only greener but there’s a stream running by it too.
Psalm 23 – picture of tranquillity, refreshing, peace and satisfaction.
When you have got it good stick with it!
Earlier in Jeremiah the prophet says this:
Jer 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
The people of Israel were guilty of trying in their own strength. Striving to be spiritual in their own ways. Guilty of adopting idols and other forms of spirituality. Of forsaking the one and true living God.
New Testament says this – there are some who
2Ti 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.
A form of Godliness is not Godliness because it has no connection with God who is the fountain of life.
I believe that God would remind us this morning that
There is a river who’s streams make glad the city of God
Joh 4:14 "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
Re 21:6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
Re 22:1 ¶ And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Have we in any way replaced God with another source of life. Have we made our own water containers and tried to stay spiritually alive through our own means?
Jer 18:14 Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon, Which comes from the rock of the field? Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters?
Have we gone after strange waters when we have pure water, are we comfortable to drink from a muddy puddle when God offers the best.
The muddy puddle is anything and everything that is not from God. IT could be our dependence on another person when God needs to be our strength, it could be our sin, it could be the situation we are living in that we know isn’t God’s best or pleasing God,
Could it be that in rejecting what we know to be right we have forsaken God.
Joh 6:65 And He said, "Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father." 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Where else can we go? To whom can we go for the life giving waters? Who else holds the keys to eternal life, who else promises to prepare a place for us, who else promises to be right here with us now, who else is like God?
Spiritually we all want more than what we have or at least we should have a desire to grow as a Christian – and that is a good thing. If we find something that does not originate from the source of eternal life – our Lord Jesus Christ – then it is nothing but strange waters.
What good does it do us? Christ offers living water – let Him be the primary source for our spiritual life.
Jer 18:14 Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon, Which comes from the rock of the field? Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters?
Be rooted in Him. Be established in Him and in the local church. He is the cornerstone, the rock and the fountain of living water.
Maybe there is a need for repentance if other things have crept in and taken the place of God in our lives. Or if we have forsaken the fountain of life. If we have replaced the true source of spiritual life for a different one. Maybe we have just drifted a little and need to come back before we drift too far.
