Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Wednesday September 1, 2010

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Breaking and Building – The Prophetic Ministry

Jeremiah 1:9-19

J is called 2ba prophet and the Lord gives a description of the prophetic calling.   

9-10

The Lord has appointed him: I have set you in a place of influence/authority.   

J was given quite a commission - to: Pluck up = to pull up something growing | Break down = demolish something built | Destroy = tear out plant by the roots | Overthrow = break in pieces/grind to powder.  Build/Plant.  This is the order of God: break down – build up/pluck – plant.  

Little children just want to break – not build.  I see this playing w/ my grandchildren.  No sooner is the LEGO structure built than they are taking great delight in destroying it.  I had two couples come to a church I pastored in 1980 and told me that if I gave them $500 that they would sit in on a service and tell me what was wrong w/ my ministry.  I assured them that I could get that for free!  Some people have set themselves in a position to tell others where they are wrong.  Some are all about breaking, not building.

There are others who just want to build/plant.  And as admirable as this may seem, there is an inherent problem w/ building up b4 breaking down.  B4 the new is established, the old is taken out of the way.  We love the build/plant part of the plan of God for us – but the pluck up/destroy phase of His work is not as enjoyable.   

God doesn’t build the new on the old – He removes the old.  Cf. B4 new heavens/earth the present ones are destroyed by fire; 2C5:17 – old things passed away/new things have come.  This makes perfect sense – when a couple marries, old relationships should be just that – old, not current.  A spouse shouldn’t have to compete for your affections – there should be no division of heart. When you try to build up w/o breaking down you undermine what is being built.  Rebound relationships

B4 the Lord plants, He plucks up; b4 He builds, He breaks down.  URN 1 of 2 phases – being broken down or being built up.   

B4 Saul, the breaker of the church could become Paul, the builder of the church, he had 2b broken/built.  Acts 9:26  After Damascus Road experience, Paul tried to associate w/ the church, but they were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.  They didn’t believe that he had been broken by God and was now being built by the Spirit.   

There has 2b brokenness b4 building.

    * B4u can become the attentive husband you should be, your selfishness has 2b broken.
    * B4u can become the respectful wife you should be, your critical spirit has 2b broken.

The old has 2b removed because the old undermines the new.  

Maybe you’re wondering when you’re going to experience the abundant life promised you by Christ.  You can never know the exhilaration of the love of Jesus while ur pursuing fleshly pleasures/worldly goals.  God doesn’t build on the old, He builds on the cross.  And where the cross has not touched the Spirit cannot build.  J cried out that he couldn’t do the will of God – God touched him in the area of weakness/resistance.  God came to build J n2a prophet, but the boy had 2b broken b4 the prophet could be built.

Here’s the immediate application to J - the reforms of Josiah (describe) didn’t remove the old and the new couldn’t be built.  The rebellion of the people had not been plucked up and righteousness had not been planted.  J sees that the people are not broken – they are going thru the motions w/o the emotions.  The flesh hasn’t been dealt a death blow – it has merely smeared over w/ religion.  God gave him the commission to pluck up/break down/destroy/overthrow.  His wife would ask him, “What ru ding today, J?  “Oh, you know, the regular - pluck up/break down/destroy/overthrow.”  “OK - be careful.”

J didn’t have the power to do this, but he had the authority to pronounce it.  J couldn’t pluck up/destroy – he was to announce that the Lord was going to pluck up/destroy – plant/build.  J was set in a place of authority/influence.

In that each of us has been given a measure of influence/authority, each of us can exercise a prophetic ministry.  Cf. Ex. 11:29 (they were speaking word of god in anointing of the spirit). 1 Cor. 14:5 – I wish you would all prophesy: edification/exhortation/consolation.

Vv1-10 the call of J | Vv11-19 the training of J

J was appointed, but he still had 2b trained. J grew n2 the ministry of a prophet – not born full grown.  All the prophets were trained – Samuel/Elijah/Paul speaks of his training.  1st phase of training was focused on hearing from God.

Two times (vv11, 13) the Lord asks Jeremiah, what do you see?  Even as God trained J, God is training you/showing you things.    Many say, “I think the Lord is trying to show me something.”  He is!

11-12

Dry run for the prophet - private moment between God and J – not publicly announce this.  J had expressed a lack of self-confidence at his call and the Lord desires to assure him of two things -

   1. That he could hear from God accurately (How do I know it’s really God speaking to me and not just my own thoughts?)  Sometimes it’s hard to know the difference.

    * I had a friend who knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that God had spoken something to him.  And when that something didn’t materialize he despaired of ever being able to hear/know the voice of God.  He didn’t separate his desires from the will of God and he suffered for it.

    * I knew another man to whom it was prophesied that he and his wife (separated at the time) would be worshipping together by Easter of that year.  When it didn’t come about, he suffered a breakdown – a psychotic break – his world fell apart.

    * You and I have the Word of God – major on this!

   2. That he would leave the results of his ministry to God.  J didn’t need to perform – God would perform.  I am not responsible for the results of my ministry – God is.  Cf. 1 Cor. 12:6

What do you see?  J: rod of almond tree.  The Lord confirmed that J saw rightly – he could hear from God and that God would do the work.   

The rod is a branch of a shaqed tree – an ‘awake’ tree.

God will shoqed His Word to perform it.

Even as God will makes the rod bloom/Lord will perform His Word.  

13-16  What do you see?  A boiling pot…

Pot – something’s cookin’.  Yes, and you won’t like what it is.  Judgment is coming upon Judah from the north – the approach of an army toward Israel.   

This is a broad preview of the book.  J will be prophesying the coming of the Judah’s enemies to execute the judgment of God upon his nation.  Each gate/wall will be overshadowed by the presence of the enemy’s throne – symbol of His authority.  He is prophesying the breaking of his people.  When the enemy is in charge, judgment has come.  J also speaks of God building Israel after she is broken.

Because of the message of God breaking His people, J is going 2b an unpopular man in the nation.  It will take grit and determination to stand/speak the Word of the Lord.  Therefore – 2nd phase of training:

17 – here’s what you’re to do -

Suit up/stand up/speak up/cowboy up!  God had to destroy J’s old fear b4 He could build him n2 the man he needed 2b.

Do not be afraid of their faces…  Missionary to China w/ note from SS teacher in his Bible.

18 – here’s what I’ll do -

I will make you a fortified city/iron pillar/bronze walls.  I will make it so people can’t stop you.  Cf. Lk. 10:19

19 – here’s what they’ll try to do -

They will try to overpower you/get you to stop prophesying/break you.  They will attempt to set up their thrones at your gates/walls.   

A while back Will Willimon, Dean of the Chapel at Duke University, got a call from an upset parent. "I hold you personally responsible for this," he said. "Me?" Will asked.  

The father was upset because his graduate school bound daughter had just informed him that she was going to forego grad school and go do mission work with the Presbyterians in Haiti. "Isn't that absurd!" shouted the father. "A BS degree in mechanical engineering from Duke and she's going to dig ditches in Haiti.  " You are completely irresponsible to have encouraged her to do this. I hold you personally responsible," he said.  

As the conversation went on, Dr. Willimon pointed out that the well-meaning but obviously unprepared parents were the ones who had started this ball rolling. THEY were the ones who had her baptized, read Bible stories to her, took her to Sunday School, let her go with the Presbyterian Youth Fellowship to retreats. Will said, "You're the one who introduced her to Jesus, not me."  

"But all we ever wanted her to be was a Presbyterian," said the father, meekly.  

I’m sure that J just wanted 2b an average priest.  But God had other plans…