JEREMIAH

zoe ministries

GL Garden 01-21-02, Solok Paya Terubong 8, 11060 Penang, Malaysia

House Phone: 604-8277554 Hand Phone: 60165318276.

Email: cvs3zoe@yahoo.com

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,



Dear Friends, think about the prophet Jeremiah. How many of today’s church leaders will invite Jeremiah to be the speaker at their church growth conference or at least in their prophetic conferences? Many of today’s prophets are celebrated. They have nice personal prophecies for everyone. There was no proven ministry Jeremiah. There was no fruit to show in the ministry. He was not a successful minister.



What is success? Most definitions include references to achieving goals and acquiring wealth, prestige, favour, and power. “Successful” people enjoy the good life –financially and emotionally secure, surrounded by admirers, and enjoying the fruits of their labours. They are leaders, opinion makers, trend-setters. Their example is imitated; their accomplishments are noticed. They know who they are and where they are going, and they stride confidently to meet their goals.



By these standards, Jeremiah was a miserable failure. For 40 years he served as God’s prophet to Judah; but when Jeremiah spoke, nobody listened. Consistently and passionately he urged them to act, but nobody responded. And he certainly did not attain material success. He was poor and underwent severe deprivation to deliver his prophecies. He was thrown into prison [chap 37] and into a well [chap 38], and he was taken to Egypt against his will [chap 43]. He was rejected by his neighbours [ 11:19-21], his family [12:6], the false prophets and priests [20:1,2], friends [20:10], his audience [26:8], and the kings [36:23]. Throughout his life, Jeremiah stood alone, declaring God’s messages of disaster [doom], announcing the new covenant, and weeping over the fate of his beloved nation. In the eyes of the world and today’s church; Jeremiah was not successful. He was an absolute failure.



But in God’s eyes, Jeremiah was one of the most successful people in all of history. Success, as measured by God, involves obedience and faithfulness. Regardless of opposition and personal cost, Jeremiah courageously and faithfully proclaimed the Word of God. He was obedient to his calling.



Think about this my friends:

Jeremiah confronts many people with their sins: kings, false prophets, those at the temples, and those at the gates. People did not respond to his message positively. That made Jeremiah wonder if he was doing any good at all. He often felt discouraged and sometimes bitter. To bring such depressing negative messages to these people was a burdensome task.



Friends, we too have a responsibility to bring God’s Word to a sleeping and dying church and also to the fallen world. Although we may feel discouraged at the lack of response, we must press on to tell the church and others the consequences of sin and the hope that God offers.

Jeremiah 12:5 (NKJV) 5 “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?



It is going to be very challenging. But we have help from above. Let us pray for each other and encourage each other.



Christopher.K

13/3/2010