Thinking About Quitting - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
Thinking About Quitting
Jeremiah 20:7-11
I. The Frustration that was Irreverent – vs. 7
Jeremiah was frustrated at:
A. The Perceived Deception
· 7 O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed:
God had clearly promised him in chapter 1 that the enemy would not prevail.
But by chapter 20, Jeremiah had been smitten and put in stocks.
God had clearly warned him, “they shall fight against thee.” (Jer. 1:17-19)
The promise of deliverance did not mean he would escape every blow, humiliation, or imprisonment.
His enemies would oppose him, but they would not ultimately overcome God’s purpose for him.
B. The Persistent Derision
· 7 …I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
· 8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
One of the most difficult aspects of being a Christian is dealing with the derision.
DERISION: mocking laughter; sport
Nobody enjoys being laughed at and made fun of.
It might not bother some people for a while, but it eventually gets to you.
The last days will abound with derision.
Jude
· 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
· 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
C. The Prophetic Demands
· 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.
Out of frustration and discouragement, Jeremiah told himself he was finished preaching.
The burden of being a prophet was just too much.
He decided to quit.
II. The Fire that was Ingrained
· 9 But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones,
I have misquoted this verse for years.
I have unintentionally left out the key phrase in this statement.
· The fire was not the call of God as a child in chapter 1.
· The fire was not the prophetic mantle placed on him.
· The fire was not the leadership responsibilities placed on him by God.
· The fire was not his broken heart over the condition of the people of God.
The fire was God’s WORD!
And the word in HIS HEART was as a burning fire shut up in his bones.
This is a powerful and extremely important truth.
We cannot underestimate the importance of HIDING GOD’S WORD IN OUR HEART!
· Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
III. The Forbearing that was Impossible
· 9 …and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Jeremiah thought the fire would go out if he stopped preaching.
Instead, he discovered that the fire burned even hotter when he tried to hold it in.
He had heard the truth. He could not keep it to himself.
He had known God. He could not keep Him to himself.
He had been exposed to the mind and heart of God. Staying silent was an impossibility.
There is something about a child of God that has been exposed to truth that cannot shut up!
· Amos 3:8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
Paul understood the same compelling burden that Jeremiah experienced.
· 1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
Peter and John were commanded to stop preaching, but they could not remain silent.
· Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
IV. The Faithfulness that was Inspiring
God will always be faithful!!
· 11 But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one:
In spite of:
1. The Defamers - 10 For I heard the defaming of many,…Report, say they, and we will report it..
2. The Dangers – 10 …fear on every side…
3. The Discouragers – 10 All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him
Jeremiah realized in verse 11 that God had NOT deceived him.
He had promised him in chapter 1:19 that they would not prevail, and they didn’t
They threatened to prevail (vs. 10), but they didn’t. They couldn’t!
Notice the change in Jeremiah’s mindset from verse 7 to verse 11.
· 11 But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
The enemy might be terrifying, but the Lord is as a MIGHTY TERRIBLE ONE!!
And he is WITH ME!!!
Conclusion: You and I cannot quit for these reasons:
1. God has not deceived us. The enemy will NOT prevail! They CANNOT prevail!!
2. The Word of God that has been imbedded in our hearts will not let us quit. We know too much!
3. The world may laugh and mock and scorn, bug the Lord is with us as a mighty terrible one!!
4. The persecutors shall stumble, they shall not prevail, they shall be greatly ashamed and shall not prosper.
We cannot quit!!
