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Bristol Road Baptist Church5
th
June 2005 PM
Investing in the promises of God
“I knew that this was the word of the L
ORD
 ;
9
so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel 
 Jeremiah 32 8b 9aWe discovered in our study on Wednesday that Jeremiah was a man wholived his ministry – that what he said was inextricably linked with his lifeand the one informed the other. When, faced by great odds and anunresponsive audience, he began to despair and even accused God of trapping him – then God showed him how great He is and Jeremiah wasstrengthened to continue. Much of what he experienced – like his visit tothe potter’s workshop – became full of significance for him and hismessage.In this chapter Jerusalem is facing its final days. The city is under siege bythe Babylonians. It was “the tenth year of Zedekiah and the eighteenthyear of Nebuchadnezzar. The army of the kind of Babylon was thenbesieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in thecourtyard of the guard…” (v2) These were
desperate times
and at such times he was criticised byZedekiah for undermining morale and prophesying the fall of the city.“You say, This is what the Lord says…”How Jeremiah must have wished that he could bring a message of hopeand relief for the people – but he could not: the message he had from theLord remained the only word he could preach. No one would ever fault Jeremiah for changing his message to suit the times! These are desperate times –
 Jeremiah is in prison and the city isbesieged!
On another occasion he will be confined in a cistern (38:6) and threatenedwith death (26:8) – yet despite these threats he
remained steadfast.
 This chapter which presents Jeremiah buying a piece of land even as thebesieging nations are about to take over the country presents an insightinto the personal integrity, faith and obedience of the prophet. But it alsoreveals his doubts and misgivings.
 
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June 2005 PM
 
 The work of God that He gave Jeremiah to do involved not just afaithfulness in matters of utterance – but in his own personal risk taking.I am the last person to whom anyone should come for financial advice! Ihave very little understanding of the mysteries of economics. I know whatit means to lose investments when the market crashes, or when moneyhas been invested by unscrupulous people. I have had quite a lot to dowith the likes of liquidators and so on – but I do not understand theunderlying principles. Yet even I know that it is a ridiculous idea to buy a parcel of land at a timeof war – when the land is about to be taken by enemies. Yet here animprisoned prophet buys a field: he
makes an investment in thepromises of God!
He demonstrates his deeper faith in the covenantmaking God by buying the land that it was his right to redeem.What kinds of risks will you take with God’s promises?Like Abraham before him, Jeremiah hears the promise of God – and hedoesn’t just pass it on to the people (after the defeat of Jerusalem I willbring them back…) he actually spends money on a plot that is soon to beoccupied territory.Consider what happened under three headings:-(1)He
was faithful
to his mission v 3(2)He
was attentive
to God’s instructions v6~(3)He
prayed
– and what a prayer v16~ These three aspects of Jeremiah’s spiritual life are mixed together toproduce a singular evidence of God at work in His servant.In the light of this example:Do you have a work for the Lord? – DO ITHas God spoken to you? – PROVE HIMDo doubts remain? – PRAY ON
FAITHFULvv 1-3
2
The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and  Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in theroyal palace of Judah.
 
 
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June 2005 PM
 
3
Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, ‘This is what the L
ORD
says: I am about tohand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.
It is too easy for us to forget the reality – the very harsh reality facing Jeremiah at this time. The siege is a REAL DANGER The future is BLEAK He is IMPRISONEDAny one of those factors on their own would be enough to put most off –but together they pose an incredible barrier to faith and peace of mind. Yet Jeremiah does not flinch – he does not bend in the face of criticism ordanger. Yes he does ask questions and does have doubts – but his faith isthe sort that endures.Where did this quality of faith come from?
(a)A profound sense of God’s calling
 To Jeremiah, God is pre-eminently SOVEREIGN (see chapter 1)
(b)God had equipped him with armour suited to the task (c)God had given him a promise for the future
 They will be most likely to invest in God’s promises who have proved Himin times past, who know Him to be Sovereign, and who have listened as Hepromises.AS New Covenant believers we have the same understanding of asovereign Lord who calls His people to Himself – who promises gracesufficient and protection, and who goes to prepare a place for us.We have even more reason that Jeremiah had to INVEST IN GOD’SPROMISES. The test is not youth – or old age, not lack of learning – or any gift, not fearof difficulty or boldness – BUT SIMPLE FAITHFULNESSGod wants us – like Jeremiah to see a greater return for HIS INVESTMENT INUS – the parables that Jesus told are pertinent here.
 
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