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RESTORATION AFTER THE DESOLATION- JEREMIAH 16: 1-9

Jeremiah is commissioned by the Lord to preach to the people, to warn them of

upcoming disaster. To tell them repent , Turn and be saved or face drastic
consequences. Israel had in their idolatrous state worshipped and served other
gods, and lost their holy fear of the Almighty, the one true and living God. If
they would not hear the words of the prophets, if they did not heed, not turn
from their wicked ways, they were not only heading for destruction, they would
be destroyed. the time of warning was over, it was JUDGMENT TIME.

The prophet Jeremiah’s mandate was not to preach a palatable ,easy to

chew ,easy to digest gospel of grace, mercy , salvation . He had warned Israel
many times…you know just as. Jonah had been sent to warn Nineveh . Only
that Nineveh was an ungodly Gentile nation and the Assyrians who lived there
were enemies to the Jews. Yet the Ninevites after Jonah’s sharp warning
changed course , they turned from their wicked ways.
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But ot so Israel. They continued to do abominable things, even sacrificing their
children to idols, false gods . . Did they not understand that hell was real and
that the wrath of God is real if he is provoked long enough.

People often ask when they see the rise of evil ‘ Where is God ? Does he not see?
Does he not know? But history keeps permanent records , and the Bible assures
that from time to time God does his interjection into a morally corrupt society to
stop the flow of evil of the day. He will stop the flow of evil while saving the
righteous.

It was the same way with Israel as in the time of Noah . Wickedness, idolatry .
So God sent the Great Flood to wipe out the earth. He intervened, interjected
and stopped the flow of evil, the vileness of an adulterous nation . But Noah
and his family were saved. The righteous seed was saved.

And then the Tower of babel - God stepped in when the pride and arrogance of a
people became so extensive, that they wanted to reach heaven to prove they were
as great as or greater than God. God’s interjection again ; he scattered the
people and confounded their language..

So it would be with Israel. For after sending prophets after prophets and now
Jeremiah to warn this nation, the wrath of God had been invoked. God would
send a people into captivity, into exile for an extended period. For Hundreds ,
yes hundreds of years.

You see Jehovah Roi is an All seeing , All knowing God. He sees he knows
everything. He is not silent as men consider silence. When man seeks to exalt
himself above God , God steps in. And he does it decisively, he is not a passive
God ; nor predictable as some men count predictability. He who held the day
fixed so Israel could be victorious in battle, he who caused the sun and moon to
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stand still in their orbits can step in into any situation, at any time . He is the
game changer, the Originator. He is one who overrules and overrides. Both
rulers and authorities. He can Starts things over if he has to.
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Sin is not a mere mistake or a harmless act. Its consequences are far-reaching
and devastating. Sin corrupts our hearts, damages our relationships, and leads to
spiritual death. Sin has eternal consequences. The eternal consequence of sin is
separation from God, who is the source of eternal life. Sin leads to torment and
spiritual death .

And one day that set time will come when all will stand at the judgement seat of
God to pay an account for the deeds done in this body, whether good or evil, It is
written in the text.

; (Jesus never minced words about hell ,when he warned the Pharisees and
Saducees and the religious crowd of the upcoming judgment. , He would say
things like this , hell is "the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels"
(Matt 25:41),  “Then God will say to those on his left, (sheep vs goat) ‘Depart
from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels. 

The horrors of hell were such that in describing Jesus said   Mark 9: 44-48 If
your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life
maimed than with two hands go into hell, where the fire never goes out.  45 And
if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life
crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] ] 47 And if your eye
causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of
God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the
worms that eat do not die,    and the fire is not quenched.’

So brothers and sisters Jesus preached about hell indeed more than any other
person in the Bible perhaps for he more than anyone else knew that hell is real
and eternal. Hell is a place no one will like to be….. for there is no escape route,
, no way out. No Exit door.

In speaking to his audience Jesus often made reference to the Bible, the
scriptures. We know he quoted from the Old Testament , for the New Testament
was not yet written. He would quote From the Torah and Moses , from David
and the Psalms , from the minor and major prophets Jeremiah, Isaiah, Hosea,
and in doing so he validated beyond dispute that these OT writers and prophets
were real people, inspired by the Spirit of God. In quoting Jeremiah and the
prophets he confirmed their authenticity , their truths, and their relevance
even for the now , the current time , for today.

It is with similar emphasis that we as the Wake up for the Word partners go
through the book of Jeremiah in this month. Jeremiah 16 VERSES 1-9
BRINGS US TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE STATE OF A
NATION THAT was SO DEGENERATE, SO BACKSLIDDEN , so unholy and
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unrepentant. THAT IT WAS HEADED FOR destruction. . THEIR

HOPELESS STATE DROVE JEREMIAH TO DEEP UTTERANCES,
FEELINGS, DECISIONS, EVEN FOR HIS own PERSONAL LIFE.

A. For Jeremiah is commanded by the Lord not take a wife , nor to father
children . Judgment was at hand.

Jeremiah chapter 16 Verses 1-4 reads The word of the LORD also came to me,
saying,For thus says the LORD concerning the sons and daughters who are born
in this place, and concerning their mothers who bore them and their fathers who
begot them in this land: “They shall die gruesome deaths; they shall not be
lamented nor shall they be buried, but they shall be like refuse on the face of the
earth. They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, and their corpses
shall be meat for the birds of heaven and for the beasts of the earth.”
Some may say was Jeremiah really hearing from God? Was this the same God
who had said in Genesis 1:28 Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,
and subdue it: and have dominion…….The God who had said “ It is not good
for the man to be alone…. Yes indeed this was the same God and is the same
God. The I am that I am.

His unique command to Jeremiah as stated “You shall not take a wife, nor
shall you have sons or daughters in this place.” . was not therefore in the
“general : will, or the original will of God for mankind. Indeed in ancient
Jewish culture Marriage and childbearing was expected for a healthy Hebrew
male in the prime of his life. . And surely if all was well , like most other men of
his time, Jeremiah would have wanted to be married, wanted to have
children,would have looked for the blessings and benefits of marriage and
parenthood. These were legitimate desires for him to have.

But Here the weeping prophet is tasked with delivering a weighty message to his
people. God has told me “ You must not marry nor have sons and daughters .
Can you imagine the astonishment and confusion that must have swept across
the faces of those assembled, as they heard that this was a divine command
from the Lord.. To be denied the joy of marriage and the blessing of children,
that was indeed a solemn decree.

Truth be told I really don’t know if a wife could easily live with our weeping
prophet. When he was not warning of impending disaster or calling the nation
to repentance, he was praying , fasting , consumed by the ominous future, a
dark future of doom and gloom that he could so clearly see but others could
not . Did the prophet Jeremiah ever sleep well at nights? Were there days when
he could not even find the strength to wash his face or even bathe? What do
you do when the call is so strong , so gripping, so urgent…

THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THIS . For

PAUL himself had such a strong call of God on his life that did not allow for
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the closeness and comfort of family relationships. This is reflected in 1 COR 7;

Concerning the Unmarried. Paul says

 26 Because of the present crisis, the distressing times. I think that it is good for a
man to remain as he is. 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be
released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on
those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if
they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy
something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the
world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing
away.

Jesus too had stated that His followers must be willing to deny themselves, take
up their cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). And he went on to expand on what
taking up the cross could possibly mean in Matthew 19:29 when he said  Every
one that hath forsaken, left, houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother,
or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold,
and shall inherit everlasting life. What greater self denial than leaving the
comfort of home, children, friendships , possessions, for the call of God.

Here God was revealing deep secrets to Jeremiah that Imminent destruction
awaited Israel. .(Jeremiah 16:3-4) The voice of the Almighty says "For thus says
the Lord concerning the sons and daughters who are born in this place, and
concerning the mothers who bear them and the fathers who beget them in this
land: They shall die of deadly diseases. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they
be buried; they shall become like refuse on the face of the earth. They shall
perish by the sword and by famine, and their corpses shall be food for the birds
of the air and for the beasts of the earth"

The depth of sorrow Jeremiah feels as he unveils the desolation and despair
that shall befall the people! Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, all shall die
gruesome deaths. Disease and death shall sweep through the land, leaving no
family untouched.

It had happened somewhat like that fairly recently. 2019 was an epic year for
all. When the Covid pandemic hit it was the worst mass casualty event in the
past 100 years. , At the height of the outbreak people were dying every single
minute. .Hospital morgues, funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories are all
overflowing and backed up, there had to be mass burials in many countries.

Many Christians thought it was because of the wickedness of the world of

people, and the end time had come or was at hand. .
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Because of the contagious nature of the virus , many bodies were cremated
without clear identification..It was a time of untold grief, and no closure for
many, when their loved one passed on. I was checking the up-to-date COVID
statistics to current year and it is alarming that the pandemic had taken the lives
of nearly 7 million persons worldwide to date … It is further alarming that on
the news yesterday I heard that the disease was on the rise again in Jamaica with
84 in hospital in St. Thomas, even doctors and nurses impacted. We stand and
pray against another full outbreak in Jesus mighty name.

In the height of the pandemic 2020 - 2022, many who died in poorer countries
who could not buried, due to limited burial spaces, limited or no resources. For
a long time people lived with the stench of death all around them..

This then was similar to what Jeremiah was seeing. Bodies not buried, some
devoured by wild animals even .The prophet was to be spared the grief and pain
of losing persons close to him to some similar kind of disaster..

It is painful to lose a child while the parent is still alive, .It is painful to lose a
loved one, and even worst, lose them in a tragic or untimely way. That had
happened with the Shunnamite woman .

The story of the Shunnamite woman is  found in 2 Kings 4:8-37 This woman
had shown great hospitality to the prophet Elisha and his servant, Gehazi as
they passed through her village of Shun-em on their way to Mt. Carmel. When
Elisha wanted to reward her for the kindness she had shown to him, she asks
nothing in return. Her answer is simply, “I dwell among mine own people.” In
other words. I live a simple life and am content.

But when Gehazi reveals to the prophet that she had no child. Elisha prophesies
she would have a son. God grants her the son , her miracle baby, Daily as she
looked at her boy, watching him , growing up so wonderfully, her heart would
overflow with joy and gratitude. But in prime of the young child’s life, there is
an unexpected turn of events .2 Kings 4: 18 -22 tells us about this and reads.

2 Kings 18 The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with
the reapers. 19 He said to his father, “My head! My head!”His father told a
servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 After the servant had lifted him up and
carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then , just like
that he died. 21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then
shut the door and went out.

What do you say when you know God has given you a blessing the miracle of a
lifetime and suddenly in the midst of your rejoicing and happiness all is stripped
away. What do you say, When your miracle baby dies or like with Job, tragedy
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strikes and there is really no explanation to what has happened , what is

happening.

You see It is a natural progression to outlive your child or children but for many
parents this is not always so, and because of the way life is it will not always be
so.. I know persons on the platform here , if I were to ask you about the tragic
loss of a loved one, a child even, and how you dealt with it or are dealing with it,
you would have your own stories to tell. But I wont go there.

It is in times like these we must needs pull on support systems, the people
around who love us, pull on our faith in God. Keep on moving don’t stop. Keep
on hoping , keep on trusting , keep on believing, yes ,hold on to faith in God.

The Shunnamite woman’s story has a good ending for Elisha through the Spirit
of God raises her son up from the dead.. He is given back to her alive and well.
But many persons even now looking into the near future are not extremely
excited about the prospects for their children, their grandchildren , the future
generation, if the Lord tarries.

In this chapter Jeremiah 16 Verse 5-6 Jeremiah is commanded not to mourn

with or for others.

For thus says the LORD: “Do not enter the house of mourning, nor go to lament
or bemoan them; for I have withdrawn my blessing , my love and pity from this
people. Both high and low shall die in this land.

Mourning , grieving is a natural thing, often a needed thing, to grieve in times of

loss . It is the open Grieving, yes the un-contained tears , not the internalizing ,
that often helps more quickly, more completely the healing process. But this
right, this privilege, is being taken away from Jeremiah, He is not to mourn,
even for close relatives, not to join in the normal rites and rituals of the people
of Judah,. God had taken away His peace from a rebellious people. ,.

NOT TO PRAY for them , NOT TO MARRY a wife , NOT TO MOURN WITH
HIS PEOPLE . But IT DOES NOT STOP THERE or end there. God instructs
JEREMIAH NOT TO go to the Jewish FEASTS OR CELEBRATIONS.

Jeremiah16 verses 8-9 “Also you shall not go into the house of feasting to sit
with them, to eat and drink.” For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
“Behold, I will cause to cease from this place, before your eyes and in your days,
the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the
voice of the bride.”

When the crisis of judgment came upon Judah there would be no gladness,NO
wedding celebrations. The sheer gravity of the situation was such that Jeremiah
is commanded to detach himself from festivals, feasts, public celebrations. God
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‘s peace, his blessing, his pity no longer rested or dwelt on the people of
Judah .The same God who gives peace; can also withhold peace from those who
are hardened in sin.
. Yes The Origin of Sin: Adam and Eve
. The Severity of Sin: in Israel’s rebellion, in their turning to other gods.

Romans 5:12 a"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and
death through sin, and in this way death came to all people because all have
sinned. Romans 6: 23 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

BUT TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RESTORATION AFTER THE

DESOLATION.

You see, Although sin carries a heavy price, our merciful God has not left us
without hope but has provided a way for us to be redeemed from sin and its
eternal consequences. There is .Judgement for the wicked. Yes, But God
preserves the lives of the righteous and continues to perpetuate his redemptive
plan for eternity.

The nation of Israel was destroyed just as Jeremiah prophesied. Taken into
captivity, scattered but God would gather them back together, gather them to
himself again. He is the God of the second chance. Someone ought to say HE’S
THE GOD OF THE SECOND CHANCE , sometimes and the third and the
fourth chance . However , if you are on this platform, or in your room and
hearing this message or if you hear this message rebroadcast later, and have
not fully committed your life to God, the warning comes, do not push your luck
You may think you have time on your side, but death has no timing .So we
implore you ,give your life to Jesus Christ, now today.

So our theme. Restoration after desolation. God is the creator of new

beginnings. Even Jeremiah was to prophesy about restoration a new beginning
for Israel.

Jeremiah 32:37  Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, where I have
driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring
them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
Ezekiel 37:21  And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take
the children of Israel from among the heathen, where they are gone, and will
gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:

The voices of joy and celebration, the lament of mourning may be be stilled
now , silenced for a while, but there is yet a glimmer of hope shining through the
darkness. For The Lord, in His infinite mercy, will not abandon His people
forever.

Israel would be restored as a nation.We are here now, on the Wake up for the
Word platform some 2500 or more years later, for Jeremiah lived from 650 to
570 bc we are told We all can testify that Israel has been restored as a nation.
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The scattered people have been gathered again to their mother land, the place of
their possession.

For a period of over 400 years after Israel was taken in captivity, God’s voice
had been silent . No major word, no prophet warning, no preaching in the
solemn assembly recorded… A period of empty.

But God had a redemptive plan.

Gal 4: 4. For when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law,5  To redeem them that were under the
law The Messiah came , not just Israels hope of redemption but also for us the
non-Jews.

Herein then is our Hope of Redemption. Once we heed the call to repentance,
and embrace God's mercy and his grace we experience his life changing life ,
life transforming power that flows full and free for all. The hymn writer penned
the words, Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, To every believer the
promise of God; The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus
a pardon receives.

.For those on the platform who have not yet fully submitted to God what are
you waiting for. Acts 3:19 urges us, "Repent, then, and turn to God so that your
sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." The
opportunity is now, Today if you hear his voice harden not your heart.

In concluding, every time we pray as Jesus directed, Father your kingdom

come , your will be done on earth as in heaven, we take territory and claim
territory for the Kingdom of God. And Every time we to share the gospel, to
those near and far, we advance the Kingdom of God. Jesus return is imminent
and this message of the Kingdom must be preached as a witness until the end
comes.

So let us (like Jeremiah and the prophets of Israel) refuse to be silent or

silenced, when we see our own family members and country and people headed
for destruction.

. Let us turn our hearts towards God, our affection and deep passions towards
him , and strive for righteousness even as we cry out for the salvation of our
children, our family, our community our nation.. And take a stand for God and
holiness. With God on our side and with the fervent intercession of the
righteous, crisis can be averted in our nation , in our world, in our generation
and in our time. Let us open our mikes and thank God for sparing our lives over
and over again and giving us a second chance. . Come on lift a praise to our God.
God bless you all.