Sermon Tips from the text of 1 Peter 4:1-6

 Sermon Tips for Expository Preachers, Listeners, and Students

 

Bible Reading Reflection from Lamentations 1-5

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕃𝔸𝕄𝔼ℕ𝕋𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ𝕊 𝟙:𝟚

"She weeps bitterly in the night And her tears are on her cheeks; She has none to comfort her Among all her lovers. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; They have become her enemies."

An irresponsible person may read this and think that it's written about a woman or may even send this verse to one. Well, it's about Jerusalem personified as a hapless woman. Terrible is the judgment against her. But how merciful it is that she doesn't perish but is given enough time and perfect circumstances to think through her ways! That's our God. Though He judges He gives us enough time and a perfect environment to reconsider our ways.

But the hardened sinners like in the book of Revelation shall keep on cursing God and never repent before God! Blessed is the one who is hurt, humbled, and comes to God in contrite spirit.

 

𝕃𝔸𝕄𝔼ℕ𝕋𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ𝕊 𝟚:𝟚𝟘

"See, O LORD, and look! With whom have You dealt thus? Should women eat their offspring, The little ones who were born healthy? Should priest and prophet be slain In the sanctuary of the Lord?"

If God brought such things to His people Israel, would not He be more severe to the godless people?

We haven't seen such a scale of depravity in our generation or few before. But it shouldn't surprise us if such thing happens again. Our world is always ripe for judgment. God somehow chooses to delay His judgment so that many would repent and not go through it.

 

𝕃𝔸𝕄𝔼ℕ𝕋𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ𝕊 𝟛:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟛

"This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."

I guess most Christians remember Lamentations for this passage. Indeed, a passage of hope in the Lamentations. It shines brightest in the middle of Lamentations.

It's not by complaining our sorrows are dispersed, it's by contemplating the compassion of God.

God has always been merciful, graceful, and good to us. Yes, always. We deserve nothing but the wrath of God. Yet God has given us air, water, and food; sunshine and rain; the gift of life, marriage, and family; and above all the gift of eternal life!

Great is God's faithfulness towards us, the faithless, unfaithful people!

 

𝕃𝔸𝕄𝔼ℕ𝕋𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ𝕊 𝟜:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟚

"Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, Who dwells in the land of Uz; But the cup will come around to you as well, You will become drunk and make yourself naked. The punishment of your iniquity has been completed, O daughter of Zion; He will exile you no longer. But He will punish your iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins!"

There's indeed a time for everything. Punishment and Restoration.

Disobedience will always lead to punishment and punishment will ultimately lead to repentance to obedience which in turn will lead to restoration. God is great. Everything is in His control.

However, the sarcasm used against Edom is funny and serious indeed! Prophets love sarcasm.

 

𝕃𝔸𝕄𝔼ℕ𝕋𝔸𝕋𝕀𝕆ℕ𝕊 𝟝:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟚

"Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old, Unless You have utterly rejected us And are exceedingly angry with us."

Jeremiah ended his lamentation with a prayer for restoration. He prayed so because he knew God would not leave unfinished what He started. God is not a man to give up. Nothing is too difficult for Him.

Bible Reading Reflection from Jeremiah 46-52

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟞:𝟚𝟠

“‘O Jacob My servant, do not fear,’ declares the LORD, ‘For I am with you. For I will make a full end of all the nations Where I have driven you, Yet I will not make a full end of you; But I will correct you properly And by no means leave you unpunished.’”

God punishes every disobedient people, including His people, but He will not utterly destroy His people because He has a plan to restore them. All other nations shall perish but not Israel. The Scripture assures this again and again. And so, we see Israel still remaining while other ancient nations and their people are no longer extant.

It's foolish for people to ignore or neglect the veracity of Biblical predictions and warnings. There will be no excuse for ignorance, only damnation. God drowned the entire world once; He will do it again. He plunged the whole world into damnation just because a naive couple ate a fruit. What makes people think God will understand them for their ignorance. Hell beneath is excited to meet them, Isaiah said!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟟:𝟜

"On account of the day that is coming To destroy all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon Every ally that is left; For the LORD is going to destroy the Philistines, The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor."

If the Lord punished His people, why would not He punish the wicked nation? If the Lord chastises the redeemed for their sins, why wouldn't He pour out His wrath on those who defy Him? If the Lord allows bad things to happen to God's people, why won't evil things happen to the godless? If the saints of God aren't living a perfect life, why would anyone think sinners are enjoying a great life? The worst life of a believer is better than the best life of an unbeliever.

In fact, Jesus said it would have been better if the stumblers were not born. If they are born, still it's better to get drowned in the bed of an ocean. Hmm! Even the life of an aborted fetus is better than the best successful life of an unbelieving billionaire!

So, stop envying those millionaires and billionaires, and your neighbors next door!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟠:𝟙𝟘

"Cursed be the one who does the LORD'S work negligently, And cursed be the one who restrains his sword from blood."

Wow! This curse is upon those who don't do the work of God diligently.

And what work of God is Jeremiah talking about? It's to kill, to destroy, to burn down the cities.

The kings and soldiers must not hesitate to kill the Moabites. They should not have a second thought to stab pregnant women to death. They should not show mercy to the crying child, nor to the elderly citizens. They must strike them to death. They must set their houses, homes, fields on fire.

Or else God will curse them. Wow! BTW, that’s exactly how wars were fought in ancient times. David, the man after God's own heart had slaughtered ten thousand people. Samuel the prophet hacked King Agag into pieces!

God drowned everyone in the flood of Noah! He rained sulfuric acid upon Sodom and Gomorrah! And God didn't spare His Own Son when He bore the sins of His people; He damned Him at the Cross!

Sins lead to death. Even Jesus, though not a sinner, but a sin-bearer had to bleed and die.

To love God is to hate what God hates

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟡:𝟛𝟡

"But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, declares the LORD."

The repeated refrain is this in the latter days God will restore those whom He would destroy. God seeks repentance unto Him. God does everything for our own good. Indeed, He doesn't take pleasure in the death of the wicked!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟝𝟘:𝟚𝟡

"Summon many against Babylon, All those who bend the bow: Encamp against her on every side, Let there be no escape. Repay her according to her work; According to all that she has done, so do to her; For she has become arrogant against the LORD, Against the Holy One of Israel."

So, God will repay each one according to their works. Indeed, the Lord's saying, "Do unto others what you want them to do unto you" is applicable even in bad, evil things!

God will make sure it happens!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟝𝟙:𝟝

"For neither Israel nor Judah has been forsaken By his God, the LORD of hosts, Although their land is full of guilt Before the Holy One of Israel."

If the Lord does not spare His people, why would He spare others?

Actually, God's hand against His people is a chastisement like a good father disciplining his disobedient child. God never will leave them. He cannot because He can make them obedient and righteous again.

But how terrible is the fate of those who defy God! 🥶

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟝𝟚:𝟚𝟜

"Then the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest, with the three officers of the temple."

If the temple of God was destroyed mercilessly, and if the priests of God were taken into exiles, it will not be unprecedented to see Churches being burnt down and Christians being persecuted by the government!

It's a mercy of God that hasn't reached us still!

Bible Reading Reflection from Jeremiah 39-45

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟡:𝟟

"He put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon."

Zedekiah indeed saw the King of Babylon but because of his disobedience, it wasn't for good; he saw no more. The last thing he saw with his eyes was the slaughter of his children and nobles. He was responsible for their cruel death. God had a plan for them to be safe. They including Zedekiah wanted a better solution, and that's how they ended: Slaughtered.

Last year November, a famous Canadian evangelical blogger, Tim Challies lost his son in the USA. Because of travel protocol, it took many days for his dead body to be brought home. When his body finally arrived, they could open the coffin and look at the decomposed body or choose not to.

It was a tough call. It was the last moment the family will ever see his body on this side of heaven. It was their son, they wanted to. But they decided to not look at him because they didn't want that picture of their beloved son to be the last thing they had seen. They preferred to remember the day when he went to America.

Last thing seen matters. Zedekiah had to bear that horror till his death! That's what God has for disobedient people!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟘:𝟚

"The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, "The LORD your God pronounced this disaster against this place."

Nebuzaradun, the captain of the heathens had a better theology than the priests, prophets, princes, and the king of Israel. And he was kind to Jeremiah unlike them. He esteemed Jeremiah well!

The wise men from the east came to the infant Jesus.

It is said that Genghis Khan used to say, "I am the instrument of God to punish you" whenever he terrorized the cities.

God has revealed enough about who He is and what He requires even outside the Bible and outside the man Jesus. But knowledge of Salvation is only through His Son, through His Word, the Bible.

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟙:𝟙𝟝

"But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men and went to the sons of Ammon."

A disappointing verse at first read, right? Such a wicked man should be executed, but he escaped. Actually, it's comforting to have such an account in the inspired word of God. That there will be some wicked people who will seem to escape human judgment. And when we see that, we can be reminded that it is not unprecedented. And that the righteous Lord will bring justice, which none will escape. If not in a lifetime, after a lifetime (after death, on the Day of Judgment).

The demand for justice in our today's life is temporary and actually not 100 just. We, Christians should not act like there is no other justice. Actually, God says, "Vengeance is Mine." Not ours!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟚:𝟚𝟘

“For you have only deceived yourselves; for it is you who sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God; and whatever the LORD our God says, tell us so, and we will do it.’”

These guys were hypocrites. They pretended to be what they were not. They acted like they wanted to obey God, but clearly, they didn't. To be gracious, let's say they really wanted to obey God if it was according to their likes. But that's using God to serve them. That's slaving God.

They deceived themselves by telling Jeremiah that they wanted to obey God. Well, I am sure I had been like them in some areas, which I ain't comfortable to recall now. But I have also seen a lot of such people.

They would ask for counseling but would reject when they didn't like it. For example, a friend of mine asked me whether he could marry a non-Christian girl, because he wanted to honor God. Well, he married her anyway deceiving himself. He didn't deceive or fool me because I knew his heart was not right. He was fooling himself.

Jeremiah knew these people—their hypocrisy. But since they asked, he told them the truth. And they just disobeyed, not liking what they were told!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟛:𝟚

“Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, "You are telling a lie! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, 'You are not to enter Egypt to reside there.'””

This is what people do when they don't want the truth. They don't want to accept it. They don't want to believe it. To the extent that they will suppress the truth with the kind of truth they like. Actually, most people do the best thing, the righteous things. It's just that it's their version, not God's standard. When they deviate from God, nothing's good.

Adam-Eve wanted to be wiser, which looks good to them, and even to us, right? Saul wanted to make a sacrifice to God, which look good to him, and even to us. We commit any sin because it looks good to us at the moment. All this perverted thinking because we don't want to believe.

The Israelites refused to believe and made Jeremiah a liar. Lucky that he wasn't killed. Jesus was accused to be a liar (blasphemer) and they crucified Him! Be not unbelieving, Believe.

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟜:𝟙𝟞

"As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you."

Sin hardens hearts! They were collectively openly rebellious. They claimed to be God's people doing what they wanted. We see it in our time as well. Gay and Transgender people are ordained as bishops. I would say even those women who contested to be ordained as pastors!

It's worshipping the queen of heaven, not the God of Heaven!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟝:𝟝

"And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go."

Smallest chapter in the book of Jeremiah. And it's a personal message for Baruch, the secretary of Jeremiah.

God sees his hard life and hears his complaints. So, God answers him with a mild rebuke and assurance of God's protection.

Are you seeking after a great thing other than the plan God has for you?

Sermon Tips from the text of 1 Peter 3:18-22

 Sermon Tips for Expository Preachers, Listeners, and Students

Bible Reading Reflection from Jeremiah 30-38

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟘:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟜

"For thus says the LORD: Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous.  There is none to uphold your cause, no medicine for your wound, no healing for you. All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, the punishment of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant."

The imagery is compared to physical pain and emotional pain. Ruined, abandoned, dying. Yet, God shall restore them again. No darkness is too dark for God. God is not dead. God is alive. He has His purpose for everything.

Satan may lift up. Wicked people may seem to prevail now, but God will raise up His people in a due time. And the present suffering, past suffering, threat, trouble whatever will be like dew in the morning sun. God's grace will outshine every darkness, pain, and suffering!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟙:𝟚𝟝

"For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."

Jeremiah 31 has a lot of good stuff. And it is especially known for the New Covenant. But what pleases me most in today's reading is verse 25, that God will satisfy the weary soul. And if someone says, "I am dying, I have lost appetite, I don't want anything" God says, "I will replenish your soul!" Wow! Satisfying and Replenishing.

What are we hungry for and where and how will we be satisfied? Behold the Lord. Are you tired, discouraged, and all your dreams shattered? Behold the Lord!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟚:𝟚𝟟

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?"

Let's remember that there's such verse in the Bible. God is asking about His power? The answer is "Nothing is too hard for God."

Jeremiah was told to tell the people to live in Babylon happily. Yet for himself, he was told to buy land in Judah. There are some people whom God uses for an object lesson. Why would the children of missionaries die? Are they not some of the most faithful human beings on earth? God told Jeremiah to do many strange things!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟛:𝟚-𝟛

"Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it-the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."

Wonderful nature of God. Answering God. Ever ready to tell beyond our imagination!

Sometimes, we think we have a great plan, and it looks that it should be reasonable for God to co-operate with us😅 But He knows and plans to do greater things that have never even come to our imagination yet.

Call on God!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟜:𝟛-𝟝

"‘You shall not escape from his hand but shall surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You shall see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face. And you shall go to Babylon.’ Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the LORD concerning you: 'You shall not die by the sword. You shall die in peace. And as spices were burned for your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so people shall burn spices for you and lament for you, saying, "Alas, lord!"' For I have spoken the word, declares the LORD."

This was a good prophecy that turned out to be not that good for Zedekiah because of his sin. He was stupid. He was a coward. He was rebellious. He was proud. He was disobedient. He didn't regard the word of God. He feared men but didn't fear God. Wow! The list of his sins went on and on...

Still, it was fulfilled exactly. He saw Nebuchadnezzar but then his eyes were taken out. Zedekiah wanted freedom from Nebuchadnezzar but he didn't have the character to achieve that, but God decided to give him a peaceful life. Still, he refused to accept even that and rebelled against God and so, though he was given a peaceful life, but without eyes. But what good is that peace without eyes? Perhaps, it wasn't supposed to be that way. God modified his plan, something like that.

Hezekiah was told to get ready for his death. That's great. Did God tell anybody else to get ready for his death? Hezekiah didn't rebel like Zedekiah, but he prayed earnestly. God let him live for another 15 years. But still, Manasseh, the most wicked king was born. That guy shouldn't have been born. Hezekiah's refusal to die caused that trouble. But in the good purpose of God, and in accordance with the godly request of Hezekiah, God granted Manasseh repentance in his later life. But it was too late. It ushered in the exile of Judah. The map of Jews was wiped out from the planet earth. Till today, Israel has no recognized international boundaries.

Let's learn to accept things from God gladly knowing He knows best!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟠-𝟙𝟡

“But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.’”

If we remain faithful, if we remain obedient, even when everyone is going mainstream, we can hope to see the exaltation from the Lord.

David Brainerd was in ministry for just one year. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 29. God uses him to raise up William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Henry Martin, and thousands of faithful missionaries.

Our life may be insignificant, short, and may seem unfruitful, but God promises a reward to those who are faithful in their lifetime or after their death or in heaven or all of them!

 God blessed the children of Jonadab for obedience.  And it's a simple thing: abstaining from wine. But remember what Mother Teresa said, "Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing."

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟞:𝟚𝟞

"And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the secretary and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them."

God knows how to protect His man. He hid Elijah, Apostle Paul, and even Jesus Christ. He hid Jeremiah and Baruch as well!

He protected Martin Luther and John Wycliffe.

Even recently, in America, God protected some churches from shutting down. They won a lawsuit against the government.

Nothing can snatch us away if the Lord doesn't will so. Also, if the Lord wills to let us die, nothing can prevent it from happening.

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟟:𝟛

“King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, ‘Please pray for us to the LORD our God.’”

Zedekiah didn't listen to God, but he expected God to bless them through the prayer of righteous man, Jeremiah! Is this not what's going on till today? But there's growing a section of professing Christians who neither pray fervently for themselves nor seek their pastor's prayer for themselves!

 

𝕁𝔼ℝ𝔼𝕄𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟠:𝟝

"King Zedekiah said, ‘Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you.’"

Don't ever name your son Zedekiah😂 This guy is a coward. Yes, it was a difficult time, but that's why courage was all the more needed, leadership was needed. He knew the truth. Everyone knew the destruction was inevitable. But they didn't like the truth. So, they would rather silence the truth and tell lies.

Be careful of yourself when you don't like the truth. Be careful of yourself when you are obsessed with one thing. As Ben Shapiro says, "Facts do not care your feelings"