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Family Camp 2016 : Consecration Evening Message : PERSEVERING AMIDST AFFLICTIONS

Text: Jeremiah 33; Lamentations
16 March 2016

PERSEVERING AMIDST AFFLICTIONS

INTRODUCTION

  1. Afflictions in life adversely affect many

  1. Examples of affliction experienced by Jeremiah and Judah/ Jerusalem

(From Lamentations)

a) Desolation (loneliness)                    Lamentations 1:1, 4, 17
b) Treachery from friends                   Lamentations 1:2
c) Captivity                                                 Lamentations 1:3, 5
d) Hard servitude                                    Lamentations 1:3
e) Adversaries                                           Lamentations 1:5
f) No more splendour                            Lamentations 1:6
g) Downfall                                                Lamentations 1:7
h) Despising                                              Lamentations 1:8
i) No comforter                                        Lamentations 1:9
j) Scorn                                                       Lamentations 1:11
k) Trampled underfoot                         Lamentations 1:15

  1. Expressions of deep sadness

a) Weeping bitterly                                Lamentations 1:2, 16
b) Sighing                                                  Lamentations 1:4, 8, 11
c) Bitterness                                             Lamentations 1:4
d) Sorrow                                                  Lamentations 1:12
e) Strength failed                                   Lamentations 1:14
f) Soul troubled                                      Lamentations 1:20
g) Heart faint                                          Lamentations 1:22

 REFLECTION: SINS

  1. Transgressions                   Lamentations 1:14

  1. Rebellion                              Lamentations 1:18, 20

REFLECTION: JUDGMENT OF GOD

  1. The LORD                                          Lamentations 1:12, 15

  1. The LORD is righteous                 Lamentations 1:18

  1. The LORD has commanded       Lamentations 1:17

a) He has inflicted                                       Lamentations 1:12
b) In the day of His fierce anger            Lamentations 1:12
c) He has sent fire                                       Lamentations 1:13
d) Overpowered                                           Lamentations 1:13
e) Spread a net for my feet                      Lamentations 1:13
f) Turned me back                                      Lamentations 1:13
g) Made me desolate                                 Lamentations 1:13
h) Faint all the day                                    Lamentations 1:13
i) Sins are like a heavy yoke                  Lamentations 1:14
j) Strength failed                                       Lamentations 1:14
k) Delivered me                                         Lamentations 1:14
l) Trampled underfoot                            Lamentations 1:15

PRAYING INTERACTIVELY I: INITIAL PRAYERS

  1. Presentation of petition: Affliction from enemies

a) O LORD, behold my affliction            Lamentations 1:9
For the enemy is exalted
b) See, O LORD, and consider,               Lamentations 1:11|
For I am scorned
c) For these things I weep                        Lamentations 1:16
d) See, O LORD, I am in distress          Lamentations 1:20

2. Pondering the LORD’s Judgment

a) The LORD has inflicted                                Lamentations 1:12
b) The LORD has trampled underfoot         Lamentations 1:15
c) The LORD has commanded                         Lamentations 1:17
d) The LORD is righteous                                 Lamentations 1:18

  1. Praying against wicked enemies (Imprecatory)

a) That they may become like me                            Lamentations 1:21
b) Let all their wickedness come before You      Lamentations 1:22
c) Do to them as You have done to me                  Lamentations 1:22

PRAYING INTERACTIVELY II: PRAYING IN HOPE

(Lamentations 3:21-66)

  1. Recalling                                                         Lamentations 3:21

  1. Finding hope                                                 Lamentations 3:21

a) In the Lord
b) The Lord as our portion                                           Lamentations 3:24
c) Seeking Him                                                                  Lamentations 3:25
d) Waiting upon Him                                                      Lamentations 3:26
e) Bearing yoke                                                                  Lamentations 3:27
f) It is good that one should hope
And wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD   Lamentations 3:26

  1. Recalling the LORD’s attributes            Lamentations 3:22-25

a) His mercies                                                                   Lamentations 3:22
b) His compassions fail not                                         Lamentations 3:22
c) His great faithfulness                                               Lamentations 3:23
d) His goodness                                                               Lamentations 3:25

  1. Understanding the Lord and afflictions

a) The LORD will not cast off forever                                Lamentations 3:31
b) Though He causes grief He will show compassion Lamentations 3:32
c) He does not afflict willingly
Nor grieves the children of men                                          Lamentations 3:33

  1. Examining our ways

a) Let us search and examine our ways                         Lamentations 3:40
b) Let us turn back to the LORD                                        Lamentations 3:40
c) Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven Lamentations 3:41
d) We have transgressed and rebelled                            Lamentations 3:42

  1. Understanding God’s anger and why prayers are not answered

a) You have not pardoned                                                     Lamentations 3:42
b) You have covered Yourself in anger                            Lamentations 3:43
c) Pursued us                                                                             Lamentations 3:43
d) You have slain and not pitied                                         Lamentations 3:43
e) You have covered Yourself with a cloud                    Lamentations 3:44
f) That prayer should not pass through                          Lamentations 3:44

PRAYING INTERACTIVELY III: PERSEVERING IN PRAYER

  1. Praying in tears

My eyes overflow with rivers of water                                           Lamentations 3:48
My eyes flow and do not cease, without interruption             Lamentations 3:49
My eyes bring suffering to my soul
Because of all the daughters of my city                                         Lamentations 3:51

  1. Intercessory prayers for others

For the destruction of the daughter of my people                    Lamentations 3:48
Till the LORD from heaven looks down and sees                     Lamentations 3:50
I called on Your name, O LORD, from the lowest pit              Lamentations 3:55
Do not hide Your ear from my sighing,
From my cry for help                                                                          Lamentations 3:56

GOD’S RESPONSE

  1. You have heard my voice                                          Lamentations 3:56

  1. You drew near on the day I called on You         Lamentations 3:57

  1. And said, “Do not fear”                                             Lamentations 3:57

PRAYING INTERACTIVELY IV: GRATITUDE

  1. O LORD, You have pleaded the case for my soul           Lamentations 3:58

  1. You have redeemed my life                                                    Lamentations 3:58

  1. O LORD, You have seen how I am wronged;                   Lamentations 3:59
    Judge my case

CONSECRATION

  1. To hold fast to our faith in God

  1. To persevere in prayer

  1. To grow even more amidst affliction

  1. To develop an even stronger faith in God

  1. To never abandon hope

  1. To return to God and to build an even greater faith