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YAG 11th Retreat Session 1

Text: Jeremiah 1-4

YAG 11th RETREAT 
Session 1
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Theme: “CALL TO ME”

GOALS

1. To understand why people do not pray as they ought

2. To encourage the practice of prayer

3. To deepen knowledge of prayer

4. To have an enhanced prayer life

5. To develop a prayer ministry

6. To fathom the concept “Call to Me”

a) The initial Call

i) To repentance

ii) To restoration

iii) To renewal

b) The further Call

i) To examine self

ii) To examine deeds

iii) To explore new dimensions

iv) To experience new things from the Lord

c) A sustained Prayer-relationship

i) Prayer as a relationship

ii) On-going relationship

iii) Interactive relationship

INTRODUCTION

1. Common understanding of Prayer

a) Praise (thanksgiving)

b) Petition (requests)

c) Confession

d) Intercession

2. Elements of Effective Prayer

a) Faith

b) Knowledge

i) Of God

ii) Of self

c) Relationship with God

3. Ordinary circumstances of life

General prayers may suffice

4. Extraordinary circumstances of life

a) Would general prayers be enough?

b) If not, how may we pray?

5. Extraordinary circumstances in the history of ancient Israel

a) Impending invasion of the Babylonians

b) Judah was on its last legs

6. The Ministry of Jeremiah

a) As a significant prophet of God

b) Vital lessons of Prayer learned through years of intercession for Judah

A. UNDERSTANDING WHY ISRAEL DID NOT PRAY MUCH

1. Committed two evils

a) Forsaking a precious relationship with God

They have forsaken Me

Jeremiah 2:13b

b) Choosing idolatry

Broken cisterns that can hold no water

Jeremiah 2:13c

2. Refusal to admit wrong

How can you say,I am not polluted, I have not gone after the Baals?

Jeremiah 2:23

Because you say, I have not sinned.

Jeremiah 2:35

a) Denial

b) Refusal to admit wrong

c) The problem of sin remains unresolved (cf. 1 John 1:8-10)

3. Stubborn despair

But you said, „There is no hope. No! For I have loved aliens and after them I will go.

Jeremiah 2:25

a) No hope in God

b) Hope in “alien” gods instead

4. Arrogance

Why do My people say, „We are lords. We will no more come to You?

Jeremiah 2:31

a) Independence

b) Self-reliance

c) Sheer pride

B. JEREMIAH’S FIRST INTERCESSORY PRAYER           Jeremiah 3:22-25

“Call to Me”           Jeremiah 33:3

1. God’s Call to Repentance

Return, you backsliding children,
And I will heal your backslidings.

Jeremiah 3:22

a) Offer to deal with the problem of backsliding

b) This spiritual malady needs healing

2. Classic Prayer of Repentance

a) Intercessory

b) On behalf of the nation (Judah)

c) Features of this prayer

i) Pointed reference to God’s call to return to Him

Indeed we do come to Thee

Jeremiah 3:22c

ii) Acknowledgment of relationship with God

For You are the LORD our God

Jeremiah 3:22d

iii) Lament of false and wrong hope

Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the
multitude of mountains

Jeremiah 3:23a

iv) Confession of sin

For we have sinned against the LORD our God

Jeremiah 3:25

v) Acknowledgment of the Lord as the Only One who can save Israel

Truly, in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel

Jeremiah 3:23b

3. Is a Prayer of Repentance sufficient?

a) For forgiveness

b) But not with reference to a fully restored relationship

c) Certainly not with reference to a life of blessings from God

4. God’s Further Call          Jeremiah 4

a) Is there truly a returning to the Lord?

If you will return, O Israel,says the LORD, Return to Me.

Jeremiah 4:1a

b) Would there be a putting away of abominable idolatrous practices?

And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight…

Jeremiah 4:1b

c) Would the Lord’s name be correctly employed?

And you shall swear. The LORD lives,
In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness

Jeremiah 4:2

i) Association with the Lord

ii) There cannot be abuse/misuse

iii) Taking of oaths in the Lord’s name alone

iv) No oaths to be taken in the name of foreign gods

d) Would there be preparedness to till soil?

Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns

Jeremiah 4:3b

i) Fallow ground is essentially untilled soil

ii) It takes a lot of hard work to till fallow ground

iii) Many thorns infest fallow ground

e) The Practice of circumcision

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your hearts

Jeremiah 4:4

i) The physical

ii) The spiritual

f) God wanted Jeremiah to expand:-

g) His knowledge of the gravity of the sin problem of Judah

h) His knowledge of how God would deal with every situation individually/differently

5. Jeremiah’s Need for Personal Growth

a) Of Knowledge of God

b) Of faith in God

c) Of God’s judgment

d) Of the nature of the sin-problem of Israel

e) Of the Profound Will of God

f) Limited knowledge hinders

i) Personal Prayer

ii) Intercessory Ministry

iii) General ministry

6. Jeremiah’s personal misgiving

Then I said, „Ah, Lord God,
Surely You have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem,
Saying, You shall have peace,
Whereas the sword reaches to the heart.

Jeremiah 4:10

a) Superficial understanding

b) The hope of peace

c) The threat of death (“sword reaches to the heart”)