Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
September 18, 2022

Jeremiah: A Light in the World
by Sewell Hall, with a few edits
Read through the book of Jeremiah and make a note of every hardship and discouragement he had to endure. He was constantly opposed by civil and religious authorities. He was the object of a plot to take his life (Jeremiah 11:18-22). He was physically attacked, seized, and imprisoned more than once (Jeremiah 32, 37), and on one occasion placed in a dungeon where he sank in the mire and was left to die (Jeremiah 37-38).
Socially, he was “a reproach and a derision” (Jeremiah 20:8). God revealed that even his brothers, who spoke smooth words to him, were dealing treacherously with him (Jeremiah 12:6). A wife might have been some comfort, except that God had instructed him not to marry. He was not even permitted to attend feasts or funerals (Jeremiah 16:1-9).
The sacrifices Jeremiah made were not made to assure his continued financial support; if he ever received any financial support, it is not recorded. Those sacrifices were made to increase the effectiveness of his preaching. To make one point more impressive, he even bought a piece of land which he knew would fall into the hands of the conquering Babylonians before he could hope to make any use of it (Jeremiah 32). Yet, despite all these heroic efforts to get his message across, hardly anyone listened. One king showed his disdain for Jeremiah by cutting up his carefully written manuscript, page by page as it was read, and casting it into the fire (Jeremiah 36). Others were more respectful outwardly, but disregarded completely his message from God. In fact, Jeremiah died in Egypt (according to sources outside the Bible), carried there against his will by men who had sought his advice, but rejected it when they did not agree with it (Jeremiah 42-43).
So discouraged did Jeremiah become that he cried out: “Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent for interest nor have men lent to me for interest. Every one of them curses me” (Jeremiah 15:10). If any man ever lost his “self-esteem,” it was Jeremiah (see also Jeremiah 20:14-18).
Yet, Jeremiah kept preaching. Why?
Preaching for Jeremiah was not a profession, but an obsession. He explained it for us: “O Lord, you have induced me, and I was persuaded; everyone mocks me…Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not” (Jeremiah 20:7, 9).
The great need for our day is men in whom the word of God is like a burning fire shut up in their bones—men who cannot hold it back. Such men will preach continually and never cease. They may not expect or receive financial support, but they will preach. If a congregation invites them to preach, they will be glad to accept. If not, they will accept whatever opportunities they have—in homes, and in places where other groups are gathered. If a group cannot be gathered, they will preach to every individual they meet as Philip preached to the eunuch (Acts 8:35-40).
Preaching as a profession is an abomination. As a divinely inspired obsession, it is God’s chosen means of saving the world.

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	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 365-5887 / (334) 868-0801
	prattmont@gmail.com / prattmontchurchofchrist.org

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

TIMES OF SERVICES:
Sunday
Bible Classes………...9 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Worship/Bible Study..5 P.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.