How, Lord, are we to come to You?

Jeremiah 3:1-25 Lord, You call us to ‘return’ to You (Jeremiah 3:14,22). You call us to make our response to You. You invite us to say, ‘Yes, we will come to You, for You are the Lord our God’ (Jeremiah 3:22). How are we to come to You? We are to come to You, confessing our …

The history of God’s salvation – Jesus is our Saviour and Lord.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). When we think about the history of God's salvation, we begin with God's everlasting love. We go back beyond the beginning of the world - back to the everlasting God and his everlasting love. "That it might be fulfilled" (Matthew 1:21). When we focus our …

Run away from Babylon! Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered.

God’s Word speaks against us so that we might learn not to speak against God’s Word. God calls us to holiness - “Run away from Babylon! Run for your lives!” (Jeremiah 51:6). The final outcome is described in Jeremiah 51:8 - “Babylon will suddenly fall and be shattered.” God is warning us. It is folly …

A New Beginning: Some thoughts from the Scriptures

Genesis 1:1-3‘Genesis’ means ‘beginning’. Its opening verses challenge us to get our priorities right. (a) the priority of God(1) God comes first. Before anyone else is mentioned, He is there. (b) the priority of God’s Word (3) God is the first to speak. Before any human word is spoken, there is the Word of the Lord. (c) the priority …

Something that we still need to hear …

So many people feel that they can live their life perfectly well without Jesus Christ, until testing and trying times come their way - then they're no so sure! The changing circumstances of our life can make us wonder if we have been too quick to dismiss something very important - something that remains constant …

Don’t Try To Fool God.

"This return to obedience (Jeremiah 34:9) came, alas, too late, and anyhow, it fell through very quickly. It was simply a bribe to God, to induce Him to save them from danger, and when they found it did not work, they lost enthusiasm for God's commands. People still try to fool God that way today, …

A Faith That Is Personal – But Not Private

Jeremiah 16:1-21 ‘O Lord, my Strength and my Stronghold, my Refuge in the day of trouble, to You the nations will come from the ends of the earth… They will know that My Name is the Lord’ (Jeremiah 16:19,21). Give us, Lord, a faith that is personal – The Lord is my Strength, my Stronghold, my …

Responding to God’s Word (21): Amazing grace

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15). You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). The Word of God is preached to us by his faithful servants. They study the Word of the Lord. They pray that …

Do We Seek Great Things For Ourselves – Or For God?

"Amidst his ministry to the nations, this spiritual giant has time  for a penetrating word for his scribe. Often the larger affairs of national prophecy can conceal petty ambitions in lesser men. Baruch wanted to be something - and instantly the discerning prophet pierced his heart with these searching and challenging words, "Should you then …

There’s a way back to God from the dark paths of sin… when you come as a sinner to Jesus.

Jeremiah 19:1-20:6  -  ‘Listen! I am going to bring on this city and the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stubborn and would not listen to My Word’ (15). God is warning the people. He is calling them back from the way of sin and disobedience. He is calling …

When things are difficult, keep on praying.

Jeremiah 35:1-37:21; 1 Timothy 2:1-15; Psalm 119:49-56 Life was not easy for the prophet Jeremiah. The king and his attendants did not pay “any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet” (Jeremiah 37:1-2). We must pray for “kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). They have so much …

God calls us to be faithful and fearless preachers of His Word.

Jeremiah 25:15-26:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28; Psalm 119:17-24 The word of judgment is not an easy word to speak, yet it must be spoken in every generation. It was spoken by the Old Testament prophets (Jeremiah 25:15). It was spoken by the New Testament apostles (1 Thessalonians 5:9). The wrath of God is part of the …

Some Simple Thoughts From The Scriptures

Genesis When I was writing these words, I was thinking of some of the stories in the book of Genesis (the book of beginnings). I was thinking about Adam, Abraham and Joseph - and I was thinking about Jesus!___________________________________________ It was the genesis of my life.Things were looking so good.Then, it all went badly wrong.What …

In The Wilderness

"The wilderness (Jeremiah 31:2) is God's 'qualifying' class for His children! We have so often to learn the hard way! What is your 'wilderness'? Sorrow, loneliness, poverty of spirit? Have you found grace there? It is at hand. Lord, open mine eyes that I may see!" (Rev James Philip, Notes on Jeremiah 31:1-3, Gardesnstown Church, …

A New Heart And A New Life

"Note the twofold blessing of this new covenant: forgiveness and a new heart to keep His commandments. O the wonder of it! His law in our inward parts - what can this mean but that we are to live it out  day by day. This is our inheritance. Let us claim it and dare to …

Make Sure You’re Not Arguing With God!

"Here is a favourite trick people have, when they resist God's will . They do not dare oppose God openly, they take it out on the Lord's servants. Many honoured and faithful servants of God suffer agonies when the spleen of convicted Christians vents itself upon them, Friends, your quarrel is not with the servant, …

‘I know the plans I have for you… to give you a future and a hope.’

Jeremiah 29:1-32 ‘I know the plans I have for you... to give you a future and a hope.’ Lord, this was Your long-term purpose for Your people. It was important that they did not lose sight of this. There would be ‘seventy years’ of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:10-11). At times, they must have wondered, …

Don’t Let Familiarity Breed Contempt!

"The impressive thing here is the respect shown to Jeremiah by the pagan authorities. Strange, is it not that the outsiders seem more able  to recognize the worth of God's servants than God's people do? Familiarity, they say, breeds contempt. A prophet is not without honour save in his own country." (Rev James Philip, Notes …

It Won’t Be Easy!

""All that will live godly will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). Jeremiah is put in a foul dungeon for being faithful to God's Word. There are times when all respectability is shorn from men and the bitter hatred of their hearts is revealed. None are so bitter as those who are stung by God's Word …

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: Genesis 22:1-12; Psalm 13 or Jeremiah 28:5-9; Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42 Let us look to Christ, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” In Genesis 21:22-34, we see Abraham in his relationship with the world. In Genesis 22:1-14, we see Abraham in his …

Jeremiah 51-52

Jeremiah 51:1-33  –  ‘Lift up a banner in the land! Blow the trumpet among the nations!’ (27). God calls us to be His witnesses. If we are growing in our fellowship with the Lord, we will want others to know what they’re missing. We will want them to know how much blessing they cwitnould know …

Are we listening to God’s Word?

The Word of God, spoken by Jeremiah, still needs to be heard today - “O land, land, land! Listen to the Word of the Lord!” (Jeremiah 22:29). God has much to say to this land and every land. Are we listening to His Word? or Have we closed our ears? Jeremiah speaks of our Saviour, …

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me…

In Jeremiah 18:5-6, we read about the potter and the clay – “The Lord spoke his word to me. The Lord asked, “Nation of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter does with clay? Nation of Israel, you are like the clay in the potter’s hands.” When we read these words, let’s pray, “Spirit of …

God’s greatest gift – Jesus

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 or Jeremiah 20:7-13; Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 19:24-30 Let us rejoice in God’s greatest gift – Jesus. We have here the contrast between Isaac, the child of promise, and Ishmael, the fruit of unbelief. Ishmael was born as a result of impatience, the …

The Return Of God’s Blessing

"Once the stroke of God is past, the air clears and a better spirit pervades the community,under Gedaliah's kindly governorship. God's blessing on the land again appears (Jeremiah 40:12). How quick He is to turn His anger away. He doth not willingly afflict the children of men. Slow to chide, and swift to bless is …

What are you to do when you feel that your time of suffering is never going to end?

‘Afterwards I will restore the fortunes...’ (Jeremiah 49:6). Sometimes, when you’re going through a particularly difficult time, you may wonder, ‘Will this ever end?’ God speaks to us His Word of encouragement. There will be an ‘afterwards’. There will be a ‘restoration of our fortunes’. ‘The Lord will not cast us off for ever. Though …

In The Sunshine

"What price now those who say that the Old Testament God is a grim, harsh God? Bathe in the sunshine of these promises. Look at Jeremiah 31:12. Parched soul, write your name above this one, and discouraged one, take Jeremiah 31:16  from the Lord, and smile again!" (Rev James Philip, Notes on Jeremiah 31:10-22, Gardenstown …

Whose Word Are We Listening To?

"Study the end of verse 28 - 'My word, or theirs, saith the Lord.' This is the ultimate test. In darkness or shadow, it is always God's Word that stands. Heaven and earth will pass away, but not His Word. It is our wisdom to remember this all our days!" (Rev James Philip, Notes on …

When We Have Doubts

"How human all this is! Jeremiah did as God bade him, and bought the field (Jeremiah 32:1-15); then the doubts began! 'I'm the same,' we say. Yes, but do we do what he did, lay our doubts before God? 'All my doubts I give to Jesus.' O trust Him. He means what He says, and …

Jeremiah 49-50

Jeremiah 49:1-22  -  ‘Afterwards I will restore the fortunes...’ (6). Sometimes, when you’re going through a particularly difficult time, you may wonder, ‘Will this ever end?’. God speaks to us His Word of encouragement. There will be an ‘afterwards’. There will be a ‘restoration of our fortunes’. ‘The Lord will not cast us off for …

Jeremiah 46-48

Jeremiah 46:1-28  -  ‘Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, “I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants”’ (8). The spirit of rebellion against God is very powerful. Many lives have been destroyed by the attitude of proud unbelief: ‘Who is the Lord, …

Jeremiah 41-45

Jeremiah 41:1-42:6  -  Terrible things were happening! Things were going from bad to worse. ‘What next?’ - The people were wondering where it would all end. What are we to do when everything seems to be getting totally out of control? There is one thing we must never forget. It is the most important thing …

Jeremiah 32-33

Jeremiah 32:1-25  -  ‘Nothing is too hard for You’ (17). We face many difficult situations. What are you to do when you feel you can take no more? Remember the Lord. Nothing is too hard for Him. Remember His promise: ‘The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one’ …

Jeremiah 26-28

Jeremiah 26:1-24  -  ‘He has spoken to us in the Name of the Lord our God’ (16). Jeremiah was a true servant of the Lord. We need people like him today. He was faithful. He was unashamed of his Lord. He was unafraid to speak up for his Lord. We see this same faithfulness in …

Jeremiah 29-31

Jeremiah 29:1-32  -  ‘I know the plans I have for you... to give you a future and a hope’. This was God’s long-term purpose for His people. It was important that they did not lose sight of this. There would be ‘seventy years’ of captivity in Babylon (10-11). At times, they must have wondered, ‘Will …

Jeremiah 23-25

Jeremiah 23:1-20  -  ‘Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!’ (1). We are not to be like the false ‘prophets’: ‘They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord’. What were the false ‘prophets’ saying? - ‘They keep saying to those who despise …

Jeremiah 15-18

Jeremiah 15:1-21  -  Some of our problems come from outside of ourselves. Other people cause problems for us - ‘This people will fight against you’ (20). Some of our problems come from within our own hearts. Our own sins cause problems for us - ‘Put to death what is earthly in you...’ (Colossians 3:5). There …

Jeremiah 10-12

“The Lord is the only God. He is the living God and eternal King” (Jeremiah 10:10). The contrast between God and the gods is simple. God made us. We made the gods. In the Lord our God, there is majesty and mystery - the majesty of the “eternal King”, the mystery that He is always …

Jeremiah 11-14

Jeremiah 11:1-23  -  God speaks His Word to us. He calls us to obedience. He says to us, ‘Obey My voice’. Sadly, however, the story of our life is often summed up in the words: ‘They did not listen or pay attention. They did not obey’ (7-8). God’s Word is not just ‘something to think …

Jeremiah 7-9

God speaks to His people about their sin - "The people of Jerusalem turned away from Me without ever returning ..." (Jeremiah 8:5). He is not pleased with them. He is calling them to return to Him - "Change the way you live ..." (Jeremiah 7:3). The life of Israel is “like the desert” (Jeremiah …

Jeremiah 4-6

Jeremiah speaks of God’s judgment - “I’m bringing disaster and widespread destruction ...” (Jeremiah 4:6). This message comes to us as a word of warning, a plea to the people to return to the Lord and find His mercy - “So put on sackcloth, mourn and cry because the Lord’s burning anger hasn’t turned away …

Link to Rev James Philip’s notes on Jeremiah

Jeremiah

Preaching the Gospel and teaching the Word

Jeremiah 9:17-11:17; Colossians 1:24-2:5; Psalm 117:1-2 The Lord’s people are called to a ministry of preaching the Gospel and teaching the Word (Jeremiah 11:6; Colossians 1:25,28). While this ministry is carried out by particular individuals, e.g. Jeremiah and Paul, it is a ministry which is strengthened by the support and encouragement which comes from the Lord’s …

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c or Jeremiah 15:15-21; Psalm 26:1-8; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

The work of God makes progress when God’s people move forward together. Salvation, service, personal faith, life among God’s people - God has much to teach us. Moses sins (Exodus 2:12). God graciously forgives (Micah 7:18-19) - this is salvation. His sin forgiven, Moses is called to service. He is called by the eternal God, …

The Word of God is like a fire.

Jeremiah 4:10-5:31; Philippians 3:1-4:1; Psalm 116:1-11 The Word of God is like a fire, burning up the sin of man (Jeremiah 5:14). The purpose of this fire is not, however, destructive. God’s purpose is to burn up the pride which “puts confidence in the flesh”, to burn away the “legalistic righteousness.” All of that is …

Satan can do no more than God allows.

“One marvels at the grace God shows even in His wrath to wicked men. Captivity is ordained for Zedekiah, yet God wills to restrain the Babylonian conqueror, and will not allow Zedekiah to be killed. We need to remember that Satan takes orders from God - he can do no more than God allows.” (Rev …

Every spiritual blessing – in Christ: Come to Him and receive His blessing.

'I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against Me... Then this city will bring Me renown, joy, praise, and honour before all nations on earth...'(Jeremiah 33:7-9). What great blessing lay ahead of God’s people! …

God’s love, God’s Son, God’s command, God’s purpose

Easter Sunday Morning: Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10 God’s love, God’s Son, God’s command, God’s purpose ‘When the Holy Spirit comes on you... you will be My witnesses... to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8). This great advance of the Gospel …

Everlasting Love

"I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). God loves us. This isn’t for some perfect people who’ve never fallen into sin. There’s nobody who’s like that. All of us have made a mess of things – but God still says to us, “I love you.” He says, “My Son, Jesus, died for …

Belonging to the Lord

“The days are coming”: These words introduce a prophecy concerning the land (Jeremiah 30:3). The greatest blessing is not being in the land. It is belonging to the Lord. This is the blessing, spoken of by Jeremiah. When, speaking God’s Word, he writes, “You will be My people, and I will be your God” (Jeremiah …

Jeremiah – God’s Man For Difficult Times

Jeremiah 1:4-10 How old was Jeremiah when he was called to be a prophet of God? We don't know. We do know that this was the great turning-point of his life. This was the day that he discovered the meaning, purpose and direction of his life. This was revealed to him by God. This call …

Building on the Rock

The Lord is our Rock - the Rock of our salvation. We do not build on shifting sand. We build on eternal love. This love has come to us in Christ. This love gives us confidence that we can commit our eternal future into the hands of the Lord. "He loves us with an everlasting …

A Call To Listen To The Word Of The Lord

Jeremiah’s ministry was a call from God to the people - a call to “listen to the Word of the Lord” (Jeremiah 44:24). Listening to what the Lord has to say to us will mean being ready to revise our own ideas. Our thoughts, without the guiding Word from the Lord, will be very different …

Praying Through God’s Word: Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:1-19 Serving You, Lord, doesn’t begin with our choice. It begins with Your call. The initiative is Yours – not ours. Thank You, Lord, that You love us so much. Thank You for saving us – and calling us to be Your servants. Jeremiah 2:1-19 They had turned away from the Lord. They had chosen …

We Need More Than Rules And Regulations.

"The Rechabites had remained faithful to the voice of a man, yet Judah, spoken to by God Himself, had been neglectful of His Word. It is much easier to follow the rules of men than to live by God's Word. That is why so many Christians are attracted to 'regulation' Christianity, for it still leaves …

Jeremiah

JEREMIAH 1:1-19  -  To understand Jeremiah’s story, we must look ‘behind the scenes’: ‘The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations”’ (4-5). To understand our own story, …

This is what God says.

"This is what I think." This is what God says. What a difference there is between these two statements. The first - "This is what I think" - tells us that it's all about human opinion. It tells us that human opinion is all that we have - nothing more than human opinion. The second …

Lord, when You call us to obedience, we’re not to say, ‘I’ll think about that later.’

Jeremiah 11:1-23 Lord, You speak Your Word to us. You call us to obedience. You say to us, ‘Obey My voice.’ Often, Lord, the story of our life is summed up in the words: ‘They did not listen or pay attention. They did not obey’ (Jeremiah 11:7-8). Your Word is not just ‘something to think about.’ When You call us to obedience, …

Some Meditations on God’s Word

Receiving Strength from the Lord (Daniel 10:1-11:13) Daniel came to God in great weakness- ‘I am helpless… My strength is gone…’(16-17). From the Lord, Daniel received great strength- ‘The One who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength… When He spoke to me, I was strengthened…’. Daniel’s strength came from the love of …

Out of depression and defeat, into vigour and victory

Jeremiah’s message had been ignored. His faith was sorely tested. Despite all of this, he was able to say, “Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Jeremiah 20:13). This was not his constant theme. In the very next verse, he says, “Cursed is the day that I was born.” We are pulled this way and …