Trusting God: The Path to Spiritual Vitality

 

Summary

In the book of Jeremiah, we find a profound message that speaks to the heart of humanity's relationship with God. The passage from Jeremiah 17:5-8 contrasts two types of people: those who trust in human strength and those who trust in the Lord. The former are likened to a shrub in the desert, living a barren and unfruitful life, while the latter are compared to a tree planted by the waters, flourishing and fruitful even in times of drought. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of where we place our trust.

God's message through Jeremiah to the Israelites is timeless, reflecting His enduring patience and mercy. Despite Israel's repeated disobedience and idolatry, God continued to send prophets to warn and guide them. This narrative is a microcosm of God's dealings with all of humanity. He offers blessings for obedience and warns of curses for disobedience, yet His compassion remains steadfast, always providing a way back to Him.

The essence of the message is clear: our lives are shaped by our relationship with God. Trusting in human strength leads to a life that is spiritually barren, while trusting in God brings spiritual vitality and fruitfulness. The Bible uses vivid imagery to convey these truths, making it clear that the choice between a life of blessing and a life of cursing is ours to make. The call is to recognize our need for a Savior, to turn from self-reliance, and to embrace the new life offered through Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- Trust in God vs. Trust in Man: Trusting in human strength leads to a barren life, like a shrub in the desert, while trusting in God results in a flourishing life, like a tree by the waters. This choice determines the spiritual vitality of our lives. [09:36]

- God's Patience and Mercy: Despite repeated disobedience, God continues to reach out to humanity with patience and mercy, offering a way back to Him through His prophets and ultimately through Christ. This reflects His enduring love and desire for our redemption. [04:40]

- The Necessity of Rebirth: The inability to see the truth of our spiritual condition and the glory of the Christian life highlights the need for a fundamental change—a rebirth. This transformation is essential to move from a life under the curse to a life of blessing. [12:57]

- The Fruitless Life Without God: A life without God is ultimately unproductive and unfulfilling. It lacks the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace, and fails to contribute positively to the lives of others. [37:54]

- The Tragedy of Spiritual Blindness: The greatest tragedy is the inability to recognize and benefit from God's goodness, including the gift of His Son. This spiritual blindness keeps us from experiencing the fullness of life that God offers. [46:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Jeremiah 17:5-8
- [01:25] - Context of Jeremiah's Message
- [03:05] - God's Patience with Israel
- [05:12] - The Authority of Scripture
- [06:32] - The Use of Imagery in the Bible
- [08:09] - Doctrine and Picture of Trust
- [09:05] - The Contrast of Two Lives
- [10:08] - The Devil's Deception
- [11:27] - The Need for a Revolutionary Change
- [13:28] - The Importance of Trusting God
- [16:02] - The Reality of Sinful Life
- [20:18] - The Natural State of Man
- [23:33] - The Soil of Our Lives
- [26:08] - Characteristics of a Godless Life
- [37:54] - The Fruitless Life Without God
- [46:28] - The Tragedy of Spiritual Blindness
- [50:21] - The Hope of New Life in Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Jeremiah 17:5-8

Observation Questions:
1. What are the two types of people described in Jeremiah 17:5-8, and how are they contrasted in terms of their trust? [09:19]
2. According to the sermon, what imagery is used to describe the life of someone who trusts in human strength versus someone who trusts in God? [09:36]
3. How does the sermon describe God's response to Israel's repeated disobedience, and what does this reveal about His character? [04:40]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest is the consequence of trusting in human strength, and how does this relate to the imagery of a shrub in the desert? [17:44]
2. How does the sermon explain the necessity of a "rebirth" or "revolutionary change" in understanding our spiritual condition? [12:57]
3. In what ways does the sermon illustrate the concept of spiritual blindness, and how does this affect one's ability to recognize God's goodness? [46:28]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are relying more on human strength than on God? How can you begin to shift your trust towards God this week? [09:36]
2. The sermon emphasizes God's patience and mercy despite disobedience. How can you extend patience and mercy to someone in your life who may have wronged you? [04:40]
3. Consider the concept of spiritual rebirth. What steps can you take to experience a deeper transformation in your spiritual life? [12:57]
4. The sermon describes a life without God as unproductive and unfulfilling. Identify one area in your life that feels barren, and discuss how you can invite God into that space to bring fruitfulness. [37:54]
5. Spiritual blindness is described as a tragedy. What practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to help you recognize and appreciate God's goodness more fully? [46:28]
6. The sermon contrasts the fruitless life with the fruitful life in God. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) to focus on this month. What specific action can you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? [36:43]
7. Reflect on the imagery of a tree planted by the waters. How can you ensure that your spiritual "roots" are well-nourished and connected to God? [09:52]

Devotional

Day 1: Trust Determines Spiritual Vitality
Trusting in human strength leads to a barren life, while trusting in God results in a flourishing life. This choice determines the spiritual vitality of our lives. Jeremiah 17:5-8 uses the imagery of a shrub in the desert versus a tree by the waters to illustrate the stark contrast between these two paths. Those who rely on their own abilities and human wisdom find themselves spiritually dry and unproductive, much like a shrub struggling to survive in a harsh desert. In contrast, those who place their trust in God are like trees planted by streams of water, thriving and bearing fruit even in difficult times. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder that where we place our trust has profound implications for our spiritual health and growth. [09:36]

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than trusting in God? How can you begin to shift your trust to Him today?


Day 2: God's Enduring Patience and Mercy
Despite repeated disobedience, God continues to reach out to humanity with patience and mercy, offering a way back to Him through His prophets and ultimately through Christ. This reflects His enduring love and desire for our redemption. The narrative of Israel's history is a testament to God's unwavering commitment to His people, even when they turn away from Him. He sent prophets to guide and warn them, demonstrating His desire for their return and restoration. This same patience and mercy are extended to us today, as God continually calls us back to Him, offering forgiveness and new life through Jesus Christ. [04:40]

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities." (Psalm 103:8-10, ESV)

Reflection: How have you experienced God's patience and mercy in your life? What steps can you take to respond to His call to return to Him?


Day 3: The Necessity of Spiritual Rebirth
The inability to see the truth of our spiritual condition and the glory of the Christian life highlights the need for a fundamental change—a rebirth. This transformation is essential to move from a life under the curse to a life of blessing. Without this rebirth, we remain spiritually blind, unable to perceive the richness of life in Christ. This change is not merely a superficial adjustment but a profound transformation that affects every aspect of our being. It is through this rebirth that we can truly experience the fullness of life that God offers. [12:57]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What areas of your life need a spiritual rebirth? How can you invite God to transform these areas today?


Day 4: The Unproductive Life Without God
A life without God is ultimately unproductive and unfulfilling. It lacks the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace, and fails to contribute positively to the lives of others. Without God's presence, our lives can become self-centered and devoid of true purpose. The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of a life connected to God, and without it, we miss out on the richness and depth that He intends for us. This unproductive life is like a barren land, unable to yield anything of lasting value. [37:54]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways is your life currently unproductive or unfulfilling? How can you seek God's presence to bring about the fruit of the Spirit in your life?


Day 5: Overcoming Spiritual Blindness
The greatest tragedy is the inability to recognize and benefit from God's goodness, including the gift of His Son. This spiritual blindness keeps us from experiencing the fullness of life that God offers. It is a condition that prevents us from seeing the truth of who God is and the abundant life He desires for us. Overcoming this blindness requires a willingness to open our hearts and minds to God's truth and to seek His guidance in all areas of our lives. By doing so, we can begin to see and experience the richness of life in Christ. [46:28]

"For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them." (Matthew 13:15, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are spiritually blind? How can you ask God to open your eyes to His truth and goodness today?

Quotes


God had taken this people you remember he' made them a nation he' taken that one man Abram and had turned him into a nation and he had given them great exceeding great and precious promises he had said I will be to you a God and you shall be to me a people and he had promised them great and wonderful things but he had also warned them that if they departed from him that if they forgot him that if they listened to the other nations and followed their way of life well as certainly as he would bless them if they obeyed him he would curse them if they disobeyed him he made it quite clear to them at the very beginning. [00:45:00]

God has still not left them he still speaks to them he had sent a whole succession of prophets to them warning them pleading with them urging them to beware promising them blessings they wouldn't listen so now he sends the last of the succession, Jeremiah there are foolish superficial people who don't understand this man nor his book they think he's just a pessimist but there was never a greater realist Jeremiah was given this most uncomfortable task of telling these people that it was the last chance and that if they didn't accept it well that the curse would descend upon them. [00:03:12]

One cannot but be amazed at the mercy and the compassion of God who is so patient with us and so longsuffering why didn't he abandon these children of Israel long before why hasn't he abandoned the world why are we not all consumed who do not know him in his rough and in his anger but God is longsuffering and patient and kind and he go un addressing us and he has sent his gospel into the world to plead with mankind to show them that where they are and the way of Salvation and nothing is more wonderful than the way in which that message and that truth are presented to us here in the Bible which is the word of God. [00:04:40]

The Bible puts it so plainly and so clearly it puts it sometimes in definite messages in instruction it gives us bold unvarnished truth call it Doctrine call it what you like it's here in abundance but God doesn't stop at that he sometimes puts it in pictures so that though we may not be able to grasp truth and Doctrine well at any rate we can see a picture and he warns us with his pictures and he attracts us with his pictures my point is that he uses every conceivable method so that my dear friends if any of us here tonight shall ever find ourselves under the curse and the wrath of God to all eternity we shall be without any excuse at all. [00:05:12]

The real reason why man's life is as it is today without God is because men has turned his back upon God he's trusting himself instead of trusting God but as I say God doesn't stop at that he goes on to give us a picture he gives us a picture of the life of the man who doesn't trust trust in the Lord and he then gives us the contrast the picture of the life of the man who does trust in the Lord and that's the thing to which I want to call your attention this evening so that tonight we rarely are most concerned about verses 6 and 8 we are told about the man who does not trust the Lord but who trusteth in himself and maketh flesh his arm that he shall be like the heath in the desert and shall not see when good cometh but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness in a salt land and not inhabited on the other hand we are told that the men who trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is shall be like a tree planted By the Waters and that spreadeth out her Roots by the river and shall not see when heat cometh but her Leaf shall be green and shall not be careful in the year of drought neither shall cease from yielding fruit. [00:09:36]

The inability to see these two pictures proves that that is an absolute necessity well it is in order to try and make that plain and clear that I'm calling your attention to these pictures this this evening let me put it like this the one thing that matters in this life and in this world is our relationship to God if our life is a life under a curse there's only one re real reason for that it is that we are not trusting the Lord we're trusting ourselves on the other hand if we desire the blessings that this Godly Christian Life offers to us well it is only available on one condition and that is that we trust the Lord make him his trust make him our trust and set our hope in him and in him alone. [00:12:57]

The terrible thing about the ungodly life finally is that it's a life that is valueless it is useless it doesn't bear any fruit it's not productive I could give you endless similar statements in the scripture bearing out that very fact take the one I read at the beginning tonight in the fifth chapter of the epistle to the galatian you notice the contrast that Paul draws there between the works of the Flesh and the fruit of the spirit the flesh cannot produce fruit it can only work and its works are perishing and they haven't life in them and their dead works as another scripture puts it. [00:37:54]

The tragedy of all tragedies that because of the soil because of its nature because of where it is it cannot even benefit from good it shall not see even when good cometh look at it like this look at that shrub there in the desert in that salt land and not inhabited there's a wonderful shower of rain and then there's glorious Sunshine the shrub doesn't derive any benefit from it at all it can't you see there's no root there there's no depth there there's nothing there to respond to it so that though you may get the sun and the rain and everything else the shrub Remains the shrub it doesn't see when good comes even it's so terrible in its condition that it can't enjoy the benefits that come to it. [00:46:28]

The fact is my friend that God so loved the world that he gave he has given he has sent his only begotten son into it he sent his son into this world to bless men to save them to deliver them from this sinful condition to give them pardon to make them his children to bless them with Joys beyond our imagination the Son of God Jesus Christ has been into this world and he's even gone to the cross on Calvary he's suffered it all he's gone down into the grave and has risen again in order that you and I might become princes and children of God and enjoy Eternal Bliss. [00:47:59]

It is only when men and women see themselves like that that they begin to see the need of a savior that they begin to see why it was absolutely essential that the Son of God should come from Heaven to Earth that education and culture and knowledge and will and self-effort can never do it that there's only one hope for men and that is that he be given a new life and a new nature a new start and a new beginning and that is the message of the Christian faith but in spite of our being what we are God has had mercy upon us he has sent his son to Bear our sins and their punishment in order that he might forgive us we need forgiveness we are a disgrace to God we are an insult to God we have been made by him to be like that that is sin we need forgiveness we need pardon this is got to be cleansed out of us and God has provided the way to do it he sent his son to die for our sins it's the only hope for us nothing else can do it because we are that and then he gives us the new nature he takes us and he plants Us in himself we begin to draw of his life and of his power we become like branches in a Vine we begin to bear fruit we are blessed ourselves and we become a blessing unto others. [00:50:21]

Have you been born again you can easily answer the question by just looking at your yourself in terms of the picture that I've held before you are you enjoying the benefits the blessings of God's gospel in Christ have you seen the good that has come are you bearing fruit if not you're still in the desert in the salt land and not inhabited and if so turn to him without a moment's hesitation confess it to him acknowledge it tell him that you see that all your pride was nonsense and all your boasting was idle tell him that you see are like the shrub in the desert ask him to forgive you and to Pardon you believe him when he tells you that he does so in Christ and in him crucified and ask him to give you this new life this new heart this implanting into Christ that will make you a new man you ask him and he will do so and the picture will be entirely reversed and will become like the tree. [00:53:59]

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Transcript
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