TEACHINGS FROM GOD | 02 | Take Your Stand for God

As believers, we are called to be brave and committed to Christ come what may.

Welcome to October!

It is my prayer that God continues to keep you in perfect health.

Today, our lesson which is from the first chapter of the book of Jeremiah focuses on the theme - Take Your Stand for God. First, an insight to the life of the main character of this book.

Jeremiah, also known as the Weeping Prophet, was a man who prophesied the doom and captivity of Israel which was a result of their adultery and sin against God. In the duration of his ministry, Jeremiah suffered immensely as his counterparts who fed falsehood to the Israelites reviled, persecuted and rejected him. Though his life was full of grief, pain and imprisonment, Jeremiah remained true to God and obeyed Him to the end.

When God called Jeremiah, he was afraid and attested to his inadequacy before the Maker. Indeed the task assigned to him was a great one; a task to uproot, destroy, build and plant in nations and kingdoms. Howbeit his unworthiness, God equipped and assured Jeremiah of His presence and backing. See Jeremiah 1: 4-10

With this background, we can read about Jeremiah's call as seen in the Scriptures and learn valuables from it.

And the word of the Lord came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.

Then the Lord said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. – Jeremiah 1:13-19, KJV

From the first chapter, God started to reveal His plans and judgments for the people of Israel and Judah. This was a beginning to the many things Jeremiah was to see and prophesy as commanded by the Lord. The Lord who knew the work set aside for Jeremiah had begun to implicitly tell His servant what was ahead of him, without revealing the intricacies of this spiritual mission. Notwithstanding, Jeremiah was given a warning amidst the assurance and promise of God’s presence, deliverance and strength. This verse will be our focus today and how it applies to us as believers.

Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. – Jeremiah 1:17

This verse can be broken into five (5) parts:

• Gird up thy loins

• Arise

• Speak unto them all that I command thee

• Be not dismayed at their faces

• Lest I confound thee before them

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Gird Up Thy Loins

In Jewish history, men and women wore tunics. Though they differed in style and pattern, these tunics were mostly long and flowing. Whenever the Jews needed to take part in any strenuous task or difficult activity such as running, war, farming, these flowing garments were tied or tucked (the hems) into the loincloth (or belt) around their waist in order to gain more freedom and mobility.

When this phrase is used in Scriptures, it usually refers to an act or state of spiritual and mental preparation for a tough activity, task or journey. We can compare this to the phrase roll up one’s sleeves which is used in our contemporary world to relay a similar idea. This was the message communicated to Jeremiah in this verse; God did not give him details of all that was to happen but a mandate to prepare for what was ahead.

Arise

When this word is used in reference to a person, we can assume that s/he was in a position of rest, slumber, idleness, or engaged in a previous activity. Depending on the context, it can infer a state of being alert and getting up to perform a duty.

Note that Jeremiah was first asked to gird his loins before being told to arise. I find this important as it shows the necessity to be prepared (as God enables you to) in one’s spirit, mind and attitude before setting out to perform the task assigned. When there is no spiritual and mental preparation, one may not be able to follow through in what has been assigned to him.

As believers, our attitude and disposition is crucial in all we do. God does not always reveal everything to us at once. However, we must possess a right mindset and heart towards Him even when we do not fully understand the extent of what He has called us to do. We must follow in faith and take steps of obedience to His call.

Speak Unto Them All That I Command Thee

Our Creator is very particular about the use of our mouths. In many texts of Scripture, God emphasizes the correct use of our tongues; He desires us to profess what His Word says and not otherwise.

Here, Jeremiah was given a mandate to speak all that God instructed him. All is a word that implies no omission, distortion nor removal of any component of a thing. When God told the prophet to say all, He meant all.

God does not expect His children to talk idly or excessively. There are times in our lives where He leads us to correct, instruct or even caution others. In such moments, we must speak according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

We cannot claim to be God’s people and deliberately omit portions of His Word because of fear. Although fear is a weapon that the devil constantly uses to oppress believers, we must never forget that our Lord has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. See 2 Timothy 1:7

Be Not Dismayed at Their Faces

God knows how frail humans are. He is fully aware that each man tends to cower or feel intimidated in the face of opposition. For this reason, God encouraged Jeremiah to not give in to any fear or pressure that would arise as a consequence of standing for the truth.

It is true that internal turmoils sometimes occur when believers decide to declare the truth of God’s Word. Looking to our pattern Jesus Christ, we see that He never cared for men’s opinions or perceptions about Him, but remained faithful to His ministry and assignment while on earth. Jesus wasn’t liked by everyone and that was okay – He prioritized His Father’s business before anything else.

Lest I Confound Thee Before Them

According to the English dictionary, confound describes being put to shame before a group of person(s). It can also mean a situation where an individual is in a state of total discouragement, confusion and perplexity.

This verse is translated differently in many English Bibles. However, the Amplified Translation has it written as this - lest I confound you before them and permit you to be overcome.

If we do not take our stance for God every time, He will permit us to be mocked and defeated in front of the very people we fear. Jesus Christ reiterated this in the New Testament:

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 10: 26 – 33, KJV

Cancel culture is extremely prevalent in the world today. Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ have been cancelled, expelled from homes, rejected and killed because they declared and preached the undiluted Word of God without flinching. In spite of this, Christ demands we live for Him not minding the separation, rejection and persecution that will happen. Our confession and acceptance of Christ as Lord at the New Birth implies that He determines our values, interactions, associations and lifestyle.

Like Jeremiah, God encourages us to brace up for the journey ahead. We must gird our loins, arise, and speak what He has put in our mouths and hearts to a perishing generation. We must preach the Gospel of repentance and faith in Christ as it is God’s power unto the salvation of mankind. We must not be afraid of men nor their reactions as our allegiance is to the Saviour.

May God give us His grace to stand for Him always. Amen.