Outline
“Jeremiah– In the Ring” (Jeremiah 26-28)

Intro/Set-up: Review from Jeremiah 24-25

I. Facing Persecution (Ch. 26)
- A Message FOR the People (vv. 1-6)
- Reaction FROM the People (vv. 7-9)
- Holding Court (vv. 10-19)
+ A Declaration Against Jeremiah
+ Jeremiah’s Defense
+ The Verdict
- Suppressing the Message (vv. 20-24)

II. Another Action Sermon (Ch. 27)
- A Message for the Region (vv. 1-11)
- A Message for the king of Judah (vv. 12-22)

III. A Prophetic Showdown (Ch. 28)
- Hananiah Reacts (vv. 1-4, 10-11)
+ Drawing Modern Equivalence
- Jeremiah Responds (vv. 5-9, 11b)
- The Word of the Lord AGAINST Hananiah (vv. 12-17)

IV. Conclusion
- Summary Thoughts


**Homework**
Share something you’ve learned from our study this week
Read Jeremiah Chapter 29 everyday this week

“Note the admirable courage and quiet dignity of Jeremiah. There was no modification of his message to create a less-prejudicial atmosphere, for he was convinced of the divine source of his message.” –Arthur E. Cundall

“Jeremiah was on trial for his life. Yet he still courageously spoke his message and spoke as if they were on trial and not he — because there was a real sense in which that was true. Their only hope was that God might relent from the promised judgment in response to their repentance.” –David Guzik

John Trapp, in his commentary, mentioned an unnamed expositor that noted “five noble virtues” in Jeremiah’s brief defense:Prudence in proclaiming his divine mission.Love in exhorting his enemies to repent.Humility in acknowledging their power over him.Courage in telling them God would avenge his death.Fearlessness before death.

“On first reading, the illustration of Urijah (Jer. 26:20–23) seems out of place as a defense of Jeremiah, for the king had executed Urijah the prophet after he had fled to Egypt and been brought back to King Jehoiakim. On the other hand, Jeremiah stayed in the land of Judah and even ministered in the precincts of the temple! Jeremiah gave every evidence of being a loyal citizen, even though he disagreed with the politics of the leaders of the government. Although we can’t fault him for trying to save his own life, Urijah had broken the law while trying to prophesy God’s truth, and this led to his own death.” –Warren Wiersbe

Calling out False Prophets

- '700 Club' host Pat Robertson
- Televangelist Kenneth Copeland
- Jeremiah Johnson, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based prophet
- Robin Bullock, a “pastor” from Birmingham, Alabama
- Charlie Shamp, president of Destiny Encounters International in Moravian Falls, North Carolina
- Kat Kerr, a pink-haired “preacher” from Jacksonville, Florida
- Hank Kunneman, the pastor of the Lord of Hosts Church in Omaha, Nebraska
- Johnny Enlow, California-based Pentecostal pastor


“In a time of national crisis, religious fakers always flourish because many people want to hear only comforting messages, which may often be untrue.” –Charles L. Feinberg

"To every leader who prophesied that Trump would remain in the White House, this is not about you now. This is about the name of the Lord being mocked and His people left in confusion and disappointment. I urge you to put your focus there, not on your own ministry or reputation." –Dr. Michael Brown

Conclusion:

1) The Call to Salvation
“Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.” (Jer. 21:8)

The way of life is to choose the yoke of Christ, be born again by His atoning work on the Cross, not putting my trust in myself, but putting my trust in Him and find that life from death and freedom from sin comes from trusting in His finished work.

“The general principle running through every case is, that he who rejects the yoke of Christ bows his neck to something worse by far.” –Charles Spurgeon

2) The call of ambassadorship: will I come under the yoke of Christ when it comes to preaching the Gospel and contending for the truth?

“the fact is, we might do much more good if we did less regard the general current of public opinion, and ventured to do strange things, that anyhow the truth of God might come home to a slumbering generation, and the Word of God, which must be learnt by them or they must perish, were made to tell upon their minds.” –Charles Spurgeon

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” –2 Tim. 2:15-16

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” –2 Tim. 3:16-17

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” – 2 Tim. 4:1-2

3) The joy of your salvation, To serve under the yoke of Christ, if we rightly understand it, is a joy not a burden. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10)

When I realize it is to my benefit and to my joy to come under the authority of Christ; to live as He has ordained, not as I want, gratifying the flesh, but as He calls, pleasing the Spirit, His Yoke is light and joyful indeed.

“to believe in Jesus is the highest wisdom; to repent of sin, the most delightful necessity; to follow after holiness the most blissful pursuit, and to serve God the greatest delight.”

Jeremiah Resources:

Jeremiah Summary (GotQuestions.org):
https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Jeremiah.html

Jeremiah Overview (The Bible Project):
https://youtu.be/RSK36cHbrk0?si=8B_qBCTeUrqHcvfI

Recommended Reading:

"The Awe of God" (Author: John Bevere)
https://a.co/d/aYj3Ver

Charles Spurgeon sermon from Jeremiah Chapter 3:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0762.cfm

E.M. Bounds "On Prayer"
https://a.co/d/iouYVO8

Additional Resources:

Adrian Rogers Article: “Righteousness Exalts A Nation”
https://www.westernjournal.com/rogers-hamilton-right-people-government-deserve/

GotQuestions Article(s):

What is the meaning of “purify your hearts, you double-minded”
in James 4:8?
https://www.gotquestions.org/purify-your-hearts-you-double-minded.html

"What Does the Bible Mean When It Refers to a Remnant?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-remnant.html

"What is the Significance of a City Gate in the Bible?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/city-gate.html

"What Does the Bible Say About False Prophets?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/false-prophets.html

Charles Spurgeon sermon on Jer. 28:13, "The Two Yokes"
https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1032.cfm

Newsweek Article covering Christian "Prophets" and their Election Predictions: https://www.newsweek.com/for-christian-prophets-who-predicted-donald-trumps-reinstatement-2021-no-apologies-1665157

"Why did Nehemiah say, “The joy of the Lord is your strength?” (Neh. 8:10)?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/joy-of-the-Lord-is-your-strength.html