A heart that knows God, is truthfully surrendered before him (Jer 4:3-22)

 Jer 4:3-22

Key verses;

This is what the Lord says..."Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord... (Jer 4:3,22)

A) God's heart change is required, pride and power must be surrendered. (Jer 4:1-9)

4:3-4) LORD says, "Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Don't waste good seed among thorns, surrender pride, power - change heart before the LORD or bear unquenchable fire of anger for sin.

• Today, God's word is living and active (Heb 4:7,12),Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16). 
• The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Luke 8:14
• But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:15
• I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:26-27

5-9) Shout, broadcast, signal - terrible destruction upon you, land, devastated, ruined, LORD's anger brings mourning, broken heart

Application: When Jesus says forgive and bless don't curse - do you put it into action? This is retention, persevering and producing. What evidence in your relationships 

B) God's people deceived about peace, on the road of destruction without Him. (Jer 4:10-22)

10-12) Jeremiah confused, "People deceived by God's promised peace, but sword, burning wind - no breeze for winnowing grain, blast - destruction

• Jesus, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword... (like Jesus) take your cross and follow, find life in Christ and lose it for his sake. (Matthew 10:34,38-39)
• Apostles given authority; cast out unclean spirits, heal every disease/affliction (even Judas) - Matt 10:1-4)
• Apostles sent to lost sheep of Israel, proclaim 'Kingdom of Heaven is near', no money, worthy house, peace/ else worse than Sodom/Gomorrah (Matt 10:5-15)
• Apostles persecuted like sheep among wolves, wise serpents, innocent as doves, Spirit of Father speaks through you, family's against each other for Jesus' name sake, (Matt 10:16-22)
• Apostle misunderstood like Jesus, run out and perceived as 'Lord of dung/flies', Servant isn't greater than master (Matthew 10:23-25, John 15:18-21)
• Apostle fearless of men, valued by God. Reveal/proclaim, abiding in/given to God (Matt 10: 26-33, John 15, Romans 12)
• Jesus taught to live life with God on purpose (Matt 16:25-27, Job 27:8)
  

13-15) enemy hurricane speed, doom /Jerusalem cleanse your heart, be saved don't harbor evil thoughts destruction

• Doctrine of Election is God's irrevocable call for everyone (Genesis 25:23)

16-18) warn nations, Jerusalem enemy against Judah, 'for my people rebelled against LORD' actions/punishments' bitter/ piercing to heart 

19-21) My heart pain, heard trumpets blast, waves of destruction, battle flags

• For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12
• Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! (Hebrews 12:25 NLT).
• For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it (Job 33:14 NLT)

22) My people are foolish, don't know me says the LORD, stupid, no understanding, cleaver enough to do wrong, no idea how to do right!

Application: Many people don't realize their lack of belief doesn't remove them from God's plan for humanity. As Christians our hearts are broken, we speak yet find few hearers. Yet we believe God is close to the broken hearted and able to heal the hardest heart. The apostle Paul was a Christian Killer who ended up receiving apostleship to the gentiles that includes me. We'll all see clearly some day, in time and eternity.