1. Believing there is a purpose in the pain. Jeremiah 18:1-6
God is always at work; He is working with marred clay; He's forming a new pot, not trashing the old one, of infinite patience; God doesn't consult us on how this new pot will be; He owns us by right of creation and redemption.

2. Living in the light of eternity. Jeremiah 30:8-11
A new kingdom is with us now, and we can participate. There's a new declaration, a new freedom, a new king, a new peace and safety, and a new comfort and rescue.

3. Risking everything on the promises of god. Jeremiah 32
Jeremiah risked everything on the promise of God and bought the field he was instructed to purchase, at a time of impending calamity. He made an investment into a land that he'll never see benefit on. And he did it very publicly.

Oh, that we might risk it all on the promises of God - Isaiah 61:1-3

Six Point About Preserving the Nation

1. Love and respect for God is foundational for our love and respect of other people.
2. We must esteem, value, respect out father and mother.
3. We honor out of self interest, "so that you may live long."
4. it's reciprocal; parents can't exasperate their children.
5. We honor the position when we're justly angry with the person. We see that in our appointed government leaders.
6. This problem has been around for a long tim.

It all begins with the family, that we would honor our parents and the authority that God has established. This is a commandment with a strong promise.

1. The need to stand - Jeremiah 19:14-15
Being a man or woman to stand up and endure; having the daily independence from every influence except God.

2. The certainty of backlash - Jeremiah 20:1-2
Having a public display for Jesus is always against the flow of culture. It comes from denying what we think is rightfully ours.

3. The opportunity for boldness - Jeremiah 20:3-6
As destruction continues to advance, Jeremiah calls out a warning to all those around him. This includes the people that have harmed him.

4. The dark night of the soul - Jeremiah 20:7-18
After great exertion comes great exhaustion. Be prepared.

We can learn about the covenant with man through the covenant with Noah. These eight points come forward:
1. The nature of God's sovereignty.
2. Man's nature is evil.
3. The nature of Lordship is lost.
4. The nature of nature is that it's a mirror.
5. The nature of death is that is produces life.
6. The nature of life is that it's sacred.
7. The nature of violence follows.
8. The nature of light is that it's always triumphant.

Because of this covenant we can be grateful and hopeful.

a) God seen in infinitely indulgent
b) This came out in the peoples words
c) Worthless worship follow, with actions the same
d) Habits followed, and the people moved from God reliance to self reliance
e) A character formed that didn't follow the covenant that God had with men
f) The destiny of destruction played out.

We must reject the notion that God is infinitely indulgent, and recover the truth of a holy God that calls us to His holiness.

1. Leaders become corrupt.
2. Leaders trade principle for powers.
3. The nation rejects God Himself.
4. Rebellion becomes fashionable.
5. Clear warnings from God are ignored.
6. Taking replaces giving.
7. Having taken control of you, it's irreversible.
8. You want the abuse for what it yields.
9. God gives you what you want.

The problem is found in our greed, deceit, indifference, and shamelessness. But when it's bleak God always brings good news; crisis always creates crossroads. And our decisions always determine our destiny. We must take the time to stand at the crossroads, ask for the good and ancient way, and walk and rest in it.

We learn about the ten signs of spiritual narcosis:
Lies (v1-2), Numbness (v3A), Pig headed (v3B), Contagious stupidity (v4-5), Environmental chaos (v6), Godless children (v7A), Ingratitude to God (v7B), Slow motion moral collapse (v8), Barrenness and alienation (v9-11), Suicidal denial of reality (12).

And that God always has a way out for us:
1. We must never *dive* alone
2. We must learn to reject, replace, and practice

We learn from the Bible about how we find out value:
1. We have a deep longing to be valued.
2. We have a deep desire to worship.
3. We worship that which gives us value.
4. We become like that which we worship.
5. When we find our value in something, it's really hard to give it up.

John's message talks about the consequences of our idolatry, and how we can start on a path out of its capture by way of the Holy Spirit.

Jack talks about the signs of our signs that tie in with the signs of Jeremiah's times as show in chapter four.

1. God's judgement is a joke.
2. Repeated warnings are ignored.
3. Lions are treated like pussy cats.
4. Leaders don't have a clue.

So what? We need to: Listen up, break up, and cut out.

THEN We will be blessed by God and in Him we will glory.

God reveals Himself to be all of the following things, if only we would just see with our ears:
Yearing (2:1-3), Hurting (2:4-8), Pleading (2:9), Appalled (2:10-12), Forsaken (2:13), Astounded (2:14-17), Emplores (2:18), Warns (2:19)

"My ears have heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You." Job 42:5

1. God strengthens our hearts when we hear.
2. God strengthens our hearts when we resist blaming Him.
3. God strengthens our hearts when we intentionally stay close to him.
4. God strengthens our hearts when we're alert to the dangers of drifting.
5. God strengthens our hearts when we constantly seek Him.
6. God strengthens our hearts when we live responsibly.
7. God strengthens our hearts when we refuse the benefits of following false leaders.