God Had a Plan for Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:4–5 (NKJV) 4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I

sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

God Can Use You (Jer. 1:1-8)

Moses didn’t Feel Qualified For the Job

• “Who am I that I should go to pharaoh?” (Ex. 3:11)• “What shall I say…” when the children of Israel ask the name

of the God who sent him. (Ex. 3:13)• “But suppose they won’t believe me or listen to me.” (Ex. 4:1)• “I’m not an eloquent speaker.” (Ex. 4:10)• Moses even tried telling the Lord to send someone else (Ex.

4:13)

Gideon didn’t Feel Qualified For the Job

Judges 6:15 (NKJV) 15 So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed

my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”

Paul didn’t Feel Qualified For the Job

1 Timothy 1:13 (NKJV) 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an

insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

2 Cor. 12:7-9 “…a thorn in the flesh was given to me…My strength is made perfect in weakness...in my infirmities.”

2 Cor. 11:29-30 “…Who is weak, and I am not weak?... my infirmity.”

Even Jesus Didn’t Seem Qualified For the Job

Humble Beginnings

Born in manger

Humble Parents

“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Mat. 8:20)

Other Bible Heroes Didn’t Seem Qualified For the Job

Hebrews 11:32–34 (NKJV) 32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and

Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped

the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Jeremiah didn’t Feel Qualified For the Job

Jeremiah 1:6 (NKJV) 6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a

youth.”

God can use you because God can use anyone!

1 Peter 2:21 (NKJV) 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for

us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps

God has called you. What will be your response?“God can’t use me because __________.” (Fill your excuse in the blank.)

How can God use anyone? Because…

• God assured Moses: “…I will certainly be with you.” – Ex. 3:12

• God Assured Jeremiah:Jeremiah 1:7–8 (NKJV)

7 But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be

afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.

How can God use anyone? Because…

• …God assured Gideon: “…the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you…” – Ex. 6:16

• God Assured Paul: “…I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you” – Ac. 26:16-17

How can God use anyone? Because…

• And God Assures Us…

• “…He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Heb. 13:5

• “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” – Phil. 4:9

Mark 9:23 (NKJV) …“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”