THE CURSED AND THE BLESSED

JEREMIAH 17:5-8

INTRODUCTION

Two kinds of people are contrasted here. Those who trust in human beings and those who trust in the Lord. The people of Judah were trusting in false gods and military alliances instead of trusting Jehovah God. Therefore the people of Judah were barren and unfruitful. But those who trust in God flourish like trees planted by the water. The curse means blessings withheld. When there is a curse in your life, the heavens becomes brass and your earth becomes iron, dry and barren.

Let us learn: –

I.  WHO ARE THE CURSED? (Jer.17:5-6)

• “Cursed be that trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord”
• To trust in human beings and their institutions and to make the flesh your confidence is to depart from God.
• Judah’s salvation and our salvation cannot come through the wisdom of man
• The power of the king, the princes is not enough to save your soul and satisfy your heart’s desires (Psalm 118:8-14)
• Salvation is of the Lord, not your parents, teachers or friends.
• It is the evil heart of unbelief that departs from the living God (Heb.3:12-15)
• Today many young people even some in the church have joined satanic, demonic and humanistic fraternities, thereby departing from the living God.
• Such people are living in a curse and they are dead, though alive.
• Faith in humanity (humanism) is a denial of God.

II.  WHAT IS THE CURSE? “He shall be like the heath (a bush) in the desert” (Jeremiah 17:6)

• The heath (bush) in the desert is deserted by the refreshing showers of heaven. “He shall not see prosperity when it comes”
• He shall be blind to goodness and the mercies of God.
• He shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness.
• He shall live in a state and condition of barrenness of the promises of God.
• He shall live by the promises of man, which fail, because human beings don’t keep their promises.
• Human beings forget the good done to them (Gen 40:23)
• The godless seem to prosper greatly with regard to earthly possessions, but in God’s sight they are destitute and miserable (Rev.3:17) wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”
• Their souls truly inhabit parched places (Job.8:11-13)

III.  WHO ARE THE BLESSED? “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is” (Jer.17:7)

• The blessed are those who cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils.
• The blessed are those who love God above all else (Psa.2:12)
• The blessed “Trust” and “Hope”. Hope grows out of trusting (Isa.26:3-4)

IV.  WHAT IS THE BLESSEDNESS? (v.8)

1. A Good Position: “He is like a tree planted by the waters” (V.8)

• He is planted for a purpose, not like the heath in the desert growing wild-without grace.
• The believer is actually planted in Christ, a position of security and infinite favour.

2. A Plentiful supply “That spreads out roots by the river”

• The continuous flow of the river of God’s grace is at his disposal.
• “My God is able to supply all your needs according to His riches in grace and glory.

3. Happy ignorance. “He shall not see when heat comes”

• The draught has no effect upon the tree that is planted by the waters of the unfailing river.
• We, who come from ukambani and masai regions know draught, we know failing/ seasonal rivers that dry up and trees dry up.
• What are “wild alarms” to others do not disturb his soul.

4. An ever fresh experience “His leaf shall be green” abiding freshness belongs to all who abide in Christ.

• The leaf of his testimony will ever be green. Hallelujah.

5. A blessed freedom “He shall not be careful in the year of draught”

• Freedom from care- sinners are always worried.
• They are worried about being found out, pregnancy, HIV/ AIDs, STD’s, STI, police, life and death.
• Living on the promises of God saves from all fearfulness in the day of trial.

6. Continual fruitfulness, “Neither shall cease from yielding fruit”

• Christ, the never-failing river of life produces a never-failing fruitfulness unto God (Rev.22:2, John15:5-6)
• The fruits bring others to Christ through witness and the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, patience, goodness and self-control)

CONCLUSION

• When you evaluate your life, are you really trusting in God or in human beings?
• Is your confidence in yourself, others or in Christ?
• Are you living a life of a curse or blessedness?
• Are you fruitful or you live in fear?
• Jesus Christ is the saviour, yesterday, today and forever. Surrender your life to Him-Now.