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God Words in Your Mouth
by Dr. David A. Farmer, pastor
Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-9; "Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
V:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. V:6
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child. V:7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I [am] a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. V:8
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. V:9
Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth."
Greg, this should be a very special day for you. About 20 years ago I was attending a Camp Meeting over in Jefferson, TX. There were about 5 men being ordained into the ministry that afternoon. Each one was allowed a 5-minute response on what being ordained meant to them. The last one to stand was a somewhat older gentleman. And to this day I have never forgotten what he said at the beginning of his response.
He said that was "the happiest day of his life." I remember thinking, "What?" Happiest day of his life? He must have live a very boring life. I never understood his words until the day I stood in his shoes. It was May 24, 1997, when I was ordained into the ministry.
And that truly became the happiest day of my life.
Greg, although today you are not being ordained into being a full time paid clergy, you are being ordained into the work of the Lord. A special work that God has called you into.
One of the questions that was asked me when I was being ordained was "What did ordination mean to me?" I must have thought about that question a hundred times before they even asked me. Just what did being Ordained mean to me? I could only come up with one answer. See, I knew for many years that God was calling me into the ministry, of that I had no doubt. But now my church was recognizing it. That was what ordination meant to me.
Greg, today, this church, your church recognizes God working through you. Today this church, your church will lay her hands on you and ordain you as a deacon. This church, your church recognizes special God given qualities and talents in you and your family.
But Greg, please get this straight. You are not here being ordained this morning because this church picked or elected you to be a deacon. You are here only because God has called you. And today may not become the happiest day of your life, but hopefully it will become one of the most memorable days of your life.
Friends as Greg starts his new responsibility and is being ordained and charged I would like to invite every leader and member of this church to re-dictate your life to Christ. Our new officers took their new responsibility the beginning of this month. Yours, along with Greg's actions, hold full responsibility to God and this Church. So I pray the new officers and members will again recommit their dedication to God and this church.
Greg, although the Lord may be speaking to Jeremiah here in chapter 1, I believe the Lord is speaking the same words to you this morning. So please allow me to change God's words to Jeremiah into words to you Greg.
God said in verse 5; "Greg, before I formed you; I knew you, and I, the Lord God of heaven and earth sanctified and ordained you." Greg, the Bible is clear, God knew you before you were ever created. Before any of us took are first breath - God knew us.
In Ephesians 1:4 and 5 Gods says; "According as he hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
V:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."
God not only knows us - He chooses us.
But chooses us to do what? Well, I believe that before we were born God assigned every individual a duty and responsibility in His great plan to save others. (see PK 536; COL 326, 327).
God Sanctified or set apart or dedicated His chosen ones for a special use. He Ordained us. The Hebrew word for Ordained means "to appoint." So Greg, God has appointed you and the members of this congregation to be His spokesmen and spokeswomen.
And because God has called us to be His spokesman, verse 9 says God will place "His words in our mouth."
Greg, just as Jeremiah was consecrated into this solemn act, so are you this morning. God gave Jeremiah new powers of thought so he could communicate God's will to others.
Now God has touched your lips.
He has given you new powers of thought so you too can communicate God's will to others. You are to go forth this morning speaking the words placed in your heart by the Spirit of God.
And there no need to worry on what you will communicate to others. What God said to Jeremiah in verses 7 and 8 He says to you this morning;
"Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee."
Greg, Jeremiah didn't have an easy life. For forty years Jeremiah stood up as a witness for truth and righteousness. During the terrible sieges of Jerusalem, Jeremiah was the mouthpiece of Jehovah God. Even though he was despised, hated, rejected, Jeremiah stayed true to God. You must too.
God says; "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth." We are to go forth to speak the words God gives us. Nothing more, nothing less. Christ has given to this church and you a sacred charge. We are God's agency for the proclamation of truth of His Word. We have been empowered to do a special work. We are to communicate to the world the treasures of Gods grace.
But you may ask; but pastor, where does my world begin? It begins in your personal life first. You must make sure God is in your heart before you ever take His message to the world. God says: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth."
In order for God to place His Words in your mouth your soul must be washed in the blood of Christ. And this must be a daily experience. 1 Timothy 3:8 says;
"Likewise must the deacons be grave, not
doubletongued."
The word for "grave" in Hebrew means "worthy of honor" or ""dignified." God feels that you are worthy of this honor. Now "doubletongued" not only applies to you but it also applies to ever member here. It means that every member must be a peacemaker and not a scandal bearer or troublemaker.
Next your world is in your home. You are to represent Christ to your family. 1 Timothy 3:12 says;
"Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well."
Ok Greg, you are only allowed one wife. Your eyes are to be Shelly and Shelly alone. No woman is to receive your love or affection. And your children should be kept under your guidance and control. A deacon's children must show their obedient and respect to their parents. Listen to this quote from Signs of the Times Nov. 10, 1881; "Christian parents, if you desire to work for the Lord, begin with your little ones at home."
Shelly you too are being called. You are called to support your husband in this new position. He is not to Lord over you, but love you. Neither of you have to worry about how to perform your new calling. Your Church is here to help, guide, and support you.
Finally Greg, your world is this church, it's members, and the lost souls outside these doors. You are called into this sacred position to serve the members in a very special work. You are to labor to see that God's Church is kept ready - both inside and outside. Both physically and spiritually.
Greg, your duties depend on Who's hand you place them in this morning.
Let me give you some examples of what I mean.
If someone placed a violin in my hands, it won't get you anything but some squeaky noise. But that same violin placed in the right hands will get you the music of a master. Why? Because it all depends on who's hand it's in.
A basketball in my hands is worth about $29.95. But place that same basketball in Michael Jordan's hands and it will be worth about 30 millions dollars. Why? Because it all depends on who's hand it's in.
Place a golf club in my hand and you have nothing but a deadly weapon. But place that same club in Tiger Woods hand and you have a Masters Golf Game. Why? Because it all depends on who's hand it's in.
A rod in my hand may beat off a dog, but a rod in Moses' hand will part the Red Seas of ones life. Why? Because it all depends on who's hand it's in.
The jawbone of a donkey in my hand is nothing but the leftovers of a dead animal. But the jawbone in Samson's hand will destroy a 1,000 Philistine's. Why? Because it all depends on who's hand it's in.
A slingshot in my hand is just a kids toy. But a slingshot in David's hand will bring down the giant Goliaths in your life. Why? Because it all depends on who's hand it's in.
Spit and clay in my hand will get you a small mud cake. But spit and clay in Jesus' Hand will open up the blinded eyes. Why? Because it all depends on Who's hand it's in.
2 Fish and 5 loafs of bread in my hand will get you a couple of fish sandwiches. But 2 fish and 5 loafs of bread in Jesus' Hand will feed thousands. Why? Because it all depends on Who's hand it's in.
Nails in my hands might buy you a small birdhouse. But nails in Jesus' Hands will buy Salvation for the world. Why? Because it all depends on Who's hand it's in.
You see Greg; your new calling in your own hands might get the lawn mowed or floors clean. But your new calling in the Hands of the Master Jesus Christ will get the weeds of this world rooted up. Your new calling in the Hands of Jesus will clean the sin of the world. Why? Because it all depends on Who's hand you place your new calling in.
Greg, if you hear nothing else I say this morning here this, it does makes a difference Who's Hands you place your new ministry in.
So Greg I would like to invite you and your family to stand. As I charge him and I also charge his family to stand beside him and support him.
Greg Crone, --> you have been called to God's sacred work. By the Biblical admonition of the laying on of hands, a sacred rite instituted by our Lord in ordaining His disciples, you will now serve the church of the Lord Jesus Christ in the capacity of a local deacon and are authorized to exercise the rights and privileges of that sacred office.
I, as an ordained minister, of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, therefore, charge you to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, a diligent student of the Word of God, and a servant to all mankind.
I admonish you to be an example to the believers and to be faithful to your high calling. May your deeds, your thoughts, and your actions exemplify the Savior whom you serve. Minister to the church in tenderness, feed the flock of God, bring sinners to repentance and by precept and example point them to the Lamp of God who cleanses the hearts of those who confess Him as Savior.
In God's Church, remember that there are three things that abide forever: faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and forever more. Amen.
If the Ordained Elders please come forward we will now Ordain Greg into the ministry of a deacon of the Texarkana SDA Church.
Prayer Father: As we lay our hands on Greg this morning, my prayer is that he will continue to walk the narrow path and live a life as a servant to you. Let him never be more concern with his new position and prestige than he is of serving and following You. Speak to his hearts so that he will trust You in all things. Teach him balance. Rid his heart of pride and fill him with humility. Instruct him in living with a humble
self esteem that does not neglect the needs of others.
Lord, help him to follow you on the way that leads to abundant life, even as he pass through the valleys and shadows. Let him follow your voice, listen when you whisper his name and feel your love forever. Teach him Stewardship in all things. Teach him patient and longsuffering. May he never neglect his duties as a son, father, and husband. May he become the Royal Priesthood of his home. Forgive him of his past shortcomings, failures and sins. Cleanse his soul and heart. Make him a soldier of the cross forever more. Help him to remember this moment every day of his life. Amen
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