Lesson Two: Jeremiah 20:9 = Jeremiah couldn’t quit.

God certainly inspired this message to motivate "missions." It certainly motivates me not to quit.

Intro: The Old Testament prophets were missionaries to Israel and other nations. Jer. 1:10; 26:5; 44:4; Jonah 1:1-2. Jeremiah's life is a great motivation because he tried to quit serving God but couldn't.

1. He wanted to quit because he was discouraged. Jer. 20:7-8,10

• He accused God of deceiving him. Jer. 20:7a

• Everyone mocked him for preaching. Jer. 20:7b-8

• His friends and family turned on him. Jer. 20:10

• He was put in a dungeon prison. Jer. 37:15-16

2. He wanted to quit the ministry but couldn't. Jer. 20:9

• Because the Word of God was in his heart. Ref. Jer. 20:9 Jeremiah was a testimony of Psalm 119:11. Note: his father was a priest. Jer.1:1 = a testimony of Prov. 22:6

• Because the word was like a fire in his bones. Ref. Jer. 20:9; Heb. 4:12

3. He knew he was called by God. Jer.1:4-9

• God spoke to him. Jer. 10:4

• God called him before he was born. Jer. 10:5

• God ordained him to be a prophet. Jer. 10:5b

• God took away his excuses already. Jer. 10:6-8

• God gave him the words to say. Jer. 10:9

4. Thank God Jeremiah didn't quit.

• He delivered the truth of the Lord to Israel. Jer. 29:10-11

• He prevented the nation of Israel's complete destruction. Jer. 42:15-16

• He preached about the coming Savior = Jesus. Jer. 23:5-7

• He prevented Israel from rejecting Jehovah God. Jer. 44:25; 51:5

• He became the weeping prophet. Jer. 23:9; Lam. 2:11; 3:48

Conclusion: Jeremiah gave us Lamentations 3:21-23 Praise the Lord!