OVERCOMING
SELF-DOUBT
Memory Verse: 2
Corinthians 3:5 (HCSB) “It is not that we are competent in ourselves
to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God.”
1. The
Assignment:
Jeremiah 1:1–3; 10–16; Cf. 2 Chronicles 34:1-33; 2
Timothy 4:3–4; Psalm 121:3–4
2. The
Apprehension:
Jeremiah 1:6; Exodus 4:10; Exodus
6:30; 2
Corinthians 3:5
“Excuses
are
tools of the incompetent, and
those who specialize in
them
seldom go far.” As quoted by Rick Ezell
“He that is
good for making excuses
is seldom good for anything else.” -- Ben Franklin
“He who excuses
himself, accuses himself.”-- Gabriel Meurier
The
Hebrew term na’ar infancy to about forty five years of age.
“Culture dictated that young
people listen but not speak in public affairs.” -- James E. Smith
“God
does not want us dwelling on our own incompetence. It belittles His design for
us. It might sound humble in the sight of men, but it can be impertinence to
the Creator.” -- John Guest and Lloyd J. Ogilvie
3. The
Affirmation:
Jeremiah 1:4–5; Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:14–15; Romans 8:29;
Jeremiah 29:11; Hebrews 4:13
Hebrew “yatsar describes the process of shaping pottery.”
4. The
Assurance:
Jeremiah 1:7–10; Jeremiah
1:18–19; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:3
“Enough of those excuses, young man. Stop
those jargons. Get on the job. ‘cause you will go to whomever I send you, and
you will only speak, whatever I told you to speak. That’s all, young man.”--John Ojewole’s vernacular
paraphrase of verse 7.
“God would prepare the prophet for his
confrontation with a hostile audience. They would find this man to have a
God-given fortitude and determined purpose. Before his adversaries he would
appear to be as invincible as a fortified city, as indestructible as an iron
pillar, and as impregnable as a bronze wall.” -- James E. Smith
5. The
Action:
Jeremiah 1:11–17 Jeremiah 1:17; 1
Thessalonians 5:24
Conclusion: 2
Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 4:13
