TEXT:  Jer. 13:1-11

INTRODUCTION:

A.      STRANGE COMPARISON - ISRAEL TO A GIRDLE.

          1.       God's people should be as close as a girdle to God( vs. 11 ).

          2.       Relationship ruined by their rebellious attitude( vs. 7, 11 ).

B.      ISRAEL IS A TYPE OF THE CHURCH - CLOSE, NO REBELLION.

C.      WE WANT TO EXAMINE THIS RELATION WITH EMPHASIS ON THE

          PURPOSE OR OBJECTIVES OF GOD.

D.      GOD WOULD HAVE US CLEAVE TO HIM THAT WE MIGHT BE...

I.      "A PEOPLE" - A DISTINCT GROUP.

A.      PURPOSE IN SANCTIFICATION( Titus 2:14 ).

          1.       A special place( 1 Pet. 2:9 ).

          2.       Not always true( 1 Pet. 2:10 ).

B.      DISTINCT FROM THE WORLD WITH REGARD TO SIN.

          1.       Forgiven( 1 Cor. 6:11 ).

          2.       No longer living therein( 2 Cor. 617-18;  7:1 ).

C.      WE ARE ONE BODY - UNIFIED( 1 Cor. 12:12-13, 25-26:  Phil. 1:27 ).

II.     "A NAME" - A RELATIONSHIP.

A.      THE NAME - SIGNIFICANT IN ISRAEL'S HISTORY.

          1.       Hosea's children( Hos. 1 ).

          2.       Isaiah's prophecy( Isa. 62:1-4 ).

B.      WE ARE GOD'S PEOPLE( 1 Pet. 2:10 ).

          1.       Jesus given a name( Phil. 2:9-10 ).

          2.       We are given a name to wear( 1 Pet. 4:16 ).

III.    "A PRAISE" - PURPOSE.

A.      THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN( Ecc. 12:13-14 ).

B.      WE ARE TO GLORIFY HIM( John 15:8 ).

C.      WHY ARE WE GOD'S PEOPLE - FOR GOOD WORKS( Eph. 2:10 ).

          1.       Titus 2:11-14;  3:1, 8, 14.

          2.       Object of our good works( Matt. 5:16 ).

          3.       What are good works?( 1 Pet. 4:11;  Matt. 7:21-27 ).

          4.       Where is God glorified( Eph. 3:20-21 ).

IV.   "A GLORY" - APPRECIATION.

A.      WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR US?( John 3:16;  Rom. 5:8 ).

B.      WE OUGHT TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL OUR BEING( Matt. 22:37 ).

C.      LOVE WILL MANIFEST ITSELF

          1.       In repentance( Rom. 2:4 ).

          2.       Obedience( John 14:15 ).

          3.       Sacrifice( Rom. 12:1 ).

          4.       Praise( Col. 3:16-17 ).

V.    TRUE FULFILLMENT IS SEEN IN DRAWING NEAR

        ( Jer. 13:11;  James 4:8 ).

A.      WE MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO DRAW NEAR( Heb. 4:16 ).

B.      JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY( John 14:6 ).

C.      FAILURE TO DRAW NEAR IS PROFANITY.

          1.       Israel lost( Jer. 13:8-10 ).

          2.       Spiritual Israel lost( Heb. 10:26-31 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      GOD DESIRES THAT WE DRAW NEAR.

B.      THIS WILL RESULT IN A NEW PEOPLE, NAME, PRAISE, AND GLORY.

C.      IN DRAWING NEAR WE CAN BE ASSURED OF GOD'S PROTECTION,

          CARE AND SALVATION.