Heat (Jer. 17: 8 ‘when the heat comes)– the circumstances of life. Hardship, trials and affliction Blessings and successes Thorns or Fruit? – how do I react to the ‘heat’ of my circumstances The heart – ‘the wellspring of life’ Who or what rules? Cross – Who is God and what does He say and do in Christ 2

Jeremiah 17: Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 26

Observations a.The ‘cursed’ life described in Jeremiah 17 is a result of humans attempting to draw from resources other than God the things that he alone supplies This passage makes it clear that these ‘cursed’ results are directly connected to inward desires (what one trusts in, hopes in, longs for, looks to, banks on…) 4

b.The prophet Jeremiah is making a profound statement about human motivation: demonstrating the essential binary nature of human motivation: It is either the One True God or something else. Every choice that humans make is always ultimately a religious choice. This life, drawn from the aggrandized self produces inevitable fruit (thorns) o ‘Like a shrub in the desert’ – o ‘Not seeing any good come’ – o ‘Living a life of diminishing resources and hope’ 5

“The blessed life” 7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." 6

Observations a.The blessed life draws from a deeper source as well Lack of fear Doesn’t fear seasons of lack Is fruitful even in hardship 7

The human heart 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 10 "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." 8

Observations a.The unregenerate heart (which would also include indwelling sin in the Christian) operates in us principally through deceit. b.It is difficult to understand, but can be understood with God’s help: (Proverbs 20: 5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.) 9

Heat (Jer. 17: 8 ‘when the heat comes)– the circumstances of life. Hardship, trials and affliction Blessings and successes Thorns or Fruit? – how do I react to the ‘heat’ of my circumstances The heart – ‘the wellspring of life’ Who or what rules? Cross – Who is God and what does He say and do in Christ 10