Conquering Insecurity

Conquering Insecurity

“Conquering Insecurity”

(Jeremiah 1:5)

Series: More Than Conquerors (7 of 7)

Todd A. Linn, 3-19-06

 

  • Please open your Bibles to Jeremiah, chapter one.

 

Today we our concluding what has become a seven-part series of messages entitled, “More Than Conquerors.”  Let me say that I have thoroughly enjoyed preaching this series.  The Bible says that Christians are not just conquerors, but more than conquerors because of Christ Jesus who loves us.  So we have been looking at passages in the Scriptures that help us conquer our emotions.  We’ve looked at how to conquer worry, anger, fear, stress, and so forth.  The Bible teaches us how to “deal” with how we “feel.”

 

This morning we’re going to look at another one of those emotions that nearly everyone experiences at one time or another.  And we find it here in a passage of Scripture where God is calling a man into a special work of ministry.

 

  • Stand in honor of the reading of God’s holy Word.

 

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

7 But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

 

  • Pray.

 

Introduction:

 

It is one of those emotions that is frequently hidden in some of the most successful people.  The CEO of a major company may suffer from it.  World leaders and United States Presidents may suffer from it.  Some of the most skilled people in some of the most visible professions may suffer from it—great athletes, doctors, lawyers, actors, musicians, even ministers.  Young men and young women suffer from it.  Because it is an emotion, nearly every single one of us suffers from it at one time or another, and when we face the emotion we have to “deal” with how we “feel.”

 

I’m talking, of course, about what to do when we feel insecure.  Insecurity takes on many forms.  Insecurity encompasses other feelings, such as inadequacy and inferiority.  Insecurity is that improper feeling that tells us things like we don’t measure up or we’re not good enough, or there’s something wrong with us.

 

And sometimes we feel insecure because of our past.  Someone said something years ago that hurt us.  It may have even come from a parent, or an employer, or even a good friend.  You heard that statement and when put in a certain situation, you hear those words again and you start feeling insecure.

 

Next time you start feeling insecure, you remember this passage.  I want you to see with me that there are some things here we should remember when we feel insecure.  You see, Jeremiah was a man who battled insecurity.  And when God calls this man into the ministry he speaks to him some words that he will go back to again and again.  They are found in verse 5:

 

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

 

We know verse 5 from sermons and lessons on the sanctity of life.  I’ve preached this verse myself in a message that dealt with why God is pro-life.  But this morning, I want to show how this verse—grounded in its context—also helps you and I conquer feelings of insecurity.

 

You see, Jeremiah was called to a tough ministry.  It was a difficult ministry.  He preached during a time in Israel’s history when the people were wayward, backslidden, and unrepentant.  In fact, listen to this.  Are you listening?  Jeremiah preached for 40 years and not one person repented.  How’d you like to be a preacher for 40 years of ministry and not have a single convert?  That might make you feel a little insecure, huh?

 

Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, had mood swings just as you and I.  There would come a time in Chapter 20 where Jeremiah even curses the day he was born.  He actually says, “I wish I’d never been born.”  He was a human being.  He was like you and I.  Someone said that the great prophets of the Old Testament are not to be viewed as “models of morality,” but “mirrors of identity.”  We look at them and we say, “I can relate.  I understand.  Hey, he’s just like me.”  And what that does is it keeps us from trying to be like somebody else and it causes us to look up to God.  God is the hero in every Bible story.

 

So when Jeremiah started to feel insecure, he could always go back to verse 5.  God taught him some things to remember.  And that kept him going.  I really do believe, with all my heart, that the same is true for you and me this morning.  When you and I start feeling insecure, we can always go back to verse 5.  From verse 5 I want to talk to you about:

 

**What to Remember When You Feel Insecure:

 

I. You are a Special Product of God (1:5a)

 

The key word in the first part of verse 5 is the word, “formed.”  God says, “Jeremiah, I formed you in your mother’s womb.”  The word “formed” there speaks of the producing of a thing.  It is used for example, of a potter producing a pot out of clay, or a sculptor producing a statue.

 

God says, “I formed you, Jeremiah.  You are My special product.”  And I want to tell you that God speaks to you and me the same way.  Jeremiah is a human being and God creates all of His human beings the same way.  What is true for Jeremiah is true for you and me.  God says, “I formed you, too.  I am the Master-Producer and you are My special product.”

 

The most important thing to remember is that God made us “in His image.”  In Genesis 1:27, the Bible says God created human beings in His image.  Whatever else that means, it means that God has created us in His likeness.  There is something we share with God no other creation shares.  That’s why our lives are sacred to God.  We are a special product of God.

 

Now what that means is that God is the Creator and He knew what He was doing when He made us.  God made us just like He wanted us.

 

We often joke around when we say, “You know, when God made you, he broke the mold.”  Truth is, when God made every one of us, he broke the mold.  It’s amazing that there can be so many people and yet no two are exactly alike.  You are a special product of God.  God made you just like He wanted you.

 

Too often feelings of inadequacy or insecurity lead us to tamper with the product God that God has created.  Hollywood has become something of the capital city of plastic surgery as people flock there to alter the special product God has made of them.  Some people feel they’re too tall or too short or they have too much hair, or not enough hair—or whatever.

 

While he was writing about Israel’s rejection of the Gospel, Paul made a statement that applies to the questioning of our Creator in Romans 9:20 where he writes, “Who are you to reply against God?  Will the thing formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why have made me like this?’”  Who are we to call into question God’s creative genius?  God formed you, God made you just like He wanted.  You are a special product of God.

 

See, we need to know who we are and what we have if we’re going to conquer insecurity.  A lot of people are like that guy who went into a store and said, “I want a white shirt with red letters, white shorts with red stripes, and red and white basketball shoes.”  The clerk asked, “Are you a University of Louisville fan?”  The man stuck out his chest and proudly said, “I sure am.  What gave it away—the color combination?”  The clerk said, “No.  This is a hardware store.”

 

We need to know who we are and what we have if we’re going to conquer insecurity.  God says, “You are My special product.  I formed you.  I made you just like I wanted.  I made you in My image.”

 

When you start to feel insecure, remember that you are a special product of God.  Secondly, when you start to feel insecure, remember:

 

II. You are the Special Pleasure of God (1:5b)

 

The key word here is the word, “knew.”  God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”  God’s not talking about mere intellectual knowledge.  He’s talking about a special, intimate, personal and loving knowledge.  It’s the same word used to describe Adam’s intimacy with Eve in Genesis 4:1 where it says, “Adam knew Eve and she conceived.”  The word “knowledge” here refers to a special, intimate, loving knowledge God has with respect to His children.  His children give Him pleasure because He loves them in a special way.

 

You are the special pleasure of God.  When He formed you in your mother’s womb, He knew you.  That is, God knows all about you and He loves you anyway.  Isn’t that encouraging?  I mean, before you were even born, God knew all about you and He loved you anyway.

 

We sing of this in Victory in Jesus when we sing, “He loved me ‘ere I knew Him; and all my love is due Him.”  God loved me and knew me before I ever loved and knew Him.

 

Think of how God knew you long before you were born and lovingly brought you into existence according to His plan.  See, He knew who your parents would be, and who your grandparents would be, and who your great-grandparents would be, and so on.  You are the special pleasure of God.

 

The fact that God loves Jeremiah, that He knew Him before He was even born, will be especially meaningful to Jeremiah when he starts feeling insecure.  God knew what caused Jeremiah to feel insecure.  Look down there at verses 6-7:

 

6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

7 But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

 

Jeremiah said, “I’m too young!”  Interestingly, most scholars think Jeremiah was in his early thirties when he was called into the ministry.  Back then, that would have been viewed as a lot older than today.  But Jeremiah feels inexperienced and inadequate and so he says, “I’m just a young person.  What do I know?”  Maybe he heard someone tell him that once.  Maybe that’s what was playing on the tape player of his mind, “You’re too young, Jeremiah.  What do you know?!”

 

God says, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth.’  Jeremiah, don’t feel insecure.  Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.  I knew all about you.  I love you, Jeremiah.  Find your security in Me.

 

We see something else that caused Jeremiah to feel insecure in verse 8:

 

8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.

 

God knew there would come a time when Jeremiah would look out at the crowd of people to whom he was called to preach and he would feel a little insecure.  People can be tough.  People can be mean.  Some of them just look mean.  People can look mean and act mean and say mean things and God says to his man, “Don’t be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.  Find your security in Me.  I am with you.”

 

And sometimes you feel like Jeremiah, a bit insecure.  You say, “I’m too young,” or maybe you say, “I’m too old,” or, “I’m not good enough,” or, “I’m not smart enough,” or “I’m not strong enough,” or, “My body isn’t good enough,” and so on.

 

I heard about a preacher whose wife was taken by some Hollywood hunk.  She really liked watching him on TV.  He caught her looking at him one time and said, “You take away his money, his good looks, and his muscular body, and what do you have?”  She smiled and said, “I’d have you.” (Source: James Merritt)

 

But God says to His children, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.  You are My special product and My special pleasure.  I made you just the way I wanted to make you and I love you just the way you are.”

 

Someone said that if they ever really make a mess of something, they can always say, “Well, at least my mother still loves me.”  Well there may even be times we’re not even so sure whether our mother will still love us.  But for the child of God, for the Christian, we can say, “No matter what happens, I know God will still love me.”

 

When you start to feel insecure, remember you are a special product of God, and you are the special pleasure of God.  Then, when you start to feel insecure, remember:

 

III. You have a Special Purpose for God (1:5c-d)

 

There are two key words here; “sanctified” and “ordained.”  Both of these words refer to the Christian’s special purpose in life.  (Set-apart and appointed).  God says:

 

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

 

That is, “Jeremiah, I have a special purpose for you.  I mean, just for you.”  And God did.  God called Jeremiah into a ministry of preaching to a wayward, backslidden people.  And there were two things he was to remember as he went about doing what God called him to do.

 

Jeremiah was to remember that God’s presence and God’s power.  Look again at verse 8.  God says:

 

8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD.

 

Do not be afraid, Jeremiah, because I am with you.  When you start to feel insecure, you remember that I am with you.  Remember my presence.  Then God also says, “Remember my power.” Look at verse 9:

 

9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

 

God says, “Jeremiah, you feel you are too young and you don’t know what to say, don’t go about this in your own strength.  I’m going to enable you with My power.  I’m going to put My words in your mouth.”  See, when God gives you a special purpose, He equips you to fulfill that purpose.  He equips you with His presence and His power.

 

And God will do the same for every single child of God.  God has created you for a special purpose.  Ultimately your purpose is to bring glory to Him.  The Bible says in Revelation 4:11 that God has created all things, and it is by His will they exist and were created.”  So whether you are teaching a class, witnessing, giving a speech at work, or a presentation at school, God wants to glorify Himself through us.

 

Whatever job God calls you to, wherever He leads you, you and I are to live for His glory.  We are to live a life that pleases Him.

 

You see, one of the reasons so many people feel insecure is because they live their lives trying to please others.

 

Don’t live your life trying to please others.  All that matters is whether God is pleased.  Period.

 

Summary / Conclusion:

 

The classic movie from the early 60s, To Kill A Mockingbird, tells a story that takes place in a small Alabama town during the 1930s, a time of racial segregation.  In the movie, Gregory Peck stars as Attorney Atticus Finch.  He is an impeccable, morally-upright attorney who becomes controversial when he chooses to defend an innocent black man.  Because of his decision, Atticus is criticized and condemned by many people.  It is clear that no matter how well the young black man is defended, he is going to be found guilty for his crime.  And he is.

 

The final courtroom scene is one of those scenes that has become legendary.  After the guilty verdict is read, the prosecuting attorney celebrates and the “winners” are shaking hands and congratulating one another.  And we see Atticus methodically collecting his papers and closing up his briefcase.  He gets up and walks alone out of the courtroom.  And as he walks out, the camera allows you to see the black people who viewed the trial from up above in the balcony where they were made to sit.  And as Atticus walks slowly out of the courtroom, the black people stand up to honor him as he passes.  And what makes that scene all the more gripping is that Atticus, as he walks out, doesn’t even know they are standing there, looking down in approval at him.

 

At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter what your critics think.  When others make fun of you or question your integrity, or when you start feeling inadequate and insecure, and you feel you don’t “measure up” to the world’s idea of success, remember that more important than what anyone else thinks about you is what God thinks about you.  You are a special product of God.  You are the special pleasure of God.  And you have a special purpose for God.  And when you live your life for God’s glory, remember that God is looking down in approval at you.

 

  • Stand for prayer.

 

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name.  The author intends to provide free resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in Kingdom work.