The text for this morning sermon is found in Jeremiah chapter 1 versus 1 to 10.

I invite you to read along with me in your Bibles or if you don't have one, there's one hopefully in the pew pocket in front of you.

While you're looking it up, this is a powerful text.

My wife turned to me this morning and said,

this is my favorite text from the Book of Jeremiah.

It is the text that called me to missions.

Jeremiah 1, 1. The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkia, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom

the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

It came also in the days of Jehoiakeem, the son of Josiah, King of Judah, and until the end of

the 11th year of Zetakaya, the son of Josiah, king of Judah,

until the captivity of Jerusalem in the 5th month.

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,

before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.

And before you were born, I consecrated you.

I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Then I said, Ah, Lord God, behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am a youth but the Lord said to me do not say I am only a youth

for to all to whom I send you you shall go and whatever I command you you shall speak be not

afraid of them for I am with you to deliver you says the Lord.

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.

See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down,

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