In the middle of Jeremiah, in some of the worst possible circumstances,

God, through his messenger, sends forth the word,

I am the God of your against.

And as surely as I have restored a people before you ever had your feet toddle on this planet,

you look to me and I will restore you.

Music You may be seated.

I just want you to know before we open this book together that on these sacred pages are no

dead, dry words. This ink right here is animated by the spirit. Jesus said, my words are spirit

and life. That's what he says to us. We inhale them by faith, and then we exhale them by

speech. And in doing so, we engage in this glorious thing I like to call divine CPR. There is no

tangible thing in your life, more thrilling, exhilarating, or at times bewildering, no tangible thing, more sustaining, more rearranging, more challenging, more challenging, more comforting, more pride-killing, heartwarming, bone-chilling, hair-raising,

and hell-crazing than the Word of God.

Anybody know what I'm talking about?

Nothing your hand can touch, nothing your fingertips could reach out in touch, is as history-staging,

future-telling,, or flesh quelling.

And in the words of the psalmist, by them is your servant warned and in keeping them,

there is great reward.

It's the world mystifying, demon-terrifying word of the living God.

Can I get an amen?

Right here, we're swept back into a world of earth, water, and sky created ex-Nihilo out of absolutely nothing,

with flawed patriarchs grappling with faith of ex-Nahilo out of absolutely nothing, with flawed patriarchs grappling with faith,

of angels and men wrestling in the night, of a burning bush and parting seas, of clouds by day

...