BRUISES AND WOUNDS

JEREMIAH 30:1

A. "FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD, THY BRUISE IS INCURABLE, AND THY WOUND IS GRIEVOUS"
  1. These words are directed primarily to God's ancient covenant people, showing the reason for their going into captivity:
  2. But I believe that they have a spiritual message for the people today:
    1. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning" - Rom. 15:4
    2. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." - 1 Cor. 10:11
B. BRUISES AND WOUNDS
  1. Our opening text shows the sinner's true condition, as God sees it:
    1. Bruises. Everyone living in sin will receive bruises. That is the work of the devil - Luke 9:39; 10:30
    2. Satan will leave no soundness in his victims - Isa. 1:6
    3. He will leave incurable wounds - Ps. 38:5; Prov. 23:29 EXAMPLES -
      1. Samson - Judg. 16:20
      2. Esau - Heb. 12:16, 17
      3. Judas - Matt. 27:1-5
  2. Attitude of the world when they see you bruised and wounded:
    1. Who cared for the prodigal when he was down and out? - Luke 15:11-29
    2. Who cared when Judas hung himself? - Matt. 27:1-5
  3. Effects of bruises and wounds:
    1. You are incapacitated for doing good.
    2. You are losing precious opportunities to prepare for the kingdom of God - 2 Cor. 6:1-3; John 5:3-6
    3. You miss the blessing of the great feast of the Lord - Luke 14:16-28
    4. Who is able to measure the effects of sin in this present world or in the world to come?
C. BUT NONE NEED DESPAIR OR BE DISHEARTENED
  1. There is a promise for the bruised and the wounded:
    1. "I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thy wounds, saith the Lord." - Jer. 30:17
    2. There is balm in Gilead - Jer. 8:22; 46:11
    3. It is found in the wounds of the Lamb of God - Isa. 53:5 EXAMPLES -
      1. The prodigal son was restored fully - Luke 15:22-32
      2. Mary Magdalene was restored fully - Mark 16:9
      3. The woman of Samaria was restored - John 4:1- 29
    4. "I will, says the Lord, heal thy wounds" - Ps. 103:1-3; 143:3; Luke 10:34
  2. To heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds was the great mission of the Son of God, when he came into this sin-sick world:
    1. That is what the prophet Isaiah foretold - Isa. 61:1
    2. That prediction was quoted by the Lord as finding its fulfillment in Him - Luke 4:18
    3. He will wear the scars of the wounds He received for you and me forever and ever. They will be a mark of His love for poor sinners - Zech. 13:6
  3. How wonderful is God's love which has made provisions for healing our wounds and bruises:
    1. That mission of mercy occupied the largest part of our Lord's ministry - Acts 10:38
    2. He is the great Physician of our body and our soul - Ex. 16:26
    3. Of Him the Psalmist writes, "who healeth all thy diseases" - Ps. 103:1-3
  4. Dear friend, do you know this Physician from experience? Has he touched your heart and your body with the hand of healing?
  5. How wonderful it is to know from experience that God is willing to heal us from the wounds caused by sin!


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