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Bad Business–Good Business

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe | January 23, 1977

Selected highlights from this sermon

In Jeremiah 32, God commanded the prophet to buy property. Jeremiah had never seen the land and he had no use for it. But by purchasing the property, he displayed his faith in God’s promises. Through this story, we learn a lesson about faith and the cost of really believing.

Transcripts for Dr. Wiersbe's sermons are forthcoming. Below is an outline of his message.

If you are going to purchase real estate, you have to know what you’re doing.

God told Jeremiah to purchase real estate. 

It costs something to believe and have faith.

Looking at the transaction of Jeremiah buying a field from four different viewpoints teaches us a lesson about faith.

-       From the eyes of the seller: Jeremiah’s cousin, Hanamel

  • God told Hanamel to sell his field to Jeremiah, a prisoner.
  • Hanamel was a shrewd salesman.
  • Jeremiah bought the property for full price, even though there seemed to be no use for it.
  • Hanamel was living by sight, not by faith.
  • Hanamel sold his future because he walked by sight.

-       From the eyes of the witnesses

  • Jeremiah purchased the property legally, in front of witnesses.
  • The witnesses thought Jeremiah was a fool.
  • The person who knows the truth but does not act on it will face greater judgment.

-       From the eyes of the buyer: Jeremiah

  • Jeremiah was the weeping prophet who ministered to a hard-hearted people.
  • Jeremiah was arrested on false charges.
  • Doing God’s will does not mean that everything will be easy for you.
  • Jeremiah was willing to pay the price to show people he really believed what he taught.
  • Do we put our money where our mouth is?
  • Everyone in the Old Testament had some test to show their faith was real.
  • Because Jeremiah believed the Word of God, Jeremiah bought a property he had never seen and couldn’t personally use.
  • Jeremiah made an investment into the future.

-       From the eyes of the owner: the Lord.

  • Jeremiah purchasing the property was a statement of his faith in God’s promises.
  • Jesus and Jeremiah both wept over the unbelief of God’s people and predicted the coming judgment. 
  • Jesus made a transaction with God: His death on the cross paid the price for our sins.
  • When Jesus died, He purchased us and made us part of His inheritance.
  • One day Jesus will return and claim His inheritance.
  • Jeremiah’s purchase is a beautiful picture of Jesus paying the price for our inheritance.

We must put our money where our mouth is and let people see by our decisions that we believe God’s Word is true.

Show others you walk by faith and not by sight.

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