If we know the God who always wins is with us, if we know those who stand against him can’t win, we can share the gospel boldly and speak of the greatness of Jesus faithfully, knowing – hard as some people’s response to us might be – the God who always wins is on our side so we cannot possibly lose.

In Jeremiah 20, the prophet accuses God of deceiving or seducing him into being a prophet against his will. In effect, he accuses God to making him a prophet and it bringing him nothing but hassle.

Landing hard on the idea of winning and losing, Jeremiah explains the bind he is in. If he speaks God’s Word he gets flak from the people. If he doesn’t speak, he has inner torment at not doing what is right as the Holy Spirit, or his conscience, or both burn him up inside. He says, if I speak I’m hurt outwardly and if don’t speak I’m hurt inwardly. I can’t win. But though Jeremiah can’t win, God will win. God wants Jeremiah to speak so Jeremiah will speak. If he stands against God’s plan, Jeremiah knows he cannot win.

But the flipside of that is also true. Although Jeremiah has got to speak because it’s what God wants him to do, if he’s on God’s side then he can’t lose. The persecutors are against God so can’t win. But God is with Jeremiah so he can’t lose.

Jeremiah doesn’t just say I can’t win. Instead, knowing that God always wins, and God is with him, Jeremiah says: we will win. With God against them, Jeremiah’s enemies can’t win.

Read More