SENT ON A RESCUE MISSION.
Text: Jeremiah 38:1-13.
[1]Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying,
[2]“Thus says the Lord: ‘He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.’
[3]Thus says the Lord: ‘This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.’ ”
[4]Therefore the princes said to the king, “Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.”
[5]Then Zedekiah the king said, “Look, he is in your hand. For the king can do nothing against you.”
[6]So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire.
[7]Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. When the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin,
[8]Ebed-Melech went out of the king’s house and spoke to the king, saying:
[9]“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. For there is no more bread in the city.”
[10]Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, “Take from here thirty men with you, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he dies.”
[11]So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there old clothes and old rags, and let them down by ropes into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
[12]Then Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Please put these old clothes and rags under your armpits, under the ropes.” And Jeremiah did so.
[13]So they pulled Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the dungeon. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
Now let’s continue…
From the above scriptures, we discovered that prophet Jeremiah was condemned to die (verse 4), and had been confined to prison, which was nothing more or less than a great hole dug in the ground. In this murky dungeon laid the prophet of the Lord (verses 6 and 9), and he was even denied food and water (verse 9).
When Ebed-Melech, one of the king’s servants, a man of Ethiopia, heard of Jeremiah’s plight he went to the king and pleaded to be allowed to rescue him (verses 8-9). The king not only gave his consent, but he commanded him to take thirty other men with him to deliver Jeremiah (verse 10). Ebed-Melech affected the deliverance, and verses 11-13 describe his great work of rescue.
In this simple story we have a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus, who, away back in eternity, seeing that mankind had been plunged into a dark dungeon of death, went into the presence of the King and offered to engage in a rescue mission- look up Psalm 40: 7 and Revelation 13: 8 – and thus it was that He came down into the dungeon of the grave and by His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, made it possible for sinful man to be saved. But in this study, there is also a most telling illustration of the way in which we, as servants of the King, are to engage in the rescue work of the kingdom.
May I submit to you that the reason why you were saved and still alive is so that you can rescue others. Men just like Jeremiah are wasting in the dungeon of sin. What are your plans for their rescue? Have you realized that heaven is counting on you. So many youths have been thrown into the dungeon of immorality. So many marriages are thrown into the dungeon of conflict. We can’t keep quiet again and behave as though nothing is at stake.
For this reason was the son of man made manifest, to destroy the works of darkness and to deliver men. That is the same responsibility we have been saddled with as children of God. How many have you delivered? How many souls have you been able to draw out from the marine pit? How many lives have you been able to rescue from the kingdom of darkness? If you’re not among this rescue team of the kingdom, just know that you have missed it
Rescue mission is the major heartbeat of Christ. A proof that you love Him is to be doing what He could have been doing if He is still around.
I pray for you, may the Lord rekindle the fire of evangelism in you…
Do you want to go to heaven alone? For you to be where you are today in God, someone somewhere in one way or the other laboured for you. You can’t cross your legs and fold your arms and watch souls God strategically brought around you go to hell. No you can’t.
Look around you, you will definitely see someone you need to rescued for the kingdom. God called us to rescue them not to condemn them.
The pit of immorality is getting filled day by day.
The pit of gambling is getting filled day by day.
The pit of evil gain is getting filled day by day…
The dungeon of oppression is getting filled day by day…
And you’re just there being a cute and nice believer. I charge you. Rise and seek for the lost. Get yourself recruited into this rescue team. Sometimes, minding your own business is an act of wickedness… When Jesus came to this earth He didn’t mind His business. So why behave as though it doesn’t concern you. Why?
You won’t preach to people, you won’t invite people to church or get them to be part of an online group where they will hear the word of God and pray, you won’t go to missions, you won’t give your money, you won’t pray. Excuse me you’re the problem here.
I want this word to get you out of your comfort zone so you can rise to your responsibility as a believer you’re called to be. The bible says Jesus was anointed with HolySpirit and power and He went about (not sitting in one place) doing good.
Let me point you again to the condition of Jeremiah from that scripture… verse 9.
Jeremiah 38:9: “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. For there is no more bread in the city.”
There are powers that have casted people into certain pits they can’t save themselves from. If nothing is done fast, just like Ebed Melch says, they are likely to die in it. O my God I wish you understand the urgency of this call.
The bible says, knowing therefore the terror of God we persuade men. How many are you persuading to change? Ebed Melch said to the king, “he is likely to die of hunger…” These men we are talking about, the devil has put them where there is famine of the Word. And without the Word operational in their lives they will DIE. Eternal death. It’s not a joke. So you have to rise. Stop being cute and complacent over this matter… Live your life in such a way that the devil will regret you being around.
Locate his prison empty it.
Locate his pit, set men free.
Scatter his program.
You can’t be around and the devil is making gain. What a slap to your Christianity.
Refuse to be a normal believer… God forbid. If the devil is comfortable with your presence just know that you have lost your savour…
Call on God to enflame you once again.
Are you not called to be a battle axe? But now you have become a pillow for the devil. Until the glory of the Lord covers the earth like the waters covers the sea, we won’t quit
How can you be playing church and the devil is busy wasting men. O my God… Where are the Ebed Melechs?
Men that understand what the season is in need of.
Men that will be bold to enter into the presence of the king.
Men that will say to the king, something has to be done quickly.
Men that won’t want to see the devil lavish lives in his dungeon.
Fire is already burning… Catch it!!!
Stop being cute, people are dying and going to hell. Most of them are innocent captives. Even lawful captives, there is a provision made in the scripture for their freedom. O God
We need some Ebed Melechs… We must empty the dungeons of the wicked… It’s time to get into the business of the season. No more time… The devil is moving very fast to drown as many as he could… But under God, we receive the ordination to rescue.
Declare am on a rescue mission.
You are a believer but you’ve not been able to cast out any demon. Then you need to check the Jesus you received, It can’t be Jesus Chris. There is serious hunger of the Word. God is counting on you to be among those that will make His Word available to this generation. Ebed Melech wasn’t comfortable with the condition of Jeremiah, so stop being comfortable with the condition of those the enemy is oppressing.
Just look at your family first, how many are in dungeon? By the time it dawns on you, then you know you have a lot of work. This is just your immediate family, how much more other destinies the Lord has placed on your shoulders that through your appropriate response they will receive their freedom. Once again get into business…
There are some things we must learn from the life of Ebed Melech that will help us be effective in this rescue mission… God saved us so that He can use us to rescue others the enemy is out to destroy. We saw in the life of Ebed Melech this rescue mentality. Through him, God rescued Jeremiah that would have died in the pit. There are many of our Jeremiahs that are in dungeons. They must be delivered.
In your family, locality, workplaces, these “Jeremiahs” are there. Look out for them and do as Ebed Melech did. Let us see how Ebed-Melech rescued Jeremiah, and how we are to seek and secure the deliverance of poor, lost men and women who are imprisoned by oppression, sin and Satan
Please follow me now let’s x-ray the life and steps Ebed Melech took in rescuing Jeremiah. It shall be a principle for us as well in Rescuing men….
principles that will help us to be effective in rescuing men the devil has trapped…
- Ebed Melech is a man of the presence of the king.
See verse 7;
Vs 7 Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs, “who was in the king’s house,” heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. When the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin,
Did you see that. He was in the King’s house. The house of the king was Ebed Melech’s address. He was a man of King’s presence. He has stayed long in the king’s presence. So the King can’t just ignore his words. You have to put to death whatsoever you’re doing that will deprive you the King of king’s presence
It takes living in the King’s presence to give your words attention by the king. You can’t appear from no where and start talking to the king. No sir, If you are not in His presence, your voice won’t strike a cord. So to be used of God to rescue men first requires you to have a place in God’s presence
How can you talk to people and they will repent when you’ve long ago lost your place in the presence of Elohim
I pray for you, your place in His presence shall not be taken.
And if for one reason or the other you have lost it, Now it is restored…
The presence of the king imparts power and authority in your voice for exploit. Before you engage in rescue mission, make sure you’re a man of His presence, That is how you can deliver men. When you show up from the King’s presence demons will obey you when you command them. Sons of Sceva appeared from nowhere to command demons… The demons responded, we know Jesus’ address, we no Paul’s address, but for you, you have no address…
The authority you need to rescue men is gotten from His presence. Stay in there!
- Ebed Melech was a Eunuch.
See Verse 7
Vs 7 “Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. When the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin,”
The question is what does it spiritually signifies?
In the bible days, Eunuchs are kept in palaces to take care of queens. They have lost their virility, unable to live a life of pleasure: Simply put, those that the pleasure in their flesh have died Being active in the flesh won’t allow you to engage in this rescue mission.
Oh no, you can’t…
If you’re still ready to do anything with your flesh, then forget about this message. This last days assignments won’t work for you. God wants those that will rescue men not those that will begin to take the advantage of those they have been sent to rescue.
Hear this story, a young sister a new convert started coming to fellowship. In the fellowship she met two brothers that claim to help her grow spiritually. But it wasn’t long, she was raped by the two brothers. Okay that was not really the main tragedy. Now she went to the head pastor to found solace and guess what? The head pastor now finalized the process.
That’s why the kingdom in this last days is seeking for both men and women Eunuchs… People their flesh have lost the capacity to function. Hear me most of these people God is sending you to rescue are highly possessed, so if your flesh is still active the demon in them will bring you down.
A sister went for an evangelism, and ended up sleeping with the young man. No, the guy didn’t rape her, the spirit in the young man conquered her so she fell…
Pray and say
God, help me to mortify my flesh daily…
Yes Lord I know you want to use me to rescue men, but please rescue me first from the power of Flesh so that I won’t bring shame to your kingdom.
Go ahead and pray..
Don’t forget that our anchor text remains Jer 38:1-13… Don’t forget to go through that passage
Now let’s move on to the next point…
- Ebed-Melech heard of, saw and felt the seriousness of Jeremiah’s plight.
Jeremiah 38:7: Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. When the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin,
We are told that he “heard…” This was quite enough to make him see and feel the prophet’s need. He saw a man starving, sinking and under condemnation. He heard and put up action in response to what he heard. This is what God expects from us. We hear things every day, yet we still choose to be normal, The reason why God allows us to hear and see the captivity of men is so that we can move in compassion towards them.
Speaking about Jesus, the bible says, when He saw the multitude, He moved with compassion… Yet the high priests were there none were moved It wasn’t just the multitude Jesus saw, He saw men the devil has locked up in his spiritual prison… He wasn’t just seeing them in the physical. He saw how hopeless and helpless they were in the spiritual realm so His heart couldn’t bear the pains So He moved in compassion…
Don’t be a believer with a dead emotions to the pains of men.
Don’t be a believer with a dead emotions to the spiritual need of others… You need to feel the pains of others so that you can offer help as little as it may be.
Ebed Melech heard and the next thing was action… He couldn’t bear the pain He understood what it means that someone is in dungeon Others may have seen it as something not serious but not the likes of Ebed Melech.
Can you pray and ask God to give you such heart
A heart that will make you inconvenient yourself in other to save others. Someone said, “I can’t displease myself to please you“. That word is not a kingdom word.
No it’s not…
Jesus didn’t just displease Himself, He got to the point that He laid His life in death so that we can be fine. The church is under serious siege… The siege of convenience has plagued the church. We are seeing a generation that won’t do anything for the kingdom as long as is not convenient for them But if it is something that will give them money, they wouldn’t mind inconveniencing themselves. Everything you’ve been hearing, what have you done?
- Ebed-Melech had an interaction with the king.
Verses 7-9 revealed that. What an eloquent appeal he made!- and you and I can do the same. That was also what Nehemiah did.
Being a true child of the king, we can come right into the King’s presence and make known our requests to Him, and while we are in His presence He will give us instructions as to how to go about the work of rescue.
Can’t you take it upon yourself to pray… Speak to the king..
Tell the king about that your husband, child, wife, friend, etc the devil is on their case.
Ebed Melech went to the king, please go to the king. Speak to the king about your village, state, nation…
He went in and discussed the plight of Jeremiah with the king. Go discuss the plight of that prostitute with the king.
Go discuss the plight of that womanizer with the king.
Tell the king that He just has to do something if not, these men will perish…
Remind the king that He says that He doesn’t glory in the death of a sinner. He is waiting for you to come. Go have a discussion with Him and He will proffer solution.
Your prayer can go a long way don’t hold it back. Ask God for total salvation of those around you that are still dangling in their faith. Pray also for your people and others you don’t even know. As you do that God will hear you.
- Ebed-Melech sought the co-operation of others.
Jeremiah 38:10-11: Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, “Take from here thirty men with you, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he dies.” 11. So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there old clothes and old rags, and let them down by ropes into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
In this journey of rescue, you can’t do it alone, seek for the cooperation of other believers. We have our King’s authority for seeking the co-operation of others for the great work of soul-winning. There is the co-operation of prayer and there are other practical forms of co-operation of other brethren we can seek.
With the help of others we can do more for God.. One will pursue a thousand but two shall pursue ten thousand… A three-fold cord can not easily be broken.. You need me, I need you in this great work of rescue… Don’t leave it for some, we all are called into it… If you can’t preach invite people, if you can’t, maybe your money could be of help. What of your prayer… May we take this assignment serious.
Paul said to Timothy, do the work of an evangelist. That is to say, Timothy I know you may tell me you’re not an evangelist, no problem but do that work… Child of God do the work of an evangelist at all cost… Just do it and God will be glorified…
Let all hands be on deck as we engage in this work… Don’t leave it for some people, we all are expected to be part of this rescue team.
- Ebed-Melech had faith in the means of salvation…
Jeremiah 38:11 “So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there old clothes and old rags, and let them down by ropes into the dungeon to Jeremiah.”
Can you not see Ebed-Melech testing the strength of the ropes? We must have absolute confidence in the power of our Saviour, and of the gospel, to save completely
I want you to observe what Ebed Melech used to save the life of Jeremiah from the pit. It was old clothes and rags. May I submit to you that to the world, the power of salvation doesn’t make sense. To them salvation is useless, just the same way rags is seen as something useless. The bible says to them it is foolishness, but Paul said am not ashamed of it. The gospel many are seeing as rags, is powerful in saving souls. There is power in the gospel, though many may see it as rags, foolishness, useless, but we that is of the kingdom understand the strength in that so called “rags”
The bible says, to the carnal man, spiritual things are foolishness. You can’t access the power of salvation with carnal mind. It can only be accessed through faith. And the bible says we are saved by grace through FAITH.. That which the world called rags that no one wants to associate with is powerful to save and rescue men
Have faith in it.
Preach it with faith.
Release it with faith.
That was what we saw Ebed Melech doing… No one would have believed that rags will be useful in pulling Jeremiah out of the pit… That is the gospel for you.
Men have called it rags..
Men have despised the gospel, many have trampled on it like rags..
many have rejected it like rags….
but this is our confidence, that stone many rejected has become the chief corner stone… Child of God don’t be ashamed of the gospel, the world has called it rags but at the end, it is the only thing that has the capacity to save to the uttermost. There is power in that “rag” use it.
- Ebed-Melech showed his love for Jeremiah…
He not only showed it by seeking his salvation- look at verse 11- but he used ropes and rags, which would prevent the ropes from chafing under his arms.
Jeremiah could have been saved without the rags, and yet he was saved so much more “comfortably” with them. If those around us are convinced that we love them they will be easy prey to our soul-winning efforts. I want you to understand well what Ebed Melech used the rags and old clothes to do as a means of Jeremiah’s deliverance
He asked Jeremiah to insert the rags and the old clothes under his armpit. With the tag under his armpit it reduced pressure while he drew the rope. That was manifestation of love… When you love someone, you will as much as it lies in you rescue him with an act of love. You could pay their transport money to that conference you know that will change their lives. That is love. When you see he/she has no food to eat, get food first before you start preaching.
Show them love… They are already in the dungeon, so they need love. Make it as comfortable as you can for them. That was what Ebed Melech did for Jeremiah Don’t drag them out of the pit with this bossy mentality and attitude. Use love to do that. If it has to discomfort you in order to show that love, do that…
Hear me, when you deliver someone with love, it will register the same in the heart of the person to also use love to save others. Love attitude has a way of making people give their life to Christ faster.
- Ebed-Melech did not rest until Jeremiah was saved.
In the case of the prophet the whole business of rescue did not take long (verse 13), but sometimes it takes a very long time, during which there is need for the exercise of a great deal of patience and wisdom before the one for whose salvation we long is brought to the Lord.
PRAYER FOCUS
1.O Lord I ask that you burden my heart your compassion for the lost
- Make me O Lord an instrument of rescue in your hand for the lost
- Lord Jesus help me to respond appropriately to the promptings of your Spirit in my heart for the lost
- My father open the door of salvation to those the enemy has captured in his prison
- Break every prison door where souls are caged
- Empty satanic pits where destinies are being wasted
- O Lord cause the light of your salvation to shine in the darkest part this world
- Frustrate every taskmaster the enemy has set over his captives
- O Lord break the power of sin in the life of my family members
- Let divine judgement come upon every satanic system that is sponsoring sin in the lives of people.