Fearless Faith

Sermon Text: Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. NKJV

Introduction: The Journey of life is not an easy path. It can be joyful or full of disappointments, dark, and painful. How quickly we become fearful and disheartened and find ourselves living in fear, wondering what’s next. As Christians, we don’t have to live that way. We can either live on the "Solid Rock" or the shifting sands of the world. We need fearless faith knowing our hope, our faith, and our confidence is found in Jesus. It’s time to live a fearless faith. It’s time to be…BRAVE!

With all that has happened in the world in recent history and today. I am reminded of Job in the Old Testament. Although the Bible describes Job as a righteous man Job faith was tested! Job lost his family, his wealth and possessions, and his health. Yet Job stayed strong in his faith in God. Our world is in such a term oil because we live in a fallen world but as followers of Jesus, we are pilgrims and strangers living in this land.

Hebrews 11:13-14 -These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. NKJV

Aside from the struggles of everyday living, we have lived through one of the most tragic times in world history. The pandemic has taken millions of lives and impacted the entire world. It has changed the way we live, work and even the way we worship. Now the world is facing another challenge with the unrest in Europe. Some have suggested this is the beginning of the end.

I submit to you today that regardless of what the future holds Christians are secure in eternity. Jesus told us there is a place prepared for us and that someday He would return to take us there.

The future of this world seems bleak, but our future is bright because of our faith in Jesus. God sent this message to His people through the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:11-14.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. NKJV

ILLUSTRATION: A 1st grader stood in front of his classroom to make a speech about "What I want to be when I grow up." He said, "I'm going to be a lion tamer and have lots of fierce lions. I'll walk into the cage, and they will roar." He paused for a moment, thinking through what he had just said and then added, "But of course, I'll have my mommy with me." (From a sermon by Ray Ellis, Victory in Times of Crisis, 6/14/2010)

As we live and walk through this world, we have Jesus with us. Jesus promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

1st God Has a Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

God’s plan for us began before the foundation of this world, Paul reminds us of this truth in Ephesians 1:4-just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, NKJV.