Great Expectations

Jeremiah 29:4-11 KJV

“Great Expectations”

September 28, 2025

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord. For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” The NIV translates it, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God will give you an Expected End (KJV) or Hope and a Future (NIV)

Expect to Produce v.6 “That you may be increased and not diminished.” (What you doing now, Plan to increase not decrease!) Frederick Douglass said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Deuteronomy 28:13 teaches that WHILE YOU ARE HERE “The Lord will make you the head and not the tail and you shall be above and not beneath.” I once read how an American tourist visited a Polish rabbi in the 19th century his name Rabbi Hofetz Chaim. The tourist was astonished to see that the rabbi's home was only a simple room filled with books, plus a table and a bench, the tourist asked, "Rabbi, where is your furniture?" He replied "Where is yours?" "Mine?" asked the puzzled tourist. "But I'm a visitor here." "So am I," said Rabbi Chaim, “So am I… I'm just like you… only passing through.” May I remind you this morning that we are pilgrims? God teaches us that while we are here His plan is for our increase and not our decrease! 1 Peter 2:11 says we are as “Strangers and Pilgrims.” Hebrews 13:14 says “This is not my home.” But while I am here, I expect to produce!

Expect to Persevere v.10 “after 70 years be accomplished, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you causing you to return.” (I don’t know where you are now, but one thing can expect is that you are coming out of this!) James 1:4 says “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Psalms 34:19 says that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Romans 5:3 says “but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” 1 Peter 5:10 says But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. Philippians 1:6 says Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: This is not my home, but while I am here, I expect to persevere!

Expect to Prosper v.11 “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (What you are going through now is not to Harm you but to Help you!) Isaiah 55:8 says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” It may look dark now, But Jesus knows about dark days!

One awful Friday … Jesus taught us that Sunday is Coming!

• It was Friday… Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying.