For His Name’s Sake
It’s Not About You
Jeremiah 29: 10-14
I Sam. 12: 22
Background
• letter from Jeremiah the prophet to the Jews when king Neb. had taken captive from Jerusalem into Babylon
• Jerusalem = city of peace Babylon = confusion of tongue
• Were told to get married, build houses, find jobs, have kids, and grandkids – gone be there for a while = 70 yrs.
• Make the best of it – I know false prophets are telling you otherwise, but….they’re lying
• Then after 70 yrs (10=gov’t, discipline, 7=day of rest, completion, perfection, maturity)
• Jeremiah 29:10-14
• Turn away your captivity (imprisonment)– I’m going to show you how powerful I am when it comes to releasing my people from punishment. When Job’s fortunes were restored, he was said to have been freed from captivity.
• Gather from all the nations – all people - those that have hurt you, tricked, used, lied on, back-stabbed, talked down, counted you out, laughed at, stepped on and over, won’t stop bringing up your past, hoped you’d fail, betrayed your trust
• All the places – (directions/situations) – dark places, cold, lonely, confused, uncomfortable, dull, stagnant, lazy, comfortable, sinking, hard, filthy, low, down, and out
• Driven – Jesus driven to wilderness (Mark 1:12)
• Drove you out so I could bring you back in
• put you in place to need miracle>perform
• made way hard to see>trust
• did it to get glory---FHNS
• I Sam.12:22
Protect you name
• name signifies reputation and character, so always protect it
• want others to say or think good things when hear your name – ever mention a name then they say “…umph” – somewhere down the line they or somebody messed up (tainted/stained) their name
• don’t let other people mess up you name – if Brod. recommends someone for a job, and they get there and slacking, not good for his name – “don’t hire nobody else he sends”
• a person’s name is so influential, on a job interview just the mention of the right name can get you the job---or Not!
• As members of this body of Christ, must be careful how we act in community (Ice club, hell, sleight, snow) cause people say, “don’t they go to NLC”? =mess up church’s /Pastor’s name
• I am careful, people know me and I don’t know them – protect Brod’s name – “Brod’s wife?”, not even knowing my name = t-shirt
• if have kids, make them protect it too (don’t be begging or acting up at school or with other people) because parents get talked about, not the kids – “them McGee Kids”
• on flipped side, we do/buy stuff for kids for our name’s sake – comb hair, barber, iron
• sounds like God
For His name’s sake
• ain’t been all good…Ezek. 36: 22-30
• I already know you gone start tripping, but I’ll turn away captivity FMNS
• thought you made all right choices and never been in any trouble or jail--->path of righteousness FHNS Ps. 23:3
• baler, letters behind/in front of name, drive comp. car, times don’t know whether going or coming--- >lead and guide Ps. 31:3
• iniquities=inabil to produce desired results, didn’t even have skills/exper. To do the job --->pardon your iniquities FHNS Ps. 25:11
• Israelites at Red Sea murmuring, nevertheless --- >make mighty power known
• Gideon – Judges 7 – 300=# of God’s remnant – God not impressed w/ #s will cause all finances to be exausted just so he can make a way – make you humble so he can exalt you in due time FHNS
• Even when we are the guilty party
• Did others wrong--- >I am he that blotteth out transgressions FHNS Is. 43:25
• Disobed. (hard headed to his will) repeatedly and thought you got away (burst bubble)--- >defer my anger Is. 48:9, …withhold my hand Ezek. 20:22
• Evil thing in sight of God--- > sins forgiven FHNS I John 2:12
• Is. 61 - Beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, garment of praise for spirit of heaviness--- >that he might be glorified
• Not trying to rain on parade, but you got house, car, bling, maid, butler, chaueffer, ministry booming, sing like bird, preach, best of bestest--- >done all these great things FHNS II Sam.7:21
• So be careful about bragging about what you have and what you can do, cause it’s not even about you
Trials FHNS
• even when things get shady in our lives, it’s FHNS
• He drives us to uncomfortable places to get some glory – it’s not even about you
• Believe me, they are going to come
• Matt. 5:11,12 – blessed are you when men shall insult you, persecute, lie on you for my sake>rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven
• Talked about, laughed at, haters>Matt.10:22 – and ye shall be hated of all men FMNS
• Rebuked>Jer.15:15 – for thy sake have I suffered rebuke
• Give up friends, agenda, sleep>Matt.10:39 – he that looseth his life for my sake, shall find it; II Cor.4:11 – always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, that he might manifest in our body
• Matt. 19:29 whoever has forsaken houses, family, land for my sake, shall receive and hundred fold(of uncertain affinity) and shall inherit eternal life
• God will drive you into some places, circumstances, situations, hardship, wildernesses so others will get blessed before you will (Laban & Jacob)
• Luke 13:13 – imperative that she be bowed over-to be loosed-make straight-glorified God
• Acts 9:16 – Jesus tell Ananias that Paul must suffer FHNS; Philip. 1:29 – suffer for his sake
• II Cor. 12:10 – take pleasure in infirmaties, weakness, insults, hardships, persecution, difficulties FHNS=for when I’m weak, then I’m strong
• Cars repoed, termination notices, stuff turned off
• All FHNS – drives us to a place to need miracle>so can perform one; makes way hard to see>trust him
• All glory belongs to him, so we all have diff. issues so we can glorify him in diff. areas --- >then whole atmos. full of his glory
• So next time you really wnt to ask “why me, how did I get in this place, trouble, why stuck between rock”-understand that it’s not about you, it’s for his name’s sake
Can you handle it
• so, thru it all, learn to be content
• count it all joy
• make best of situation
• abase and abound
