WORDS FOR LIFE - A Plan for Our Good
July 29, 2018
Jeremiah 29:11 (p. 546)
Introduction:
“If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans.” I’m not sure how many times I’ve heard this truth…but I find humor and pain in its wisdom.
Humor because I can just see my Father in heaven shaking His head when I think I’ve got it all figured out…and push to make it happen…and pain because I find myself confused and hurting when my plans don’t come to fruition.
I remember reading the book Trusting God by Jerry Bridges and the introduction started with his decision to dedicate his life to ministry. He sat down by himself with a legal pad and started writing things down he wanted to accomplish for God. He filled up page after page…and then he went to his church, laid it on the communion table and started to pray. God help me accomplish these things for your glory…Jerry said he waited for lightning bolts or thunder…he waited for some powerful confirmation from God for his sacrificial plan. He said he didn’t feel any of that…In fact he felt kind of empty and as he prayed for God to use him…it was as if the Holy Spirit moved him…so Jerry took an empty page from the legal pad and laid it on the communion table and prayed…“God this is my life…I give it to you…you fill it up with what you want.]
That’s the question isn’t it…Do we trust God to fill the pages of our lives with His plans?
“God’s guidance is almost always step-by-step; He does not show us our life’s plan all at once. Sometimes our anxiousness to know the will of God comes from a desire to peer over God’s shoulder to see what His plan is. What we need to do is learn to trust Him to guide us.” - Jerry Bridges, Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts
Jeremiah the prophet of God would shout AMEN at the top of his lungs to this statement…for 40 years Jeremiah spoke to the Kingdom of Judah a message of God’s judgment on those who reject His ways but also God’s restorative power to forgive and make things new…“to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Jeremiah starts his record with these words: “The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
And Jeremiah answers: “Oh Lord I’m too young…I don’t know how to speak for you!” And God tells him… “Don’t say you’re too young…go everywhere I send you…say whatever I’ve commanded you…Do not be afraid of anyone…I will rescue you…I will save you!”
God had a plan for Jeremiah’s life…And God promised to always be with him if he’d live it out.
Folks, God has a plan for your life and He promises to always be with you if you’ll live it!!!
The Question is…Will you lay the blank sheet of paper on the altar and sign it? Will you trust these words for your life?
God says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. “ (Jeremiah 29:11)
I. FAITH IS TRUSTING WHAT GOD KNOWS AND WE DON’T
There’s an OT story I read recently from the book of Numbers
SHOW 2 PICS (leave on screen until story finished)
It involves a prophet names Balaam and a donkey…An evil King named Balak wants Balaam to come and curse God’s people so he can conquer them in battle…Balaam knows he can’t curse a people God has blessed, but eventually he goes to see Balak anyway…He goes by donkey…his usual method of travel, but something weird happens half way there…Listen:
NUMBERS 22:21-33 (p. 109)
I love this story…Balaam is headed to a place he shouldn't go…He chooses a “reckless path.” The Lord has some serious consequences if he stays on this path…The donkey sees those consequences and stops Balaam 3 times…Balaam gets hurt and irritated…beats the donkey…and God allows the donkey to speak. Balaam’s so mad he yells back at the donkey (a talking donkey would freak me out). The donkey tells Balaam he’s saved his life. And the angel of the Lord says, “That donkey saved your life…If he’d not turned away 3 times I would have killed you.”
Balaam wanted to go see Balak the King…probably for financial reasons and ego reasons. He did what he wanted…even though he knew it wasn’t in God’s plan.
God will certainly let you do this even if you are one of His…but He will also discipline you and try to stop you too.
Why…God’s Word says “He disciplines those who He loves.” (Hebrews 12:6)
He loves us so much He’ll try to get us off that reckless path.
Balaam’s story is the story of the human heart…it’s the battle we all face…I want to represent God…right up till the time His plans and my plans are different…Then I want to do what I want to do.
I’m thankful for a God that loves us so much He’ll make a donkey talk to stop us. By the way just so you know…Balaam eventually goes to see Balak anyway…and ends up dead with him…Joshua 13:22 says: “In addition to those slain in battle the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam, son of Beor who practice divination.”
Balaam chose the wrong god…wrong path…wrong King…and it cost him his life.
Folks, faith is never easy…or it wouldn’t be faith…trusting a God you cannot see over things you can…Being assured that His plan is better when you and I want something else…Faith is a wrestling match that takes place in the human heart.
Do I believe in God’s grace enough to save me? Will I deny myself, take up the cross of Jesus and follow Him instead of walking my own path?
Will I trust God’s plan for me even when He says “No, I’m not going to remove that thorn, heal that disease, fix it immediately. I’m asking you to wait. Will you? And by the way…while you’re waiting…serve me!”
Faith is living life for God when all your plans crumble into dust…because you know what God can make out of dust.
I believe with all my heart Jeremiah 29:11 is the Romans 8:28 of the Old Testament…Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
The prophet Jeremiah towards the end of his life believes this truth…He was called by God…loved by God…so he proclaims God’s promise “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Lori Cairell shared her heart concerning this truth to introduce the sermon…and I know these promises are true as well.
[In 2007 my 16 year old daughter became a single mom…It is hard for me to tell you how devastated we were when we found out she was pregnant…I came very, very close to resigning from my ministry and quitting. But I couldn’t because I believe Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28 are true…My daughter gave birth to Peyton on February 16, 2007…and Kari and I helped raise him in our home for 7 years while Karissa finished High School and got her OTA degree. Through this time God redeemed my daughter…She fell in love with Jesus as He healed her and prospered her…she began to share her testimony in schools all over Kentucky and even shared it on an MTV television show…God gave her an audience…she was young…but not afraid…she met and married an amazing young man named Jimmy who became Peyton’s dad…and now a new baby girl named Oaklynn…11 years ago I could not imagine God’s plan and how beautiful it could be…But He knew…and I trusted Him.]
Let me end this message today with this assurance…
II. GOD IS NEVER AGAINST US…HE IS ALWAYS FOR US
God’s Word makes this statement… “If God is for us, who can be against us…He who did not spare His own son, but gave Him up for us all - How will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:30, 32)
This is the same God “who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” (Eph. 3:20)
Why does God allow things to happen in the life of someone He loves and loves Him that is painful? Why doesn’t He just do what we think is best? Because we don’t know what’s best…would I give up Peyton? Would I sacrifice my daughter’s true understanding of Jesus’ love and grace learned through her experience? I would have chosen a white picket fence and no pain…God’s plan was better…immeasurably better than I could ask or imagine…His power at work in me is much better than my power at work without Him.
God wants me to prosper…Satan would whisper in my ear and yours…“This is too much…too hard…too painful…too harmful.” But God’s Spirit whispers… “Be still and know I Am God…wait upon me and I will renew your strength…you believe in God…Don’t let your heart be troubled…He’s got this!!! I have a plan for your future…Don’t lose hope!”
[What kind of God would allow a 10 year old to suffer 3rd degree burns over 50% of his body…what kind of God would allow a child to go through that kind of pain? Why would God allow those kind of scars? He’s all powerful…why didn’t He stop it?
I happen to know why…It’s because He had a plan for that 10 year old’s life…He was going to use those scars as a testimony to His power to save and mold that young man for a calling into ministry…He was allowing this young man the privilege to say “Me Too” when he was with hurting people.
I’ve learned scars are part of God’s plan..just look at His hands and feet…]
