Passion
Jeremiah 29:10-14
The stronger the passion, the greater pain and discomfort
you are willing to endure to attain it.
What does this promise of restoration depend on?
1. A passion for God that begins with honesty v.12
2. A passion for God that is grounded in faith v.12
God answers our prayers—always.
Sometimes: “I thought you’d ___________________”
Sometimes: “Yes, but ___________”
Sometimes: “Yes, but not in the way_______________”
Sometimes: “I love you _________________”
Sometimes: “Yes, and more _____________________”
3. A passion for God that is unreserved v.13 (on screen)
A god is anything or anyone that we look to complete us
and satisfy our basic needs and desires.
Unreserved passion:
Lustful worship:
Foolish generosity:
Complete surrender:
4. A passion for God that is about HIS pleasure v.13 (on screen)
When President Kennedy announced this, it sounded outlandish and unimaginable. And yet, a brief 7 years later, we had put a man on the moon. I remember where I was on July 20, 1969. Chances are, the boomers in the room can do the same. The recent movie “First Man” catches the passion that drove those involved in the mission, and focuses on the undaunting courage and passion of Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.
Did you hear Kennedy’s quote of William Bradford, who established the settlement at Plymouth Rock? “All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage.” William Bradford
Have you figured out in life that there is an inextricable connection between passion and pain? The stronger the passion, the greater pain and discomfort you are willing to endure to attain it.
Turn with me to Jeremiah 29:10-14. Many people will recognize Jeremiah 29:11—anyone want to quote it for me? “For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
But to get the full benefit of this promise and perspective, you’ve got to understand the context. The time period is about 580 B.C. The setting is Babylon. The people of God in Israel had been warned for centuries by the prophets that they were passionate about everything else in life but Yahweh. Sexual conquests. Material conquests. Comfort and pleasure experiences. The prophets spoke to the same issues we struggle with today. But they did not listen… So God raised up Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians to sack the city of Jerusalem and cart 1000s off to Babylon.
Those difficult, discouraging and painful conditions were the context for Jeremiah’s prophecy. Let’s read it together. Jeremiah 29:10-14
v. 10 seventy years Historical fact that after 70 years in captivity, God delivered the Israelites out of captivity and began restoring them back to Jerusalem through Zerubbabel, Ezra & Nehemiah.
v.10 this place Jerusalem
v.12 the great promise for those people who were now, after all this pain, hoping and longing for God.
v.14 Ahh…the promise of restoration. Do you need to be restored? Are you broken? Do you feel like you’ve been robbed of something in life that you expected would be yours to have and hold?
What does this promise of restoration depend on? A Passion for God
1. A passion for God that begins with honesty v.12 (on screen)
The Israelites were under the domination and control of pagan kings. They had no control over the situation. It was beyond their ability to resolve the situation satisfactorily.
God said, “That’s ok, I got this. Call to me.” One of the first verses I memorized as a young adult was Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me and I will answer you and I will show you great and might things you’ve never seen before.”
One of the key reasons we pray is because we’ve realized that the problem or circumstance we are facing is beyond our ability to solve or endure.
If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit that you cannot conquer your brokenness, your loneliness, your anxiety and depression, your drinking problem on your own. If you’re honest you’ll admit you can’t breathe life into your dying marriage or peace into your restless heart. Like Jesus said in John 15: “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
I’ve got a lifetime of examples I could share with you. In summer of 72…. Standing over my daddy’s grave at the age of 30 yrs old suffering the most acute pain I’ve ever experienced…sending my oldest son into the Iraq war not knowing if I’d ever see him again.
I called to Him. I prayed to Him. And He listened.
2. A passion for God that is grounded in faith v.12
I had to believe that God would and respond. The Israelites had to believe that God’s promise to listen and respond was true and real and reliable. The kingdom of God operates on the principle of faith. In fact, Hebrews 11 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Listening to a podcast by Louie Pillau; godly crusader for over 60 years; 100s of 1000s have come to faith in Christ through His preaching ministry around the world.
God answers our prayers—always.
Sometimes: “I thought you’d never ask”
Sometimes: “Yes, but not now”
Sometimes: “Yes, but not in the way you ask”
Sometimes: “I love you too much”
Sometimes: “Yes, and more than you ask”
God answers our prayers. We must believe that if we are wanting to see Him work in our lives. Journal: scratch off page…practical step that will build your faith that God hears and answers.
Another way to build your faith is to grow in the word of God. Romans 10:17 “Faith comes from hearing the word of God.” If you spend time in the word of God and memorize and claim the promises of God, you will see the work of God in your life.
5 psalms and 1 proverb; You-version has reading plans. Start tomorrow morning…
3. A passion for God that is unreserved v.13
With how much of our hearts? ALL See, this was the problem of the people of God in Jeremiah’s day: they believed in Yahweh, but they looked to other pursuits and other promises and other gods to satisfy their desires. A god is anything or anyone that we look to complete us and satisfy our basic desires.
What are the gods in your heart?
What does unreserved passion for God look like? We could spend the rest of the year talking about that, but suffice to say, the basics are this:
Unreserved passion:
Lustful worship: I chose that word to get your attention; lust is a physical craving or yearning for something. Most of us will cheer wildly for our favorite team or if one of our family is involved in a contest or production…but won’t lift a hand or a voice in worship.
Foolish generosity: share widow’s mite story briefly
Complete surrender: use blank check illustration
Luther story?
This leads to the final and most important truth:
4. A passion for God that is about HIS pleasure v.13
This is where we need to be careful. We can pursue God, not because of who He is, but what He can do for us. And if we’re just seeking God because of what He can do for us, we are demoting Him and relegating Him to the place of a servant or a cosmic santa clause.
You know how this is happening? When He doesn’t answer our prayer the way we want Him to. We get frustrated, hurt, even angry with Him. And we miss knowing and loving Him for who He is. This is what happened to the Israelites after they got back from captivity. They continued to misunderstand where their passions needed to lie. They wanted God to get them out from under the heel of first the Greeks and then the Romans. They had their own idea of what God should do so that when the Messiah came, they missed Him.
Had a prof in seminary from S. Africa: “Who is God?” Let me ask you: who is God? Is He the Most High God; The One who was and is and is to come? The Creator and sustainer of the Universe; Whose (revelation 1..>)? Or is He your handyman to fix your problems?
Here’s what I mean. seeking hand or seeking face (Psalms) When you seek someone’s face, you seek their pleasure. When you seek their hand, you seek what they can do for you.
Jesus in the garden…ok to ask, commanded to pray; admonished to be persistent—but realize ultimately it’s not about you and me; it’s about Him.
The stronger the passion, the greater pain and discomfort
you are willing to endure to attain it.
