Tonight, we’re going to look at a familiar passage of scripture – Jeremiah 29. And the message tonight has three parts. The first part will be encouragement. The second part is going to be a reminder. And the third part is going to be a challenge.
In Jeremiah 29 we know the background for this verse – Jeremiah 29 verse 11.
“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.”
So many people will take that verse and say things about the verse that are pretty good. But when you keep the verse in its setting, it really, really is an encouraging verse.
So, were going to go back up to verse one. We know, before we read verse one, that God has said Israel is going to be in captivity to Nebuchadnezzar for 70 years. And we also know that Hananiah, another prophet, came behind Jeremiah, who delivered that prophesy, and said Jeremiah was wrong and that God would deliver Israel from Nebuchadnezzar within two years. We know that did not happen.
Let’s begin with verse one.
“Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon.”
I want to stop here for a minute because the analogy we’re going to see tonight in what we are going to read, can also apply to the body of Christ today.
We know that Nebuchadnezzar did not share the same values and the same standards that God had given to the children of Israel. Can we agree on that?
The administration that we live under here in the United States today – they do not share the values and standards, now listen to me closely, of BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY. Notice I didn’t just say Christianity. I said biblical Christianity. There is a huge difference in the two ladies and gentlemen.
We’re going to pick this record up in verse four and we’re going to see how these verses can also apply to us today given the situation we are in – the current political environment we live in.
So let’s look at verse four.
Keep in your mind as we read these verses what we read in verse 11: “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.”
Verse four: “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 to Babylon.
Thus saith the Lord to all the biblical Christians who are living under the current administration that does not share their values and standards.
Verse five: “Build ye houses, and dwell in them, and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
Verse six: “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.”
I want you to get this picture ladies and gentlemen. The children of Israel know that they are captives. And God says, I know you’re captive, but I want you to live your life. I don’t want you to be focused on the captivity. I want you to be focused on the thoughts that I have toward you. And those thoughts are not of evil but they are of peace
So ladies and gentlemen, those of us who are living by the standards that live within us because of our born again spirits – we are not in agreement with the current administration. We can disagree with the policies but ladies and gentlemen, we are still commanded to pray for them. We declare God’s best for them.
The Bible never says you have to agree with those in leadership. The Bible never says you have to like those in leadership. The Bible says you pray for those in leadership. God didn’t say you have an option. God didn’t say if you want to. God says that is what you do.
Now, here we read where the Lord says build houses, live them and plant your gardens and enjoy their fruits. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the same thing for us today. God is telling us not to focus on what’s going on in Washington. You live your life. You continue to serve me. You build your houses. You go to your jobs. Why? Because I know the thoughts I have toward you.
God says you have children. You give your sons and daughters to be married. Go ahead and live your lives for me. You don’t focus on what’s in Washington. You remember my promise.
God said this to the children of Israel knowing that they would be in captivity for 70 years. Are you following me?
God doesn’t focus on the short term like we do? He sees the beginning from the end. So, when He told Israel to continue to build houses, to continue to go their jobs, and to continue to do those things that you would normally do, He’s also telling us to do the same things and reminds us of the thoughts that He has toward us. In other words, God says you can trust me.
Do you see how encouraging this is? Do you see how uplifting this is?
But you know what our problem is? We focus so much on what we were seeing in the environment and what we are hearing in the environment. What we should be doing is tuning out all the noise and focusing our attention on what the Bible says.
Instead of being downcast, being concerned, being unhappy about what has happened in this country since November fourth calm down, relax and take a chill pill!
When President Biden signed all of the executive orders a lot of Christians were going nuts.
I didn’t like them, especially the one that had to deal with treating men who think they are women like they are women and letting into places that have been reserved for real women. Men competing with women in athletics. Men being allowed into women’s locker rooms and showers. You can’t get any more unbiblical than that.
And do you know there are Christians who don’t see a problem with that. They are not BIBLICAL CHRISTIANS ladies and gentlemen. We have to live our lives with a single focus – God and His promises to us. And He has said you live for me. You don’t focus on Washington. You pray for your president. You pray for his administration.
Now let’s read God’s reminder to us.
And then he says in verse seven: “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.”
Do you want to have peace in Dayton, Ohio? Do you want to have peace in Beavercreek? Do you want to have peace in Centerville, Middletown, or Bellbrook? Wherever you live you pray for your city ladies and gentlemen. Washington is not where we live. That is not our focus.
Whatever is going to happen is going to happen, but God says I know the thoughts that I have toward you. And those thoughts include peace and an end that you can rest in knowing I am the one promising it.
Jump down to verse 10.
“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.”
Why Is the Lord going to do this?
Verse 11: “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.”
You could skip verse 11 and just read verses 10 and 12 to see why 11 is sandwiched in between them.
Verse 10. “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.”
Verse 12. “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”
Now verse 13. This is a very important verse because of one single word.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, WHEN ye shall search for me with all of your heart.”
WHEN means that there is something required of us. There is something that we have to do. What is the requirement of the WHEN? “WHEN ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
The Lord says when we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him! We will find Him! It doesn’t get any easier than that. This instruction is not complicated. It’s not something you have to meditate on or look at other scripture to find out what it really means.
Do you see what He’s saying ladies and gentlemen? God says all you have to do to find me is to be diligent in your seeking.
How many of you played hide and seek with your children? And when they were small, how many of you made it so easy for them to find you because you “hid” in a place where they could see you? And what happened? Your children found you. God says that when you seek me, I am standing where you can see me and find me! Praise God!
Now let’s end this message with the challenge.
One of the songs that we sing is called “You Won’t Relent.” The focus is on Jesus refusing to relent until He has all of us. I want you to hear what the word “relent” means. It means –
? Jesus is not going I to decrease what He’s doing to get us to be like him.
? Jesus is not going to diminish what He’s doing to get us to be like him.
? Jesus is not going to ease up on what He’s doing to get us to be like him.
? Jesus is not going to fall away from what He’s doing to get us to be like him.
? Jesus is not going to lessen what He’s doing to get us to be like him.
? Jesus is not going to let up on doing what He’s doing to get us to be like him.
? And Jesus is not going to shrink back or taper off from what He’s doing to get us to be like him.
So, my question ladies and gentlemen is are we willing to not to relent in the same way to Him?
The enemy of the soul, and I’m winding down, has lied to the members of this church. And this is what he has done: after the presidential election and Biden was officially seated in office, he started the enemy of the soul started whispering ladies and gentlemen.
He said you do remember all those Sunday nights when you gathered together and you would have a message for 30 minutes and then pray for 30 minutes don’t you? And remember part of focus during those prayer times was the presidential elections? It didn’t happen did it? Your prayers were not answered were they?did God hear you? You spent all of those Sunday nights praying and what did it get you? Was it really worth it? Couldn’t you have spent your time doing something else? Because obviously praying for 30 minutes on Sunday night didn’t do anything did it?
The enemy of the soul has been whispering that lie to all us? Your prayers are not being answered. You are wasting your time. Why are you still continuing to do it? Over and over and over.
But I want to ask you something ladies and gentlemen:
? Are you going to relent when it comes to reading and meditating the word?
? Are you going to relent when it comes to praying in the spirit?
Because of what happened on November fourth, are you going to relent? Are you going to stop doing the things that we know to do?
? Are you going to relent from the specific instructions we have received in this church to fast?
Are you going to relent because of what happened in the voting process? Did it so turn your world upside down where nothing else really now matters?
? Are you going to relent and not pray the three hours of day that we are being told in this church to do? This is a specific instruction from God for this church.
? Are you going to relent before you get all of the glory in the mirror that’s available to you? (A reference to 2 Corinthians 3:18)
Are you going to stop? Are you going to give up? Are you going to take a break? Satan wants you to take a break. He wants you to stop. He hopes you are so discouraged that you no longer have the drive, the motivation – the love – to do what you need to do.
? Are you going to relent before your heart is truly his?
? And finally, are you going to relent before revival comes?
It’s a choice each of us has to make ladies and gentlemen. One of the things our Father is trying to get us to understand with this record in Jeremiah is this: Yes, we’re living under an administration that does not agree with us. We’re living under and administration that would prefer to continue to promote sin rather than do things the Godly way. But God’s says even though you are under all of this, you know what I have called you to do in this church and you know the thoughts that I think toward you!
Are you going to back off because of one little thing? Are you following me? In the scheme of things ladies and gentlemen, November fourth is one little thing.
I say we are not going to relent.
Say this with me: Jesus, I won’t relent until I have all of you. Jesus, I won’t relent until my heart beats with your heart. Jesus, I won’t relent until my life is your life. And Jesus, I won’t relent because I want revival just as much as you want it.
Hallelujah!
