Finding Encouragement for Life
Jeremiah 29:10-13
July 9, 2000
INTRODUCTION
I. The Duke of Wellington
A. The reputation
1. Military genius – He defeated Napolean at Waterloo
2. He was also know to be a hard commander
B. The question
1. If you could live your life over, what would you do differently
2. I would give more praise
II. The power of encouragement
A. What does it mean to encourage?
1. Webster: Encouragement means to be in the state of being encouraged, Encourage means to inspire with courage, spirit or hope, to spur on
2. Flatter me and I may not believe you. Criticize me and I may not like you. Ignore me and I may not forgive you. Encourage me and I may not forget you. Wm. Arthur
3. There is tremendous power in the giving and receiving of encouragement
4. Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize – Elizabeth Harrison
B. The reality of encouragement
1. We all need sources of encouragement
a.) There is not a person living who does not need encouragement
b.) The reality is that we cannot live without being encouraged
2. There are various sources
a.) There is an encouragement that comes from other people
b.) There is an encouragement that comes from God
BODY
I. God never leaves you
A. God will remain with his people
1. God makes the clear promise that He will be with His people
a.) Israel is about to be separated from their home but not their God
b.) The people may have walked away from God but He never walks away from them
2. No matter what we go through in life; God will be with us
a.) Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
b.) It is God who brings the ultimate encouragement in life
B. God promises to restore His people
1. God is faithful to His word
a.) God will bring all of His promises to completion
b.) God does His work in His time – This is where we get frustrated
2. God will come and find them
3. God will bring healing and restoration to His people
II. God has a plan for your life
A. God has created you for a purpose
1. Psalm 139:13 –16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16
2. Every person is meant to be a part of God’s eternal plan
B. God’s plan is a fantastic plan
1. God wants to bring Prosperity to your life
2. God wants to bring Protection to your life
3. God wants to bring Hope to your life
4. God wants to secure a Future for you
C. There is a condition
1. God cannot make you follow His plan for your life
a.) There is no mistake God has a plan for you
b.) He will not make you do the right thing – he will influence you
2. You have a choice to make
a.) You can follow God and receive the blessings of His plan
b.) You can go off on your own and do your own plan for life
III. God is waiting for your call
A. God is willing to listen
1. God clearly promises that He is always available for us
a.) God is never out of the office
b.) God never goes to sleep – Psalm 121
I lift my eyes up to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed He who watches over you will not slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
2. God cares enough about you and your life to listen
a.) You can have an audience with the creator of the universe whenever you need it – How awesome!
b.) The best thing is that He will listen as long as you need to speak
c.) There is no limit to God’s time
B. God wants you to find Him
1. God gives us a “map” to find Him
a.) Come: We must go to Him with all that we are and all that we can become – This involves our personal ability
b.) Call: We must cry out to Him with all of our need and all of our weakness – This involves our personal inability
2. God wants a dynamic and personal relationship with you
a.) God desires to have a deep and intimate relationship with you
b.) God’s greatest desire is not to make you successful, God’s greatest desire is not to make you wealthy, God’s greatest desire is not to make you famous, God’s greatest desire is make you His child
C. God can be found
1. Every person can find God
a.) God states clearly that He can be found
b.) He has made Himself easy to find
2. You can find God
a.) You have to make a search for Him
b.) You have to search with all of your heart
1.) This means that you need to search with everything you are
2.) Let God turn your world around
CONCLUSION
I. Do you feel like you are a prisoner?
A. What is holding you prisoner? – Bondage away from God
Personal self image
Problems of a painful past
Limitations that have been laid on you
Personal attitudes
Destructive personal behavior
B. God wants more for your life
1. God wants to see you free from the bondage
2. God did not create you to live in bondage
3. God has the power to set you free
II. Do you lack purpose in life?
A. You have great value
1. God created you
2. God loves you enough to die in your place
B. You have a divine plan
1. God has a purpose for your life
2. God has a plan of blessing waiting for you
C. You need to follow wherever God leads
1. The condition of God’s blessing is that you follow
2. Now is the time to decide to follow God with reckless abandon
III. Do you feel like God has left you?
A. God never leaves us, never
1. If God seems distant guess who moved?
2. God will not leave you: not now, not ever
B. God will not let you down
1. God is faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him
2. God is always there for us no matter how far we have wandered
