LET’S GET ON WITH IT: GOD’S VIEW FOR US
JEREMIAH 29: 4-14
JANUARY 6, 2002
INTRODUCTION: E-mail from Steve (a friend from Seminary) concerning his uncertain, but sure future.
British sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein was once visited in his studio by the eminent author and fellow Briton, George Bernard Shaw. The visitor noticed a huge block of stone standing in one corner and asked what it was for.
"I don’t know yet. I’m still making plans."
Shaw was astounded. "You mean you plan your work. Why, I change my mind several times a day!"
"That’s all very well with a four-ounce manuscript," replied the sculptor, "but not with a four-ton block."
Today in the Word, April 5, 1993.
TRANSITION THOUGHT: In a world of uncertainty we can live without fear. Our text for today speaks of a horrible situation in which God’s chosen find themselves.
The question that might have arisen in their minds is, “Does God know what’s going on and does he care?” Or, “Is God involved at all with us and the horror we face?” In the midst of it all, Jeremiah offers a different perspective, a God view as opposed to a human view. Jeremiah assures us, God has a plan!
THESIS SENTENCE: God has a plan for our lives focused solely on our benefit not our demise.
Much like the format of the Prayer of Jabez (I Chronicles 4:9-10), Jeremiah spells out God’s Plan for us in ONE short verse. In Jeremiah 29: 11. Let’s dig in and see just what it is that the Lord has planned for us.
I. GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS PROSPERITY
Kin Hubbard once said of PROSPERITY: I’ll say this for adversity--people seem to be able to stand it, and that’s more than I can say for prosperity.
A. Prosperity is survival!
1. Context is always the key of scripture.
2. Let me tell you the old familiar story: The Nation of Israel is now divided in to two segments, Judah which consists of the southern part of the kingdom and Israel which makes up the northern part of the kingdom. Each has become wicked and has allowed idolatry to rule. Because of the sin of the Nation/people, God has sent them into exile. At this point, God has chosen Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar as the instrument of his punishment. Chapter 27 reveals God’s plan. The key players of the Israel and Judah, the royalty and artisans have been taken into captivity and a remnant has been left behind. Verses 1-3 of our text tell the story.
3. The key thought here is that the prosperity God promises is not the American term we covet, but an understanding of a survivable present.
4. If you need the text to back this up, and we do, notice verses 5 – 7.
5. God even calls His Chosen to pray for the Prosperity of the Land to which they have been exiled!
WHERE ARE YOU IN EXILE AND ARE YOU PRAYING FOR THAT PLACE? ARE YOU ACCEPTING WHERE GOD HAS PLACED YOU AND ARE YOU LIVING WHERE YOU ARE?
B. Prosperity is knowing this too shall pass and it only gets better!
1. God gives dead lines: “When the seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to his place (Verse 10).”
2. Did you know God knows how much you can take and how much is needed for you to become the person He plans for you to be?
3. God has plans for our lives, but they will come about when He is ready and when we are mature enough to handle what He has for us.
4. Yes, God has plans to prosper us, but are we willing to be the people of prosperity?
5. In Chapter 1 verse 10, God promised Jeremiah, “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”
6. Chapter 18 beginning with verse 5 has this same “Promise Language” in it. “Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?’ declares the Lord.”
7. God has a plan to prosper us: Today we have the promise of being Children of the living God, can you receive the prosperity of that? We also have the promise of more than our minds can conceive, Eternity with God in His Kingdom.
II. GOD’S PLAN FOR US DOES NOT INCLUDE HARM
A. GOD IS NOT AN ABUSIVE FATHER
1. Verses 10 through 14 speak volumes to this truth. Hear them again!
2. God’s desire is to bless and not curse, but HE IS A HOLY GOD AND MUST PUNISH SIN!
3. How many of you have had to discipline anyone? Did you do it to harm, or did you do it to bless? What does an undisciplined child have to look forward to in life? Have you ever been graded on a test? What if everyone failed or everyone received an A? What would be gained if we were not held accountable for our work? Isn’t it because others desire the best for us that they discipline or correct us?
4. Hear Hebrews 12: 5-9. “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘ My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (everyone under goes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!”
5. God loves us enough to discipline us!
B. God’s desire is to Bless.
1. Chapter 27 tells the story. God is punishing His children, but during the whole “TIME OUT,” God is instructing His children on how to be blessed in the midst of it all.
2. Verse 17 of chapter 27 makes it explicitly clear: “Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live. Why should this city become a ruin.” 3. God’s intent is not to harm, but to correct.
4. How do you view God? Does he have a stick with your name on it? Are you just waiting for Him to pounce? God has a plan for your life and if you will follow HIS lead, HE will protect you from Harm!
5. Think on the 23rd Psalm!
III. GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS TO GIVE US HOPE
At a nursing home in Florida, a resident group was discussing ailments: "My arms are so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee," said one. "Yes, I know, my cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee," replied another. "I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck," said a third, at which several others nodded weakly. "My blood pressure pills make me very dizzy," another went on. "I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old," winced an old man. There was general agreement and a short moment of silence ensued. "Well, it’s not that bad," said one woman cheerfully. "Thank God we can all still drive!"
A. Hope is the promise lived.
1. I believe I have used the term prosper and hope as synonyms here.
2. But I think it is worth restating. The living God has placed His children in exile, but remember Jeremiah’s words to them, “Build… Settle… Plant... Eat… Marry…Have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, … Increase… Seek…Peace and Prosperity… Pray…Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says…(verses 5-8)”
3. Hope, when God is concerned, is the assurance that we can make it today. Because we have God, we have hope.
B. Hope is the promise fulfilled.
1. Again, as aforementioned, God promised, “I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.”
2. Hope is seeing beyond the present reality of life to the reality that is to come. 3. Hope believes in the reality as God sees it, not as you and I see it.
4. Hope knows that God will fulfill His promises, even if it is not on our timetable.
5. Hope knows one day God will complete what He has started and in that WE WIN!
FINALLY…
IV. GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS FOR A FUTURE
ILLUSTRATION: Theoretically, television may be feasible, but I consider it an impossibility--a development which we should waste little time dreaming about.
Lee de Forest, 1926, inventor of the cathode ray tube.
I think there is a world market for about five computers.
Thomas J. Watson, 1943, Chairman of the Board of IBM.
We don’t think the Beatles will do anything in their market. Guitar groups are on their way out.
Recording company expert, 1962.
More than at any time in history, mankind faces a crossroads--one path leading to despair and utter hopelessness, the other leading to total destruction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.
Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State, U. S. News and World Report, Jan. 9, 1989.
A. THE FUTURE IS NOT ANNIHALATION.
1. If you were the people of Israel and your magnificent kingdom was torn apart by some foreign power and all your significant leaders had been hauled off to another country, what might you be thinking?
2. Could it possible be, “This is the end!” Or perhaps you may think, “What is the use, we might as well die.”
3. How do you respond to the place you find your self in today?
ILLUSTRATION: Fortuneteller, gazing into crystal ball, to frog: You are going to meet a beautiful young woman. From the moment she sets eyes on you she will have an insatiable desire to know all about you. She will be compelled to get close to you--you’ll fascinate her." Frog: "Where am I? At a singles club?" Fortuneteller: "Biology class."
Unknown.
B. THE FUTURE IS NOT THE PRESENT.
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.
Corrie Ten Boom.
1. For the present, the children of God are in Exile.
2. For the present, you and I are in Exile.
3. Much like the children of Israel during their bondage to Egypt, we too are held captive in a world of SIN!
4. The key word for the present, as far as our text is concerned, is Captivity. Note verse 14, “‘I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the Lord, ‘ and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.’”
C. THE FUTURE IS SO BRIGHT; I’VE GOT TO WEAR SHADES!
1. I have waited through this whole sermon just to get here.
2. I found a sermon I preached over three years ago in which I shared my dream for the future of this church. I could have been real disappointed, but I was actually encouraged. We have not accomplished all I wanted, and yet we have started to make some headway. One vision/dream I had was for teams to go from our church to different countries to “Build Churches” and do “Evangelism.” Guess what, we have sent two teams, one to build a church, and the other to hold a retreat in which my wife offered a class on evangelism. I also dreamed of our Youth being used of God to do ministry. Guess what, every year a team of youth from this church has gone on a life corps trip since 1999. I am also hoping that some of our youth will go to Jamaica in this coming year with Curtis Williams!
3. This is the first Sunday of a New Year and I want you to Know: GOD HAS A PLAN FOR US AND IT IS FOR A FUTURE. THINGS WILL NOT BE AS THEY ARE NOR WILL THIS MINISTRY END!
ILLUSTRATION: During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives.
One day in 1789, the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, "The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought."
Harry Heintz.
CONCLUSION: Truly, God has a plan for us as a Nation, as a church, and as individuals. Are you trusting God for His plan for your life or are you trusting you?
F.E. Marsh has enumerated some of God’s blessings:
An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Ephesians 1:6).
An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5).
A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Corinthians l:10).
A grace that can never be limited (2 Corinthians 12:9).
A hope that can never be disappointed. (Hebrews 6:18, 19).
A bounty that can never be withdrawn. (I Colossians 3:21-23).
A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).
A nearness to God that can never be reversed (Ephesians 2:13).
A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).
A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Corinthians 5:21).
A salvation that can never be canceled (Hebrews 5:9).
God has a plan for your life, Are you ready and willing to go God’s way?
