Jer. 29:8-14 “To Do in 2002 What God Wants To Do” Jan. 6, 02 AM
Introduction:
At the beginning of a new year, a high school principal decided to post his teachers’ new year’s resolutions on the bulletin board. As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. "Why weren’t my resolutions posted?" She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk. As he read her resolutions he was astounded. This teacher’s first resolution was not to let little things upset her in the New Year. (1)
The New Year filled with resolutions and promises of what we are going to do or not going do. Dreams and great feats we desire to do during this year. More than not these are “I” things and for the Christian that is not the way it works. Its not “I” want but what God wants. Our desire should be to please God by accomplishing God’s plan for our lives in 2002. To do in two what God want to do.
Background Vs. 1-4 – Israel carried to captivity for Repentance and renewal or revival. There must be a change from their sinful ways to God’’ ways. As we find ourselves facing a New Year Israel found themselves facing a new beginning and a new place. We must be willing to change things in our lives from our ways to God’s ways and the New Year’s is a great opportunity to do that.
Body:
I. Live your life to be productive – Vs. 5-9
1. Grow
a. Personally v. 5 – do not be idle just waiting around for something to happen. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 2 Thessalonians 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,” There ways to grow personally, Spiritual maturity is one. All of us who are Christians are to strive to be more like Christ. the goal of every Christian is Christlikeness. Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. “ Responsible is another. What I mean is with maturity there should be the taking on of more responsibility in that there is growth in accomplishments. Education is another we must continue learning and applying what we learn. Deuteronomy 5:1 Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.
Illustration: A man retires and tells his friend he wants to go back to college and get his degree. Friend says, "Why would you want to do that? You’ll be 70 years old when you graduate!" Man replies, "I never thought of that - but I’ll be 70 no matter what."
b. Family v.6 – we should continue to expand our families. We should not say, “well, the end times are near shouldn’t have any children.” It would be a sad Old World without babies and children. God has never told Christians to stop having babies. As we grow numerically we must teach our children and grandchildren the ways of God. Deuteronomy 11:19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
2. Seek Peace v. 7
a. Pray for Peace with God – you can not grow if you are at odds with God. This is the first thing that must be addressed in a person’s life. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1 NIVUS). To have peace with God you must accept His Son Jesus as Savior and Lord. Are you at peace with God? Or do the sins of your heart separate you from God?
b. Pray for Peace with others - Romans 12:18 if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
c. Result: peace for self and family
3. Seek Truth v. 8-9
a. Do not listen to worldly men, fortunetellers and diviners (we see them on TV with Tarot cards, physics and those who talk to the dead). All truth is of God that means all else is false. We should not listen to it.
b. Do not listen to your selfish ambitions or your self-righteousness. Satan is the great deceiver but we are the second best deceivers to ourselves. We must listen to God and His Word He will not deceive us.
II. Live your life according to God’s Plan Vs. 10-11
1. Conscience living – Know God is faithful. God will do what He says He will do. This should be something that comes to our minds when we are faced with any difficulties. If you will stop and remember that God has brought you through other times because He is faithful then we can rest assured that He will be faithful this time and the next time. We need to live our lives conscience of God’s faithfulness.
2. Conceded living – To yield to God’s plan for your life and live it out.
a. How? Read a book. Yes, the Bible. God tells us how to live godly lives and when we do He will shows us the specifics of the individual plans for each of our lives. God desires for you to know His plans for your life. Are you desirous to know? Then Ask!
b. Our focus must be on God, His ways and His thoughts. It takes effort. I am afraid we are not readily willing to give the effort. Oh, how we grieve the Holy Spirit with our unwillingness. But we must focus on God’s ways and apply God’s word to our lives.
Illustration: Father Henri Nouwen, reflecting on the story of Nicodemas, writes, "I love Jesus but want to hold on to my own friends even when they do not lead me closer to Jesus. I love Jesus but want to hold on to my own independence even when that independence brings me no real freedom. I love Jesus but do not want to lose the respect of my professional colleagues, even though I know that their respect does not make me grow spiritually. I love Jesus but do not want to give up my writing plans, travel plans, and speaking plans, even when these plans are often more to my glory that to the glory of God."
Upon reflection Father Nouwen realizes that he isn’t all that different from Nicodemus. He writes, "So I am like Nicodemus, who came by night, and said safe things about Jesus to his colleagues." (2)
To love Jesus is to do what He wants us to do. John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will obey what I command you.”
3. Confident Living – living in the will of God produces confidence.
a. God’s plans are for our best. To prosper us not to harm us.
b. With God we have a future and hope.
III. Living a Prayerful life Vs. 12-14
I see verses 12 and 13 paralleling each other.
1. Call upon God v.12 Rom. 10:12,13 “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile— the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Isaiah 58:9 “Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” / Seek V.13 Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2. Go or the better word come to God v.12 turn to Ps. 95:1-6; James 4:8 “ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” / Find v.13 Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
God is not hiding. He wants us to find Him but we must Call, Seek, Come and we will find Him.
3. Pray to God v.12 Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." Luke 11:2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. / Search with all your heart v.13 Deuteronomy 4:29 "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. What is the difference between seek and search? Seek is an attempt or trying to find. Search is intense or more comprehensive, thorough effort to find.
Result: God will listen v. 12 / God is there v.14.
Let us read the rest of verse 14.
When we find God He accepts us, delivers us and brings us home. Why? Because He loves us. Prayer is the key to living a life that is godly and productive for God’s purpose. It is key in the peace that we need in this world of chaos. We must be a people of prayer personally and corporately.
Conclusion:
This year can be the best year than all the past years no matter what happens if we will do what God wants us to do in us and through us. We need to live productively, according to God’s plan and prayerfully. “To do in 2002 what God wants us to do.”
Will you commit to God this day for the rest of this year and your life to live for Him?
