8 October 2006
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Presidio of Monterey (ORD Military Chapel)
Monterey California, 93940
BIG IDEA: Although some believers do not like the situation that they have been put in - They can’t change it. So they should make the BEST OF IT.
References: Ps 123:2b ( …so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us – KJV); Job 14:14b(…all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come – KJV);Jeremiah 26-29; Psalm 137:1-3 (By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song *; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion – KJV);John 16:33 (These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have (5719) tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.); 3 John 1:2 (Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth); Jeremiah 29:10-14 (KJV); Jeremiah 29:11-12 (MSG)”I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen”.;Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD; Heb 6:18 (That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Jeremiah 29:10-14 (RSV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Jeremiah 29:10-14 (RSV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Jeremiah 29:11 (RSV) For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that they should Accept their present circumstances, and make the best of it, by working for the (welfare) health and happiness of those around them UNTIL God honors His promise in their life.
V. Sermon Title: “God Doesn’t Make Promises, He Can’t Keep”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
“God Doesn’t Make Promises, He Can’t Keep”. The word “PROMISE” is a seven letter word which can be defined as the reason for which something exist or is done, made, and or used.
Throughout the Bible, the word “PROMISE” is a theologically significant word, especially in the New Testament (in the Apostle Paul’s letters).
******TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 1: In at least two passages (Romans 4 and Galatians 3), Paul stresses the unique nature of God’s relationship with human beings.
a. For don’t you remember Paul points out in Romans that human effort cannot commend a person to God.
b. Instead, God came to Abraham with a statement of his intentions, and this amounted to a “PROMISE”.
c. Abraham simply responded in faith. For the Bible says “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3).
d. God’s commitment to Abraham and his seed (Christ) stands, unmodified by the law which was given 430 years later.
*****TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 2: Therefore, my brothers and sisters, our relationship with God is one of grace, depending on promise and not on law.
a. People can respond to God’s word of promise in either faith or unbelief (Galatians 3:15-23).
b. The word “PROMISE” then confronts each of us with the nature of God’s Word and Calls us to respond with faith to what he says to us.
c. However, responding in FAITH is sometimes difficult to do – especially when you’re in the midst of the circumstance.
d. This is why folk like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abenigo in the Old Testament have become the favorites of many believers throughout the years.
******TAKE 5 BEATS*****
MOVE 3: For don’t you remember … Daniel trusted in God’s PROMISE even in the midst of a LION’s DEN?
a. And who can ever forget how the Hebrew boys trusted in God’s PROMISE in their life even when the heat was literally turned-up.
b. Now, at first glance, we all rejoice with Daniel and the Hebrew Boys.
c. But a deeper look at their life and circumstances informs us that TRUSTING IN THE PROMISES OF GOD wasn’t EASY.
d. In fact, I believe it was extremely difficult;
e. … and no doubt their faith waver several times before it settled on GOD’S PROMISES (elaborate on how their faith might have wavered) .
*****TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 4: In our text, today, we find Jeremiah providing an unpopular WORD to the people of Isarel.
a. A WORD that apparently wasn’t well received by the Temple’s Priest and Prophets.
b. A WORD that informed the people of God that better days were coming … EVENTUALLY.
c. But, in the interim they were to MAKE THE BEST OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES … now.
d. And not only were they to make the best of their circumstances. But they were also to understand that they COULDN’T CHANGE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
e. Even though they didn’t like their circumstances. God wasn’t going to change it.
f. They were to make the BEST OF IT.
g. Positively influence those around them until GOD CHANGE THINGS.
*****TAKE 5 BEATS*****
MOVE 5: Jeremiah informed the people that they would be in CAPTIVITY FOR 70 YEARS.
a. And although False Prophets were telling them that “light was at the end of tunnel” for the people of Isarel …
b. Jeremiah said that the light was 70 years away.
c. And they couldn’t CHANGE a thing. God wanted them to help build BABYLON.
d. God wanted them to plan to plant crops and seeds of faith in BABYLON.
e. … until God brought about a CHANGE.
f. The Psalmist said, “… weeping may endure for a night, but JOY cometh in the morning”.
******TAKE 5 BEATS******
MOVE 6: My bothers and my sisters … God is aware of the circumstances that we’re in right now … and He wants us to MAKE THE BEST OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
a. … even if means singing a song to the oppressors … (or the captives) … in a foreign land.
b. For don’t you remember … it was the Psalmist that said (in Psalm 137) …
c. … By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
d. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song *; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion – KJV);
e. I know that it may not look right … right now; and it may not feel right …
f. But … it’s ALRIGHT … GOD WANTS ME … TO MAKE THE BEST OF MY SITUATION …
******TAKE 5 BEATS*******
MOVE 7: : God wants me to ACCEPT my circumstances … and my location … because He’s in CONTROL.
a. The devil can’t do anything.. to me … without getting permission first.
b. God wants me … to work for the welfare and happiness of those around me until HE honors His promise in my life.
b. It’s just a matter of time … before His promise in my life is fulfilled.
c. Because He can not lie.
d. For the Bible says … (in Heb 6:18) … by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, …
******TAKE 5 BEATS********
CELEBRATION: “God has it all planned out …” And He Doesn’t Make Promises … He Can’t Keep.
For I Can Hear Him Saying … ”I know what I’m doing.
I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, …
plans to give you the future you hope for.
