May 6, 2018

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have a whole new level of excitement about this great promise from God penned by His choice Prophet Jeremiah. This higher level of excitement is due to taking the time to study the entire context of this verse.

Back in Homiletics Class they taught me that, "A text without a context is a pretext." That is more true than I realized back then! It is certainly true for Jeremiah 29!

Just to realize this promise was given to people who had been taken into captivity as judgment from God, that alone is exciting as you realize His promises apply to people with less than perfect lives. He remains faithful even when we aren't.

So far our study of this Chapter has revealed:

1) Our lives can get messy when we miss the mark on God's will

2) God wants to help you make the best of the mess in your life

3) Prayer can help you manage your mess

4) You need to make sure you don't make a greater mess by believing bad information

And, today we learn that God wants you to meet Jesus in the middle of your mess!

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 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.” Jeremiah 29:12-14

Here is what I have discovered in my life of ministry, the messes of life either drive people closer to God or further away from Him. Jeremiah makes it clear that God hopes and desires that the hardships of His judgment will nudge you in His direction. Or, as in the case of this Chapter, push them back to God!

Another thing I have discovered is that it is in the midst of a messy life that people finally turn to God! God is fine with that! Jesus is always ready to meet you in the midst of your mess!

Missing God's mark and making your life messy may complicate your life and cause pain, but it cannot separate you from His presence, His promises or His plan!

If you have messed up and missed His mark don't give up in your mess up. 'Fess up and repent and meet up with Jesus in the midst of your mess! When you do you will discover He was there all the time!

May 5, 2018

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I have been unpacking this Twenty-Ninth Chapter of Jeremiah in order to put the wonderful promise of verse 11 in its proper context.

When Jeremiah shared God's promise with the people of God they were in a bad way. God had allowed the mighty Babylonian Empire to sweep into Jerusalem, conquer the city and take all the powerful people captive. So, they found themselves under the judgment of God because of their disobedience and their idolatry.

The Prophet also told them they were going to be in captivity for quite awhile so they should make the best of it and not expect any immediate relief.

Thirdly, Jeremiah told them to pray for the peace and prosperity of their captors rather than pray for an end to their captivity.

Today we will see still another word of godly counsel from the Prophet to the captives. He cautioned them to be careful who they listened to. There would be false prophets promising things that were not true. Jeremiah warns them not to make a bad situation even worse by listening to lies. There are always those who are ready and anxious to tell you what they think you want to hear and give you false hopes. And there is always a part of you that wants to believe them.

Jeremiah warns them not to listen to the false prophets but to believe His prophecies from God. And the prophecy from God was the captivity would last seventy years. There would be no rescue or deliverance from the Lord until their time of judgment was fulfilled.

Here's the Word of the Lord from Jeremiah concerning their captivity:

"Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place." Jeremiah 29:8-10

You need a person in your life who regularly hears from God and who has enough integrity and courage to tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear!

A person like that, if you find one, is a gift from God!

Do you have a person like that?

Are you a person like that?

Are you willing to listen to a person like that?

Are you able to hear the hard things you need to hear rather than always listening for what you want to hear?

Pray Differently

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

When you live a life that is far from what you hoped for or imagined and when your dream life borders on a nightmare, you need to know how to pray.

Over the past several days I have been setting some context around this amazing promise from God delivered by the prophet Jeremiah. I have established that this promise was given during a time when God's chosen people found themselves under judgment for their idolatry and disobedience. God had allowed them to fall under captivity to the powerful Babylonian Empire. 

In our last post Jeremiah told the people this was going to be a long captivity and they had better make the best of it. When you can't do the things you want to do then do the things you need to do! Verse seven adds additional counsel for people who are struggling with life. One of the best things you can always do is pray!

"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7

I don't know about you but when I am in a painful situation I tend to pray that God will get me out of it pronto! So this comes as helpful advice. I don't especially like it but I need it! Jeremiah says, "You are in these circumstances for a long time so don't pray for God to bail you out pray for the peace and the prosperity of this city."

Pragmatism is not always a Christian virtue but in this case Jeremiah reasons that what is good for their captors will result in good for them. Human nature would lead us to pray judgment down on our captors but in this case the captors ARE the judgment so pray differently!

If this sounds a lot like Jesus' admonition to pray for your enemies and those who make life miserable for you, that's because this IS the same God at work here! But this gives some background and insight to that command! When you pray for peace and prosperity for your enemies it blesses them but also blesses you! 

Remember, they are trying to make the best of a bad situation! There is no way to do that without prayer and those prayers MUST be the right sort of prayers!

Since this is where many of us live much of the time, listen and learn! This is God's word to you today from His ancient Prophet!

May 3, 2018

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Like many situations in life there is a good news/bad news component to this promise.

The good news for these people (God's people) who found themselves in exile under the rule of the powerful Babylonians was that God has not forgotten you and that better days were in their future. They didn't have to be perfect to be included in His promise!

But, the bad news was it would be a long time until they would see those good days. They were going to be in exile for awhile. Quite awhile, actually.

So, Jeremiah offers some very practical and helpful advice. It was probably not the advice they were hoping for but it was nonetheless very good counsel. He told them essentially, make the best of where you are and what you have. Begin to prepare for this preferred future so that when it happens you will be ready to prosper!

Here are his words:

"This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease." Jeremiah 29:4-6

Several thousands of years later this is still good advice!

When you can't have or don't have life the way you want it to be, try to make it the best it can be. After all, isn't that what faith is? Isn't that what faith does? Faith believes God's promises and acts like it believes them! Faith prepares for God to fulfill what He has promised. Faith positions you for God's blessing! Faith does the best with what God has provided as it prepares for God to provide something better.

What has God promised you?

What if that promise is yet to be realized?

What will you do in the meantime? What will you do today?

Why not exercise faith and make the most of what God has already provided for today?

For I Know The Plans I Have For You...

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This is a wonderful promise from a wonderful God but as I commented yesterday, it is often taken out of context. So, let's put it in context because when we do we will find it becomes even more powerful!

The first three verses of this chapter set the scene for us. Jerusalem had been invaded by the vaunted Babylonian Empire and God's people became captives of King Nebuchadnezzar. So, they had lost their freedom, their sovereignty and their national identity. Their captivity came as the result of their disobedience and idolatry.

Like their ancient plight, life is often less than simple for us. It often brings heartache and hardship and hard times. Perhaps you find yourself there today. Actions have consequences and poor decisions bring poor results. Whether your captivity is of your own making or you are caught up in the chaos of circumstances beyond your control, your life is far from peaceful. For you life is hard, you don't like it, you don't see a way out and it is sucking the hope out of your spirit.

Here's where the good news begins!

It was into life situations just like yours that this promise was given! And while God didn't promise immediate deliverance He inserts some reasons for hope. God often chooses not to rescue you from self-inflicted misery resulting from disobedience or poor decisions, but He will offer relief. He will remind you there is an expiration date on your suffering.

When you make bad decisions that lead to trouble it may take a long series of good decisions to bring you out. The first good decision is to return to God, begin obeying His Word and start hoping in His promises. Today would be a good day to start!

May 1, 2018

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Isn't this an amazing promise?

Perhaps you have claimed this promise at times.

Some may choose it as a life verse.

In truth, most of those who latch onto this promise do so out of context.

Jeremiah was known as the "weeping prophet" because he was often asked by God to deliver bad news to the people of God. He was also weeping over the tragic condition of his nation which had been invaded and taken captive by the mighty Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar. Their captivity was God's judgment on them for rebelling against Him and worshiping idols. Jeremiah's heart was broken for God's people and he wept for them. No doubt he also wept because God often asked him to bring bad news to the people of God who in turn, resented him and rejected him.

While this verse does accurately describe the nature of God and his desire to bless His people, this promised blessing was still 70 years in the future. These people would have to endure another 70 years under captivity before this wonderful promise would be fulfilled in their life.

So, this is a promise especially addressed to those who find themselves struggling in life because of self-inflicted captivity or due to the poor decisions of others. But it doesn't guarantee immediate deliverance from your problem.

The good news is that God does have a good plan and a godly purpose for your life!

The bad news is you may have to spend many more days in captivity until He delivers on His promise and delivers you from your problem!

April 30, 2018

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:1-2

Of the many amazing aspects of Jesus' earthly ministry was the fact that ministry came to Him. As He lived with authenticity and as He made Himself available people found Him approachable and ministry opportunities flowed to Him.

I believe it is a model we can and should adopt. If we daily demonstrate authentic faith and if we make ourselves available to people in need and if we are approachable, ministry opportunities will come to us on a regular basis.

That being true, as I believe it is, we had better know how to handle it when people DO come seeking ministry.

Let me suggest the strategy I am about to recommend to my people this Sunday. I believe it is what Jesus did and what the Holy Spirit honors.

1) PRAYER

John Wesley said, "Nothing happens but by prayer."

I believe it and Jesus proved it. Prayer was always the first thing Jesus did. Prayer invites God into your day and into ministry opportunities that flow your way that day Prayer activates the power of the Holy Spirit to flow through you.

If Jesus felt the need to begin each with prayer, how much more must we?

2) CARE

Prayer alone is not enough. Prayer must be expressed in acts of caring and compassion. Though Jesus began by praying, that was not the extent of His ministry. He lovingly brought the power of God to bear against the needs that came to Him. He functioned as God's connecting point with people who came seeking divine help.

Care that isn't backed by prayer has a limited impact. Prayer that doesn't lead to caring actions has little effect.

3) SHARE

The third component of effective ministry is sharing Biblical truth.

Sometimes sharing means telling a sinner how to repent and find the grace and forgiveness of God.

Sometimes sharing means reading an uplifting and encouraging portion of Scripture to one who is discouraged.

Sometimes sharing may involve telling a testimony of God's goodness or provision in your life.

This encounter Jesus had with Nicodemus is a great example of this three-fold approach to ministry. Jesus had prayed for God's guidance that day.

Nicodemus had seen the powerful effect of prayer in Jesus' life and ministry. And he had watched how Jesus cared for those in need. He saw people healed and delivered from evil spirits.

Because of the obvious power of His prayer and the passion of His caring, Nicodemus wanted to see Jesus.

There is a Nicodemus in your life that you can reach for Christ. Perhaps you are the only one who can reach him, or at least you are the best one to reach him. Why not learn from Jesus about how He reached Nicodemus?

Will you commit to His daily strategy of:

Prayer

Care

Share

Will you begin today?