GOD'S THOUGHTS

 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 – Jan 31^st 2010

God’s Thoughts to Us!

 

Intro:  I want to thank you this morning for the privilege to be here in St. Albert.  I also want to thank your leadership team and the pulpit search committee for the invitation and their hard work.  I also want to thank each of you for your kindness towards myself and my wife Lois today.

 

1.    Today I am sharing from Jeremiah 29:11-13.  Jeremiah is one of those incredible prophets who persevered in the midst of great opposition.  It almost appears when you first read Jeremiah that he is at war with his audience but he is actually a prophet who creates hope and encouragement.   Jeremiah was a prophet, priest, poet, scholar, historian and statesman. 

 

a.     Jeremiah’s ministry started in the 13^th year of Josiah’s reign, lasted 40 years during the final days of Judah and ended when the final group of Jews headed to Egypt.  His name means the Lord exalts.  He was the son of a priest and was a town called Anathoth.  Jeremiah was a reformer and social activist.  He spoke against idolatry, oppression of the poor, violence and injustice.  Eugene Peterson calls him, “the prophet who could run with the horses.”

b.    Jeremiah told Judah that repentance was God’s wish but Judah was morally incapable of it.  They had substituted repentance and righteousness with sacrifices and ritual.  They had a form of godliness but deny the power of it.  He also made it clear to Judah the consequences of sin and apostasy. 

c.     Jeremiah was a prophet who believed that the destiny of every man is determined by his conformity or lack of conformity to God and His plan.

 

2.     Jeremiah in the previous verses tells Judah that their length of stay in Babylon would be 70 years.  This time period had been determined because they had neglected the Sabbath year principle for 490 years.  

 

a.      For I know the thoughts I think towards you.  Jeremiah’s says that we are on God’s mind.  God knows the largest and smallest details of your life. 

b.    Jesus said in the book of Matthew that even the number of the hairs on your head are number.  If you are a blonde 113,000, a brunette 112,000, have black hair, 110,000 and a redhead 117,000. 

c.     Jesus also tells us not to worry about our clothing, shelter, food or transportation needs because if He can feed the sparrow or clothe the flower.  He will do more for us. 

d.    Jeremiah’s says, “God has thoughts of peace toward us.  Jeremiah talks about in his writings about a new covenant with the Messiah ruling over all.

People’s heart would be renewed and they would have inward purity which was started by the cross.  God according to Jeremiah was thinking about peace, lives without strife, war, fights, frustration or anxiety.  He is thinking of calmness or quietness of heart and mind.  God is not thinking angry vengeful, malicious, or hateful thoughts toward us.  This lie is promoted by the misinformed.  God wants peace between Himself and His creation.  This He provided through the death, burial and resurrection, the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ.  These verses are an invitation to come to know God.

 

3.     To give us a future and a hope.  When you have a future you know you will survive and have a legacy.  This includes both individuals and nations.  So many people want to know the future because they want to know that their life mattered and they made a difference.  Talk about my dad and his grave stone.

 

a.      To give hope.  Hope is one of three virtues described in 1 Cor 13:13.  Hope is the expectation of something desired will happen.  Hope coupled with faith which as described in Heb 11:1 states, “Is the substance or title deeds of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”  All this is based on the foundation of God’s love.  So what are God’s thoughts, future and hope for Cornerstone Pentecostal Fellowship.  The best is yet to come for you and this city.  God has been moving behind the scenes and now He is about to move so all will see it.  He has heard the prayers of His people and the cries of each heart.  He wants you to know that even before you uttered your prayer the answer was on the way but was delayed for timing purposes.  There is going to be a time of renewal, restoration, transformation and healing.  Draw near and wait with expectation. 

b.    He is about to open up the heavens and rain his blessing down on His people.  God has seen your faithfulness, your obedience, diligence and perseverance.  His reward and favor is on the way.

c.     These three verses are promise verses.  Number 1852-54 to be exact,  Jeremiah states when we call or invite God into our lives and situation.  With a loud voice or cry make our needs and requests known.  When we ask, shout and go and pray.  This little phrase means putting some effort and actively finding a place of prayer and to ask, petition, intercede or communicate with God.  To pray with your heart or with all your heart.  Praying with intensity like Jesus in the garden. 

d.    Pray until it hurts.  You are hurt by what is going around you and you will not leave the place of prayer until you have assurance in your heart that an answer is coming.  Talk about the SA and the money situation. 

e.    Jeremiah says, “God will listen.”  He will hear.  He will attend his ear to you.  I believe that God wants to answer.  He just wants to know how serious you are.  

 

4.     You will seek me and you will find me.  This is constant diligent effort.  Like the woman who lost her coin and sweep and cleaned the house until she found it in the parable, Jesus related.  The Lord says you will find Him.  I love to know that God is not hiding from me.  Especially when we search for Him with all our heart.    What a promise. 

 

a.      Jeremiah states in Vs 14, that God will bring us back from captivity from among the nations or wherever you are in life.  Bring you back to where you belong. 

b.    What a great message for the church in Canada, St. Albert or whatever state or place you find yourself this morning.  Where are you?