Jeremiah 29 verse 11 Part 4

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 2021

PSALM 145

We are continuing to look at the motto verse from Jeremiah 29 verse 11.  It is important that we look and see that the God of heaven has given us his word.  This is a verse spoken to a people in captivity in Babylon but it is so real to us this morning as we face the trials and troubles and difficulties in this coming year - to know God is thinking of you and I.  Isaiah wrote this letter to a people scattered in Babylon.  It came from the very heart of God. God was thinking of their end - an expected end and future he had planned for them.  God knows everything about us, nows how you are feeling.  Isn't it good that we know God knows all about us and it is so relevant to us.  We need to get our eyes off the situation we find ourselves in.  The problems we face day by day, get them freshly on God today.  That burden you have been carrying for so long a time God knows all about that situation, get our eyes heavenward and see that God knows all about you, your problems.  3 young Hebrew men when the order came from the Babylon King to bow down to an image created they could not do it.  They defied the laws of the land and a a result were cast into the fiery furnace.  They got their eyes off the idol and the furnace and on to the Lord.  Our God can deliver us in this situation.  They knew God was able to deliver them.  We have his word today.  "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24 verses 35) Isaiah 55 speaks of the effects of the rain and snow that would fall and water the ground and brings forth its fruit in its season. Then he likens it to God's word - "so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which O please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

The patience God exercises.  God is in no rush.  The people were told that the captivity would last for a short time, that God would step in and deliver them but it was a false hope.  Verse 10 the captivity would be for 70 years.  God knew what he would do with his people.  God is patient and exercises that for 70 years.  Thinking of their time to be spent there, they were to build houses, to plant gardens, eat the fruit of them, marry and have children.  God is in no rush today.  Remember Job and his sufferings.  He lost everything.  Job might have been in that situation for some years before God moved in.  1 Peter 1 verse 6 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations."  James when describing trials said "count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations."  These trials are for your benefit, to make you stronger Christian.  Romans 8 verse 28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  It is easy to pray that for someone else when they are going through a difficult time yet hard to do when we ourselves are going through those times, the difficult times of testings, but both testings and blessings are all working for good for you and I.  Remember how patient God was when he was convicting us of our sin - we were rebellious but God was patient with us.  

A programme that God expresses.  "For thus saith the Lord that after 70 years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."  This is the programme God is now expressing.  There is that patience God exercises.  Notice the programme that is running.  Jeremiah 29 verse 14.  It wouldn't happen for 70 years.  God's word is sure.  They would be brought back into their land after 70 years.  They were to hold onto the promises of God in the difficult days.  Joseph was only a young man.  His life was falling apart, he couldn't understand what was happening.  Why was he to go through difficult times?  God would take Joseph down to Egypt to be the Saviour of Israel.  Remember Genesis 15 verse 13 God came to Abraham "know of a surety that they seed shall be  a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them and they shall serve them and they shall afflict them 400 years."  Joseph was sold into Egypt at 17, he was sold to Potiphar who bought him as a slave,  Things went well in that situation.  God was using Joseph there.  Then Potiphar's wife acccused him wrongly and he was cast into the prison.  As a result things turned out well for him.  Now in prison God was not through with Joseph,  God had Joseph on his mind.  He met 2 servants of Pharoah's in that prison house.  There were 2 dreams - the butler would be reinstated.  Joseph said 'when you are released please remember me'.  Don't forget about me.  But a full 2 years went past and he was not remembered. God's not answering me.  God has failed.  It was not God's time.  God's programme was running for the Israelites and Joseph.  God's programme is running for you and me.  It will not be shortened.  A patient God.  It took 400 years to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt.  There is a great programme running today.  These are the last of the last days.  One of these days the Lord will leave his Father's side, heaven, once again.  Not to die for the sin of the world.  He is coming this time as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Those who are saved and know God personally they will be reunited with him in the air.  The dead in Christ will rise first and then we that remain will rise too  God's programme is running today.  A patient God.  Peter tells us that God is not willing for any to perish but that all should come to repentence.

The power that God engages here.  The great ruling power at this time was Babylon.  Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom was mighty.  Now God was thinking of raising up another new king in place of Nebuchadnezzar.  It was no surprise to God.  The situation you are in is no surprise to God.  He knows all about it.  God has promoted it.  In Ezra 1 we read that God stirred up Cyrus King of Persia.  He would be the one to provide deliverance from the Israelites.  He was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar.  He opened up the banqueting house and invited 1000 lords.  He thought no-one could overtake him.  The enemy was even at his gates.  At that party they brought out the holy vessels taken from the temple in Israel.  Everything was going well until they saw the writing on the wall.  "Thou art weighed in the balances and are found wanting."  Cyrus was the one God was to use.  God knows every situation today.  He is working it out for you and your benefit.