God Has A Plan For Your Life (4 Questions Series)

Big Idea:

When God has a plan, you have a purpose.

Key Passages:

Jeremiah 1:4-19 and Jeremiah 29:11 (CSB)

Background:

Jeremiah lived in a small town just north of the city of Jerusalem. At the time this was written Jerusalem was falling. There was chaos, political struggles, moral issue, and the people were worshipping other gods. God was calling Jeremiah to be a prophet to his people and to boldly proclaim the truth that they were going to fall. That God was going to judge them for their evil and for worshipping other gods.

This was without question one of the most toughest assignments we find in the Old Testament. God told him to lead a stubborn people and then informs him that the people wouldn’t follow him. (7:27,28) Jeremiah has also been called “the weeping prophet” because he shed so many tears over the hardness of the people and the intense judgement ahead.

Read: Jeremiah 1:4-19

Pray:

GOD HAS A PLAN (V-5)

How beautiful to know that GOD knew you before you were you! He set you apart for a special purpose. He thought about you and planned for you. If anyone feels inadequate or discouraged, know that he values you not because of what you have done, not because what you’re going to do, but because He loves you and has a purpose for your life.

We’re all here this evening with hurts and struggles. Some here tonight are going through some really difficult situations. I want to you to know that God loves you. No matter what has happened, no matter what people tell you, He is a loving Father and He will carry you through.

Here we see God call Jeremiah for a specific purpose. “a prophet to the nations.” When God calls you to do something He will always provide the empowerment to fulfill that calling.

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Story of Sylah

To me, she had value, love, and meaning, not because of anything she had done. Not because she said the right things, made the right decisions, or look a certain way, but because I was her daddy and I loved her.

God feels the same way about you. He is not weighting His love for you based on any earthly or tangible circumstance, He loves you because He is love and you are His child. There is nothing Sylah could do that would make me love her any less. My love for her in unconditional. So is the love of the Father towards you.

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Psalms 139:14-16 NLT

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

Sometimes God calls you to a specific task just as He did with Jeremiah. When that happens don’t hesitate! Say Yes and get to work! Other times you feel as though you are waiting on God’s plan and will for your life. You will know the will of God if you seek Jesus; pray, seek him, serve Him, and He will reveal it to you in His timing. Stay faithful where you are and wait on the Lord.

Romans 8:28 NLT

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

THERE IS NO EXCUSE (V6-8)

In this passage Jeremiah says “I’m too young.” We’ve seen excuses before in other Biblical characters. Moses said “I have a speech problem.” We have a natural reaction to immediately start throwing out excuses. “I don’t have the finances.”, “I’m not qualified.”, “You don’t know where I come from.”, or “You don’t know where I live.”. Excuses mean NOTHING to God! Excuses to God = Disobedience to our calling!

When you are at a place where you don’t feel like you are qualified based on earthly standards, then you are exactly who God is looking to use for Kingdom work! He delights in taking our weaknesses and using them for His glory. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things!

Let’s look back at verse 5. He knew you before you were in your mother's womb. Don’t you think that He knows you now and will take care of you?! Don’t you think He knows your weaknesses. There have been countless times in my life where I’ve said “God, I can’t do this. If it’s going to happen it’s going to be You that makes it happen.” I want to live in those moments every day of my life! Completely dependent on Him to do the work He has called me to do!

The great apostle Paul even said “And who is adequate for such a task as this?” (2 Corinthians 2:16) as he questioned the responsibility of God’s call. But then he answer this question by saying “It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.” (3:5)

Hebrews 13:5-6

For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

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Harpeth River Story with Billy Connolly

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The point is, don’t let people or obstacles keep you from doing what God has called you to do! The Lord will put you on the best adventure of your life if you choose obedience! People may say your crazy, you may not have all the right material things, but God’s plan is the best possible plan for your life and He will provide for you and take care of you!

John 10:10 NLT

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

When we make excuses for what God is calling us to, then what are we really saying? — “God, you are not capable to complete the task you have assigned me!” What God starts, He always finishes. May we never diminish the power and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God did not promise that Jeremiah wouldn’t face trials along the way. Jeremiah faced prison, deportation, and ridicule, but God walked with Jeremiah and gave him the strength to fulfill His purpose.

GOD WILL FULFILL HIS PLAN (V12)

God revealed to Jeremiah that His wrath and judgement was coming to the people and He says that “I am ready to perform my Word.”

As you follow God's plan for your life you can rest in the promise that He will fulfill His plan.

Jeremiah’s name means “Jehovah establishes,” and God did establish His prophet and the ministry till the end.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

“But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one”

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Philippians 1:6 NLT

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

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My Testimony Working 3 Jobs

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I believe with all my heart that God has a big plan for all of our lives! It may not be full time ministry or missions, but God is moving all around the world to advance His Kingdom and He wants you to be a part of it!

Maybe He wants you to proclaim the Gospel to the people in your workplace. Lead your family and friends to Christ. Or start making disciples with those he has put around you. Start a small group bible study. He may be calling you to leave your comfort zone and move to another country to share the Gospel with someone who has never heard.

GOD WANTS US TO LISTEN AND OBEY (V-17)

“Get up and prepare for action.” Get up and get going!

When God calls He expects immediate obedience. Throw excuses out the window, get up, put on your work clothes, and get to work!

You may encounter obstacles along the way, people may mock you, but you got to go! If God has called you to it, You can trust Him to get you through it!

So Jeremiah did as God had commanded him.

YOU CAN TRUST IN HIS PLAN (V-19)

Jeremiah gives the people two options. Stay and get burned to the ground or leave and surrender to the Chaldeans and live. (21:8-10) Jeremiah finally gets to write a letter of hope and encouragement to the first two groups exiled. (29:11) So Jeremiah weeped over the destruction of Judah for many years as the people mocked him and even tried to kill him. But he remained faithful to what God had called him to do no matter what the cost. God later executed His plan of destruction on Judah, but showed mercy to those who obeyed him.

Obedience should never be measured on whether it lines up with the world's standard of success, but on God’s Glory being manifest in your obedience! From the worlds standards Jeremiah was a failure! He had no wife or kids, he was homeless and poor. He proclaimed the truth and the people denied him for over 40 years! But God received glory in Jeremiah's obedience.

Illust: Rope and Eternity

The story of Jeremiah is an example for us all.

After everything Jeremiah had been through, he was still able to say that God had a plan for welfare, hope, and a future. (29:11)

And I’m telling you that same message today.

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

Closing:

HOW CAN I FOLLOW GOD'S PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE?

1. Listen
   1. Pray that God would show you the next step in His plan.
   2. Pray that God would give you the strength to endure no matter what the cost.

This can sometimes be the hardest part. When we don’t know exactly what His plan is then we can get caught up in the busyness of life and lose focus on what He’s calling us to do. Taking time to pray and seek after Him during those times are vital to knowing what He wants us to do.

1. Obey
   1. Step out in faith
   2. Trust in the Lord

If you feel God calling you to do something, do it! Don’t put it off for another day, don’t make excuses, go for it with everything you’ve got! Get your work clothes on and go! God will provide and protect you as you go!

1. Stay Faithful
   1. Trust in His promises
   2. Seek Him in His Word

Surround yourself with people that will encourage you and build you up. Stay in God’s Word daily and lean on Him in everything.

Maybe you’re here this evening and you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. His ultimate desire is that you come to know Him today. The foundation of God’s plan in all our lives is based on the Good News of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice paid for our sins. You can know Him today.

1. GOD HAS A PLAN (V-5)
2. THERE IS NO EXCUSE (V6-8)
3. GOD WILL FULFILL HIS PLAN (V-12)
4. HE WANTS US TO LISTEN AND OBEY (V-17)
5. YOU CAN TRUST IN HIS PLAN (V-19)