God Has A Plan For Your Life (Hilview Baptist Church)

Prayer

Main Point:

1. Being obedient to God’s call and plan for your life, despite circumstances and excuses, because He is worthy of our obedience and worship!

Key Passages:

1. Jeremiah 1:4-19 and Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

Background:

Jeremiah lived in a small town just north of the city of Jerusalem. When God called Jeremiah, Jerusalem was about forty years from its fall. There was chaos, political struggles, moral issues, 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 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:

4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” 9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” 11 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see an almond[a] branch.” 12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” 13 The word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, facing away from the north.” 14 Then the Lord said to me, “Out of the north disaster[b] shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. 16 And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17 But you, dress yourself for work;[c] arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”

GOD HAS A PLAN (V-5) <--- Read the Verse

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

God said this to Jeremiah about his call as a prophet. But the God who knew Jeremiah knows you too. How beautiful to know that GOD knew you before you were you! He made you for a 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 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

My wife and I recently had a little girl. I remember walking into the room at the hospital and feeling my heart beat out of my chest. I was about to see my little girl for the first time. When my wife got ready on the bed the nurse put the ultrasound monitor on her belly and there she was. At the time she looked like a tiny little dot, but you could see a little flutter. I asked the nurse if that was her heart beat and she said yes. My heart was bursting with love for my daughter. I prayed for her, we made plans for her arrival, we talked about who she would look like, we talked about what she would do with her life. 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 looked a certain way, but because I was her daddy and I loved her.

God feels the same way about you. He is not weighing 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 is unconditional. So is the love of the Father towards you.

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Psalm 139:14-16 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Romans 5:8 “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

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.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE (V6-8) <--- Read the Verses

6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

- 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 extra-ordinary 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!

- Anytime I find myself making excuses why I shouldn’t follow God’s plan I’m reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

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People will make excuses for you. (James River Trip)

People will say “you can’t do it.” or “You shouldn’t do it.” In college I lived next to the James River. A few of us guys decided to do a 36 mile run on the James River in 12 hours. Seems reasonable right? Here’s the catch. We had no canoe, kayak, or boat. Let me remind you, college student and broke. We decided that air mattresses was the best and cheapest option. Also, there were 7 dams that we would have been faced with on this journey that we didn’t know how to get around. Everyone we knew said “No” or “Bad idea”. We quickly referred to these people as naysayers. (someone with an aggressively negative attitude) So our journey began Saturday afternoon with hopes to arrive in downtown Lynchburg the next afternoon. We aired up the mattress and as we were sliding it into the water it caught a rock and punctured the raft. Frantically we ran to Walmart and purchased another raft, aired it up, and set sail. It wasn’t until about 10 miles down river that we began to get really hungry. The one person who had only one job, to get food, brought a can of sardines and a little bread. The water supply we planned on didn’t last too long either.

It got dark and the moon was shining on the James. It was so peaceful until we heard a little rumble in the distance. It was the first dam. We frantically paddled our rafts to the shore and cut a path through the brush to finally find a set of railroad tracks that we could cross on. The night was chilly and long. We crossed several more dams before realizing that a short nap might help us finish strong. We paddled to shore, set the air mattress on the ground and slept for a couple hours. The morning came real quick and we jumped up to finish our journey. Most of us had headaches due to lack of food and water, we were super tired from paddling for hours straight, and we were definitely sleep deprived, but we finally landed in Downtown Lynchburg Virginia that Sunday afternoon.

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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 you’re 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 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

- 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!”

- May we never be so arrogant to say that our God, the creator of the universe is not able to fulfill the call on our lives. 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 (V-12) <--- Read the Verse

12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”

In this verse God is promising to carry out the word He gave Jeremiah. Here’s how I’d apply that: God finishes what He starts. As you follow God’s plan for your life you can rest in the fact that He will fulfill His plan.

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

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My Testimony

I felt God calling me to the ministry as a teenager. After High School I pursued that calling by moving to Florida and being involved in a church plant. I later went to college to study Biblical Studies and involve myself in every ministry that would have me. Post college I spent a summer in South America and then moved to Hendersonville Tennessee. Once I landed in Hendersonville I had no idea what God was calling me to do next. I got several odd jobs and began praying for what God had next. When the floods came in May of 2010 I felt God leading me to start a painting company. This wasn’t at all a part of my plan! I would have pictured my life to look totally different! But, God had a plan.

I ended up meeting my wife and getting involved here at Long Hollow. God then opened up doors for me to be involved in Missions here at Long Hollow and now I’m on staff mobilizing people for the Gospel. I don’t believe God’s plan is fulfilled and done with my life! But, I can see now that He was equipping me for what he had in store that I could not see when I was working 3 jobs and living in a tiny studio apartment.

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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 schools. Lead your family and friends to Christ. Or start making disciples with those he has put around you.

I also believe that He is calling some of you to be pastors, missionaries, and church planters! 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. There are millions around the world that are LOST and going to hell and He wants some of you to go tell them about Jesus!

GOD WANTS US TO LISTEN AND OBEY (V-17) <--- Read the Verse

17 But you, dress yourself for work;[c] arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.

Get up and go out!

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!

So Jeremiah did as God had commanded him.

YOU CAN TRUST IN HIS PLAN (V-19) <--- Read the Verse

19 They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.”

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 wept 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 world’s standards Jeremiah was a failure! He had no wife or kids. He was beaten, put in stocks, imprisoned and thrown into a cistern (Jeremiah 20:2; 37:15; 38:6). He proclaimed the truth and the people denied him for over 40 years! But God received glory in Jeremiah's obedience.

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)

God said this first to His people in exile in Babylon. What it shows us is who He is: a God who plans good for His people. And He is the same God 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 FOR MY LIFE?

1. Pray
   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. GOD WANTS US TO LISTEN AND OBEY (V-17)
5. YOU CAN TRUST IN HIS PLAN (V-19)