Joseph: Overcoming Obstacles Through Faithfulness

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YEAR THEME CELEBRATE LIFE! ...LIVING IN THE
FUTURE Topic Gods expected destination! ...is
To be like him Text JERIMIAH 2911 DATE (3RD
OF JUNE, 2012)
Prince Nkang Williams Ministering
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Text Reading JEREMIAH 2911

• ESV For I know the plans I have for you,
  declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not
  for evil, to give you a future and a hope. ESV
• NIV 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.
• NAUFor I know the plans that I have for you,'
  declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for
  calamity to give you a future and a hope.

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Objective of the sermonGET TO CAANAN SAFELY

• TO EXPOSE GODS DESIRED DESTINATION
• ... as shown in Gen 1-3
• 2.TO GUIDE AND HELP SAINTS TO AVOID
• THE PIT-FALLS THAT CHARACTERIZED THE LIFE OF THE
  ISREALITES
• ...disobedience and pride
• 3. HELP THE SAINTS TO MAKE GOOD DECISSION THAT
  WILL LEAD THEM TO THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION
• ...the image of God

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Background of the text. Jer. 29

• These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah
  the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving
  elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the
  prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar
  had taken into exile from Jerusalem to
  Babylon.  2 This was after King Jeconiah and the
  queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah
  and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal
  workers had departed from Jerusalem.  3 The
  letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of
  Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom
  Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to
  Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said  4 "Thus
  says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all
  the exiles whom I have sent into exile from
  Jerusalem to Babylon  5 Build houses and live in
  them plant gardens and eat their produce.  6
  Take wives and have sons and daughters take
  wives for your sons, and give your daughters in
  marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters
  multiply there, and do not decrease.  7 But seek
  the welfare of the city where I have sent you
  into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf,
  for in its welfare you will find your welfare.  8
  For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of
  Israel Do not let your prophets and your
  diviners who are among you deceive you, and do
  not listen to the dreams that they dream,  9 for
  it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in
  my name I did not send them, declares the
  LORD.  10 "For thus says the LORD When seventy
  years are completed for Babylon, I will visit
  you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and
  bring you back to this place.  11 For I know the
  plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans
  for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a
  future and a hope.  12 Then you will call upon me
  and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  13
  You will seek me and find me. When you seek me
  with all your heart,  14 I will be found by you,
  declares the LORD, and I will restore your
  fortunes and gather you from all the nations and
  all the places where I have driven you, declares
  the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place
  from which I sent you into exile.  15 "Because
  you have said, 'The LORD has raised up prophets
  for us in Babylon,'  16 thus says the LORD
  concerning the king who sits on the throne of
  David, and concerning all the people who dwell in
  this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with
  you into exile  17 'Thus says the LORD of hosts,
  behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and
  pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs
  that are so rotten they cannot be eaten.  18 I
  will pursue them with sword, famine, and
  pestilence, and will make them a horror to all
  the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a
  terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the
  nations where I have driven them,  19 because
  they did not pay attention to my words, declares
  the LORD, that I persistently sent to you by my
  servants the prophets, but you would not listen,
  declares the LORD.'  20 Hear the word of the
  LORD, all you exiles whom I sent away from
  Jerusalem to Babylon  21 'Thus says the LORD of
  hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son
  of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who
  are prophesying a lie to you in my name Behold,
  I will deliver them into the hand of
  Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall
  strike them down before your eyes.  22 Because of
  them this curse shall be used by all the exiles
  from Judah in Babylon "The LORD make you like
  Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon
  roasted in the fire,"  23 because they have done
  an outrageous thing in Israel, they have
  committed adultery with their neighbors' wives,
  and they have spoken in my name lying words that
  I did not command them. I am the one who knows,
  and I am witness, declares the LORD.' (Jeremiah
  291-23 ESV)

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The historical context

• Nebuchadnezzer, King of Babylon, attacked
  Jerusalem for the first time in 605 BC. The king
  of Judah paid tribute and promised future
  payments to entice Nebuchadnezzer to withdraw.
• The Babylonian did so, but took away to Babylon
  some exiles, including Daniel and his three
  friends (whom we know best by their Babylonian
  names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).
• Shortly before Nebuchadnezzer attacked, Jeremiah
  prophesied that it would happen, and that the
  exiles would remain in Babylon for 70 years
  (Jeremiah 25).

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The Historical context

• Seven years later, Nebuchadnezzer returns, after
  the Judean king foolishly stops paying tribute.
  This time he deposes the king, sets up his own
  puppet from the Judean royal family, and takes
  thousands more into exile. Jeremiah remains in
  Jerusalem
• Todays text is part of a letter Jeremiah wrote
  to the exiles in Babylon, three years later.
  False prophets in Babylon and Jerusalem were
  claiming that the captivity was going to be very
  short that God would break the power of
  Nebuchadnezzer and send the captives back to
  Jerusalem very shortly
• Do we still have such false prophets Today?

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Historical context

• In effect, the false prophets were saying, God
  will prosper both you(in Babylon) and Jerusalem.
• Jeremiah clearly says, No! God is NOT going to
  prosper Jerusalem during the next several years.
  Dont think youre coming back soon therefore
  live out a normal life in Babylon! read Jer.
  298-11

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prophets

• In the Days of old Prophets are called directly
  by God (e.g Jeremiah)
• to serve as a watchman to the people (Jer.
  616-17),
• to pronounce judgment to the people. Jer. 45-18
  , to predict the future 1 Sam.99 and
• call the people to repentance Amos 911-15

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Test for determining the true prophet does it
come true? Jer. 281-17 Deut. 1821-22

• What Jeremiah was saying
• The so called prosperity prophets are NOT working
  for God, why?
• Because SAINTS can not live in sin and rebellion
  and expect God to continue to PROSPER THEM,
• ..why? it will mean that God DOES NOT HAVE
  INTEGRITY .
• Which was Exactly what was happening in Jerusalem
  at that time when Jeremiah wrote Jer. 2911
  against the false prophet of their days.
• The people who were taken captive because they
  were reaping the direct consequence of Gods
  earlier prophesy, therefore, they can not return
  back to Jerusalem soon

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Test for determining the true prophet Does what
they say correspond with Gods word? Deut.
131-31Jn.41-3

• Jeremiah was saying No ways! God is NOT going
  to prosper Jerusalem during the next several
  years live out a normal life in Babylon,
  THEREFORE...
• Jer. 295-7 build homes, and plan to stay in
  Babylon. Plant gardens, and eat the food they
  produce. Marry and have children. Then find
  spouse for your kids so that you may have many
  grand children. Multiply! Do not dwindle away and
  work for the peace and prosperity of the
  city(Babylon) where I(GOD) sent you into Exile.
  Pray for it, for its welfare will determine your
  welfare!

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What the text really means

• The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
  uses these words to describe shalom
  Completeness, wholeness, harmony, fulfilment. .
  . . Unimpaired relationships with others and with
  God.
• God was saying I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,
  not to plans to harm you, but PLAN TO GIVE YO
  Unimpaired relationship with ME AS IT WAS IN THE
  BEGINING IN the garden of Eden in GENESIS before
  the Fall...
• Plans to keep you from disaster, to give you a
  future a hope...

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THE IMPLICATION OF THE TEXT

• You will be taken captive if you do not keep your
  part of the deal-OBEDIENCE!
• Deut. 28
• The prophesy was fulfilled by the King of Babylon
• WHO IS NEBUCHADNEZZAR,
• Anyone or anything that opposes the will of God,
• anyone or anything that seeks worship.
• money., job, self, children etc.
• WHAT DOES HE REPRESENT IN OUR LIVES? Jn.10a
• He represents that which causes us to be in lack
• ..He steals from you.
• WHRE IS BABYLON, WHAT DOES THEY CITY IN OUR LIVES
• WHO ARE THE FALSE PROPHETS,
• WHAT IS THEIR MESSAGE IN OUR TIME AND AGE?
• Motivational speakers who are carnally minded.

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• A look at some of Gods written intention for his
  people
• We are to be like Jesus/gods/Royal priest a
  walking wonder on Earth (but ignorance)
• whatever we approve gets approved by Heaven
• 2. We are to live only be faith and not by sight.
• whatever God says is what we are to say also
  about any situation-Health, finances, life
  ,marriage etc
• 3. The purpose of our blessings-Money, wisdom,
  gifts etc. are for His kingdom expansion.
• 4. The only recognize and authentic source of
  information for our daily living after the fall
  is through the word of God but now we have the
  Holy Spirit indwelling in us

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Conditions that brings about the speedy-end of
captivity

• REPENTANCE follow the path set by God on ALL
  issues
• OBEDIENCE follow Gods prescribed principles
• LIVE ONLY BY FAITH Heaven currency
• KEEP YOUR COMMUNICATION LINE CLEAR Holiness,
  prayers and fasting
• BE A KINGDOM CITIZEN an Ambassador for Christ.
• LOVE AND FEAR GOD

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• Rather than to Confess Sin"

Shalom for Whom? 2)      Shalom means
what? 3)      How should we then live?
Shalom for whom? This promise is written to those
in exile in Babylon.... The New Testament does
refer to us, the church, as aliens, as
strangers, as exiles

1 Peter 11 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion
in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and
Bithynia, 1 Peter 117 And if you call on him as
Father who judges impartially according to each
one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear
throughout the time of your exile, 1 Peter 211
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to
abstain from the passions of the flesh, which
wage war against your soul. (ESV)

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Shalom means what?

To our ears, plans to prosper you sounds like
the promise of an easy life. But that is NOT what
Jeremiah 2911 means. What do we know about the
lives of the Jewish exiles? Some went through
Pains and hardship...         Daniel follows
Jeremiahs injunction in 295-7, working hard for
the welfare of Babylon and he rises to a
prominent position. But he also is thrown into a
lions den.         Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego are thrown into a fiery furnace when
they refuse to bow down and worship a golden
statue of Nebuchadnezzer. Yes, God saves these
three as well as Daniel. But the point is, their
lives were not easy. They exhibited courage in
the face of great danger prior to God saving them
from certain death. .
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What disqualifies You

• As much as God wants uninterrupted relationship
  with you while in exile, see to it that you are
  not disqualified as a result of the following
• The Lord hates seven things. (Proverbs 616-19)
• 2. The Lord hates those that serve other gods.
  (Jeremiah 442-5 Deut. 1229-31)
• 3. The Lord hates those that imagine evil hearts
  against his neighbour and love false oaths.
  (Zechariah 816-17)
• 4. The Lord hates iniquity (a wicked act or sin).
  (Hebrews 18-9 Psalms 55)
• 5. The Lord hates idolatry. (Deu 1622)
• 6. The Lord hates those who scheme wickedness and
  those who are violent. (Psa 115)

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What distinguished the Exiled-Comarades mentioned
above!

• Their total dedication to God in spite of what
  they were facing in Exile-(a place of discomfort)
• 2. They had Strong faith in their God
• 3. They exercised Courage when they were
  confronted with odd situations abroad.
• 4.They held on to the Vision that, they will be
  alight at the end of the tunnel.
• We must learn from them

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CONCLUSION

• Jeremiah is giving us a word of caution to beware
  of this motivational speakers/false prophets of
  our days who quote God out of context...
• Prophets Who will give us positive words in spite
  of our sinful lives
• That the promise of shalom in 2911 is really a
  promise which will only be fulfilled in sixty
  years when they return to Jerusalem. The Image of
  God still remain his perfect plan for Humanity
• God is assuring His people in exile(outside the
  comfort of God) that He has a purpose, and that
  purpose will stand. It may look like evil is
  prospering, it may look like Gods plan to work
  through the descendants of Abraham to bless all
  nations is in danger of abortion, but God is
  assuring the exiles that He is in control.
• God is working out His purpose even during the
  tragedies of His people, such as exile. Nothing
  is pointless nothing is out from under Gods
  control. He controls the nations.

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Jeremiahs caution
The captivity is of God, Ensure that you stay in
his will even in captivity, so that his ultimate
plan of freedom will be fulfilled eventually
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Conclusion Principles to Live By

• 1. No matter what our negative experiences might
  be, we are to trust Gods ability to change our
  situation
• Believe that God is not man, therefore he does
  not and will not be limited by our circumstances
  or the false prophesy by prophets in any way

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conclusion

• Gods ultimate destination for you is His
  presence-A place of complete obedient to his will
  and intention
• He want to draw you there, to love you, cherish
  and nurture you, to remain in close relationship
  with you, a place where you need never be afraid
  or fear evil.
• He want to give you a future and a hope because
  He controls the future, It is in his presence
• That is when the preceeding verse become
  relevant.
• 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray
  to me, and I will hear you.  13 You will seek me
  and find me. When you seek me with all your
  heart,  14 I will be found by you, declares the
  LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather
  you from all the nations

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• He who promised is faithful
• Is 6020 says, ' your days of mourning shall be
  ended. Take this word and stand in faith. Remind
  the Lord of His promises to you. Tell Him, "Lord,
  if you said it, you will do it. I am not going to
  give up". Soon you will see the deliverance of
  the Lord coming to you

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Final thoughts

• Whenever you think God has forgotten you, please
  remember that it is not possible. God never
  forgets His own,
• It is just that he works according to His own
  timetable.
• God bless You.