Out of the Wilderness and into the Promises of God
Out of the Wilderness of Exile Into the Promise of Shalom
Jeremiah 29:10-14
Are we not in exile? Exiles of post modern/post truth secularism
We are “Resident Aliens”, our nation is the church, our charter is the Scriptures, our home is the local body, we are “in transit” together.
Can the God of the Universe engage in His mission with His people in any and every setting or does He need a specific cultural context, like a theocracy or something like it?
Good circumstances and surroundings are only aids and those that are bad are never hindrances to relating to God—nothing can deter our relationship—exile is just a different way.
God’s orders for Aliens includes a powerful promise, but it is not without conditions.
How to relate to God when relating to God has all kinds of hardships and distractions in the way...
This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. (4)
1. Settle down where God plops you—He has plans for you. (29:4-6)
Carried by God from the foundation of peace (Yerushalaim) to the place of confusion (Babel)—LIVE SAVED!
Temporary submission to exilic circumstances is submission to God’s work. Limitations are orders that oppose the commands of God. (cf. Dan. 3,6)
...to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. (1)
2. Pray for the prosperity of the people among whom God has put you—your enemies are God’s instruments. (29:7)
The enemy is not just an enemy, he is a tool to accomplish God’s work in your life and a target for the grace of God through you. (cf. Matt. 5:43-48)
If you only see yourself as a victim, you will excuse yourself from the work God is often seeking to accomplish in your life.
In a community setting, the prosperity of “enemies” usually benefits God’s people as well. (1 Tim. 2:2)
“Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you." (8)
3. Do not be deceived by religious sounding lies supposedly commissioned by God. (29:8-9)
The height of idiocy is to listen to the dreams of deceivers that were given them by you, and turn away from listening to the words of truth from the Living God. God does not love everything and anything that anyone decides to do.
“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.” (11)
4. Pray and seek the LORD with all your heart—His plans include peace, hope and a future for those who do. (29:10-14)
MY GRACIOUS PROMISE—bring you back! SHALOM, hopeful future
- But, My plans for you are included in my plans for Babylon (10)
- You must seriously come to me and pray—from scoffing to sulking to taking Me seriously. (12)
- Satan and demons believe in God –they don’t pray to Him!
- If you don’t pray, it’s because you don’t look to God as the solution or you don’t want His solution.
- It’s time to live in exile, now pray so you will see the situation as God wants it and you will act accordingly—instinctive living is base and will lead to all kinds of unintended consequences. (14)
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