How confident are you to stand against the devil and his schemes against your family, friends, relationships, and church? Do you know what God has said according to His Word?
"God will do exceedingly and abundantly above all that you can ask or imagine."
"The blessing of the Lord maketh rich and there will be no sorrow with it."
Do you believe God will do something AMAZING soon? We all have a part to play and then God will work it all together as we obey.
- Small groups, for example, are just an EXAMPLE of what God is doing. Small groups can be a place that can be safe for people who know and don't know Jesus. That then helps grow the church.
- Ministers of song on Sunday morning play a part to worship the Lord and encourage others to walk with Jesus.
- Even at your workplace you have a part to play - to be a light in darkness.
We all have a part to play in God's story and we must obey Him to follow His plan for our lives.
1. It is going to take time.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has a great plan, even if it brings us through circumstances we don't like. The Israelites' disobedience led them on a 70 year detour where they were put under a Babylonian king. God tells His people not to adopt the customs of this world while they are under foreign rule. To us, He says don't adopt what the world is doing. Follow my plan even though you are in this kingdom and not of this kingdom. We can't allow the world to force us to act a certain way and we as Christians can't force people to act how we want. We all have a choice to obey - you always have a choice.
In what ways might you be adopting the systems of this world or surrendering your choice?
'I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. '
'But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. '
God is preparing to bless you in a land that you are not yet in. He is preparing to do great things.
Read Jeremiah 29:1-6 - God intended for their good what the enemy intended for their bad. If you don't give into it, God will make this for your good. What you see isn't the end and what you're being dealt doesn't need to be what you have to play. God WILL take care of you. He has said He will do great things, marvelous things! It's not time to be scared, but time to get up and go where God has called you to go. Don't be afraid. It will take time. In the meantime, God told the Israelites to build. Build.
- Build your Faith. How? By reading the Word of God. If it doesn't align with the Word of God, it isn't of God, so don't live by that. Don't live a certain way so that people will love you. Jesus says "if they hated me, they are going to hate you". Be bold and declare "this is what God says".
- Build your Family. I want to declare truth in love to you. My opinion doesn't matter - God's Word matters! He wants us to speak against the enemy's schemes and declare God's love and goodness to His children. This is vital - how are we teaching our children God's truth? Are we reading the Word with our children? Are we praying with our families? Are we learning through experiences at places like the Creation Museum or the Ark? Build your family.
- If we stick with this, He will bless us and not just with things, but with a great relationship with Him for eternity!
- Do you want to stick with God, even when it's hard?
- If we stick with this, He will bless us and not just with things, but with a great relationship with Him for eternity!
When we all work, God will build His church.
2. God's Way is the Best Way
Even in captivity, we are to grow. God said "you will increase". Even in captivity, we are to work - build houses, get married, and have children to multiply. That's when God will bring increase and we read Jeremiah 29:11. "Because of your faithfulness, promotion will come to you." Some of us may not even see what God is going to do because He might continue it through our children and their children. It will not stop with you! God's plan will always continue on! You set it in order as He has called you to, play your part, and let Him work it together.
Can you imagine what God will do?