Bloom Where You Are Planted! What to do while we’re waiting… Jeremiah 29:1-14 "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960…1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”

The People’s Predicament Israel (722 BC) and Judah (586 BC) had been taken captive and dragged into exile – Their captors were cruel and godless – Many lost their lives and the rest, all they owned and held precious God had sent many prophets and others to warn the people to turn from their sin and return to worship God alone He allowed them to suffer humiliation and defeat at the hands of their enemies

The Prophet’s Pronouncement God’s message through His prophet was an unpopular one! – He pronounced judgment on the people of Israel and Judah because of their sin – The people opposed Jeremiah because his message exposed their sin Jer. 1:17-19; 7:27 – Jeremiah did not want to deliver this message Jer. 1:6; 20:9 The pain and humiliation he endured was heartrending

But if I say, "I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name," then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it. Jeremiah 20:9

The Faithful Messenger 1 Now these are the words of the letter… Even when the prophet could not speak directly to the people, he persisted in delivering his message. – He sent this Word to the leaders of the people – v. 2; 2 Kings 24:12-16 – The admonition was to rebuke and to encourage – It reaffirmed the prophecy from ch. 25:11-12 – He found faithful couriers with whom to entrust the Message – v.3 – 2 Tim. 2:2

4 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel…” The prophet speaks the Words of God – There were many false prophets claiming to speak for Him “…to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile…” The people were in Babylon under God’s Sovereignty, and by His plan – Though they had abandoned Him, He had not abandoned them – Ironically (to them) He sent them there for their good

Why God Exiled His People 1.For Chastisement, Purification, and Discipline – Psalm 119:67; Proverbs 15:10; Prov. 29:1 2.To Perfect (mature) His Children – Psalm 119:71, Heb. 12:7-11; James 1:2-4; 2 Cor. 12: To Show His Glory – Daniel 4; Psalm 119:75; Gen. 50:20; Rom. 8:28; Prov. 3:34b; Psalm 29:10-11; Isaiah 30: To Unify the Brethren – Prov. 17:17; Prov. 18:24; Phil. 4:10ff 5.To Expand His Kingdom – Matt. 2:1-2

How Then Shall we Live? 5 Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. To build houses expresses one’s intention to remain where they are – Some today are looking for escape – Others are looking for ways to overthrow the “regime” – God intends for us to be “good neighbors” where we live, even to those who do not believe Cf. “Citadels for the Kingdom” – 01/07

…and plant gardens and eat their produce. God intends for His people to provide for their own families and for others in the community – We are not to look to the government or the society at large for our support or sustenance – We are at God’s mercy and live by His grace – Spiritually, He intends for us to bear much fruit and so glorify Him – John 15 Planting a garden is an expression of hope in life, an expectation of a future – It is a step of faith! Both these activities take time, resources, and purposeful activity – a rebuke to the false prophets!

Rebuilding a Nation 6 'Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease.’ The Nation of God’s People was a mere fraction of its former size and strength – They had been stripped bare and left with nothing – Families had been ripped apart

'Take wives and become …fathers – The people had intermarried with idolatrous races and had corrupted both blood and belief – Now they had the opportunity to “do it right” according to God’s purpose and design …and take wives for your sons… give your daughters Another “subtle” rebuke to the false prophecies of quick release and return – Also an admonition to raise up a Godly generation – Babylonian captivity provided a stark background against which to teach God’s righteousness and instill His Law into the hearts of the succeeding generations

Not a new “Survivor” Series! 7 '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 have welfare.‘ God does not desire us to live in “Christian ghettos,” isolated from and uninvolved with the society in which we’re sent to live – Seek the welfare… the well-being of any community is directly dependent on the blessings of God! – God will not bless evil, injustice, corruption! Thus we must stand against such Thus we must demonstrate and instill Truth, Justice, and Righteous living at every opportunity

…and pray to the LORD on its behalf… We are to do the same, even when we don’t agree with the views and activities of our society’s leaders! – 1Timothy 2:1; Romans 13:1

1Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Romans 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

…and pray to the LORD on its behalf… We are to do the same, even when we don’t agree with the views and activities of our society’s leaders! – 1Timothy 2:1; Romans 13:1 – To do so is to express our faith in God’s Sovereignty and in His ultimate goodness toward His people – Romans 8:28 – To refuse to do so is to deny His Sovereignty, His Wisdom, and His goodness – To do so is to have a true heart of compassion for “the lost,” among whom we live Their condition - Matt. 9:36 Our responsibility - Mark 6:34

Matthew 9:36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Mark 6:34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.

‘…for in its welfare you will have welfare.’ Remember the responsibilities (under God) of leadership: – Provision – Protection – Direction – Discipline Remember that God chooses to work through authority to shepherd (manage) His people “Make it easy on yourself: submit to authority”!!

Be Careful who you Listen to! 8 "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. 9 'For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,' declares the LORD. Sometimes the most dangerous false prophets are in the congregation! – Jer. 28 – Matthew 24:24 – Romans 16:17-18 – 2 Peter 2:1-3

Matthew 24:23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. 24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. 25 "Behold, I have told you in advance.

Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

“It’s not Over ‘til its Over!” 10 "For thus says the LORD, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.” False prophets prefer to think (and teach) that God doesn’t really mean what He says – He does! – What He says will happen when He declares it so! – completed – He will bring it (whatever it is) to His full intention for it – fulfill My good word – do you believe His Word is good? True prophecies will happen False prophecies won’t – bring you back – Let God bring us home! And trust Him to do so!

God’s Character at Stake 11 'For 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. Do you believe that God is, at His core, good? – Do you believe, in spite of appearances, He has your best in mind? (Romans 8:28) – Is your opinion of God’s plan dependant on your present circumstances & comfort? 1Thes. 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

The Prayer of the Redeemed 12 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Notice He doesn’t say we will pray for anything – When we are completed in the work He is doing in us, we will seek Him alone, not what He can do for us – When you ask…seek…knock (Luke 11:9), what are you looking for? Revelation 3:20

The End is Near (Maybe)! 14 ‘… I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.‘ Are you happy with where you are? – Politically? – Physically? – Spiritually? Are you cooperating fully with God in His process of redemption? Are you rightly related to the society in which you are “planted”? Are you actively seeking God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness in every aspect of life?