A Future & A Hope

Jeremiah 29:4-14 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; and plant gardens and eat their produce. 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.

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.' 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. 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.

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. 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. 14'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'

The Context  3,023 Jews who had been carried to Babylon around 598 B.C.  They were told: 1. Live your lives as normally as possible. 2. Wait for God’s deliverance which will come in 70 years. 3. Don’t be deceived by false prophets

It was God who sent them They were under Divine judgment. Sin always has consequences. Divine Judgment: Economic, Environmental, and Political) The only remedy is REPENTANCE.

Build houses…..put down roots “plant gardens and eat the produce” …… prepare for a long stay. Make a life for yourself. (Insight) The situation we find ourselves in is not going to change overnight. God has allowed this…..He’s not surprised and He wants to do something in us --- so embrace it. It is what it is!

Start thinking “multiplication”. Start thinking “multiplication”. (v.6) “Take wives and become the fathers of sons…..” (Principle) God can and will bring His increase in your life…..in spite of your circumstances and Divine judgment. Self-pity will open the door to “decrease” in your life. (Key) When we embrace the discipline of God in our lives it releases His creative power for spiritual growth and increase in our lives.

“For I know the plans I have for you” God knows what He is doing. Isaiah 46: 9-10, "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; “not for calamity….to give you a future and a hope”

Call, Come, Pray, Seek, & Find Call, Come, Pray, Seek, & Find Step One: Call upon Me Our “only hope” is in Him. Step Two: Come and Pray to Me Humble your self….. Get serious about Prayer and spending time with God. Step Three: Seek and Search for Him Seek His face…..more than His hand of Blessing. We have get in the Word and get the Word into us!

His Promise of Restoration G OD 's Decree G OD 's Decree "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." G OD 's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—G OD 's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it. Jeremiah 29:13-13 (The Message)

It’s Time For Us to Act REPENT 1. We need to REPENT or our sins ….and the sins of our nation. Call on God Pray 2. We need to Call on God ….and Pray Seek His Face 3. We need to Seek His Face, more than His hand of blessing.

“I will be found by you.....”