| Tragic disaapointments and Godly hope |
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| Written by David Charlton |
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Scripture Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Summary and Function Summary: We’ve all been through major disappointments. We’ve all experienced failure. We’ve all been to the point where it seems our life is totally ruined beyond all recognition. This perception of total life destruction, however, is wrong if you are a follower of Christ. When our life is in the pits, we can remember Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God has great plans for every one of us. God will use us to spread his kingdom. Therefore, our dreams should be God’s dreams for us. In this way, we’ll fulfill our purpose and live life to the fullest. Repent of your sins and follow Jesus as your Savior, Lord and friend so you too can experience the plans God has for you. Purpose: To encourage the congregation to look boldly into the future with the confidence that God will use them in powerful ways. The Sermon
I. Introduction: We’ve all experienced major disappointments in life. 1. How many of you ever experienced a major disappointment? How many thought
your life was totally ruined? This disappointment may have been caused by
circumstance, your sinful behavior or your incompetence.
2. My major disappointment: Failing Marine Officer Candidate School (OCS)
3. We all have moments of extreme failures where we think our lives are over. The
ancient Israelites had their moment of failure.
II. The ancient Israelites’ moment of failure 1. The ancient Israelites continued to commit idolatry and oppress the poor, widows
and orphans. They didn’t follow God’s law by loving God and neighbor. They failed
to live as God’s people.
2. So, in 586 BC, God allowed the Babylonians to conquer Judah. Jerusalem and the
temple was destroyed. The ancient Israelites were exiled to various Babylonian
cities to be slaves for the Babylonian empire.
IV. God, however, sent a word of Hope to the exiled Israelites. 1. Jeremiah 29-32 is a letter to the exiles, encouraging them to make themselves at
home in their foreign cities and wait upon the Lord to deliver them.
2. In this letter, Jeremiah reminds the exiled Israelites that God still has great plans
for them
V. When I failed out of Marine OCS, God gave a word of hope to me. 1. I was able to transfer to Army ROTC and become an Army Officer 2. After the Officer Basic Course, I attended Army Ranger School, the toughest leadership
school the Army has to offer
3. I had no business passing Ranger school but God was getting me through it. God would
put the right person in the right place at the right time to ensure I would pass my leadership
evaluations.
4. During one of the patrols, I contemplated how God was getting me through Ranger School.
That’s when I first received the call to ministry. The idea of becoming a minister just
popped into my head and it never went away.
5. You see, at Ranger school, God told me, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the
LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” Now I’m fulfilling
those plans as a pastor.
VI. God can do the same for each one of you. 1. If you want the assurance that God has a plan for you, even in the midst of major
disappointments and tragedies, then submit to Jesus. Repent of your sins and
acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord.
2. If you’re experiencing a major disappointment or tragedy, spend time with God.
Talk to him about it, and let him know how you feel.
3. Be aware, however, that in order to experience the plans God has for you,
repentance is necessary.
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