HOW TO BE A BLESSING
(Bless The City) Jeremiah 29:1-14
Introduction
Video Clip: Apollo 13
In April of 1970 the astronauts of Apollo 13 were headed to land on the moon.
- April 13 "Houston, we have a problem"
- Short circuit on 1 of Command Module’s oxygen tanks caused explosion. All the carefully laid plans were meaningless and the question was "What do we do now? How are we going to get them home?"
* Sometimes - life takes strange twists - "What do we do now?"
** WE ARE WHERE WE ARE – WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
*Wherever You Are and in Whatever Circumstance You Find Yourselves as the People of God, He Wants You to Be a Blessing to Those Around You."
** GO WITH ME TO THE OT BOOK OF JEREMIAH
– Context: Sin of Judah = Exile
- Judah worships idols – Baal - disobey - year of jubilee etc.
- God warned – 586 BC Babylonians came
- 70,000 taken to Babylon - 50 m. south of Baghdad
* God Had Intended for the People of Israel to Be a Blessing to the World
I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Gen. 12:3)
- nation was to be blessing by taking Word of Jehovah to world
* God Intends For His People To Be A Blessing Wherever They Are
If we are going to be a blessing in whatever circumstances we find ourselves and if we are going to be a blessing to our city, there are five things we are going to have to do.
Believers Are Sojourners In This World
"This world is not my home, I’m just a passin' through,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore."
I. Surrender To The Sovereign Hand Of God vs 4
Context: Exile etc. - circumstances/context
* Judah in Bab. To Fulfill The Purposes Of God
- we are where we are to fulfill the purpose of God in our lives
* God Himself Had Put Them There For His Purposes.
1. God Put You Where You Are
Individual circumstance - nothing ever happens to you that is not ordained or allowed by God.
- we live in sinful world - under the curse of sin – Not Heaven
- bad things happen to good people – life is not fair
Sometimes we don’t like what God is up to – Let Him Be God
- Job – some things you’ll never understand
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18)
2. God Has Put Us Where We Are
* BY SOVEREIGN PLAN OF GOD HE HAS PLACED PBC HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSES.
Present and Active -
WE ARE PRESENT BY THE SOVEREIGN HAND OF GOD.
* In the midst of wherever God has put us in life, He wants to bless us and use us to bless those around us, bless future generations and glorify His name.
IN WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCE - ARE YOU RESOLVED THAT THIS IS WHERE GOD HAS PLACED YOU?
* Accept where God has placed you - and live your life to His glory.
II. Live In The Place God Has Put You vs 5-6
* Context: foreign land of hated enemies - deplorable conditions (slaves)
1. Be The People Of God Wherever You Are
– God saying – Don’t kick about what has happened to you
- BE MY PEOPLE AND REFLECT ME IN BABYLON.
* Never Compromise Relationship with Jehovah
not inter-marry - be sustained – remain true to God.
* Don’t be assimilated into extinction
- Maintain your identity – be people of God where you are.
** In Every Circumstance – You Are A Child Of God – ACT LIKE IT.
- many Christians in tough times & act as if there is no God
- or rebel against the sovereign hand of God.
"God, you have no business doing this to me."
2. Be Engaged In The Place God Has Put You
* Don’t get assimilated but be part of the fabric and be in rhythm with where you are.
** Settle Down - you’re here for a while – Honor Me
* Present and Active — in our community. Engage the community be part of it. DON’T SIT AROUND AND WAIT TO GO TO GLORY
– Judah was looking to go home soon – they weren’t
III. Make A Positive Contribution vs 7
Be the people of God and bless your circumstances.
In the midst of wherever God has put us in life, He wants to Bless Us And Us To Bless Those Around Us, Bless Future Generations and Glorify His Name.
1. God Wants You To Be A Blessing
- hard for Jews to understand – loved Jerusalem
- God wanted them to be a blessing in Bab.
** Where you are – God wants you to be a blessing.
2. God Wants You To Be A Reflection Of Him.
** PRAY ETC. – PRAYER WALK
God is the one to bring a blessing
God is the one who can bring change
God is the one who changes hearts
As Long As You Are Where You Are - Do Your Best To Make A Positive Contribution
– Make your mark
* Be the kind of people who influence those around you – don’t just mark time.
* Establish relationships
Peace and Prosperity:
- health - blessing, propsperity, meet needs tetc.
SHALOM = genuine attempt at friendship and affection.
Going to be there a while so get busy loving your enemies.
- GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR SITUATION OR COMMUNITY.
IV. Trust The Word Of God vs 8-9
Don’t listen to lying prophets
When in exile must rely on the truth.
** As we live in the world – Learn to filter out the noise of turmoil and hear the Word of God
** In your circumstances - don’t make sense and wonder why – trust God’s Word.
** People around us need Word.
V. Keep Your Eye On Your Future Hope vs 10-14
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18)
Conclusion
