Pray for the City

Embracing Exile

This morning the first thing we need to embrace and understand together is that we are a church in exile. In all my scripture reading and study the term exile has always been the equivalent of God sending a group of people their room for misbehaving. Exile, has always been a punishment. Exile, is more than that.

Exile is being barred from ones country, from ones homeland. Scripture reminds us in several places, that as followers of Christ this world is not our home.

Philippians 3:20 NLT

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Hebrews 13:14–16 NLT

14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. 15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

As we eagerly await the second coming of Christ and life in the Kingdom of God, we need to recognize we are a church in exile. We will be until Christ returns. What do we do while we eagerly wait?

Jeremiah 29:7 NLT

7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

Highlight, underline, put a star by verse 7, make it stand out. To get to Jeremiah 29:11 we have to go through verse 7. Take this verse to your prayer closets, and dare to ask God how can we Haverhill Church of the Nazarene seek the welfare of the city of Haverhill ? Pray to LORD for it because its welfare will determine your welfare.

Work and Pray

Jeremiah is writing a letter to those who have been carried off into exile by those same Babylonians.

Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar came and laid seige to Jerusalem completely destroying the temple, the city and carrying off its king and inhabitants into exile in Babylon.

Jeremiah gave this prophecy with a competing prophecy from Jeremiah 28 that stated the Babylonian exile would only last a couple years.

Jeremiah writes to the people of God, the word of God instructing them how they are to live while in exile.

Get comfortable You’re going to be here awhile.

-70 years

-put down roots

2. Work and pray for the peace and prosperity of the city.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 4 Homiletical Perspective

His call to pray is a call to shift from understanding Israel’s God as a localized, territorial deity to understanding YHWH as a universal God who rules over all the earth and all the peoples of the earth

God sent them into exile

It’s welfare will determine your welfare.

Jeremiah’s message was radical. God told his people to work for and pray for the peace of their violent, ruthless captors. People who utterly destroyed their temple, and their homes. God is telling them to seek the peace and welfare of people who starved their family friends to death during the seige. What Babylon did to the exiles would stir up resentment and revolution in most of us but God is calling his people to seek peace and prosperity. This is what Jesus means when he says to love your enemies in Matthew 5:43-44

Matthew 5:43–44 NLT

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

Luke 6:27–28 NLT

27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

How Can we work and pray for the peace and prosperity of Haverhill

Imagine if churches put verse 7 into practice, and actively worked for and prayed for the peace and prosperity of the cities God has sent them. Imagine the change in this church in the city of Haverhill, if we the people of God sought and prayed for the peace and prosperity of Haverhill.

What are active steps we can take? First, take verse 7 to your prayer closets. Pick up the local news paper and bring the issues of the community you read about to the LORD in prayer.

Our prayers must move us to actively seek the peace and prosperity of the city. As we pray be prepared for God to lead, you and us into action that works for the peace and prosperity of the city. What does that look like? It looks a church opening its doors so a local school in need can meet. It’s a church offering space where people can access the internet. It’s helping the local pregnancy center or food pantry. It’s a church telling their community we are here for you, and being ready to do what God enables them to do.

The key to Jeremiah 29:11 is putting verse 7 into action.

Jeremiah 29:11–12 NLT

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen.