Plans for a Hopeful Future

Bible Passage: Jeremiah 29:11–14, Psalm 85, James 1:22–27, John 16:23b–30

Summary: These passages collectively speak about God's plans for His people, the importance of faith and action, and the assurance of answers to prayer, encouraging believers to trust in God's promises and live out their faith actively.

Application: In times of uncertainty, Christians can find hope in knowing that God has plans for their future. This message encourages them to seek God's direction while embodying their faith through actions, fostering both personal growth and community impact.

Teaching: The sermon can teach that maintaining an active faith in God leads to receiving His blessings and answers to prayer. It emphasizes the call to not just hear the word of God, but to act upon it and reflect His character in everyday life.

How this passage could point to Christ: This theme reflects Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise and plans for us. In Christ, we find our hope and the assurance that God is listening and ready to move in our lives, just as He did in the past with His people.

Big Idea: God has a hopeful plan for your future, urging you to live authentically and actively in faith, trusting that your prayers are heard and answered.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider diving into the cultural context of Jeremiah 29:11-14 to better illustrate the hope offered amidst exile. Explore the connection between Psalm 85's cries for revival and God's restoration in light of James' teachings on faith and actions. Using Logos, you might examine commentaries that provide insights on the Greek nuances in James 1:22-27, as well as word studies on prayer in John 16, to enrich your understanding and application.

Jeremiah 29:1–32 NASB 2020

Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exile, the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. (This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the high officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalworkers had departed from Jerusalem.) The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying, “This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and father sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may give birth to sons and daughters; and grow in numbers there and do not decrease. Seek the prosperity of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord in its behalf; for in its prosperity will be your prosperity.’ For this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst or your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to their interpretations of your dreams which you dream. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the Lord. “For this is what the Lord says: ‘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. For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will let Myself be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and 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.’ “Because you have said, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon’—for this is what the Lord says concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who live in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile—this is what the Lord of armies says: ‘Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine, and plague; and I will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness. I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with plague; and I will make them an object of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and an object of horror and hissing, and a disgrace among all the nations where I have driven them, because they have not listened to My words,’ declares the Lord, ‘which I sent to them again and again by My servants the prophets; but you did not listen,’ declares the Lord. ‘You, therefore, hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. ‘This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you falsely in My name: “Behold, I am going to hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your eyes. Because of them a curse will be used by all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon, saying, ‘May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,’ because they acted foolishly in Israel, and committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and falsely spoke words in My name which I did not command them. I am He who knows, and a witness,” declares the Lord.’ ” Now you shall speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, “This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to the priest Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests, saying, The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to be the overseer of the house of the Lord for every insane person who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and in the iron collar. So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who prophesies to you, seeing that he has sent word to us in Babylon, saying, ‘The exile will be long; build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce’?” ’ ” Now Zephaniah the priest read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet. Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Send word to all the exiles, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, although I did not send him, and he has made you trust in a lie,” therefore this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am going to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants; he will not have anyone living among this people, and he will not see the good that I am going to do for My people,” declares the Lord, “because he has spoken falsely against the Lord.” ’ ”

1. Promise of a Future

Jeremiah 29:11-12

You could explore how these verses assure us of God's good plans and not to harm us, giving us hope. Encourage believers to trust in these promises amidst life's challenges. Perhaps link this to Christ as the ultimate plan for salvation and hope, urging the congregation to rely on God for a hopeful future.

2. Pursuit of His Presence

Jeremiah 29:13-14

Consider highlighting the importance of seeking God wholeheartedly, which leads to finding Him. Suggest that just as God promised to restore Israel, in Christ, our restoration is complete. Emphasize the call to seek Him in prayer and trust in His presence, ensuring that we live out the hope found in His promises.

3. Prayer for Revival

Psalm 85:1-7

Perhaps focus on the cry for revival and restoration as an expression of faith that God will fulfill His promises. Encourage the congregation to pray for personal and communal revival, trusting that God will restore and bless. Remember that through Christ, God’s graciousness and salvation have been revealed.

4. Peace in Listening

Psalm 85:8-13

Maybe discuss how listening to God leads to peace and righteousness meeting. Encourage living a life that embodies these qualities as a testament to God’s work within us. Reflect on Jesus as our peace and righteousness, fulfilling God's promise and prompting us to be His representatives on earth.

5. Practice the Word

James 1:22-25

You could highlight the importance of doing, not just hearing God’s word, to show faith authenticity. Perhaps emphasize Christ's active ministry as an example, urging believers to act in ways that demonstrate God's love. Challenge them to live a faith that is actively aligned with God's word and plans.

6. Pure Religion Defined

James 1:26-27

Maybe focus on pure religion that cares for others and remains unpolluted by the world. Encourage practical faith expressions like caring for those in need. Link this to Jesus’ ministry that was marked by compassion and holiness, urging the congregation to embrace these characteristics in their daily life.

7. Powerful Prayers Assured

John 16:23b-27

Consider teaching about the assurance of answered prayers when we ask in Jesus' name. This offers reassurance and encouragement to trust in God's responsiveness. Reflect on Christ as the mediator who grants us access to the Father, stressing the power of praying in His name.

8. Promise Fulfilled in Christ

John 16:28-30

Conclude by examining Jesus’ fulfillment of divine promises, confirming His heavenly mission. Encourage trust in Jesus as the core of God’s hope-filled plan, ensuring faith remains strong in His divine identity and mission. Reinforce that like the disciples, our belief stems from Christ's revealed truth.