God's Got Something to Say

OutKast

In 1995 at the height of the east coast, west coast beef hip hop was hanging in the balance of two coast at odds with each other. Which actually led to the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. At the height of this discontent and beef there was a duo of individuals by the name of Andre 3000 and Big Boi who were in the formidable stages of becoming a legendary figures in music won Best New Rap Group in 1995 and was greeted with boos from the hip hop community. In response to the boos, Andre 3000, states “I’m tired of folks, know what I’m sayin, close minded folks, we got a demo tape and don’t nobody wanna hear it, but the south got something to say”. It was brutal to be in a place filled with people that do not care about what you do.

It is hard to have an identity in the midst of being an outcast. Although many people do not care about popularity, the sense of belonging to someone or something is a basic need for human beings. It is even more difficult to feel like you belong in the midst of oppression, and your identity being robbed of you at the expense of slavery and bondage.

Jeremiah writes a letter from Jerusalem to the elders of the exile, the priest, the prophets that Nebuchadnezzar had taken into Babylonian captivity. A letter of encouragement for the exiles that were away from home and were outcast beyond their own power.

Think of our children, think of our society it is not common to live as a Christian in today’s society. We live in a society in which overdose is common, depression has become a norm, sexuality has become convoluted and widely ambiguous. Muddy waters provide a platform for viewpoints to be skewed but it also allows for people to struggle to find their place in society. The word outcast meaning homeless or not accepted by society.

Looking for Identity in a Place of Oppression

It is difficult to find peace, it is even harder to find peace in a place in which you feel like you do not belong.

Jeremiah in verse 7 states “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you in exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.

Seek peace in place that you are in. Sometimes you cannot control the neighborhood you are in, sometimes you cannot control the school or the job you are in but what you can do is find peace in that place. Remember they can take your body but they cannot take your mind.

Find welfare or shalome, (health, wealth, and prosperity) regardless of your setting.

No matter where you are in life, you can be in control of being as healthy as you possibly can, it begins with your mind!

“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in bhell.

The best way to find peace in the midst of turmoil is to start building for yourself.

The best way to find peace in the midst of turmoil is to start building for yourself.

Verse 5, Jeremiah states build your own houses and live in them, plant your own gardens and eat their produce.

Instead of looking what people can give for you, start building things that can be a blessing to you and your people.

You may not have the best teacher, but you can read books and seek information a part from the classroom.

You may not have the best boss, but find a way to be the best employee you can possibly be.

You may not have the best parents but how can you serve God in the midst of poor parenting.

It begins with your mind! It is quite interesting to note that this level of progression in the midst of oppression begins with good lineage. Be mindful in verse three Gemariah, the son of Hilkiah who helped Josiah reintroduce the true nature of God to His people.

Your teachings to your children can have generational effects. The things you teach today may be the defining help that secures them during the toughest times of their life.

Your teachings to your children can have generational effects. The things you teach today may be the defining help that secures them during the toughest times of their life.

It wasn’t just the poor that were outcast, it wasn’t just the women, it was priest, it was Israel’s dignitaries who had lost identity. In God we are a royal priesthood, but Satan’s plan is to strip us of our heavenly identity and force us to succumb to the citizenship of darkness.

Sometimes you have to hold leaders in check to, just because someone is a leader does not mean they will not become discouraged.

Jeremiah warns them against deceptive priest, but understand regardless of their lack of faith God has a plan. Jeremiah in verse 10 explains that although this may seem like forever, it is nothing compared to the time you will spend in paradise.

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Listen, the lack of faith and temptation to give up on your dreams because times get hard is what Satan wants. Even when folks who are supposed to be an example give up on their dream it is not a license for you to give up on yours. Find welfare wherever you are.

Here is the encouragement: Jeremiah says, for I know the plans, I know the methods of action considering all possibilities if you trust God.

than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Here’s the caveat, Jeremiah says God has declared that these are plans for welfare, not plans of evil.

These plans of welfare are plans to give you a future…I imagine adult or child, you can remember people asking you what you want to be when you grow up. God wants you to have a future of welfare, a peace that is expected regardless of where you are in life.

Jesus was able to endure persecution, beatings, betrayal and murder because of the hope he had been given by God. Regardless of how long you have been in your Babylon, hope is coming.

I would rather be an outcast on earth than an outcast in eternity. People may not accept us, people may talk bad about us and betray us but we do not belong to man anyway we belong to God.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

than dwell in the tents of wickedness.