THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

I. Scripture

Jeremiah 29:4–28 NET

4 “The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says to all those he sent into exile to Babylon from Jerusalem, 5 ‘Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and allow your daughters get married so that they too can have sons and daughters. Grow in number; do not dwindle away. 7 Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.’ 8 “For the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘Do not let the prophets or those among you who claim to be able to predict the future by divination deceive you. And do not pay any attention to the dreams that you are encouraging them to dream. 9 They are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so. But I did not send them. I, the Lord, affirm it!’ 10 “For the Lord says, ‘Only when the seventy years of Babylonian rule are over will I again take up consideration for you. Then I will fulfill my gracious promise to you and restore you to your homeland. 11 For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. 12 When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. 13 When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, 14 I will make myself available to you,’ says the Lord. ‘Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,’ says the Lord. ‘I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’ 15 “You say, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets of good news for us here in Babylon.’ 16 But just listen to what the Lord has to say about the king who occupies David’s throne and all your fellow countrymen who are still living in this city of Jerusalem and were not carried off into exile with you. 17 The Lord who rules over all says, ‘I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them. I will treat them like figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten. 18 I will chase after them with war, starvation, and disease. I will make all the kingdoms of the earth horrified at what happens to them. I will make them examples of those who are cursed, objects of horror, hissing scorn, and ridicule among all the nations where I exile them. 19 For they have not paid attention to what I said to them through my servants the prophets whom I sent to them over and over again,’ says the Lord. ‘And you exiles have not paid any attention to them either,’ says the Lord. 20 ‘So pay attention to what I, the Lord, have said, all you exiles whom I have sent to Babylon from Jerusalem.’ 21 “The Lord God of Israel who rules over all also has something to say about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so. ‘I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and he will execute them before your very eyes. 22 And all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will use them as examples when they put a curse on anyone. They will say, “May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab whom the king of Babylon roasted to death in the fire!” 23 This will happen to them because they have done what is shameful in Israel. They have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have spoken lies while claiming my authority. They have spoken words that I did not command them to speak. I know what they have done. I have been a witness to it,’ says the Lord.” 24 The Lord told Jeremiah, “Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite 25 that the Lord God of Israel who rules over all has a message for him. Tell him, ‘On your own initiative you sent a letter to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah and to all the other priests and to all the people in Jerusalem. In your letter you said to Zephaniah, 26 “The Lord has made you priest in place of Jehoiada. He has put you in charge in the Lord’s temple of controlling any lunatic who pretends to be a prophet. And it is your duty to put any such person in the stocks with an iron collar around his neck. 27 You should have reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth who is pretending to be a prophet among you! 28 For he has even sent a message to us here in Babylon. He wrote and told us, “You will be there a long time. Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce.” ’ ”

II. intro

i like poems .. and there are several poems or statements out there that deal with the measure of a man.... but there is one that DR Martin Luther King is given credit for.. it states..

the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience , but where he stands at the time… in the time of challenge and controversy “

you see its in those times you find out what your really made of… its in those times you find out who really has your back.. .. you see we have become masterful at manipulation.. and creativity .. to the point we can read someones facial expression .. and begin speaking a word to them …

yes … so many ....wanna be wonders have created conflict right in the midst of the church… however i dont place all the blame on them...

someone say “it starts at home”..

as church folk we have been churched … i dont mean church in the aspect of hucking and bucking .. im talking about we have been programed.... to come to fast on Tuesday and friday…not because.. after.. 10, 20 .30 years we still have that burning in our souls for more of God...

we come to church on sunday.. tues.. weds.. fri… .because anything you do for a length of time becomes a habit..

we have been program to believe every word that comes out of the mouth of someone with a title… or position.......is correct..... with out studying and knowing the word for ourselves..

there is a saying that says… stand for something.... or FAll for everything.. … you have to believe in something..

III. Text- letter

in our text we see that Gods beloved… Gods chosen ones have fallen.... in our text we have the the remnant .. we have the exiles ..receiving a letter..… in todays time it would have been an email .. because it has too many characters to be a text....

but it just wasn't any letter .. it was a welcome letter.. .. you know how to sign up for a rewards program and you get a welcome to the club email.... you know how when receive that new credit card in the mail.. it comes with a welcome letter.. that says welcome to the family.. then it says by the way.. these are all the dos and donts…

well the children of islreal received a letter from jeremiah.. and it said lookie here..... before i start Ima go ahead a let you know this aint me talking.. because i was minding my on business doing what God wanted me to do… and obvisouly you were not.. so..

lookie here God said… go ahead kick off your shoes and relax your feet.. you gone be here for a while.. go ahead and build your houses.. plant your gardens.... get married .. have your children.. let your children get married and have some children ..... now in my sanctified imagination by the time they read this part..

they felt confused, mad .. used and abused… kinda like you feel when you go to jail.. and eveyone is telling you… you gone be here for a while so go head over there and put that orange jumpsuit on.. and start doing some push ups...

but that wasnt the hard part.... i dare say the hard part was when the letter stated that they are to ensure that they seek peace for the city...

so lord they can talk to me crazy and im just supposed to take it…

somebody shout … YEP!!!!

and the Lord said.. as a matter of fact i want you to pray for peace…because your peace is contingent on the peace of the city...

… has God .. has any ever told you … that you have to bloom where ever you have been planted… has anyone ever told you that you have to work with the cards that you have been dealt…has anyone ever told you..to just deal with it… thats its just life…

well.. think about it… think about the children and grandchildren that were born into captivity .. born into bondage… not because of what they did…not because of what their parents did… but becasue of what their grandparents did.. becasue of what their ancestors did..

somebody .. say .. generational curse...

the bible says in

Proverbs 13:22 KJV 1900

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

so how many families.. people are born into poverty because their grandparents.. didnt do what the word tells them to do… and then society tells them to just deal with it..

James 1:22 NLT

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

“ tell your neighbor .. get yourself together and do what the word says..”

IV. i know..

right after they received that one two punch .. like Anthony Joshua…they are hit with another.. the Lord said.. lookie here just like my word says .. be not deceived.... God said .. dont get it twisted… dont let all these phophets that Ahab and Zedikiah .. have sent… fool you.. dont you believe what they are saying......they are propheliying to you…

i didnt send them… i havent told them one thing.. ..nothing is going to happen unitl 70 years have been accomplished.. .. i know days we dont like to deal with time… so let me say it like all the other folk do… nothing is going to happen until your season changes..

i know .. we all like to think .. and we quote the scripture.. we the enemy comes in like a Flood the Lord will lift up a standard.....

we think that .. as soon as somehting happens that God is suppose to change it.. quick fast and in a hurry.... ..

but i heard james cleveland.. ask.. where is your faith....

in order to be a flood .. the water has to build up for a while.... every storm doesnt cause a flood… but its when … the rain moves in .. and begins to fall.. hour after hour… and sometimes day after day…

im so sorry to tell you.. but for someone your season is just starting.... you been tiptoeing thru the tulips...

for some you were born into your situation .. .. you were drafted into … and… i came today to tell you to hold just a little while longer … its just about over.. .

and for the others.. not many days hence….. in just a couple of hours… my wife preached a message..... by this time tomorrow.... by the time the sun gets good and hot… and you begin to pray that fall .. comes on in....

VII..

but no matter what part of the season your in right now… the the word of the Lord says.. the Lord said … after .. when 70 years have been accomplished… after my will for this season has been accomplished..... after i perfect those things concerning you...

tell your neighbor.... dont get in a hurry .. tell them .. let God.. complete his work...

God Said......i will restore.... those things .. ill gather all those who have been scattered.. … those things you've lost.. ill perform my good will toward you.....

why.. because .. your situation wasnt meant to destroy you.... just destroy some desires that wasnt pleasing in my sight.. it wasnt meant to get you to turn even farther from me.. it wasnt meant for you to beleive in and seek after unGodly men and unGodly things...

but i was meant for you to turn from your wicked ways… it was meant for you to manage your time and resources better… it was meant for you to seek me.... not because its a national fast day… or national prayer day..

not because it everyone else was doing it.. and you wanted to be part of the inn crowd...

but it was meant to get you a place … that when you seek me… you seek me with your whole heart… a place that you realize nothing… or noone is more important than me… because I am the God of All flesh… and there will be no other God before me...

i am the great I am… i created the heavens and the earth…and by the time my son cracks the sky wide open… i want to be your God… and i want you to be my people...

somebody shout… Relationship..

v. close

as I take my seat

i just came to tell you… the reason for the season...

i came to tell you.. that God knows..

he knows .. about your problems.. your heartaches and pains.. he knows all about your feelings and emotions.... but the lord said.. i aint studden none of that.. get yourself together… make yourself comfortable.. because this time.. when i get through working on you…

you will seek me with your hole heart… this time when you pray and call me… i will hear you… this time when you seek me.. you will find me..

.. tell your neighbor God is transforming me.....transforming you...

....

the bible says be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..

have you ever noticed that probably 1 out of 20 people from the projects or poverty stricken areas .. make it out and become what society says is successful…their minds transform from just wanting better..

to becoming better.. listen we can all want stuff.. but the truth of the matter is God knows all about our desires...

who do you think created us.. and allowed us to have those dreams and desires… and guess what.. as much as we want them.. as much as we want healing.. deliverance.. blessing .. we have to want God even more.. we have more millionares and billionares and people seeking that level of financial independence …than we do people seeking the baptism of the Holy Ghost.. more people than we having seeking a closer relationship with God..

so therefore we have more saints going thru… more people in bondage…

but thanks be unto God… that he has chosen some of us to go thru ...that we will learn how to seek him with everything in us.. and when get to that place.. his word says he is going to restore.. he is going to give us.. all those things that he has planned for us..

VI. prayer

Lord.. do what needs to be done. in us.. brake.. shake… stir… clean… so that we will truly become your people and you our God.. Our Lord..amen..