Plans for the New Year

PLANS FOR THE NEW YEAR     (  Jeremiah 29:1-13) CMBC    12/27/20 Jeremiah 29:11-12 (KJV) 11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. In just 4 days we will enter into a new year. It hardly seemed like a year ago that we came together on our knees to bring in the New year. So much has happened since then, so much have changed. For many of us our lives are changed forever because many who started with us this year have been promoted to glory. There are many who began this year with good jobs, businesses, saving accounts and the security of a home, but now they are wondering how could this happen? I never thought I would find myself in this perdicament. I never thought I would look up and say " Why God"  "Why is this happening and when will this pandemic end?" There has been so much pain, so many deaths and destruction. These must have been the questions that the children of Israel asked when they were carried away captives into Babylon. But I want you to know that no matter what state you are in, GOD HAS GREAT PLANS FOR YOU

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE IN A CRISIS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH GOD HAS FORGOTTEN YOU

IT SEEM AS THOUGH YOU ARE ALONE AND NO ONE SEEM TO CARE OR UNDERSTAND YOUR PROBLEM

 IT SEEM LIKE YOU ARE DROWNING AND THERE IS NO ONE TO THROW YOU A ROPE

AS THOUGH THE LIGHT IN THE LIGHTHOUSE HAS GONE OUT AND YOU CANT FIND YOUR WAY HOME

THOUGH NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN, YOU ARE IN A CRISIS

COVID 19 IS EVERYWHERE AND POLITICAL LEADERS ARE PLAYING GAMES WITH THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE

I WANT YOU KNOW THAT GOD HAS GREAT PLANS FOR YOU AND THEY ARE PLANS FOR GOOD AND NOT FOR EVIL

IT MAY NOT SEEM SO NOW BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT  HURTING AND BEING TORMENTED THAT MAKE YOU VULNERABLE AND Susceptible to the wiles Of the devil

But I come to remind you this morning that God is no respect of person and He know the plans He have for you

He knows how to handle crisis

When the woman with the issue of blood came to Him in crisis She just had to reach out and touch the hem of His garment and she was made whole When the woman was caught in adultery was brought before Him He told her accusers to let the one without sin cast the first stone, and He told the woman to go and sin no more

He had plans for Zaccheaus the tax collector who was too short to see Jesus over the crowd so he climbed up a sycamore tree just to get a glimpse, but when He was able to see Jesus Jesus said come down for I am going to your house today

When the widow Nam was on her way to bury her only son Jesus stopped the funeral possession and woke up the boy  and gave him back to his mother

He had plans for Mary and Martha when their brother Lazarus died and was in the grave four days before Jesus got there  He went to the grave and told Lazarus to come forth and Lazarus left the grave wearing his grave clothes but Jesus told the crowd to loose him and let him go

Jesus has plans for yo and He is telling you today to come forth from your crisis for salvation has come to your house. Go and sin no more

When you are in crisis this is the time to set your mind on things above and not things below because the things below are temporary but the things above are eternal

CONSIDER WITH ME THE CRISIS  OF OUR TEXT

After the death of King Solomon the nation of Israel  made up of the twelve tribes of Jacob. was divided into two parts

Ten tribes to the north and two tribes to the south

About 100 years the nation had strayed away from God and fell into idolatry.  the Assaryan had invaded Israel and carried them off to captivity.

Judah not aware of the significant of their destruction not only did not repent but grew worse under the leadership of Manassah.

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet at an early age and God used him mightily to speak to his people of impending dangers if the did not repent of their sin

In order to demonstrate his messages Jeremiah would use symbols

He put on a bright elegant girdle and wore it until it was dirty and torn  This he said would happen to Judah

He would not marry because he did not want to have a family during the destruction

He took a fancy bottle and broke it in the present of the leaders to show how Judah would be destroyed

But the people had the idea that because Solomon’s Temple was the God would never allow Jerusalem to be destroyed

Much like so many today who believe because I have a good job and don't live in that part of town I am safe

Or those who believe that I am a billionaire and have secret service security of guards and political power . I am safe

The people would not repent and  because Jeremiah could see the impending danger, he became known as the weeping prophet

The place that Jeremiah would go to weep was known as Jeremiah,s Grotto.  Ironically this place was located at the foot of the hill on which 600 years later the cross of Jesus stood. 

In spite of Jeremiah cried, pleaded, interceded ,begged and threatening the people they would not repent.

Instead Jeremiah was put in prison in a stockade in the middle of the city.

The pain of his punishment brought him to the point of delusion. In  20:9. He said that he would not make mention of Him nor speak His name.

But His word was in mine heart like fire shut up in my bones and I was weary and could not help but  speak!

The siege began and the nation was carried away. 

Jeremiah 29:4-11 (GW) 4  This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all those who were taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5  Build houses, and live in them. Plant gardens, and eat what they produce. 6  Get married, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons, and let your daughters get married so that they can have sons and daughters. Grow in number there; don't decrease. 7  Work for the good of the city where I've taken you as captives, and pray to the LORD for that city. When it prospers, you will also prosper. 8  This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Don't let the prophets or the mediums who are among you trick you. Don't even listen to your own dreams. 9  These people are prophesying lies to you in my name. I didn't send them, declares the LORD. 10  This is what the LORD says: When Babylon's 70 years are over, I will come to you. I will keep my promise to you and bring you back to this place. 11  I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

The false prophets were the greatest hinderance  to the people accepting Jeremiah preaching in God's Name.

They had no problem branding him "lying Jeremiah". 

Or getting the people to believe alternative facts, after all They were the ones who would make Jerusalem great again. 

They were the ones with the true message that the siege would not be long and in a few years they would be home again

They were the one who told the people what they wanted to hear.

One thing to note is that in V8  it was the people who wanted to be deceived. 

they believed the false prophets and dreamed things they wanted to be true and ignored the words of Jeremiah  

The people cried out for blessings without repentance

It wasn't the priest who initiated God's  wrath in Exodus

It was the people who cried out. Make us a god

300K people are dead because the people refused to wear masks

Millions have suffered this virus because they listened to the false prophet who said ' We are rounding the curve"

False prophets  are able to survive today because people are crying out for quick fixes , prosperity without works and elections without votes.

The true prophet of God will tell you the truth even if it hurts

Even if it is not what you want to hear.

So the false prophets tickled their ears with promises to be back home soon

But Jeremiah tod them Thus said the Lord.

You will be here 70 years  Get used to it

Build houses, marry and be given to marriage Occupy the land  

Pray for the peace of the land,  and seek peace in the city for in the peace thereof you shall have peace. 

When you are in crisis you can overtake the crisis or let the crisis  overtake you

You can listen to the doctors and the scientists and be as careful as possible or you can listen to the politicians and become a super spreader

You can choose to believe God or you can believe your own dreams and aspirations.

God has great plans for you. They are plans for good and not for evil to bring about His desired end

Stop fighting

Stop resisting God

Stop trying to manipulate God

Stop tempting God

He knows the thoughts that He has for you and they are thoughts for good and not for evil.

This pandemic is going to end.  I cannot tell you when but I can tell you that when God says enough is enough it will end.

There is somewhere God is taking you. Don't let your fears keep you in bondage

Turn not only away from sin but turn to God and walk in His way The ways of the Lord are not grievous when you love Him When you consider the fact that for your sin They nailed Him to the cross For your sin they mocked Him all night long For your sin they put a crown of thorns on His head and pierced Him in the side For your sin they laid Him in a tomb and set a watch to guard it For your sin He stayed there all night Friday, all night Saturday, but EARLY SUNDAY MORNING HE ROSE, ROSE WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HAND

AND HE DID IT ALL FOR YOU AND I

He has promised

Isaiah 43:2-3 (KJV) 2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:

So this morning church before we enter into the new year,  I am calling you to BELIEVE AND REPENT

BELIEVE NOT THE FALSE PROPHETS BUT BELIEVE EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD

BELIEVE THAT GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVE ON HIM SHALL NOT DIE BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS AND ROSE AGAIN THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE

BELIEVE THAT HE IS COMING ON A CLOUD AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM.

BELIEVE THAT THOSE WHO DIED IN THE LORD SHALL RISE FIRST AND THOSE WHO REMAIN WILL BE CAUGHT UP TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR.

BELIEVE AND REPENT 

REPENT for all have sinned and come short of His glory

Repent for the times of refreshing is at hand

Repent God is nigh

Repent of our hostile tongue

Repent Of our unkind words

Repent of our  Boldness to sin

Repent of our negligence in study 

Repent and believe the Word of God

God is the only answer and the only way to God is through the blood of Jesus Christ.

As the new year approaches

BE PREPARED,   PRAYED UP.  SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME WITH THE LORD

BE AWARE   NO ONE IS EXEMPT.  SATAN IS STILL ROAMING AS A ROARING LION SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR

BE ALERT    SEASON YOUR WORDS WITH HONEY, YOU MAY HAVE TO EAT THEM AGAIN.

King James Version Chapter 30

And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus saith the LORD;

We have heard a voice of trembling,

Of fear, and not of peace.

THIS PANDEMIC IS GOING TO END.  HE WILL END IT.

Jeremiah 30:4-22 (NLT2) 4  This is the message the LORD gave concerning Israel and Judah. 5  This is what the LORD says: “I hear cries of fear; there is terror and no peace. 6  Now let me ask you a question: Do men give birth to babies? Then why do they stand there, ashen-faced, hands pressed against their sides like a woman in labor? 7  In all history there has never been such a time of terror. It will be a time of trouble for my people Israel. Yet in the end they will be saved! 8  For in that day,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will break the yoke from their necks and snap their chains. Foreigners will no longer be their masters. 9  For my people will serve the LORD their God and their king descended from David— the king I will raise up for them. 10  “So do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel,” says the LORD. “For I will bring you home again from distant lands, and your children will return from their exile. Israel will return to a life of peace and quiet, and no one will terrorize them. 11  For I am with you and will save you,” says the LORD. “I will completely destroy the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.” 12  This is what the LORD says: “Your injury is incurable— a terrible wound. 13  There is no one to help you or to bind up your injury. No medicine can heal you. 14  All your lovers—your allies—have left you and do not care about you anymore. I have wounded you cruelly, as though I were your enemy. For your sins are many, and your guilt is great. 15  Why do you protest your punishment— this wound that has no cure? I have had to punish you because your sins are many and your guilt is great. 16  “But all who devour you will be devoured, and all your enemies will be sent into exile. All who plunder you will be plundered, and all who attack you will be attacked. 17  I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the LORD. “For you are called an outcast— ‘Jerusalem for whom no one cares.’” 18  This is what the LORD says: “When I bring Israel home again from captivity and restore their fortunes, Jerusalem will be rebuilt on its ruins, and the palace reconstructed as before. 19  There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply my people, not diminish them; I will honor them, not despise them. 20  Their children will prosper as they did long ago. I will establish them as a nation before me, and I will punish anyone who hurts them. 21  They will have their own ruler again, and he will come from their own people. I will invite him to approach me,” says the LORD, “for who would dare to come unless invited? 22  You will be my people, and I will be your God.”