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Theme:

"Kingdom Power"

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Sermon Outline  

HOPE AND A FUTURE

Jeremiah 29:11-14

In times of trial and testing, the Word of God gives strong assurance: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

On September 11, 2001 more than 3,000 persons began their day not realizing that their time on earth was about to run out.  We all have been affected by the tragic events of that day.  Perhaps as never before the assurance of trust in God as expressed in the 23rd Psalm has resonated more profoundly in the hearts of people everywhere.  Although the terrorist attacks wreaked havoc in New York City, Washington DC and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the children of God in all parts of the world felt the impact.

The American Bible Society offered children an opportunity to express the hope and comfort they found in Psalm 23.  Six-year-old Caitlyn said, “Jesus makes me feel safe.” Jessica, also six, said, “Even when I am afraid and mean people do bad things, Jesus still takes care of me.”  Five-year-old Cody said, “God loves us. We don’t need to be scared of bad things.”  Jessica, age five, said, “God loves us so much that He guides and protects us wherever we go.”  Six-year-old Christopher, who lives in New York City, said, “God protected me when the twin towers fell down and I was watching them.  I was scared, so I prayed to God.”

Our days are numbered; but we need not be overly concerned because our trust is in the One who is keeping count.  Surely we all would agree that it isn’t how long you live, but how you live that counts.  And we have the blessed assurance of our Savior and Lord, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Wrote Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “What is time?  The shadow on the dial, the striking of the clock, the running of the sand, day and night, summer and winter, months, years, centuries - these are but arbitrary and outward signs, the measure of time, not time itself.”

As the old year expires, giving way to the new year, we think of Father Time, an aging man with flowing white hair, shouldering a scythe and carrying an hour glass.  In time, our bodies lose their strength and youthful appearance.  Each periodic medical exam seems to result in another prescription of medicine.  

1.  A NEW PERSON

By the grace of God we can become a new person.  God begins the new work of salvation in us when we trust in His Son.  In Philippians 1:6 Paul says, “that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  As a new person, God works for us in our salvation.  Then, God works in us in our sanctification.  And, He works through us in our service. 

The good news is that God didn’t give up on us even though He had every right to, because that is what we deserved.  But God does what He does best when He takes the muddle we have made of our lives and changes it into abundant life.

For the Christ-follower time is a precious commodity, spent in seeking God’s favor and in sharing the good news of His plan of salvation.  Paul advises us to “redeem the time.”  Time well-spent is time invested in meditating on God’s word and in witnessing to others.

Our time is best used in living to glorify God.  Time and life, according to the word of God, are bound together.  “For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

There is strength in the kingdom.  We sing, “Let the weak say, I am strong!”  With Christ, we are stronger than ourselves.  “I can do everything through him who gives me strength,” testified Paul.  God doesn’t make us stronger than everyone else.  He doesn’t make us stronger than anyone else.  God makes us strong enough!  Strong enough to live for Him and to accomplish His plan and purpose for our lives.

With Christ, we are more than we ever thought we could be.  Lamented Lily Tomlin, “All my life, I always wanted to be somebody.  Now I see that I should have been more specific.”

God gives us a moment in which we can begin to become more than we thought we could become, and that is the moment in time when we come to faith in our Lord Christ.  He gives us “strength for today and bright hope for

tomorrow” (SASB 983).

2.  A NEW POWER 

God empowers us so that we can say with Paul, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength”  (Philippians 4:13).  The Living Bible puts it this way: “I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.” 

A crew of seamen was adrift in a disabled ship one stormy night in the Atlantic ocean.  After several anxious days the men spotted the light of a passing ship, and they discussed how they might give a signal.  Although they had a lantern, they were down to their last match.  Desperate to attract the other ship, they drew lots.  It fell to the youngest crewman to light the lantern.

His hands shook as he struck the match.  The flame flickered as though it would go out.  With great care the young sailor held the match in cupped hands and touched it to the candle stub in the lantern.  An alert seaman on the other ship saw the feeble light and notified the captain.  Thus were the men saved.

We may find ourselves adrift on the sea of life, desperately in need of rescue.  That’s the time allotted to us to seize the moment and prove the power of God in our lives.  No one is beyond the reach of God in this lifetime.  The old hymn reminds us that “When the roll is called up yonder . . . time will be no more.”  When that moment arrives, and it surely will, it will be the end of this world as we know it.  But the Kingdom of God shall be triumphant, and an unending era of unbroken fellowship with our Lord will begin. 

3.  A NEW PURPOSE

As we work and await “the day of Christ Jesus,” we have the assurance that “. . .it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).  Here we see that God must work in us before He can work through us.  It took God 40 years of working in Moses to prepare him to lead the Israelites.  God was working in him so that one day He might work through him.

God has a unique purpose for each of us.  Although He has made us in His image, we are not clones.  His plan for each one is special and specific.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

He provides us with “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” (Thomas O. Chisholm, SASB 983).