Sunday’s Sermon Notes

On Sunday, I continued my current sermon series – “It’s Not In There” – by looking at the phrase, “God has a plan for your life.”  The reason I included this phrase in the series is because it’s not in the Bible the way many have interpreted it.

The phrase comes from Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “‘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.'”  But to properly understand that verse, we have to keep it in its context; and when we look at its context we make two important observations: (1) the captivity and exile of the Israelites in Judah is the result of their rebellion against God; and (2) captivity and exile were never what God wanted for his people.  So the question is, “How is God going to fulfill his plan for his people now that his people have been removed from the land of promise?”

The answer is found in Jeremiah 29:4-14.

That passage, which includes God’s instructions to his exiled people, teaches us three very important lessons about God’s plan.

1. God’s plan for my life rarely involves my circumstances, location, possessions, or money.
2. God’s plan for my life revolves around my character, not my clout.
3. God’s plan for my life does not make me the star of the show.

This is “good news” because, according to the Bible…

• God’s plan for my life can be fulfilled no matter where I live because God’s plan is not tied to a location.
• God’s plan for my life can be fulfilled no matter what I’m going through because God’s plan is not controlled by circumstances.
• God’s plan for my life can be fulfilled no matter how much or how little money I have because God’s plan does not come with a dollar amount.
• God’s plan for my life can be fulfilled no matter if I have clout or not because God’s plan is not dependent on earthly forms or positions of power.
• God’s plan for my life can be fulfilled with or without a spotlight because I’m not the star of the show anyway.
• God’s plan for my life can be fulfilled no matter how I feel at the moment because God’s plan is about shaping my character and redeeming me from sin.
• God’s plan for my life will be fulfilled no matter what because God’s plan is being moved forward solely by His faithfulness and grace.

And the church said…”Amen!”

To view or listen to this sermon, click here.