Jeremiah 29:10, 11
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 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
Reflection: Sermon Notes… Jeremiah’s Prophecy
Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro
I made a sermon point that I thought was really important. I wonder if it struck you the way this truth struck me. I pointed out an obvious dilemma, namely that we may ask “why should we ask God for his promises to be fulfilled while at the same time believing that God’s promises are always fulfilled?” I used to struggle with this circular question. So, Sunday I said, “The promises of God invite you to prayer, they should not keep you from prayer.” I really do believe this… at least, I have seen that this is true in my life. I tend to pray more because I know the promises of God are there.
I hesitate to say things like, “I claim the promises of God.” To me it seems presumptuous to say it like that. But, as I mentioned in the sermon, I do often remind God of His promises (not that he easily forgets them) in my prayers. I have come to pray in this way (let us take a prayer we could make for Pastor Brad as an example): “Lord you have said that we can ask for wisdom, and you will give it liberally. Father in Heaven, I lift up our Pastor Brad and ask that you will give him wisdom from above, knowing that you give it liberally. Lord, I lay hold of this promise by faith.” I have prayed with that kind of verbiage very many times. I lay hold of this by faith is a way, for me, of telling God that I am holding to this promise tightly in expectation that God will answer consistent with his promise. As a practical matter, I leave this to you to consider adding to your prayer toolbox…. For whatever it is worth!
Prayer
Lord, we now ask that you would bless our church. Bless it, as we do our part to expand your kingdom in Lynchburg VA…. And for your glory we do it!
