Calling All Kingdom Citizens

Calling All Kingdom Citizens

Jeremiah 29:4-13

 

Illus. Locked in!

 

As we turn to Jeremiah 29, we find God’s people stuck in a city called Babylon and in the midst of a national catastrophe. Jerusalem had been attacked by the Babylonians and many people had been taken as captives, exiles, refugees, to the city of Babylon, which was over 500 miles away from Jerusalem. There were ultimately three rounds of Israelites taken into captivity…

Three times Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, would come and cart off thousands of people.  The first deportation was in 605 B.C., at that time, Nebuchadnezzar’s men took the young men, those of royal nobility, the best of the best from Judah and began training them to be leaders in the Babylonian empire. Among that group was a young man named Daniel, as well has his friends who were renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 1). The second deportation was in 597 B.C., they took the Israelite king as prisoner, treasures from his house, took and cut into pieces vessels from the temple, carried away officials, mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, craftsmen, and smiths; among them, a prophet and priest named Ezekiel who would write a book of the Bible while there. None remained except the poorest people 2 Kings 24 and they would be taken in time as well. The last deportation was in 586 B.C., which was when the city of Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple was burned.

As we turn to Jeremiah 29, we find ourselves reading a letter from Jeremiah to the Israelites after the second deportation. It is a letter to those who were stuck in captivity in Babylon. They had been carted off into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar and taken into exile. Regarding it all, there was much that many had to say. There were false prophets telling the people that they were stuck, but they would be out of there shortly, they told the people that Babylon was going to get wiped out soon…But the false prophets were false (Jeremiah 28).

What Jeremiah does, is he writes a letter to those living in a land as foreigners, longing for a way out, but stuck there and in the middle of a bad chapter nationally. It is in that bad chapter, that God will give instruction to them, but also remind them that there is hope and future for them!

 

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

 

Perhaps you have heard this verse, memorized this verse, or have it framed on your wall. No doubt, it is a powerful verse, a powerful reminder that God knows the plans He has and those plans are for a hope, and a future. God says, “I know the plans I have for you…”

While it is a powerful verse it is also a practical verse because the context of the text reveals that it was given in a time of great turmoil for those in Jerusalem. So, it is a great verse, in the midst of a bad chapter. So the verse is powerful and practical but it is also an important verse for us because it speaks to God’s people about how to live in a world and society that is often contentious toward and contrary to our values and beliefs.

 

Read: Jeremiah 29:4-13

 

            The people wanted out, but they would be there for a lifetime. With that in mind, the Lord laid out how they were to live while in that land and the instruction given is what we will center our study on this morning. We today, have some important similarities to the Israelites in that day…

From 1 Peter 2:11, we understand that those who belong to Christ are called pilgrims, foreigners, strangers here on earth…The word used for pilgrim or stranger means “one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives.” That said, we have a great deal in common with the Israelites who were trying to figure out how to live in a foreign land.

 

Philippians 3:20, Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

 

            When Paul wrote “our citizenship,” he used the word politeuma, which is where we get our word “politics.” The biblical word translated “citizens” is defined as the administration of civil affairs, form of government and laws. A citizen is person who owes allegiance and receives protection from that government and those laws. Paul said, we are citizens of heaven!

 

1. Be Mixed in Not Mixed Up

 

Jeremiah 29:4, “This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and father sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may give birth to sons and daughters; and grow in numbers there and do not decrease.

 

• The Israelites were in a bad chapter. The king was wicked, the place was not home, and they were looking for the quickest way out.

 

• They were being told that they would be out soon by false prophets, and here, a prophet of the gives a letter to them… “This is what the Lord says…”

 

• They likely did not like the words, but they would need to live the words. 

 

• They will be told in verse 10 that they will be there for 70 years.

 

• The application for us this morning is an important one. As they are told they are going to be there 70 years, we recognize the words of Moses in Psalm 90.

 

Psalm 90:10, As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy; for it quickly passes, and we disappear.

 

• God said to the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:5, you are exiles in Babylon, but they were still His people…They were to stay there, settle down, plant gardens, marry and have sons and daughters, increase in the number, do not decrease!

 

• They should increase in their land, not decrease, and so should we. This is a good word for us today!

 

• The words God gives the people were powerful and important for them but also for you and me.

 

• We know that this world is not where it’s at, we recognize that this world is not our home, that we are pilgrims, just passing through; we are citizens of heaven.

 

• We also must remember that Jesus tells us to “occupy until He comes” (Luke 19:13)

 

Psalm 37:1-3, Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

 

• Jesus told His disciples, “you are the salt of the earth, the light of the world” (Mt. 5:14-16).

 

• Salt is valuable and essential, but it has its necessary effect only if it is distinct, yet fully involved.

 

• Jesus calls His disciples “the salt of the earth.” There are specific ways in which salt is used that correlate with our opportunity as Christians in this world.

 

Illus. Essential salts.

 

Matthew 5:14-15, A city on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

• As light is distinct from darkness, so are we to be distinct!

 

 

 

• Salt and light are essential, yet distinct. That is what we are called, salt and light. Both are necessary, both are distinct.

Illus. Let it shine.

Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 17:15-18, I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. 

 

• Jesus didn’t pray that His disciples would find great caves so that they could get away, rather, His desire was that His disciples would live out their faith in the world!

 

1. Be Prayerful

 

Jeremiah 29:7, Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.

 

• In addition to settling down and settling in, the Lord tells the Israelites that not only are they to stay, but they are to pray.

 

• They are to pray for the city, the evil city of Babylon, enemies of God. The king in the land took valuables from the temple, took many people captive including queens, kings, princes, priests, elders, prophets, and high officials.

 

• What does the Lord say? Pray!

 

• Babylon had a wicked king; in Scripture we can see some of what Nebuchadnezzar had done. From Daniel chapter 3 that he is the king who told all in the land to worship a 90ft. golden statue he created. If they would not, they would be put to death in a fiery furnace. You might remember some young men who were thrown into that fiery furnace for their unwillingness to worship the golden statue…Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. They trusted the Lord and were spared.
• This is the king of the city the Lord is telling them to pray for.

 

• Prayer for people in power is found in and throughout Scripture, we are to be salt and light, and specifically we are told to pray.

 

1 Timothy 2:1-4, I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

 

• Paul said to pray for them. Notice Paul says pray “for” them. The Greek word there is hu-pe’r, it means on one’s behalf, in the interest and aid of that person. The opposite of this would be to pray against that person.

 

• In Timothy’s day, the ruler was Caesar Nero. If you know about him, the people would likely have had a hard time with this instruction.

 

Illus. Pray for him?

 

• Paul says pray for the kings in authority, yes that person, whoever “that person” may be. Why? So that you can live peaceful and quiet lives. It is good and pleases God.

 

2 Chronicles 7:14, If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

 

• Many realize that our country is in the midst of great difficulty. There are many reasons and many things that we could look to as the reason, places to point fingers, but the Lord calls us to be purposed in Him and purposeful in prayer.

 

III.   Be Centered on What the Lord Says

 

Jeremiah 29:8-10, Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.  They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord. 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.

 

• There was much that many had to say to the Israelites. There were false prophets bringing false hope, telling them their exit from Babylon was right around the corner.

 

• But God tells Jeremiah that they weren’t going to soon be out of there. It had already been spoken by the Lord through Jeremiah in chapter 25:11 that they would serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

 

• Jeremiah repeats those words in chapter 29 verse 10.

 

• What was happening in Babylon was that there were false prophets telling lies and they were doing so in the name of the Lord.

 

• Specifically, they were saying that things were going to end soon. In Jeremiah 28 we see a false prophet named Hananiah who said all the vessels of the temple, the king’s son, and all who had been taken to Babylon would be back home. There were others saying similarly, but what God makes clear that they were prophesying lies.

 

• Jeremiah wrote, you’re going to be there a long time. A lifetime, 70 years! After 70 years the Lord would bring them back, any other false promise would surely lead them off track.

 

• The false prophets were saying things people liked to hear, but they weren’t true, they needed to be informed, specifically they needed to be informed by God.

 

• Surely there is a great deal of information flying around.

 

• Many people are saying many things, some say things you like to hear, and when they do, they tend to be the person, or the voice you hold onto.

 

• But let me just remind you that God is the one we are to hold onto.

 

• In this this chapter alone we see the phrase “the Lord says” 9 times, and the phrase “declares the Lord” 7 times.

 

• So, while they are in societal and likely personal turmoil, the Lord was speaking. He was saying and declaring things.

 

• And the reality is that what he was saying is quite different than what they were hearing from others.

 

 

Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

 

Illus. Voice recognition.

 

• Jeremiah points the people to what the Lord has to say. There were many others saying many different things, but those things weren’t true.

 

• Jeremiah wrote to them “thus says the Lord…” It wasn’t what they would have wanted to hear. It wasn’t the good news that they were hoping to hear. But it allowed them to understand then center their lives on what the Lord desired to do.

 

 

• As I mentioned earlier, we are citizens of heaven, and citizens of this earth. We have dual citizenship. That is a reality we live within, however, our citizenship in heaven is what should inform our citizenship on earth.  

 

• In other words, get involved, settle down, pray for the land, but leave it all in God’s hands…Don’t forget what He has said and seek to understand what He is saying.

 

John 16:33, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

 

 

1. Be Reminded That We Win in the End

 

Jeremiah 29:11-13, 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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 

• The Lord says He know the plans He has! They are plans for a future and a hope. So too for me and for you, our future and our hope are in His hands.

 

• Yes, they would go through 70 years of captivity, but they needed to trust the Lord. He was going to bring them back.

 

• The Lord has a plan, and His plan is accomplished in light of the future and hope He has in store.

 

• So often we get caught up in what we need right now, what we are going through right now, what things look like right now, what we think we need right now.

 

• But the Lord says He knows the plans He has. Those plans are to prosper, not to harm, to give a hope and a future.

 

• We look forward to the future in Him and the hope of heaven. The lives we live are temporary, keep your eyes on God, on the permanent.

 

• We are here for a lifetime, but we are not here for all time.

 

• While we are here we look to Him alone for our future and our hope…We win in the end!

 

Jeremiah 29:13, And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

 

• God says you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

 

• Knowing that our future and our hope are both in His hands, it can be so easy in this life to seek the plans, not the planner. To be focused on the future He has, not Father Himself.

 

Illus. Wait for it!

 

Jeremiah 29:4-13