Temporary

Right Now…

She's hurting…bad

What do you doWhen you're waiting

For life to change back?Or finally become?

You're on the next marriageIt's not looking so good either

You can't wait to get the kidsGrown and out of the house

Or back out of the house

You can't find a jobSo you can get out on your own

You planned to Pwn the world by now

You can't even pay yourCredit Card each month

The Disease is progressing…

You always pictured walkingOn the beach with your love

You live in the mountainsAnd she doesn't want to move

Single and waitingFor the life you want

To begin

Stuck…Waiting for life to start

Or to continue

What do you doWhen life hasn't turned out

Like you planned?

Making decisions based onCircumstances is slavery

Making decisions based on Who your God is

Is Faith that leads to Freedom

American Christianity

- God is a means to an end- God is the end

…my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus…- Philippians 4

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all

that we ask or think, according to the power at work within

us, to him be glory…- Eph. 3

I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth- 3 John 1

Every single verse…Out of context

My God shall supply- Giving

Him who is able to do far more abundantly

- Paul is in jail! God works to his glory and our ultimate benefit

I wish above all things…you may prosper and be in health

- A prayerful greeting, not a guarantee from God

American Christianity

- God is a means to an end- God is the end

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and

take up his cross daily and follow me"

- Jesus, Luke 9

Going to build a tower?Count the cost first

King going to war?Do you have what it takes?- Luke 14

Jesus doesn't promiseYou'll get what you want

But that you'll look backAnd be glad you followed

Esp. when it had a cost

The Faith we followIs not a means to an end

You get Jesus.(He's more than enough)

Life hasn't turned out wellAnd you're waiting for it

To change

I got a word for you…

These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles…

…and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people,

whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from

Jerusalem to Babylon

"Give us a King"

Divided Kingdom

"Give us a King" If you argue for your limitations

Long enough, they'll be yours

Divided Kingdom

God + false gods= backup plan

God + false gods= backup plan

God removes his handOf protection

Israel in North, Samaria- 722 BC

Judah in South, Jerusalem- 586 BC- 597 BC

Lost it all

- Promised Land- Throne and Temple- Homes and Jobs- Culture and Language

Besieged, starved Forced into Cannabalism

Marched 800 milesParaded through city

Now living in foreign land

…it said: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all

the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem

to Babylon:

God is Sovereign

God is Sovereign

Nebuchadnezzar doesn't winUnless God allows it

Where you are, God has allowed

- Your free will- Other's free will- Fallen world- God caused (in response)

They've lost it allAnd they're waiting

For God to restoreFor a change

For things to work out right

They've heard it may happenWithin 2 years!

They've heard it may happenWithin 2 years!

(It's dangerous to listenTo people who only tell you

What you want to hear)

So they've done what You're doing

Putting off living until…

And God has a message…

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles…

Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce

But…just around the bend

Very soon we'll…

But…just around the bend

Very soon we'll…"Build houses"

Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage…

…that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease

Sign of blessing

But it's not the right placeThe right time

The right circumstances

To have children

Continue on as God's peopleWhere you areWith what you have

Your circumstances changedYour God hasn't

Making decisions based onCircumstances is slavery

Making decisions based onCircumstances is slavery

Making decisions based on Who your God is

Is Faith that leads to Freedom

I can hold on toHow it's supposed to be

And get stuck waiting

Or trust God, move forwardAnd start living now

Get busy living or…?

Divorce imminent= PraySeek help if they are willingBut don't stop living, seekingWalking with Jesus

Credit CardsSit at home, wring your hands

Make a plan, pray, trust GodDo the free stuff that you can

Waiting on a partner

Live now. And decide nowWhat your minimums are…

Live nowBecause of who your God is

Rather than waiting forLife to change the way you want

(it may not…ever)

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile,

and pray to the Lord on its behalf…

…for in its welfare you will find your welfare

Jesus died for the worldHe loves the world

Let's stop praying forFiery judgment

Live now…stop waitingDo it based on who I am

Pray for the people who Hurt youBecause it affects you

Making decisions based onCircumstances is slavery

Making decisions based on Who your God is

Is Faith that leads to Freedom

When things turn out wrong…There's no shortage of peopleWho will tell you

What you want to hear

For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you…

…and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is

a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not

send them, declares the Lord

Ego/Greed sent them (popularity)Satan uses them (prosperity)

Faith is derailed and destroyedIn those who follow them

"You just confess your healing""I speak abundance over you…"

"You're the head And not the tail"

2 years and you're free

Jesus gave me the giftOf reading your palm

And telling your future

“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for

Babylon, I will visit you…

…and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place

Who?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give

you a future and a hope

You'll be deadBut your children And their children

Have a future and a hope

Better the hard truthThan a beautiful life

Because we act onThat which we

Believe to be true

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart

Did those other godsProtect you?

Were they a meansTo an end?

Did those other godsProtect you?

Did they claim responsibility?False prophets even nowOffer more of the same

God is not a means to an endGod is the end, the goal

The gospel…you get Jesus

I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your

fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places

where I have driven you, declares the Lord…

…and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile- Jeremiah 29

Jesus is the goalNot some idea of how things

Are supposed to be

Jesus is the goalBecause in him

We find purpose, freedom, lifeRegardless of circumstances

Making decisions based onCircumstances is slavery

Making decisions based on Who your God isIs Faith that leads to Freedom

3 Things:

- Scripture: Reminds you who your God is

That you're free to live NOW

3 Things:

- Community:Begin to serve others

Watch life happen in yourself

- Prayerful Reflection: What am I waiting on to

change? Why?

What should I be doing now?

As a ChurchOur history:

No finances, few peopleSit and preside over the death?Or move forward in faith?

We do based on Who we serve

Not what we have At the moment

Questions, CommentsDisagreements

Pray

Small Groups

Bonfire

Grads