Text – Jeremiah 29:7 (read vv.4-9)
“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number THERE; do not decrease. 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.” 8 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. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 29: 4-9 (NIV)
INTRODUCTION
Praises be to GOD that we are not exiled to a particular land now. As we look around the world, we will find Believers everywhere. However, there are some who believe that the issue of Believers being exiled is debatable. I am not going to debate that issue today, but I do want to point out a few things that I believe we should learn from the invaluable lessons that God taught His people when He exiled them to Babylon.
Even though we are not exiled here in America, there are many of us who feel that their life here is a hard life. Some have had to come up in very difficult situations (and many still are). There are also many who have been blessed (and still are) with houses, lands, and many other wonderful living arrangements that they consider as blesses from God (expound).
In both of these people’s situations, it behooves us to take heed to what the LORD said to His people whom He exiled to Babylon, because many of us, and I’m talking about Believers as well as non-Believers, fail to realize that it places us where we need to be and not necessarily where we want to be. Too often we complain, show disdain, and even move from the places where the Lord wants us to be; and we wonder why we are not prospering! (Expound).
There are at least nine (9) things that the LORD instructs His people to do . . .
and the LORD even attaches a guarantee to them.
POINTS –
- Build houses and settle down (v.5) – Settle in; dwell in the place where the Lord has blessed you to be. Some of you forgot that you asked God to give you a place to live (expound).
- Plant gardens and eat what they produce (v.5) – Cultivate the land because it is yours. Let the land yield to you its’ fruit (expound).
- Marry and have sons and daughters (v.6) – Marry and start a family. Take note of the order (expound).
- Find wives for your sons (v.6) – Raise your sons in such a way that they will not only bring their prospective wives before you, but they want your approval before marrying them (expound).
- Give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters (v.6) – Again, raise your daughters in such a way that they will want to wait until they are married before leaving the safety and guidance of their parents; and when they do leave it will be to get married and raise their own family (expound).
- Increase in number THERE; do not decrease (v.6) – Knowing that this is the place where the Lord has sent you, start your family there and don’t be anxious to leave there (expound).
- Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you (v.8) – Do not allow the false Prophets, Psychics, Sorcerers, and those of that ilk trick you (expound).
- Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have (v.8) – There are people who claim to be Believers in GOD and in the Lord Jesus Christ; and yet they seek advice from Astrology, False Prophets, Psychics, Tarot Cards, etc. Do not seek these things (expound).
CONCLUSION –
This brings us back to our text which is found in verse seven (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.”
Wherever the Lord has blessed you to reside, you should be praying for that place. In doesn’t matter if it is in the lowest valley or the highest hill. It doesn’t matter if it is in the “low rent” district or on the “upper east side.” Wherever the Lord allows you to reside, you should be praying to the Lord for that place to prosper. Remember that it is not about you; the Lord is showing you that He is taking care of you by giving you a place to reside.
Don’t forget all the other promises that God has made to you (expound and conclude).