This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church Los Angeles on July 13, 2025.
Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 29:1-14 NIV [1] This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. [2] (This was after King Jehoiachin and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) [3] He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said: [4] 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. [10] 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. [11] 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. [12] Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [13] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. [14] I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Sermon
We live in a world that often feels chaotic, uncertain, and sometimes overwhelming. Life throws curveballs, doesn't it? We experience setbacks, disappointments, and moments where the path ahead seems anything but clear. In such times, it’s easy to feel lost, anxious, or to question where we are headed.
But as believers, we are anchored by a profound truth – a truth that can bring peace amidst the storm and clarity in confusion. It's the truth shown in our text for today:
Text:
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV 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.
This isn't just a nice verse, one Christians affirms all the time, it's a divine declaration, a covenant promise from God, the Creator of the universe to His beloved children.
Today, we're going to talk about "Faith in God's Plan." This isn't about blind optimism; it's about a deep, abiding trust in the One who holds all things in His hands. As we have been saying all year, maintaining a strong foundation in faith and aligning our priorities with God's will is a continuous process, not a quick fix. It requires regular self-reflection and openness to God's guidance.
The Context of God's Promise
First let's unpack Jeremiah 29:11, our text, within its original context. This promise was given to the Israelites when they were in exile in Babylon. Just imagine their situation: uprooted from their homes, stripped of their temple, living in a foreign land under foreign rule. Their world had been turned upside down. They had every reason to feel hopeless, abandoned, and forgotten by God. They were likely asking, "Where is God in all of this? Does He even care?"
So what was God's message through the prophet Jeremiah? It wasn't an immediate rescue, it wasn’t a magic carpet ride back to Jerusalem. Nope, He told them to settle down, build houses, plant gardens, marry, and pray for the welfare of Babylon. James read earlier thar in our Scripture today.
As you see this was not the quick fix they might have wanted. It was instead a call to live faithfully in their current difficult circumstances, yet, contained in this directive for a prolonged stay in Babylon was this incredible promise: "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. .
God was telling them: even in exile, even in what seems like a detour or a punishment, I have a plan. My plan is for your good, for your ultimate well-being, to give you a future and a hope. He wasn't ignoring their suffering; He was assuring them that their suffering was not purposeless.
This is a crucial lesson for us. God's plan often unfolds not in the way we expect, or on our timeline. It often involves seasons of waiting, enduring, and even suffering sometimes. But the promise still remains: His plans are for our welfare, our future, and our hope.
Embracing God's Sovereignty
So, what does it mean to have "Faith in God's Plan" in our own lives?
First, it means embracing God's sovereignty. It means acknowledging that God is truly God – all-knowing, all-powerful, and perfectly good. He sees the beginning from the end. He orchestrates events, not always in ways we understand, but always with a purpose that ultimately serves His glory and our good.
When we face disappointment, when doors close, when our prayers seem unanswered in the way we desire, it's a deep act of faith to say, "God, I don't understand this, but I trust that You are in control. I trust that Your ways are higher than my ways, and Your thoughts higher than my thoughts."
Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV [8] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. [9] “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Think about Joseph in the Old Testament. Sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely imprisoned, forgotten in a dungeon. From a human perspective, his life was a series of devastating setbacks. Yet, through it all, God was working His plan.Joseph's journey was not a straight line, but it was perfectly aligned with God's ultimate purpose.
Years later, Joseph could tell his brothers,
Genesis 50:19-21 NIV [19] But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? [20] You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. [21] So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Having faith in God's plan means releasing our grip on our own preferred outcomes and surrendering to His perfect will. It means praying, "Not my will, but Yours be done," not just as a religious phrase, but as a heartfelt plea of trust. This trust in God and His promises is the foundation for surrendering our limited understanding and trusting in God's perfect, often mysterious, but always good, sovereign plan.
Romans 8:28 NIV [28] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
This continuous process of openness to God's guidance is essential. We need to ask ourselves; “Are we truly listening for His voice, even when it challenges our preconceived notions?
Living with Hope and Purpose
Having "Faith in God's Plan" means living with hope and purpose, even in the midst of uncertainty. Jeremiah 29:11 promises us "a future and a hope." This isn't just a vague wish; it's a solid assurance rooted in the character of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
This means that every promise God has ever made, whether in the Old Testament or through His prophets, finds its ultimate affirmation and guarantee in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the embodiment and fulfillment of God's faithfulness. His life, death, and resurrection confirm that God is true to His word. There's no doubt, no hesitation, no "maybe" in God's promises when viewed through Christ.
Amen" is a Hebrew word that means "so be it," "it is true," or "let it be established." When we say "Amen" in response to God's promises, we are:
Agreeing with God. We are placing our faith in His ability and willingness to bring those promises to pass.
We are giving Him glory, we are acknowledging His faithfulness and bringing glory to His name.
When we trust that God has a plan for us, it changes how we approach life.
It gives us peace: We don't have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, trying to control every outcome. We can cast our anxieties on Him, knowing He cares for us, as it says in 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV
[6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. [7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
When we trust that God has a plan for us, it gives us perseverance: We know that God is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This doesn't mean every situation feels good, but that God can bring good out of every situation.
When we trust that God has a plan for us, it gives us purpose: Knowing God has a plan for us means our lives are not random. We play a role in a larger story that has a specific purpose.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
This empowers us to seek His will, to use our talents and gifts for His glory, and to live in a way that honors Him, even when the specific details of the path ahead are unclear.
God’s plan for us is not just about our individual prosperity; it's intricately woven into His redemptive plan for the world. Our hope is not just for a comfortable life on earth, but for eternal life with Him, and for His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.
Conclusion
In a world that constantly shifts beneath our feet, let us stand firm on the unchanging promise of God: “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”
I want us to cultivate a deep and abiding faith in God's perfect plan, even when we don't understand the winding roads He leads us on. I want us to find peace in His sovereignty, courage in His promises, and I want us to live each day with the hope and purpose that only His divine plan can provide.
Let us pray for the grace to fully surrender to His will, trusting that His plans for us are always good.
Father, we acknowledge Your supreme wisdom and unfailing love. We thank You that Your thoughts are not our thoughts, and Your ways are higher than our ways, reaching beyond anything we can comprehend.
Thank You, Lord, that Your promises are "Yes" in Christ, and we wholeheartedly declare our "Amen" to them. We believe that You are faithful and true, and every word You speak will come to pass.
We also thank You for the incredible truth that we are Your handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works which You prepared in advance for us to do. You have a divine purpose for each of our lives, and we desire to walk fully in it.
Father, we confess that sometimes our human understanding falls short. We can struggle to see Your hand in difficult circumstances, or to trust Your timing when our own desires feel pressing. Forgive us for our doubts and our limited vision.
We pray now for a deeper, unwavering faith in Your perfect plans. Help us to surrender our worries, our anxieties, and our need to control, knowing that You are sovereign over all. Open our eyes to see You're working, even in the unseen. Strengthen our hearts to trust Your goodness, even when the path is unclear.
Guide us, Holy Spirit, in this continuous process of self-reflection and alignment with Your will. Show us the good works You've prepared, and empower us to walk in them with courage, humility, and obedience. May our lives bring glory to Your name as we faithfully pursue Your purposes.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen.
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