WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:21.300 All right. Hi everyone. So today we're going through this summer. We're going through the greatest hits of the Bible. And last week, as Alex mentioned earlier, we discussed acts to the early church where as a church were devoted not dabbling to the apostles teaching to fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer. 00:00:21.300 --> 00:00:39.600 So we're devoted to the apostles teaching for one. And emphasis is not on the fact that it's the apostles teaching. That's what James said last week, but on the content of the teaching, which was Jesus. The focus is not on the messenger, but on the message, the word of God itself. 00:00:39.600 --> 00:01:01.120 And so naturally I brought something with me today, a couch cushion. I know it's dark in here, but can anyone read what it says? It says, 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. Jeremiah 29, 11. 00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:17.459 So our summer series is on the top hits of the Bible and boy is Jeremiah 29, 11, a top hit. It's the type of Bible verse that appears on fridge magnets and apparently couch cushions. It's the type of verse that you see on your Bible app verse of the day notification. 00:01:17.900 --> 00:01:31.099 I was talking to Ellen the other day and she said she knows someone who has a Jeremiah 29 tattoo. That's, that's a common thing also. And now some of you are new to church and you've never heard of Jeremiah 29, 11 before you're feeling a bit out of the church. 00:01:31.120 --> 00:01:42.740 That's okay. That's okay. We'll fill you in. If you're new here, welcome. We're glad you're here. We'll be talking about this verse today, but also because of the popularity and use the conceptions of Jeremiah 29, 11. 00:01:44.320 --> 00:01:50.780 It's also a verse that raises a lot of eyebrows. People say you have to take the verse in context. 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:59.640 God doesn't always promise you health, wealth, and prosperity. We need to consider the context and that's true. 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:13.020 But some others say this verse was written to a different people at a different time. Are you a 2,600 year old Jew living in Babylon? You look more like a 29 year old Chinese guy in Hong Kong. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:22.740 And if not, then this verse doesn't apply to you at all. All right. Let's, we'll, we'll have to unpack that a little bit more. Okay. 00:02:23.939 --> 00:02:30.320 See, I can understand why Jeremiah 29, 11 is so popular. It's comforting. It's relevant to us. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:40.439 I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. We want what this verse promises. Who wouldn't want to prosper? Who wouldn't want to have hope in a future? 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:52.199 Right? Cause life is tough. Sometimes it's confusing. When you lose your job and you're anxious about paying rent, you want to believe that God has a plan to prosper you. 00:02:52.199 --> 00:03:00.439 And when you're agonizing, which university should I go to? UST or Manchester? You want to believe that God has a plan for you. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:06.439 Or if you're in your fifties on your bed thinking, what did I do with my life? Did I waste it? 00:03:07.259 --> 00:03:14.539 You want to trust that there's a hope and a future. We're drawn to Jeremiah 29, 11, because we live in a broken world. 00:03:14.539 --> 00:03:24.419 We face problems one after another in our broken world. And we need to figure out how to make decisions in a chaotic, messy, and broken world. 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:36.139 That's why this verse is so attractive. And it's in the context of this broken, and it's in this broken world that we find ourselves right smack in the middle of the context of our Judean friends. 00:03:36.139 --> 00:03:48.399 No, it's not the case that we were forcefully exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon. And no, we weren't ripped out of our homes by King Nebuchadnezzar II in 597 BC. 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:57.979 But we stand with the people of Judah when we are grieving and confused and wondering how do we live in this broken world. 00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:09.699 So Jeremiah 29, 11 applies to us, not less, but more when we understand the context that we, along with Judah, have sinned and we're living in exile in this broken world. 00:04:10.679 --> 00:04:17.899 Today, we'll see in Jeremiah 29 that the Lord has a good plan for us. He has a good plan for exiles living in a broken world. 00:04:18.599 --> 00:04:22.079 And so again, we're a church devoted, not dabbling to the apostles' teachings. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:26.519 So as is our custom, let's please stand as we read the word of God out of reverence. 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:32.240 Let's stand as we read Jeremiah 29, verses 4 to 14. 00:04:33.099 --> 00:04:34.139 4 to 14. 00:04:36.299 --> 00:04:44.139 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 00:04:45.159 --> 00:04:48.519 Build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their produce. 00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:50.899 Take wives and have sons and daughters. 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:54.180 Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, 00:04:54.180 --> 00:04:56.300 that they may bear sons and daughters. 00:04:56.500 --> 00:04:58.420 Multiply there and do not decrease. 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:04.579 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile and pray to the Lord on its behalf. 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.379 For in its welfare, you will find your welfare. 00:05:08.180 --> 00:05:10.620 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel. 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:14.600 Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you. 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.000 And do not listen to the dreams that they dream. 00:05:17.200 --> 00:05:19.939 For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name. 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:21.820 I did not send them, declares the Lord. 00:05:22.740 --> 00:05:27.420 For thus says the Lord, when 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you. 00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:30.960 And I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:34.939 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:39.320 Plants for welfare, not for evil, to give you a future and hope. 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:43.420 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you. 00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:46.699 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 00:05:47.099 --> 00:05:49.060 I will be found by you, declares the Lord. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:55.539 And I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I've driven you, declares the Lord. 00:05:56.100 --> 00:05:59.959 And I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:01.680 This is the word of the Lord. 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:03.120 Please take a seat. 00:06:03.120 --> 00:06:03.659 You may be seated. 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:11.680 Right. 00:06:11.899 --> 00:06:13.800 I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:16.699 That's what Jeremiah 29, 11 says. 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:20.899 But the question we have is, what is the Lord's plan for us? 00:06:21.339 --> 00:06:22.620 What's the Lord's plan for us? 00:06:22.659 --> 00:06:23.500 That's something we wonder. 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:27.360 And today we'll look at three aspects of the Lord's plan for us. 00:06:27.459 --> 00:06:28.060 Three aspects. 00:06:28.659 --> 00:06:33.779 The first aspect is that the Lord planned our exile in a broken world. 00:06:33.779 --> 00:06:40.539 We'll first set the scene, the understanding that we live as exiles in a broken world. 00:06:41.939 --> 00:06:45.099 The words we just read are written by Jeremiah, a prophet. 00:06:45.979 --> 00:06:49.719 An Old Testament prophet is someone who spoke the words of God. 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:52.000 Jeremiah's words are God's words. 00:06:52.719 --> 00:06:57.739 That's why he starts off by saying, thus says the Lord, because it's God's words. 00:06:57.740 --> 00:07:04.960 The verses we read are part of a letter that Jeremiah was writing to Judean exiles living in Babylon. 00:07:05.780 --> 00:07:06.879 He wrote to Judeans. 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:12.740 The Judeans were a tribe of Israel, God's people who lived in and around Jerusalem, that area. 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:17.900 And what happened was that the Judeans were attacked and exiled by Babylonians. 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:24.240 Last month, we talked about in the book of Jonah about Assyrians, the Assyrian empire, 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:30.740 a brutal empire with the values of ISIS, the brutal values of ISIS, but with the strength and power of America. 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:35.680 Now, Babylon was the next empire following the Syrians. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:42.800 And these Babylonians exiled the Judeans, exiled, meaning that they took them away from their home in Jerusalem 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.120 and brought them, forced them to live in a foreign land. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:47.780 That's what exiled means. 00:07:48.519 --> 00:07:51.400 Forcing someone out of their home and into a foreign land. 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:57.939 And the Lord addresses these exiles in this letter, starting from verse four, which says, 00:07:58.060 --> 00:08:07.019 thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 00:08:07.899 --> 00:08:10.239 The Lord wants them to know something. 00:08:11.159 --> 00:08:11.560 Notice this. 00:08:11.620 --> 00:08:14.500 He says that I'm the one who sent you into exile. 00:08:14.919 --> 00:08:17.199 I sent you from Jerusalem. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:24.360 Yes, Babylon, this empire was the one who took you away, but this exile was ultimately my plan. 00:08:24.719 --> 00:08:25.240 I did it. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:30.259 When we read Jeremiah 29, 11, let's remember this. 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:32.519 The plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 00:08:33.179 --> 00:08:34.939 Those plans include exile. 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:37.399 And why were they exiled? 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:42.720 Because of generations of persistent disobedience to God. 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:51.120 Jeremiah chapter one, earlier in this book, chapter one, verse 15, foretells that enemies will come and attack Judah. 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:52.819 And why? 00:08:53.279 --> 00:09:01.740 We see that God says, I will declare my judgments against them, against Judah, for all their evil in forsaken me, in turning away from me. 00:09:02.340 --> 00:09:07.360 Judah sinned in forsaking God, turning away from him and wanting nothing to do with God. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:13.860 They turned away from God and their exile was the consequence, God's judgment for their evil. 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:16.459 And now the same is true for us. 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:20.079 That's the key to understanding Jeremiah 29, 11. 00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:23.439 You realize that there's something wrong in this world, don't you? 00:09:24.620 --> 00:09:29.959 When we turn on the news, we hear of wars, natural disasters, famine. 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:39.980 We ourselves might struggle, be anxious about how to pay rent or have broken families, feel stress from work or school, anxiety, loneliness. 00:09:39.980 --> 00:09:46.220 And the Bible says that this wasn't how life was meant to be from the beginning. 00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:53.340 The struggles of life, both big and small, it's all since we live in a broken world because of our sin. 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:55.320 Sin separates us from God. 00:09:55.320 --> 00:10:01.080 And God's judgment for us is exile into a broken world, just like it was with Judah. 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:05.800 We're exiled, separated from God's presence and have to deal with the consequences. 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:11.720 See, Jeremiah explains this more in chapter 2, verse 12. 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:12.980 He says, 00:10:12.980 --> 00:10:34.300 Jeremiah here is describing Judah's idols. 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:37.200 We've talked about idols here quite a bit before. 00:10:37.700 --> 00:10:40.300 But again, sin is turning away from the Lord. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:49.539 The fountains of living water who created us, who gives us life and breath, who created us to have a relationship with him, to know him and enjoying him forever. 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.919 That's how we find life. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:56.479 But instead, we look to lesser things, which Jeremiah calls broken cisterns, our idols. 00:10:57.379 --> 00:11:01.219 A cistern is something, is a hole in the ground that you dig to store water. 00:11:02.199 --> 00:11:06.139 And Jeremiah was talking about cracked, broken cisterns that can't hold water. 00:11:06.219 --> 00:11:08.139 Kind of like leaky water bottles. 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:11.240 You pour water in a bottle, but there's a hole in the bottom and it all comes out. 00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:14.539 That's like the idols in our lives. 00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:18.240 We pour all our hopes, expectations of hope and future into them. 00:11:19.340 --> 00:11:22.159 But then find it all dripping out of the bottom. 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:24.460 And then we find ourselves empty. 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:28.059 Jeremiah is saying, your idols don't hold water. 00:11:28.439 --> 00:11:31.360 These things that you're looking for, they can't hold water. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:34.080 We live in a broken world. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:40.259 And do you see how our world is broken, extra broken, when we're chasing broken cisterns? 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:48.759 When we reject the God that we're made to know, then it's no surprise that, unfortunately, we feel lonely. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:51.120 We feel disconnected and isolated. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:58.720 If we build our lives upon a husband and wife, family, children, friends, they will inevitably disappoint us. 00:11:58.820 --> 00:12:03.120 There's holes in the bottom and our hopes and future, our expectations leak out. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:07.000 Or maybe we're anxious if we're trusting our bank accounts. 00:12:07.560 --> 00:12:11.879 Instead of God who created everything and gives this all to us. 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:17.399 Can you see the cracks in our career, our money, friends, family? 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:20.279 All these idols, good things. 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:29.279 But if we try to place our hopes and expectations in them, then we find our hopes and future dripping out the bottom. 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:32.240 Because only God can sustain you and satisfy you. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:34.960 Don't look to idols that can't hold water. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:37.360 And that's why we're in exile. 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:40.120 We're exiles living in a broken world because of our sin. 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:45.179 Exiles because we're separated from God and now live in a broken world. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:48.340 That's the first aspect of the Lord's plan for us. 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:49.860 To live as exiles. 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:57.720 The second aspect of his plan is that his plan for us requires endurance and suffering. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:13:01.220 His plan for us includes enduring through suffering. 00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:06.539 If we read Jeremiah 29, we see in verses 5 to 10, 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:11.919 the reason behind the motivation why Jeremiah is writing this letter to the exiles. 00:13:12.319 --> 00:13:14.139 He's addressing a particular situation. 00:13:15.079 --> 00:13:20.799 The problem is that false prophets were telling everybody in Babylon, these exiles, 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:22.639 that this would be a short exile. 00:13:23.459 --> 00:13:24.799 It wouldn't be a big problem. 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:34.139 In previous chapter, in Jeremiah 28, verse 11, a false prophet, Hananiah, was going around telling the exiles 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:36.159 that Babylon would fall in two years. 00:13:36.299 --> 00:13:37.740 It would only be two years in exiles. 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:38.779 Babylon would fall. 00:13:38.859 --> 00:13:39.659 You'd be free to go home. 00:13:41.740 --> 00:13:43.059 Exile would only be two years. 00:13:44.099 --> 00:13:48.679 And Jeremiah writes this letter to correct those lies, those delusions. 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:55.919 He tells them in verse 10, when 70 years, 70, not two, 70 years are completed for Babylon. 00:13:56.199 --> 00:14:00.299 I will visit you and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 00:14:01.219 --> 00:14:03.679 The Lord says, no, it won't be two years. 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:05.139 It's going to be 70 years. 00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:07.500 There are 70 years for Babylon. 00:14:09.059 --> 00:14:12.819 It's like, because people sometimes ask, what would you do if you had one more day to live? 00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:13.539 Right? 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:15.139 If you have one day left, you wouldn't waste it. 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:16.439 You do what's most important. 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:25.240 Now, one problem with this question is that there are good and useful things that we do now that we wouldn't do if you really had one day left. 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:27.160 For example, I'm studying a master's. 00:14:27.660 --> 00:14:29.440 I'm trying to finish this up in the next few weeks. 00:14:29.540 --> 00:14:32.200 But if I have one day left to live, why bother? 00:14:32.380 --> 00:14:33.520 I'm not going to graduate anyways. 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:34.380 Right? 00:14:34.540 --> 00:14:41.340 Or why apply for a job that starts in two weeks' time so that you can save up money, put money in your MPF for decades later? 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.260 You wouldn't do that, right? 00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:44.880 Just enjoy life, spend all your money now, and have fun. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:49.919 That's the reasoning behind what Jeremiah is writing in verses 5 to 6. 00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:52.460 He's telling them, build houses and live in them. 00:14:52.939 --> 00:14:55.779 Plant gardens and eat their produce. 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:58.000 Take wives and have sons and daughters. 00:14:59.019 --> 00:15:01.960 And give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters. 00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:03.600 Multiply there and do not decrease. 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:08.600 He's writing to tell these exiles, this is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:10.420 You need to unpack your bags a bit. 00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:12.040 Build houses, plant gardens. 00:15:12.920 --> 00:15:13.639 Marry, have kids. 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:18.840 See, false prophets promised these people quick release from exile. 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.920 It'll just be two years. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:22.899 In verse 8 and 9, the Lord tells them, 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:27.200 Do not let your prophets, do not let these false prophets who are among you deceive you. 00:15:27.540 --> 00:15:29.580 And do not listen to the dreams that they dream. 00:15:30.060 --> 00:15:32.660 For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name. 00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:34.080 I did not send them, declares the Lord. 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:36.860 In other words, he's saying, there's no quick relief. 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:41.300 That false hope that they're giving you, that they're preaching, is not from me. 00:15:41.800 --> 00:15:42.980 You're going to be here a while. 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:44.960 And you're going to have to deal with the consequences. 00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:46.820 Right? 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:48.000 That's the purpose of this letter. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:50.560 To tell them that it's going to be a long time in Babylon. 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:51.960 And they need to settle in. 00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:56.560 But they'll need to, they'll be in captivity for a while. 00:15:56.560 --> 00:15:57.460 But not only that. 00:15:58.540 --> 00:16:03.620 In verse 7, the Lord tells them to seek the welfare of their captives, of the Babylonians. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:05.120 Their enemies. 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:07.860 These Babylonians were brutal to them. 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.220 They were exiled. 00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:15.980 But this exile means siege and war and everything that went along that, that came along with that at the time. 00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:20.160 Fathers, mothers, children, you would see killed in front of you. 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:23.780 Or your wives, your daughters, raped. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:27.420 The most holy temple that they had, destroyed also. 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:35.439 Jeremiah writes this letter to get across to them this reality that they're going to be subject to these people. 00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:38.299 Maybe even brutal captives for 70 years. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:43.719 And so the Lord's plan for them and for us requires patient endurance. 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:48.360 Jeremiah 29, 11 doesn't promise quick relief from suffering. 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:51.779 The Lord doesn't promise to take us out of hardship. 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:55.000 But this promise is that he will bring us through hardship. 00:16:56.039 --> 00:17:00.200 Some people look at the verse and say that God will give you health, wealth, and prosperity. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.720 Name it and claim it. 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:03.440 If only you had more faith, you'd be healed. 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:06.120 If only you prayed more, then your depression would be cured. 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:08.019 If only you believed, then you'd be rich. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.519 But this is false. 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:12.360 Don't let these false prophets deceive you. 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:13.440 Don't believe those lies. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:15.740 The Bible doesn't sugarcoat it. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.160 That life is hard. 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.080 Life is difficult. 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:20.299 We are exiles in a broken world. 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:23.279 And exiles should expect hardship. 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:27.420 Those captured by Babylon should expect hardship. 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:32.759 And so terrible as it is, we do feel isolated and lonely sometimes. 00:17:33.259 --> 00:17:35.340 And there's real pain we experience in the world. 00:17:35.700 --> 00:17:37.539 When families break down. 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:38.980 When there's conflict. 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:42.700 When loved ones pass away. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:47.580 That is the sad reality of living in a broken world. 00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:50.820 And I know some of us here may be hurting. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:53.880 I don't know what all of you here are experiencing. 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:57.140 But yeah, I want to acknowledge that pain. 00:17:57.360 --> 00:17:59.320 That there is real pain in this world. 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:03.019 And I can't say what God's exact purpose is for your pain. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:07.160 He doesn't explain the details entirely to Judah here. 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:10.799 But we know that suffering, at least, is part of his plan. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:13.139 And suffering isn't the end. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:15.200 We are living in a broken world. 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:17.220 But this isn't what it was meant to be. 00:18:17.299 --> 00:18:18.720 This world is broken by sin. 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:20.599 But it won't be like this. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.619 When Jesus returns, it makes all things new. 00:18:23.879 --> 00:18:26.879 And we know that God does have purposes for suffering. 00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:31.560 He uses suffering to remind us that this world is not our home. 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.440 That we need him. 00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:38.220 I don't know how exactly God is writing your story in pain. 00:18:39.520 --> 00:18:43.900 But I know that, at least in my life, God used suffering to draw me to him. 00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:51.000 In university, I've mentioned this before, but I went through a messy and painful breakup. 00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:58.320 And now it's a small thing, maybe in hindsight, compared to what we experience in life, what some of you go through. 00:18:58.780 --> 00:19:01.820 But still, God used this tough time to wake me up. 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:08.899 And those were some of the toughest times for me when I felt heartbroken, confused, and betrayed. 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:17.919 But it was in those times that I knew, not just in my head, but I felt in my heart that I really needed God. 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:23.460 I couldn't find the strength to wake up in the morning unless I turned to him. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.460 To start the day, I needed God. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.339 I needed to pray. 00:19:26.439 --> 00:19:27.700 I needed to read a psalm. 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:29.059 I needed to sing worship songs. 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:35.200 And it was in those times that I experienced this intimacy with God that I've never really felt before. 00:19:35.659 --> 00:19:40.259 Like, I felt in my bones that God is better than anything else that life has to offer. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:42.319 It was through suffering that he taught me this. 00:19:42.619 --> 00:19:44.839 I could have a good career, but that wouldn't make me happy. 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:47.039 I could be in a relationship, but that can end in a moment. 00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:53.740 I realized that those were all broken cisterns with cracks that can't hold my hopes and expectations. 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:58.339 They can't compare to the nearness, the unshakable joy, the hope that I had. 00:19:59.059 --> 00:19:59.839 In knowing God. 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:06.559 And it's in those lows that God ignited in my heart a fire for him that only grows stronger to this day. 00:20:06.879 --> 00:20:13.599 And when I look back at those times, at those, yeah, in those times in university, they're painful. 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:17.079 But I wouldn't trade the world for it compared to what I gained. 00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:20.179 That's what I learned in hindsight. 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:25.360 And now some of you are going through something a lot worse than this tiny problem I have. 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:31.240 I don't know the exact problems, the exact plans that God has for you right now. 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:34.880 But I at least can testify about what God did for me. 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:39.440 Looking back, I know that in my suffering, he had a plan for me. 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.160 His plan was for welfare, not for evil. 00:20:42.560 --> 00:20:45.539 To give me a hope and a future that can't be shaken. 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.519 That's my story. 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:50.619 And so the Lord's plan requires endurance and suffering. 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:54.000 That's the second aspect of the Lord's plan for us. 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:58.440 Lastly, his plan is to bring exiles back home. 00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:00.899 God wants to bring exiles back home. 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:03.099 That's the third aspect of his plan for us. 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:09.199 We saw in verse 10 that the Lord gave the exiles a promise. 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:16.379 That after 70 years of power, Babylon will fall and the Lord will bring exiles back to Jerusalem. 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:21.219 He says, I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:23.819 That's the plan that the Lord says in verse 10. 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:27.679 That's mentioned later in verse 11, in Jeremiah 29, 11. 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:30.939 His plan is to bring these Judean exiles back home. 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:37.920 The Lord also says in verse 14, that I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. 00:21:38.600 --> 00:21:40.820 He promises to bring them home to Jerusalem. 00:21:41.320 --> 00:21:44.320 But I think there's something more here that God is trying to do. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:48.039 The Lord not only brings exiles back home to Jerusalem. 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:50.400 He's trying to bring them back home to him. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:54.539 He wants to bring the exiles back home to him. 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:58.940 Jerusalem was home to them because that's the land that the Lord gave them. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:00.000 It was the promised land. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.619 Jerusalem was also home to them because that's where the Lord dwelt. 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:09.500 That's where his temple was, where they could come meet there and enter in his presence. 00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:13.279 To be, to enter his presence at the temple in Jerusalem. 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:18.140 So the Lord brings them back to Jerusalem, but ultimately he's drawing them to him. 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:22.259 See our sin, the breakdown of our relationship with God. 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.980 That's what caused in the first place, our exile. 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:28.120 That's why we suffer in this broken world. 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:36.539 So likewise, God's plan for us ultimately is to restore this relationship, to bring us back out of exile to him. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:40.779 Let's see this reading from verse 12. 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.579 I'm reading from verse 12. 00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.079 It says that, 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:47.019 Then you will call upon me and come to me and pray to me and I will answer. 00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:47.819 Sorry. 00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:51.019 You come to me and pray to me and I will hear you. 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:54.579 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:56.759 I will be found by you, declares the Lord. 00:22:56.899 --> 00:23:03.319 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. 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:07.359 And I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:13.000 The Lord promises to restore our relationship with him. 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:17.460 He promises that he'll listen when we call upon him. 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:22.359 He promises that we'll find him when we seek him with all our hearts. 00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:28.599 The plan of God to restore exiled sinners to him is really the storyline of the whole Bible. 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:38.879 When we read the Old Testament and don't understand why it's relevant, it's probably because we need to see it in connection with God's plan to bring exiles back home. 00:23:39.959 --> 00:23:41.419 And how does God do this? 00:23:42.199 --> 00:23:44.139 He does it by sending his son, Jesus. 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:48.399 In order to bring us home, Jesus left his home in heaven. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:52.419 He came down, was born as a man and died for our sins. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:56.399 Jesus endured suffering in exile, just like we did. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:01.259 He died, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us back to God. 00:24:02.360 --> 00:24:06.540 We were made for a relationship with God, to know him and enjoy him. 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:15.540 And Jesus restored our relationship with God by dying on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins, reconciling us to him, for all who believe in him. 00:24:16.540 --> 00:24:20.259 Jesus rose from the dead and he'll be coming back one day to make all things new. 00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:25.259 To fix this broken world, where there'll be no more pain, no more tears. 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:28.500 No more sin and no more suffering. 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:31.660 We will dwell forever in the presence of God. 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:41.299 Because if the promise of Jeremiah 29, 11 was just money, family, career, these things that we're looking for, then we don't need Jesus. 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:45.339 If you look around in the world, people have these things. 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:52.439 God does give health, wealth, and prosperity to all sorts of people, even people who don't deserve it. 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:57.240 As sinners, we don't deserve Jeremiah 29, 11. 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.899 We don't deserve welfare. 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.980 We deserve evil because of our evil. 00:25:01.439 --> 00:25:03.720 We deserve exile and separation from God. 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:10.779 But Jesus took that on himself, all the evil that we deserved, and gives us welfare, peace, prosperity instead. 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:12.940 Through him, we have a hope and a future. 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:22.600 And because of Jesus, we have the promise in verse 13 that if we seek the Lord, we will find him when we seek him with all our hearts. 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:24.500 We can seek God and find him. 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.920 But how do we do that? 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:27.860 Right? 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:29.980 There's some of you here who are seeking God. 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:32.080 You recognize that this world is broken. 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:36.139 That this life, if that's all there is, that would just be terrible. 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:41.220 You've been chasing after the bells and whistles of Babylon, but found that they're broken cisterns. 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:45.819 You know you were made for more than this, but you don't know where to start. 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:48.819 Or maybe you've tried seeking God before. 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.039 You've gone to church. 00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:50.960 You've prayed. 00:25:51.699 --> 00:25:52.980 But it didn't work. 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:54.159 God didn't cure your depression. 00:25:54.659 --> 00:25:55.740 God didn't cure your loneliness. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.099 You didn't find him. 00:25:58.619 --> 00:26:00.359 You tried seeking God and it didn't work. 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:06.319 Well, I invite you nevertheless to try again, to try and seek him. 00:26:06.979 --> 00:26:13.339 Because verse 12 says, you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you. 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:19.000 He promises that he hears us when we call upon him and pray to him. 00:26:19.479 --> 00:26:22.199 So I can't promise how or when he will answer. 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:26.459 As we saw earlier, we do need patient endurance. 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.759 You may not get your answer immediately. 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:32.700 But God promises, the Bible says that he will hear you. 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.779 He wants to be found by you. 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:37.420 That's why he sent his son to die for you. 00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:39.279 How would he not hear you when you pray? 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.460 And so we can pray. 00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:43.859 Prayer is just talking to God. 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:46.680 My journey to knowing God began with prayer. 00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:54.039 And as I look around here, I know that for a lot of you here who know God, that began with prayer. 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.259 It began with seeking him. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:59.339 We can pray, God, show me yourself. 00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:01.180 If you're there, show yourself to me. 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:04.399 Even if you don't believe him, you can take that small step. 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:06.639 Just one step at a time to seek him. 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:09.059 And he'll answer your prayers. 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:13.399 God hears your prayers just as he heard mine and others around this room. 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:18.660 And I can't guarantee that how God will answer in the next week, next month, next year. 00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:21.800 But God says he will hear you. 00:27:23.340 --> 00:27:24.740 How else do we seek God? 00:27:25.860 --> 00:27:30.120 It says here, you'll seek me and you'll find me when you seek me with all our heart. 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:32.360 We seek him with our whole heart. 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:39.199 Now to close, I was struck this past week as I was preparing to preach today. 00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:42.359 And to be honest, I had a pretty tough time preparing. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:45.699 As I told some of you, I was really wrestling with the text. 00:27:45.959 --> 00:27:48.119 I spent a lot of effort thinking through what to say. 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.679 Wrote up a bunch of stuff. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.819 Had to scrap it. 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:53.639 Because I didn't think that's what God was saying. 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:57.000 And it was kind of demotivating. 00:27:57.199 --> 00:27:58.359 Like I spent all this effort. 00:27:58.459 --> 00:27:59.619 Why is this such hard work? 00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:01.379 Why is it so difficult? 00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:04.000 Why is sermon preparation so hard? 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:06.680 And I began to doubt myself. 00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:10.120 Like what if this doesn't get better and I'm terrible at this? 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:12.740 You know how some people say, don't quit your day job. 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.760 Well, I just done that. 00:28:14.980 --> 00:28:18.240 I'm leaving my job in two weeks to devote myself to serving the church. 00:28:18.320 --> 00:28:19.900 And it's like, why is this so hard? 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.940 Like why, what if I can't do this? 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.920 Did I throw away my career for nothing? 00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:26.820 Did I figure out God's plan for me correctly? 00:28:28.560 --> 00:28:30.660 And I was praying yesterday morning. 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:37.660 And I felt God just say to me, you will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart. 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:40.040 Just seek me. 00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:42.920 Of course, this is difficult work. 00:28:43.600 --> 00:28:45.080 We live in a broken world. 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:46.920 Of course, it's going to be hard. 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:49.560 It's hard because of sin. 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:51.880 And there's decisions that you need to make. 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.480 There's plans to carry out. 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:55.300 But above all, just seek me. 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:57.980 You will find me when you seek me with all your heart. 00:28:58.440 --> 00:29:00.100 You want to know what the plans I have for you? 00:29:00.800 --> 00:29:02.779 I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:06.580 They are for you to run home to your father's arms. 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.940 That's where you find your welfare. 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:11.060 That's where you find your peace and prosperity. 00:29:11.919 --> 00:29:13.359 Seek me with all your heart. 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.440 Those are the plans I have for you. 00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:22.419 And I was reminded myself that I was seeking my worth in how productive I am. 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:24.319 How good I am at doing certain things. 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:26.039 The approval of others. 00:29:26.159 --> 00:29:28.279 And maybe even seeking the approval of God. 00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:32.259 Placing my worth in how well I can accomplish things. 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:35.980 And I was reminded that these are all just broken cisterns. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:38.839 I felt the Lord saying to me, you're accepted by me. 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:39.980 Just seek me. 00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:41.180 That's my plan for you. 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:41.619 Seek me. 00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.379 That's my plan to bring you home. 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:48.500 And while you've been away in exile, I've come to you. 00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:51.720 I've sent Jesus to come seek, find you. 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:53.000 Even when you weren't looking for me. 00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.920 I sent my son to you. 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:57.140 For him to go into exile and suffering. 00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.059 To endure that. 00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:59.279 To bring you home. 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:03.039 And while you're away, while you're still living in this broken world. 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:05.299 I don't leave you alone. 00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:06.480 I've sent my spirit. 00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:09.059 To make his home in you. 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:12.440 So that God himself is dwelling in me. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:14.599 And I just need to seek him. 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:18.180 I think of Psalm 27 that says, 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:21.639 One thing I've asked of the Lord that I will seek after. 00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:25.099 That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:28.779 To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.359 And I prayed. 00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:33.039 Lord, just give me this heart. 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:35.299 I know that's your plan for me. 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.960 I want to find you. 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:41.879 So in everything you do, seek the Lord with all your heart and you will find him. 00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:47.099 And don't take that to mean that you need to quit your job and be a pastor or pursue full-time ministry. 00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:51.740 That's the path that I feel that God is leading me for now. 00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:59.799 But for you, it could be to build houses, plant gardens, remain at your job, doing whatever it is that you're currently doing. 00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:01.079 That could be the Lord's plan for you. 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:01.899 That could be his calling. 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:07.640 But in everything you do, seek him with all your heart. 00:31:08.019 --> 00:31:09.160 That's his plan for you. 00:31:10.380 --> 00:31:14.980 It's his plan to bring you home out of exile and into his open arms. 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:18.839 So what's the Lord's plan for us in Jeremiah 29, 11? 00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:22.720 That he planned our exile from the beginning because of our sin. 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:27.240 He planned for us to patiently endure suffering in a broken world. 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:33.079 And ultimately, the Lord's plan is to bring us home to him through Christ. 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:35.400 So let's seek him. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:39.759 Because when we seek him, not just his plans, but the Lord. 00:31:39.880 --> 00:31:40.700 Seek the Lord. 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:44.380 We will find him when we seek him with all our hearts. 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:46.240 So let's pray for that heart. 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:47.579 Let's pray together. 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:54.720 God, we want to know you. 00:31:54.720 --> 00:32:01.740 We know that you are better than anything that life has to offer, as Cuban prayed earlier. 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:06.720 And if we don't know that, we pray that you'd give us his heart. 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:10.720 For those who haven't turned to you today, we trust in your plans. 00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:13.360 And we pray that you would make yourself known to them. 00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:22.660 We thank you that you sent Jesus into this broken world, leaving his home to bring us with him back to you. 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:32.940 And God, as we wrestle with the real pain and suffering in this life, when we make decisions, above all, let us seek you. 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:38.140 Spirit, guide us in the way we should go. 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.920 We trust your plans. 00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:46.920 Knowing that because Jesus died and rose for us, your plans are to prosper, not to harm us, to give you future and a hope. 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:50.500 Thank you that we have this in Jesus. 00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:52.360 We pray this in his name. 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:52.980 Amen. 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.800 Let's give a round of applause to Gabe. 00:32:56.860 --> 00:32:58.120 Thanks for giving us the word this morning. 00:33:01.320 --> 00:33:07.320 So I think Gabe was challenging us just now to seek God's face, seek his will in things. 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:10.839 And I couldn't think of a better time to do that than right now. 00:33:10.939 --> 00:33:18.960 So what I want to do is actually invite everyone, whether it's to bow your head, to close your eyes, to stand, to kneel with hands open. 00:33:20.399 --> 00:33:22.019 Would we just seek God's face right now? 00:33:22.099 --> 00:33:24.319 Julian will play a little bit of background music for us. 00:33:24.379 --> 00:33:28.399 But just for a couple of minutes, just want you to ponder kind of two things. 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:34.840 One is, what are those broken cisterns that we may be holding in our lives? 00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:36.220 Is it the family? 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:39.860 Is it the, you know, the good job that we have, the house over our head? 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:46.620 I recognize what I'm saying may be very challenging, especially in the context of Hong Kong to say those things. 00:33:46.620 --> 00:33:52.060 But, you know, have we held those things, those broken cisterns above who God is in our lives? 00:33:52.059 --> 00:34:04.000 And then the second thing I'd just invite you to pray into is, you know, just asking God, what is, what is actually true prosperity and welfare look like? 00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:12.820 What does it look like in, through the lens of God's eyes, not through the lens of, you know, Hong Kong, the city, or maybe what you've been taught culturally growing up. 00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:14.099 But what does it truly mean? 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.759 Just ask God. 00:34:15.259 --> 00:34:21.179 If it's new to you, just ask God, like, God, what does it truly mean to prosper and to be your child and to know that? 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:27.079 There's true presence and prosperity, just being in your presence and that alone is enough. 00:34:27.839 --> 00:34:33.719 So if you just take a moment to just spend some time to pray and then in a moment we'll close with a response song.