Pastor's Sermon Notes
July 4, 2010
Jeremiah 29:1
Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the
residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets,
and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to
Babylon;
Jeremiah is writing during the captivity to those who went to Babylon, here is his message for
them:
Jeremiah 29:10
For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you,
and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
God will restore them, cause them to return to their Land. What about the other guys, the liars
who did not listen to God’s Word?
Jeremiah 29:16,17
Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the
people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into
captivity; 17Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the
famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so
evil.
They will receive judgment for not listening to God.
--The history of Israel is a giant illustration of salvation. They had a great land with blessings and
power. Then they blew it. The blessings were removed, but God desires to restore them, after
they live in bondage for a time. Those who reject it are punished
--The history of man--Garden of Eden paradise was ruined by man, man was kicked out and
fell into sin and the curse. God desires to restore them to Eden after they live in bondage for a
time. But those who reject it are punished.
How does redemption occur?
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of
evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto
me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for
me with all your heart.
First off, salvation is based on God’s character and ways. He is gracious an merciful, ready to
take people back. If God were not this way, there is no hope. Second, we call upon God, we
seek for Him and He will answer and be found.
--God is willing to save, are we willing to be saved? He is willing to be found;’ are you willing to
look?
Joel 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is
gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Nehemiah 9:16,17
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy
commandments, 17And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst
among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to
their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of
great kindness, and forsookest them not.
Jonah 4:2
And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when
I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a
gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
2 Chronicles 30:9
For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion
before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD
your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto
him.
God is good, gracious, merciful, willing to forgive. He has always been this. He knows us, our
weaknesses, that we are dust. He has compassion on us.
Romans 10:11-13
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no
difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call
upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God’s grace and mercy are available to all, but only applied to all who call on Him. There is no
forgiveness any other way.
Forgiveness is in God’s very character. God is good: this is your biggest problem in life.
Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing
that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Romans 11:22
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward
thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Jeremiah 29:1
Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the
residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets,
and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to
Babylon;
Jeremiah is writing during the captivity to those who went to Babylon, here is his message for
them:
Jeremiah 29:10
For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you,
and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
God will restore them, cause them to return to their Land. What about the other guys, the liars
who did not listen to God’s Word?
Jeremiah 29:16,17
Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the
people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into
captivity; 17Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the
famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so
evil.
They will receive judgment for not listening to God.
--The history of Israel is a giant illustration of salvation. They had a great land with blessings and
power. Then they blew it. The blessings were removed, but God desires to restore them, after
they live in bondage for a time. Those who reject it are punished
--The history of man--Garden of Eden paradise was ruined by man, man was kicked out and
fell into sin and the curse. God desires to restore them to Eden after they live in bondage for a
time. But those who reject it are punished.
How does redemption occur?
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of
evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto
me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for
me with all your heart.
First off, salvation is based on God’s character and ways. He is gracious an merciful, ready to
take people back. If God were not this way, there is no hope. Second, we call upon God, we
seek for Him and He will answer and be found.
--God is willing to save, are we willing to be saved? He is willing to be found;’ are you willing to
look?
Joel 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is
gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Nehemiah 9:16,17
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy
commandments, 17And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst
among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to
their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of
great kindness, and forsookest them not.
Jonah 4:2
And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when
I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a
gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
2 Chronicles 30:9
For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion
before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD
your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto
him.
God is good, gracious, merciful, willing to forgive. He has always been this. He knows us, our
weaknesses, that we are dust. He has compassion on us.
Romans 10:11-13
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no
difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call
upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God’s grace and mercy are available to all, but only applied to all who call on Him. There is no
forgiveness any other way.
Forgiveness is in God’s very character. God is good: this is your biggest problem in life.
Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing
that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Romans 11:22
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward
thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.