This past Sunday was our Pastor's final day of preaching at our little church. He will begin his actual retirement in a couple of weeks, but yesterday was his last opportunity to preach the gospel to our congregation...and he gave us a powerful, challenging message from Jeremiah 29:11-23
The key verses are the most familiar to us:
Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV)
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.”
We are in a season of change in our church, and here, above, God is giving a word of hope to the children of Israel, much like what He is giving to us today:
"Build, plant, pray..." even though they were in captivity...
"You are here for a reason...God has called you here...to bloom where you are planted."
This community needs us to thrive despite transition and changes
We need to stand behind the new pastor...show God's love at work in this church...and remember the people outside.
God has great plans for us...
Have you ever felt hopeless and in despair?
God is with us always and forever...
Jesus told His disciples before He went away:
John 16:33 (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
There is NO equal to GOD. Jesus is stronger than any of our fears. God is here...God is stronger than the gates of hell-stronger than death.
We can have hope in the midst of troubles
Hebrews 13:5
"Let your conduct be without covetousness;
be content with such things as you have,
For He Himself has said,
"I will never leave you nor forsake you."
God is pursuing us.
We've been given great privilege and responsibilities.
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
The key to a great life is the decision to live for God.
It was said that recently many, many people waited ten hours in line to ride the new "Harry Potter " ride at Disney. Ten hours standing in a long line to ride a new ride...can you imagine?
As believers, we are living an adventure in our relationship with Jesus Christ...the adventure of a lifetime! Far greater than any ride Disney or any other theme park could imagine.
We need to humble ourselves and get pride out of the way...
"Seek Me and find Me...I will be found by you when you seek Me with your whole heart..."
God has plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
Accept and believe that God has plans for you...and it will be good because God will not do anything to harm His church...
Embrace the new pastor...It is God's will that he is coming here.
Have an open mind and an open spirit.
Choose to look at the bright side of life
Choose to step into the unknown that brings in the future...
Share your unique gifts and graces with others...
Choose to have faith that God is in control...
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
Sermon Notes: FUMC, Interlachen, FL, Pastor A.C. Myers, 6/16/2019
Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given. I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously. Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said. Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear... That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts. So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.
Great message.
ReplyDeletePam: Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my most favorite verses in the Old Testament. Thank you for sharing this message with us. Peace and blessings.
ReplyDeleteWonderful Post Pamela, "The key to a great life is the decision to live for God." Amen! Have a blessed evening my friend.
ReplyDeleteSometimes things change for the better! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat great scriptural advice your pastor left you all with, Pamela. I'm not sure if I mentioned it before, but our senior pastor is retiring, and her message was very much like Pastor A.C.'s, especially in accepting and embracing the new leadership that's arriving soon. Change is hard, especially when a pastor is beloved, but we have faith that God will send us the right spiritual leader for our congregations.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Encouraging message. I hope he has a happy retirement. I hope you get a good replacement that you like.
ReplyDeleteJeremiah 29:11 is always a breath of fresh air to me. Thank you for sharing it with us today.
ReplyDeleteSweet message and so fitting for this time in life with your church . I know your pastor will be missed . God always has a plan . With “change” i think most of us struggle at times and it’s because we are so unsure of what that change will bring . Most often, change brings good and opens doors for a new and exciting new journey . Praying the change you all will have with your church will bring great and mighty things you did not know . Jeremiah 33:3 . Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteHello Mrs. Pamela. I am a Pastor from Mumber, India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honoured to get connected with you and know you about your family and interest in Godly things. The blog post has very encouraging message and I am blessed by the blog post message. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 40 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. We would love to have young people from your family circle come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have a life changing experience. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and friends. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede
ReplyDeleteWe are in a pastor search as well. I know there is someone just right out there for us...just the waiting on God's timing.
ReplyDeletePam, thank you for sharing your notes of Pastor A. C.'s sermon as he goes into retirement. When pastors leave there's a variety of emotions. Transitions are challenging. I've been in the UMC long enough to know that when a new pastor is appointed it's a risk--not all pastors in the UMC preach the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!