Summary: This sermon shows how God allows believers to suffer and prosper so that he can recieve glory out of every area of their lives. He does it for his name’s sake because he has a reputation to uphold.

For His Name’s Sake

It’s Not About You

Jeremiah 29: 10-14

I Sam. 12: 22

Background

• letter from Jeremiah the prophet to the Jews when king Neb. had taken captive from Jerusalem into Babylon

• Jerusalem = city of peace Babylon = confusion of tongue

• Were told to get married, build houses, find jobs, have kids, and grandkids – gone be there for a while = 70 yrs.

• Make the best of it – I know false prophets are telling you otherwise, but….they’re lying

• Then after 70 yrs (10=gov’t, discipline, 7=day of rest, completion, perfection, maturity)

• Jeremiah 29:10-14

• Turn away your captivity (imprisonment)– I’m going to show you how powerful I am when it comes to releasing my people from punishment. When Job’s fortunes were restored, he was said to have been freed from captivity.

• Gather from all the nations – all people - those that have hurt you, tricked, used, lied on, back-stabbed, talked down, counted you out, laughed at, stepped on and over, won’t stop bringing up your past, hoped you’d fail, betrayed your trust

• All the places – (directions/situations) – dark places, cold, lonely, confused, uncomfortable, dull, stagnant, lazy, comfortable, sinking, hard, filthy, low, down, and out

• Driven – Jesus driven to wilderness (Mark 1:12)

• Drove you out so I could bring you back in

• put you in place to need miracle>perform

• made way hard to see>trust

• did it to get glory---FHNS

• I Sam.12:22

Protect you name

• name signifies reputation and character, so always protect it

• want others to say or think good things when hear your name – ever mention a name then they say “…umph” – somewhere down the line they or somebody messed up (tainted/stained) their name

• don’t let other people mess up you name – if Brod. recommends someone for a job, and they get there and slacking, not good for his name – “don’t hire nobody else he sends”

• a person’s name is so influential, on a job interview just the mention of the right name can get you the job---or Not!

• As members of this body of Christ, must be careful how we act in community (Ice club, hell, sleight, snow) cause people say, “don’t they go to NLC”? =mess up church’s /Pastor’s name

• I am careful, people know me and I don’t know them – protect Brod’s name – “Brod’s wife?”, not even knowing my name = t-shirt

• if have kids, make them protect it too (don’t be begging or acting up at school or with other people) because parents get talked about, not the kids – “them McGee Kids”

• on flipped side, we do/buy stuff for kids for our name’s sake – comb hair, barber, iron

• sounds like God

For His name’s sake

• ain’t been all good…Ezek. 36: 22-30

• I already know you gone start tripping, but I’ll turn away captivity FMNS

• thought you made all right choices and never been in any trouble or jail--->path of righteousness FHNS Ps. 23:3

• baler, letters behind/in front of name, drive comp. car, times don’t know whether going or coming--- >lead and guide Ps. 31:3

• iniquities=inabil to produce desired results, didn’t even have skills/exper. To do the job --->pardon your iniquities FHNS Ps. 25:11

• Israelites at Red Sea murmuring, nevertheless --- >make mighty power known

• Gideon – Judges 7 – 300=# of God’s remnant – God not impressed w/ #s will cause all finances to be exausted just so he can make a way – make you humble so he can exalt you in due time FHNS

• Even when we are the guilty party

• Did others wrong--- >I am he that blotteth out transgressions FHNS Is. 43:25

• Disobed. (hard headed to his will) repeatedly and thought you got away (burst bubble)--- >defer my anger Is. 48:9, …withhold my hand Ezek. 20:22

• Evil thing in sight of God--- > sins forgiven FHNS I John 2:12

• Is. 61 - Beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, garment of praise for spirit of heaviness--- >that he might be glorified

• Not trying to rain on parade, but you got house, car, bling, maid, butler, chaueffer, ministry booming, sing like bird, preach, best of bestest--- >done all these great things FHNS II Sam.7:21

• So be careful about bragging about what you have and what you can do, cause it’s not even about you

Trials FHNS

• even when things get shady in our lives, it’s FHNS

• He drives us to uncomfortable places to get some glory – it’s not even about you

• Believe me, they are going to come

• Matt. 5:11,12 – blessed are you when men shall insult you, persecute, lie on you for my sake>rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven

• Talked about, laughed at, haters>Matt.10:22 – and ye shall be hated of all men FMNS

• Rebuked>Jer.15:15 – for thy sake have I suffered rebuke

• Give up friends, agenda, sleep>Matt.10:39 – he that looseth his life for my sake, shall find it; II Cor.4:11 – always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, that he might manifest in our body

• Matt. 19:29 whoever has forsaken houses, family, land for my sake, shall receive and hundred fold(of uncertain affinity) and shall inherit eternal life

• God will drive you into some places, circumstances, situations, hardship, wildernesses so others will get blessed before you will (Laban & Jacob)

• Luke 13:13 – imperative that she be bowed over-to be loosed-make straight-glorified God

• Acts 9:16 – Jesus tell Ananias that Paul must suffer FHNS; Philip. 1:29 – suffer for his sake

• II Cor. 12:10 – take pleasure in infirmaties, weakness, insults, hardships, persecution, difficulties FHNS=for when I’m weak, then I’m strong

• Cars repoed, termination notices, stuff turned off

• All FHNS – drives us to a place to need miracle>so can perform one; makes way hard to see>trust him

• All glory belongs to him, so we all have diff. issues so we can glorify him in diff. areas --- >then whole atmos. full of his glory

• So next time you really wnt to ask “why me, how did I get in this place, trouble, why stuck between rock”-understand that it’s not about you, it’s for his name’s sake

Can you handle it

• so, thru it all, learn to be content

• count it all joy

• make best of situation

• abase and abound