Sermon Outline

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Subject: "You think you know, but you have no idea."

Introduction: Just because everything is not working out as you planned in your life. Don’t look down, don’t be depressed, Hebrews 12:2 "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Just when we think we know what is in store for us Jesus has a better plan.

I. "You Think You Know"

Don’t believe everything people tell you about you. Jeremiah 29:9 "For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord." Look at them and tell them, "You think you know, but you have no idea." Let me tell you that you don’t know what God has in store for you, "You think you know, but you have no idea".

A. Isaiah 64:4 "For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.

B. 1 Cor. 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

C. We have spent a lot of time looking back over our journey and we ask why, how come, does it always have to be me? It’s like driving a car is some ways: You have a rear view mirror, and a windshield. If you are always looking in the rear view mirror at what is behind you might miss what is ahead of you: Divorce is behind you… that abusive relationship is behind you…that addiction is behind you… poor stewardship is behind you… Notice that the rear view mirror is so small and the windshield is so large, why do you spend so much time with that little mirror and so little time with that big windshield? It’s only because you are measuring your future by your past. Philip. 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things, which are behind, and reaching forward to those things, which are ahead, 14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

II. "But You Have No Idea"

Jeremiah 29:11 "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." God says, "I know and only I know". The plain God has for you are divine plans. In (V.4) of this chapter our Lord says, I know and only I know the divine plan for your life and I also know where you are and I had a hand in you being where you are.

A. When God says He "knows the plan for you", He uses a term to mean Platt or Weave. God is saying that He is personally weaving together all the elements of your life to fit His plan. You might think you know, but you have no idea. God knew where these people were; they were in captivity in Babylon, the Persian Gulf the desert of modern day Iraq. But God has a reputation for putting people in Desert conditions and weaving the circumstances of their lives together and brings them out of the desert to a powerful ministry.

1. Moses was in the desert of Midian, but God call this murderer to lead His people. God had a plan for Moses’ life.

2. Joseph was put in a pit in a desert, sold into slavery, served in prison, but God freed Him and made him Governor and used him as a deliverer.

3. David was a shepherd boy who later became an adulterer and a murderer so God set his life to flight, but God preserved him because God had a plan to use him.

4. Paul was a persecutor of the Church, but God had a plan for his life. God saved Saul, changed his name to Paul, took him to the backside of the Arabian Desert, revealed Himself to Paul and used Paul to preach the Gospel.

Jeremiah 29:11 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.

B. God’s thoughts for you are "thoughts of peace". (Vv. 5-10)… God is telling us that while we are in a dry land don’t waste God precious time. Prepare your family and develop the next generation because if you think life is difficult now, the next generation will not stand a chance. Teach our children to make sacrifices… They need to understand the ways of the marketplace; this young high school kid who Nike signed for $90 Million is going to have to sell a lot of $150.00 tennis shoes to make Nike happy.

C. God also says that His thoughts for you are not of evil. People it’s like rowing a boat: Put your ores in the water and row and don’t worry about the waves or the storm clouds on the horizon, don’t worry about the trash in the water, just row your boat. Yes use two ores not just one. God is not going to leave you alone in the elements but He is going to see you through.

D. God says His thoughts of peace will include giving you a future and a hope. The word "hope" is translated to mean cord or rope. In other words at the end of this experience you are having right now God has an expected end for you and that end is a rope. Hope! Hope! Somebody said: My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

1. Daniel was in the lion’s den but God dropped Him a rope of hope.

2. The three Hebrew men were in the fiery furnace but God dropped them a rope of hope.

3. Paul and Silas were in jail but God dropped them a rope of hope.

Application: It’s no secret what God can do. What He’s done for others He’ll do for you. With arms wide open He will pardon you; it’s no secret what God will do. Jeremiah 33:3

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' "You think you know, but you have no idea." If you are faithful to "row your boat and look for your rope of Hope… No matter your circumstances (29: 12-15)…

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