A Glorious Future

[Book of Jeremiah]

This sermon by Erlo Stegen is comprised of 2 parts. I believe that for those who will call upon the LORD Jesus Christ with all sincerity of heart - a glorious future awaits that one. While I believe it is too late for the nation as a whole I do not believe it is too late for individuals - even whole families to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and receive new life (glorious life) in Him.

Text Sermons : Erlo Stegen : A glorious future (part 1)

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Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen, 22 Jun 2014


The world is desperately sick. These days a psychologist who gave advice on problem young people said he couldn't carry on anymore, because he couldn't deal with the root of the young people's problem. He said the root of the problem was actually the parents.

Drugs and immortality is just rampant. It's extremely rare to find a pure young person. And it's as if the government actually support it by the policies they put in place, like abortion and rampant pornography.

But it's wonderful that in such a mess one finds such pearls such as these young people who got engaged today.

Jer 29:11

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.

God spoke these words to his people Israel, a wonderful promise. It was a difficult time for Israel. They were in exile in Babylon. And God spoke to His prophet to give this message to his people.

There were also false prophets at the time. Those that spoke the opposite. Even today there are those that speak the truth and those that speak lies.

What road are you on?

We have hope if we walk with God and stand steadfast for what He stands for. If God is for us who can be against us (Rom 8:31)? Then we will overcome. We cannot lose if we're on His side. Be on God's side in what you say, think and do. We don't know what God will bring across our path, but if we remain faithful to Him we will overcome. So let's not be busy with our plans but see what God's plans are for us.

God says, "As far as the heavens are above the earth so are My ways than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Is 55:9). So dispose of your own thoughts and start to think His thoughts.

Can you imagine that God in heaven actually think on you and me? It's because you are precious to Him and He has proven it by dying for you, so that you might be saved and delivered. In fact even before the foundations of the earth He thought on you and me. God in His greatness cares about you and me even though we are nothing.

God says, "Can a nursing mother forget her child? Even if they can, yet will I not forget you" (Is 49:15). He also says, "behold you are engraved on the palm of My hand" (Is 49:16).

You are more precious to Him than your small child is to you. You are on His thoughts all the time. It's amazing! Even though we slumber and sleep, He doesn't (Ps 121:4).

He knows what the love of a mother for her child means, because He made that mother's heart.

Remember God is in full control. Let's not be like Adam who doubted God and ate of that fruit and died.

We Christians are the most privileged people on earth and we should be the happiest of all people.

Remember all things work together for good to those who love God, even if we don't understand now (Rom 8:28). No matter what the difficulty we meet up with, we are in His hand.

The prophet told them if you stay with God you have a glorious future. If you walk with God you need not be depressed, for there is a bright future for you.

It doesn't mean we will never experience difficulty, but God will be with us in that difficulty!

Think about the thoughts God has for you. Think about the bright future God has for you if you walk with Him. In fact He already planned it for you before the earth was made (Eph 1:4, 1Pet 1:18-20).

Don't allow these precious things to be simply blown away with the wind. If you don't hold this dear and precious you will lose out on so much.

Allow His thoughts to take over your life. And just as you are precious to Him, He should be precious to you.

A glorious future (part 1) - Sermon Index

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

Part two of A Glorious Future:

Text Sermons : Erlo Stegen : A glorious future (part 2)

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Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen, 15 Jun 2014



(Before the service a young man gave his testimony of how he was transformed by the power of God and how Jesus changed his life from a radical Muslim to a follower of Christ, when He cried to God for help).
2Chron 7:13-16

13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

2Chron 6:26-27

26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;

27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

This is a marvelous word! I once preached about this very word in Moscow, Russia. God says when we cry to Him in distress He will hear our prayer and help us. As we humble ourselves before Him He will hear from heaven.

Our land is sick, in the ICU, intensive care. God is officially removed from parliament and prayer is removed from our schools. Our land is being devoured by locusts. It is said that locust eggs can remain dormant for over 20 years, until the right conditions arise and then they hatch. When we see God being sidelined even in parliament shouldn't that move us to action to cry to God for help? Only one thing will help our education system, that we repent and cry to God. Even when things appear to improve it's in fact getting worse.

Parents look at your children. One thing only will help that we turn to our God for help for our country, families and our children. If we humble ourselves then God who has sent the locusts will heal us.

God says when He shuts heaven, it's so that we would humble ourselves before Him and then He will hear from heaven and heal us. He will hear our cry, and forgive. His ears will be open to our prayer.

A locust invasion is terrible. Nothing can help us but that we repent and cry to God for help, like the testimony we've heard of how the young man was helped when he cried to God for help.

Many people have tried to arrest the corruption and rot in our country, but nothing has worked. Only God can help us and we must cry to Him. If we don't turn to Him for help we won't find help anywhere else. Things are getting desperate in our country. What do you feel in your heart about these things? Does it move you or doesn't it touch you?

What else can we expect and ask for but that God will show us grace. What can we do young people? God narrows it down to one thing only that He has the cure and we must get it from Him. There is no other solution. We might look left and right for solutions, but our help only comes from the Lord (Ps 121:1-2).

Nothing will help but that we humble ourselves and part from sin. May this word be inscribed on your heart.

You've heard and seen God's work and word. Woe to you if you do not do according to this word. May God work among us.

A glorious future (part 2) - Sermon Index