“It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you.”
Pope John Paul II
Passage
11‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
12‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
14‘I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’
Jeremiah 29:11–14 (NASB95)
"Christ's hands gesturing towards his heart, with glow, thorns, cross - no matter how much someone hurts you, return only love, paint worn off from pilgrims touching & having conversations, Our Lady of Peace church & shrine, Silicon Valley, California, USA" by Wonderlane is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Background
Quote-Pope John Paul II born Karol Józef Wojtyła [ˈkarɔl ˈjuzɛv vɔjˈtɨwa]; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005 was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his death in 2005.
Cardinal Wojtyła was elected pope on the third day of the second papal conclave of 1978. Wojtyła adopted the name of his predecessor in tribute to him. Born in Poland, John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in the 16th century and the second longest-serving pope after Pius IX in modern history. John Paul II attempted to improve the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was one of the most travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. By the time of his death, he had named most of the College of Cardinals, consecrated or co-consecrated many of the world's bishops, and ordained many priests. He has been credited with helping to end Communist rule in his native Poland and the rest of Europe.
Passage-The book of Jeremiah is Prophetic Oracle and Narrative History, although not completely in chronological order. The prophet Jeremiah wrote it sometime during his ministry about 626-586 B.C.
Its purpose was to warn of the destruction that they were about to face and to urge Judah to return and submit to God. Jeremiah was a priest who God calls to be His prophet. Jeremiah identifies their sins and treachery, as he wants them to realize the serious condition of their sinful ways. He then gives prophecies of the coming king and the New Covenant that would be made.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
Albert Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Dave Ramsey’s version says if you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. The implication here is we aren’t willing to change, but what if we’ve tried everything and nothing we can think of is working on the situation we are in? What then?
Ask: Are we asking the right questions, and what does that mean?
Point: Re-read verse twelve of Today’s Passage.
12Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 (NASB95)
Ask: It says God, “…will listen to you.” So, why hasn’t my situation changed if He has heard my prayers?
Point: Hearing does not mean fulfilling. He has listened to decide what to do.
Ask: Why didn’t He decide to do what I asked Him to do?
Point: Please read the following:
6“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
7“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
9“Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
John 15:6–10 (NASB95)
Ask: I think I’m doing what I’m supposed to do so why aren’t my prayers being answered?
Point: If you’ve tried everything you can think of, asked God for guidance but aren’t perceiving an answer it is time to change up the approach.
6“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:6–8 (NASB95)
Ask: How does that scripture relate to asking the wrong questions and not getting the answer I wanted or expected from God?
Point: If we believe we are worthy of receiving the answers we asked for in prayer but are not we need to re-evaluate what we are asking for, why, and our heart position.
Ask: How do we do that?
Point: Please read the following:
14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2 Timothy 2:14–16 (KJV)
Ask: How does studying truth (the Bible) get me to the right answers so God answers my prayers?
Point: I cannot promise that it does. If you’ve tried everything you can think of and your prayers have not been answered, then something needs to change or be done differently somewhere.
26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:26–28 (KJV)
Ask: There is a key point in that passage on how the Holy Spirit works with God on our behalf. What is it?
Point: Re-read verse twenty-seven please.
27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:27 (KJV)
Ask: “…he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” What does that mean, “…according to the will of God?”
Point: God only provides what we seek if it is in line with His plan for our life the direction of which we can see in hindsight.
Ask: I do not understand how my current struggles or those I see coming can be in line with His plan for my life?
Point: This is a hard one. I cannot answer this. Only God and the Holy Spirit can as each of us search His Word for the things we personally need to move closer to His Son, Jesus.
Ask: I don’t understand how me moving closer to Jesus is the way to solve or resolve the storm I’m in or see coming.
Point: Please read the following:
1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
4“And you know the way where I am going.”
5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
John 14:1–7 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
I don’t know what your life is going through right now, what you see on the horizon, or what may be hidden and yet in store. Each of us struggles with things that are different. Some manage the things we struggle with better than we do while we carry what other people struggle as though it weren’t a burden at all. We are here as the body of Christ to help carry those burdens with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Do not be the person who struggles in silence nor be the one who walks alone. We are to be here for each other in love. That is the fulfilment of the law and the prophets.