God Fulfills His Plans And Strengthens You :: Philippians 4:13 Jeremiah 29:11
Sebastian Gambill, Ian Bergman, Liam Harding ... dear brothers and sisters in Christ ... Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Hear the Word of the Lord for you this confirmation day. From Jeremiah 29:11 ... I myself know the plans I have devised for you, declares YHWH, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a latter time and a hope. And from Philippians 4:13: I have all strength in the one strengthening me.
[Introduction]
We need to begin with this reminder, something you should never forget: You are baptized.
That’s what today is all about ... You are baptized. It’s not that you were baptized ... perhaps in this font. You are baptized. Baptism is a present reality. Baptism is an on-going reality. Baptism is a gift of God. He has baptized you. And he keeps you in baptism. There is one faith, one hope, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and in all (Php 4:5-6).
Today is a day to remember this. Confirmation Day is a Day of Remembrance ... nothing more ... Nothing less. This is not a graduation day. This is a day you confirm the faith given to you in baptism. In just a few minutes ... OK, maybe in 15 ... you will stand before God and this congregation, and you will answer this exact question ... it’s on page 272 of the [Lutheran Service Book] ... if you want to look. ... Do you this day, in the presence of God and of this congregation acknowledge the gifts that God gave you in your Baptism?
And you will say, Yes, I do.
That is you will acknowledge first: You have received ... and continue to receive ... the forgiveness of sins ... forgiveness for all your disobedience ... for all your pride ... for every moment of neglect or laziness. Your sin is all gone. As God teaches us in Romans ... you who are baptized have been baptized into the death of Christ Jesus. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, in this way also we might walk in newness of life (Rm 6:3-4). ... We know that our old man was crucified (Rm 6:6). All of you who are baptized have been set free. Christ Jesus has paid the price of your sin, shedding his blood on the cross, dying on the cross, and most importantly, rising into eternal life. His resurrection is now your resurrection. This is what you are confirming ... or for everyone else who is listening ... reconfirming.
You will also acknowledge that you have received the Holy Spirit ... that you have become a beloved child of God with the privilege of calling God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit your Savior.
And you will ... like the rest of the congregation ... will acknowledge that you have received these promises that we read from Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13 are God’s promises to you. He says, I know the plans I have devised for you ... plans for peace and not for evil, to give you the end of hope. ... And now, I have all strength in the one strengthening me.
4.
When Jeremiah first penned his words, he did so in a letter to the exiles in Babylon. Because of their sin and disobedience, God had expelled them from Jerusalem into a foreign land. Therefore, the people needed to hear these words ... because they were upset ... depressed ... sad ... frustrated ... every other negative emotion you can think of. Many wondered where God was. Many wonder why they had faith.
So God reminded them of his promises ... his plans. He never breaks his promises.
Jeremiah wrote these words of God for the exiles to remind them of this truth to provide encouragement ... strength ... and thus increase their faith under trial. Jeremiah wrote his letter so that they would not forget that God still cares for you ... that he alone strengthens you ... that he is the One who has his eyes and heart toward you. The world doesn’t. But God does. Listen again: I know the plans I have devised for you ... plans for peace and not for evil, to give you the end of hope.
After 70 years in exile, God’s plans became a reality. The people made their way back to Jerusalem with hearts wrapped up in repentance and faith and new strength in the God who loved them. He did not fail Judah. He brought them back to the land of promise.
3.
And he won’t fail you. God sent His Son into the world that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Then he baptized you. This is why Paul was able to say so confidently in Philippians 4:13: I have all strength in the one strengthening me. Your life is secure in him for eternity ... because this Jesus, who was crucified, has risen from the dead.
Jesus is your strength.
Because you are baptized, you are in him. As Paul tells us in Galatians, I have been crucified in Christ. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now in the flesh, I live in the faith of the son of God, the one who loves me and has given himself on behalf of me (2:19b-20).
This is how he strengthens you so that you will keep your ear always turned toward him, listening for his Gospel ... the good announcement of what Christ has done for you, what Christ is still doing for you, what Christ will do for you in the end. Don’t stop listening for his Gospel ... seeking him with your whole heart ... seeking him in repentance ... trusting him that, by the work of Jesus, your sins are forgiven.
2.
My young brothers, because God loves you, he peeked your interest in these verses. From here on out you three should keep these verses upon your heart and on your lips as a reminder of God’s steadfast love to you. Write your verse down. Keep it by your bedside so that every evening and every morning you are reminded: The Lord knows plans he is devising for you ... plans for peace and not for evil ... giving you hope. ... giving you ... all strength in the one strengthening [you].
Remember that ... because as everyone here can tell you ... life is not easy. Like Jerusalem in exile, you will have times of frustration and trial. You will be tempted to wonder if God really loves you. You will have earthly hopes dashed and periods of physical, mental, and spiritual poverty. You may find yourself wondering if God’s plans are being carried out?
But now you know the answer. The plans of the Lord for you are for peace and not evil. The plans of the Lord are to strengthen you in Jesus ... to keep you in Jesus ... to keep you refreshed. And he does this in baptism. He does this with and through his word. He does this by feeding you the bread of heaven and giving you the cup of salvation to drink. In his means of grace, through his Divine Service ...
GOD FULFILLS HIS PLANS AND STRENGTHENS YOU
1.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, your Lord Jesus exiled himself from the beauties of heaven and became man to bring this truth to reality. Your Lord Jesus Christ exiled himself from life, giving himself into death on the cross for your sin. Your Lord Jesus Christ exiled himself from the land of the living ... resting for three days in the tomb. And just as importantly, never forget this aspect of the Gospel, Your Lord Jesus Christ has risen, ascended, and is coming again.
So seek him with all your heart, knowing his ear is turned toward you ... hearing your complaints and your prayers.
Seek him with all your soul, knowing he will find you.
Seek him in his Divine Service, knowing he will serve you.
Give Christ the full bucket of your sin.
Give Jesus all your burdens, pressures, and hardships.
Keep both Jeremiah’s and Paul’s letters upon your heart and on your lips.
[Conclusion]
He will give you eternal life .... because ...
When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appears, he saved us ... not because of works done by us in righteousness ... but according to his mercy through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified in his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4-7).
To Him be all your hope, joy, and confidence ... now and forevermore ... in Jesus’ name.