A FUTURE AND A HOPE (II)

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Text: Jer.29:11-14; 31:17

Concerning Joseph, please note the following:

(a) He knew what his future would or should be, so he refused to accept a burial site in Egypt. Of all his brothers – direct sons of Jacob, he is the only one according to bible records that was not buried in Egypt. If you receive and go further to understand your promise, you will do and take steps that you ordinarily would not have; people may call you names before they see your success but you will press on because you have the promise which actually is your future.
(b)He was able to muster and release the faith needed to apprehend :-

Heb 11:22

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
c. Through the promise, he was able to receive and extra in heritance for his children’s children i.e extra land –

Josh 24:32
32 The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, and which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph.

7. David: – God promised David one of his sons will succeed him –
1 Chron 17:11-14
11 And it shall be, when your days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12 He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
13 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.
14 And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.”‘”
2 Chron 1:8-9
9 Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
It was fulfilled. His future was in God’s promise to him. This was why Solomon was preserved by God inspite of all he did. He had the promise of a guaranteed future.

8. Solomon:
2 Chron 11:11-13
11 And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.
12 Also in every city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 And from all their territories the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him.

Here he received a promise from God about a prosperous future and a reference point in history. They were all fulfilled in vv.14-17. His future was played out in his promise.

9. THE SHIP Mk.4:35 kjv –Jesus said “Let us Passover,” inspite of the storm, the ship therefore became unsinkable.

10. Apostle Peter: –
John 21:18-19
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
His future was in His promise. Peter was an old man before he was martyred.

CONCLUSION

From our text, when they believed and received this promise of a future and a hope, the power of God was released into their lives and circumstances to produce the following effects:
a. It ushered in an end to their captivity and oppression.
b. It restored their fortunes including all they had lost in the past –Psm.126:1-2.
c. Rescued them from where they were alienated and being treated as nobodies.
d. Brought them into a place of peace – their own land.
Your promise can deliver this and more for you. Remember

1 Cor. 2:9-10

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.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

Dr. Udoh
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