THE THREE FEARS OF CAPTIVITY

JEREMIAH 29:10-14

INTRODUCTION

So many of us are stuck in the captivity of life. When someone is in the captivity of life, he/she cannot see or hear from God. The heavens are shut and the earth becomes dry of hope. When we think about hope and the future, Jeremiah 29:11-14, comes to mind. The human heart needs hope and a firm promise from above. The passage of scripture we are looking at this morning gives us a cure for three fears of being in Captivity. Some of you may be battling the three fears of captivity right now. God gives us hope and a good future.

Let us learn:-

I.  THE FEAR OF LONELINESS OR ABANDONMENT (29:10-11)

• Captivity is a physical, social, spiritual, mental, psychological detention by force.
• The people of Judah sinned day after day and God allowed them to be given in captivity in Babylon.
• False prophets were spreading rumours that the captivity would be very short, but Jeremiah told them 70yrs.
• Jeremiah writes to assure Judah of God’s care and future.
• Anyone without Godly direction would begin to fear.
• The first fear many go through is loneliness.

Loneliness:

1. A depressing feeling of being alone, lonesome.
2. Destitute of friendly companionship.
3. Lone, solitary, without company, companionless.
4. Remote from places of human habitation, desolate.

• Loneliness is a feeling and a disease in this world.

Dangers of loneliness

• Friendship is a lot like food, we need it to survive.
• Inclusion in group life and relationship is a fundamental need- we are truly social animals.
• Life itself is a challenge that needs friends.
• When our need for social relationship is not met, we fall apart mentally and even physically.
• Physically, loneliness brings stress, hormonal imbalance, erosion of arteries, high blood pressure, loss of learning and memory.
• Loneliness is a distress- deficiency of relationships brings sadness-isolation.
• Loneliness is a power whose mission is to make sure people’s destiny and potential are wasted and rendered useless. Your destiny is your divine assignment on earth.
• Loneliness in children leads to delinquency and antisocial behaviour.
• Loneliness in adults leads to depression and alcoholism.
• God says, “He will not forsake you or leave you” (Heb.13:5)
• Realize God is thinking about you-somebody thinking about you is great news.

II.  THE FEAR OF DISPAIR (Jeremiah 29:11)

• Despair is loss of all hope, to be overcome by a sense of futility or defeat.
• People of despair believe the world is over as we know it. Despair leads to lack of hope, no reason to live, suicide.
• God will give you hope when you seek Him.
• Fight despair and hopelessness with God’s word.
• Seek Him, praise Him, God is not done with you yet.

III.  THE FEAR OF HOPELESSNESS (Psalm 42:5-11)

• David cried out in his hopelessness.
• God has a plan for you. You are not an accident.
• You are a child of destiny.

CONCLUSION:

• God has good plans for us.
• God will bless us and our children.
• God will fulfil the desires of our hearts.
• God will meet our needs and fight all our battles.
• God has been faithful to our fathers, let us be steadfast in our faith.
• God thoughts for us are personal, peaceful and prospective- Giving us hope in our future.