Keion Henderson - The Security Blanket

Go with me to Jeremiah chapter 29, verse number 11. Jeremiah chapter 29, verse number 11: «For I know the plans I have for you,» says the Lord, «plans for good thoughts and not for evil, to give you an expected end.» One translator says, «I know what I have planned for you,» says the Lord; «I have plans.» The King James Version states, «Plans for peace,» while the New English Translation says, «Plans to prosper.» Both of them say that He does not intend to harm you; He has plans to give you an expected end. Can I tell you that the way this thing ends is already planned? This will not be a circumstantial ending where everything just lines up; no, it’s planned. I wanted to call this sermon «It’s Planned,» but the Lord showed me something else as I was studying it. When Jeremiah wrote this text, see, here is the thing about reading the Bible: you must always read a text in context. Any text that is read out of context is what theologians call a pretext. This means you can’t get mad at God if a scripture doesn’t deliver something you expected if you take it out of context. This text is not for us to proclaim; we proclaim it like, «You know God, I know the plans for you,» so that means we’re really saying, «God, keep us out of trouble and don’t let this happen to us .» But when He wrote this text, they were already in trouble. They were in trouble, and when God gave it to them, He said, " I’m not taking you out of the trouble; you’re going to learn how to deal with it.» This is why I wanted to call this sermon «The Security Blanket.» So, everybody, on your way down to your seat, say, «God is about to give you a security blanket.» You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. At the time of the text, Israel is in Babylonian captivity. You will remember that there arose an evil, arrogant king whose name was Nebuchadnezzar. This is the guy who threw Daniel into the lion’s den; he was the one who put the Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace. And remember, this was the guy who built a golden statue and told everybody they had to worship it. If they did not, what would happen? They 'd be thrown into the fiery furnace. And Nebuchadnezzar said, «We’re not going to bow, for our God is able to protect us.» They followed it up with what I believe are some of the best words in the entire scripture: «But if not.» See, because most of us use our texts in the Bible as a way to keep the devil at bay, because we don’t want to go through trouble. But God says, «I’m not always going to take you out of the fiery furnace; sometimes I’m going to let you go through it. I’m going to give you a security blanket.» It’s like a child in the room, and I say, «I’m turning the lights off; I’m not giving you a nightlight. I’m not keeping the door open. You 're going to sleep by yourself, and here’s something for you to hold on to so that you can feel safe until I come get you in the morning.» I’m not going to take you out of the lion’s den, Daniel, but what I will do is give the lions lockjaw and ensure that on the day you’re in there, they have no appetite for human flesh. Paul and Silas, I’m not going to keep you from prison-you’re going-but I’m going to give you a security blanket called prayer and praise. Just hold on to it until I shake the place and the doors fly open; you’ll be alright. Jonah, I’m not going to protect you from the whale, but what I will do is give you a security blanket called prayer and praise. When you use it on the fourth day, the whale will spit you out. We want God to protect us from our pain, but pain teaches something that prosperity lacks on its itinerary. I could guarantee that there are at least 300 people here who will admit that their pain taught them more than their prosperity. Well, am I talking to you? Divorce taught you that you can work it out on your own. Being a single mother taught you that you 're stronger than you thought. Losing a parent let you know that God is a father and a mother. Oh, I wish I could tell you my two favorite words as they relate to God: «He’s able.» Not only is He able, but He’s able to keep you from falling, and He will present you before the only wise God, our Father. He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly.

Now, I want to tell you, and I don’t want to be messy, nor is it my intent to be facetious or to give you capricious information, but it is true that any time God is about to do something, you will encounter somebody who falsifies their documents and pretends they are speaking for Him. Have you ever noticed that you rarely get a prophet in your life when things are going well? You normally get someone to prophesy when you’re at your lowest times. I’m waiting for the prophecy when I’m doing well. I don’t just want to hear, «God told me in 30 days your pain is going to go away.» Prophesy to me and tell me God told me to tell you that you won’t have any more sorrow.