The Prevailing Purpose of God

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jeremy FreemanJeremy Freeman, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Newcastle, Oklahoma, shared about the prevailing purpose of God in chapel at Southeastern on Oct. 16.

Freeman is a member of the Board of Trustees at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Freeman shared about the impact of his son, Trey, who died at the age of seven on Sept. 1, 2013. Trey was one of Freeman and his wife, Emily’s, five children.

Trey was born with an autoimmune disease and lived a normal, healthy life for six years until he was diagnosed with leukemia. “We called him ‘Super Trey’ because he fought with such endurance,” Freeman said.

Recently, Freeman ran the Chicago marathon in Trey’s honor.

Freeman spoke on John 11 when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

He focused on the purpose of God, especially in the midst of suffering. “We’ve had the highest of highs and lowest of lows,” he said.

Freeman questioned the students about what is the purpose of life.

“The purpose of our life is to bring glory to God,” he said. “God likes to bring glory to himself in ways that are often hard or difficult.”

He believes a Christian’s greatest desire should be for God to do whatever he needs to do to bring glory to himself. “God often does things in ways that are counter to what we think,” he added. “His ways and purposes are always best.”

He urged students to remember that God has a purpose for everything. “God operates on a perfect and sovereign timetable,” he said. “Our God is up to greater things than we could ever know or see.”

Students were called to embrace God’s purpose by faith. “When we miss God’s purpose, it can lead us to very frustrating places,” he said. “When we walk by faith we have a God-given peace and comfort in our soul.”

“God is always at work, he is always doing something greater, which is why we have to continue to trust him,” Freeman said.

“In a sinful, fallen world, bad things will happen,” he said. “Your worst nightmare can come true.”

Freeman described Trey’s sensitive heart to the Lord and the Gospel. On Jan. 8, 2013 Trey repented of his sin, confessed Christ as Lord and asked Jesus to be the boss of his life.

“If the only reason for Trey’s suffering was for him to find Christ, than it was worth it,” Freeman said.

“As Trey was close to going to Heaven, he asked his mom, ‘Am I going to die?’ She responded, ‘you are not going to die but to live.”

Freeman said that “God gave my wife tremendous words.”

He shared about the way in which God was weeping and grieving alongside them after Trey’s death. “I am convinced that Jesus was weeping because he hates the effect of a fallen world way more than we do,” he said. “God does not enjoy our pain; He wants to and will make all things new.”

Freeman highlighted ways in which God used Trey’s life as many came to faith through his untimely death.

“When I look through the eyes of faith, God is using my son in ways I can’t imagine,” he said. “I stand here by the grace of God because Jesus is the resurrection and the life.”

To watch this message online, please click here.

To view photos from chapel, please click here.

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