Wise Plans Series

Making Plans God’s Way

I. Introduction

A. The Would Be Cadet

1. A young man from Wisconsin traveled to West Point to enter the Military Academy.

2. To get there, the young man spent two months walking and riding on freight trains.

3. The young man had a great and sincere desire to be trained at West Point and to serve his country as a soldier.

4. Upon arrival he was asked to present the necessary documents to gain entrance to the barracks.

5. Not having the papers, he was denied entrance. He made the long trip home dejected and ashamed.

B. In order to succeed in life it takes…

1. Desire

2. Diligence

3. Determination

C. Before success however comes planning (Your own or some else)

1. Your banquet tonight for example took planning.

2. When making plans we usually rely on…

a) Personal Experiences

b) Personal Preferences

c) Advice from other

3. God is One who must not be left out of planning

a) James 4:15 – “If the Lord wills.”

b) Proverbs 16:9 – “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

D. As we consider planning for the future let us rely more on God than self.

II. In order to make godly plans we must…

A. Have Faith

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

2. With Faith, we show we belong to God and we please Him

a) Those who are not God’s children are motivated by the flesh – Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 2:1-3

b) We must remember we are bought with a price – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

c) Hebrews 11:6 – “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.

3. As children of His, God has a plan for us

a) God desires us to please Him in our lives by…

i) Ephesians 2:10 – “Created for good works”

ii) Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13 – Finishing the work He started

iii) Acts 10:38 – Following the example of Jesus

b) We please Him in faithfulness to Him and His commands

4. Faith allows us to believe that God’s plans are best for us

a) God wants only the best for His children – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

b) We should not fear or try to resists God’s will but seek it.

5. Faith in God assures us that God’s will is revealed on His time

a) Through faith and patience we receive God’s promises – Hebrews 6:12-15

b) Proverbs 19:2 – “It is not good for a soul to be without knowledge and he sins who hastens with his feet.”

c) Psalms 32:9 – “Do not be like the horse or the mule.”

d) Psalms 31:15 – “My times are in Your hands.” – David speaking

B. We must be committed to God

1. Knowing and obeying the will of God can not be half-hearted. – 1 John 2:2f

2. Like Timothy, we are to give ourselves over to Him – 1 Timothy 4:15

3. The Macedonians gave themselves first to the Lord – 2 Corinthians 8:5

4. In Proverbs, the wise man makes many references to obedient commitment

a) Proverbs 13:13 – “He who respects a command is rewarded.”

b) Proverbs 7:1 – “My son keep my words and treasure my commands within you.”

c) Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.”

5. We must obey all God’s commands not just part of them

C. We must be willing to accept instruction

1. Faith in God comes by hearing His instructions – Romans 10:17

2. Proverbs 9:9 – “Give instruction to a wise man and he will still be wiser. Teach a just man and he will increase in learning.”

3. Proverbs 4:13 – “Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go. Keep her, for she is your life.”

4. Proverbs 19:27 – “Cease listening to instruction my son and you will stray from the words of knowledge.”

5. Proverbs 8:24 – “Blessed is the man who listens to me.”

6. Proverbs 28:9 – “One who turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.” – The word law is from the Hebrew torah (instruction)

D. We must seek wise counsel from others

1. Proverbs 20:18 – “Plans are established by counsel.”

2. Proverbs 12:15 – “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.”

3. Where we find wise counsel

a) Christian Parents – “Listen to your father who begot you and do not despise your mother when she is old.” – Proverbs 23:22

b) Christian Friends –

i) “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” – Proverbs 27:17