Sermon Central
-
God Sticks To His Plans! Series
Contributed by Paul Clemente on Nov 5, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: God will respond to people’s concerns but will always stick to His perfect plan!
In the Book of Isaiah Chapter 14, we can read God’s plans for Israel. Verse 24 of Isaiah 14 states, The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.” God told the prophet Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
How many of you believe that God has a specific plan for each one of us?? Absolutely!!
God speaks and lays out His plans for you and me in the Bible. Now, we have God’s own Words in our hands but God has given each one of us a free will to choose. Why should we follow God’s plans??
God is always right!
God is our Creator and Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the author and perfecter of our faith! And the main reason why God has laid out His plans for us is God loves us and desires the best for us, even while here on earth, and for eternity in heaven!
God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! Several thousands of years ago, God spoke to Abraham about His plans and this same God speaks to us today as well. Please open your Bibles to Genesis Chapter 17; let us read v15-27……….
Abraham was told of God’s plans for Sarai (v15-16):
- From Sarai to Sarah, meaning Princess
- Sarah will be blessed
- Sarah will be a mother of her own son
- Sarah will be a mother of many nations
- Many Kings will come from Sarah
Remember, Sarah was barren. Abraham and Sarah were trying to have a baby for over 30 years!!
To Abraham and Sarah, having a child of their own was an impossibility! What an awesome God who can do the impossible! What awesome plans God had for this woman Sarah!
How can people say that God is a male chauvinist? God had great plans through a woman named Sarah!! Billions of people would not be on this earth if it weren’t for Sarah and God!
Now, how did Abraham respond to this plan of God?
Look again at v17……………
Abraham worshiped God by falling facedown.
We also note that Abraham laughed while he was worshiping God! Now, was Abraham laughing at God? Was Abraham laughing at himself? Was he laughing because he was trying to be funny, like many of us preachers? What kind of laugh was that?
Later on we will note Sarah laughing, which is a laugh of unbelief. Abraham’s laugh was not a laugh of unbelief. What kind of a laugh was it??
Abraham laughed because he was amazed at what God can do!! It was a laugh of amazement! As Abraham worshiped God and he said to himself, WOW God, you’re amazing!!
We have an amazing God who has plans for each one of us! Are you wowed by God? Aren’t there things everyday that we can experience and see how amazing God is? Just the other day as I was meeting with a gentleman outside, I noticed how beautiful the colors right in front of us; the blue sky, the green grass, the yellow, orange, and brown leaves on the trees, the glow from people’s faces walking by, the smiles from little children…….I had to stop our talking and just had to say, what a beautiful, awesome God we have! Thank you God!!
I encourage you on a daily basis to look for this amazing God.
You will find God on a daily basis!
And we have an amazing God who has plans for each one of us!
Now, did you notice what else Abraham did?
Look again at v18 of Genesis 17……………….
Abraham talked to God about his son Ishmael. Abraham prayed!
Remember who Ishmael was? Abraham and Sarah decided to go ahead of God and had a child through an Egyptian servant named Hagar. Ishmael was already 13 years old at this time. Abraham prayed and pleaded for God’s blessings on Ishmael. Abraham loved his son and was concerned for him! Parents, are we praying and pleading for our children?
Does God answer prayers?
Let’s look again at v19-21………
- God affirmed His plans through Sarah
- God answered Abraham’s prayer and promised to bless the descendants of Ishmael!
Abraham prayed a specific prayer and God answered specifically! God expresses His love by answering good prayers!
Now, who are the descendants of Ishmael??
Have you wondered why the Arab nations have most of the oil? The Arab Nations are blessed even today with all their riches, in population and in wealth!
