God Has A Plan
Have you ever wondered how the universe, the world and all things created came into existence? Who’s behind it? God had and always has had a plan. Let us go to the bible, it answers this question.
In the Beginning…
Have the congregation stand and ask them to read the Word of God with you:
Genesis 1:1-5 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw the light, that [it was] good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
Have them be seated. The bible is the most accurate account of this world that exists.
Evolution is a LIE!!
Genesis 1:26-31 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His [own] image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." And God said, "See, I have given you every herb [that] yields seed which [is] on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which [there is] life, [I have given] every green herb for food"; and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed [it was] very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Genesis 2:1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
OVERVIEW:
First day – light
Second day – sky and water
Third day – land, seas and vegetation
Fourth day – Sun, moon, stars (to govern the day and night and to mark seasons, days and years)
Fifth day – fish and birds (to fill the water and the skies)
Sixth day – created animals to fill the earth and Man and woman to care for the earth and to commune with God.
Seventh day – God rested and declared all that He created was good.
So if it was all good, what happened? God has a plan!
Genesis 2:15-17 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
Revelation 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Genesis 3:4-6 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, that it [was] pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make [one] wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:14-19 So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You [are] cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire [shall be] for your husband, And he shall rule over you." Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ’You shall not eat of it’: "Cursed [is] the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat [of] it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you [are], And to dust you shall return."
Judgment came because of sin in the world
Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every intent of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
Genesis 6:12-13 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
Genesis 6:17 -18 And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which [is] the breath of life; everything that [is] on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you (Noah); and you shall go into the ark--you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
Genesis 9:1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
Through Noah and his descendants the world was repopulated.
Sin separates you from God
Isaiah 59:1-3 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden [His] face from you, So that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.
James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Gal. 5:19-20 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told [you] in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Rom 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
God’s Law
Tim’s Testimony – asked Jesus to save me - and gave Jesus my heart
Old Covenant: The Old Covenant originated in the Old Testament, God knows all… He knows everything… He knew man would sin… He knew we needed the laws to point out our sin nature and that we needed a Savior.
Ten Commandments Exodus 20:3-17 (1) "You shall have no other gods before Me. (2) "You shall not make for yourself a carved image” (3) "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain” (4) "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (5) "Honor your father and your mother.” (6) "You shall not murder” (7) "You shall not commit adultery.” (8) "You shall not steal.” (9) "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (10) "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
New Covenant: God wrote the ten commandment laws on the hearts of all people. Even unbelievers know that it isn’t right or good to steal, murder, lie, commit adultery or envy what others have. There was no way that anyone could be reconciled to God by trying to keep “the Law”… we all fall short... there is none righteous… no not one. God is pure and holy He can not look upon sin… He knew we needed a Savior. A LOVE RELATIONSHIP
Gal. 3:24-25 Therefore the law was our tutor [to bring us] to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Prophesy of the coming Messiah
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Matthew 1:22-23 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."
Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
Salvation
GOD’S PLAN FOR MANS SALVATION – God’s plan to reconcile man to himself
God’s heart for man, IS TO BE SAVED
1John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Eze 36:25-27 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do [them].
1 Cor 15:3-4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures
John 1:29… "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (With a picture of Christ on the cross)
God’s Kingdom to Come
Rev 21:1-8 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Rev 21:22-23 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb [is] its light.
Rev 22:6-7 Then he said to me, "These words [are] faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed [is] he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
Rev 22:12-15 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward [is] with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, [the] Beginning and [the] End, the First and the Last." Blessed [are] those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside [are] dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Rev 22:16-17 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Rev 22:20-21 Surely I come quickly, amen, even so, come Lord Jesus, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen
Summary:
• In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
• Judgment came because of sin in the world – the Flood
• Sin separates you from God
• Old Covenant – the law was our tutor
• New Covenant – not under the law no need for a tutor
• Salvation – repent, confess your sins and believe
• His Return – New Heaven – New Earth – Forever & ever
• You shall be my people and I will be your God
Amen
