God’s Has A Plan
8/23/09
Good morning and thank you for choosing to worship with us today here at Central.
It is our desire that you enjoy the warmth and fellowship of the people of God, that you have a life changing experience with God, and that you discover the plan He has for your life.
Let’s make our profession together, this is my bible, God’s holy word, it is a lamp …
ILLUSTRATION
When Kirk and Brandon were young, I, like many Dad’s, spent countless hours with them showing them how to catch, throw and hit a baseball.
I would pitch to them, work with them off a T-ball stand and swing a ball on a rope to them teaching them hand to eye coordination.
They could knock the cover off a baseball.
Kirk was a vacuum cleaner at shortstop, he didn’t miss a ball.
Brandon could stab a ball down then third base line.
I spent years coaching them and teaching them.
I called it, “My Retirement Plan.”
They would turn professional and rake in millions and take care of Dad for the rest of his life.
I thought it was a pretty good plan, don’t you?
One thing I failed to consider, “Was it possible that they could have had a much better coach?”
Where did my plan get us?
Kirk and Brandon are going to school, working and trying to eek out a living and I am saving all I can to prepare for retirement.
Things do not always go as we plan.
Have things ever gone a different way than you had planned?
Turn in your bible with me this morning to the book of Jeremiah, the 29th chapter, and verse 1-11.
While you are turning there, does anyone still remember the first quarterback for the new expansion team called the Houston Texans?
#8 David Carr
David Carr spoke a few years ago at the South Texas Assemblies of God Men’s Ministries banquet at District Council.
I sent Brandon to get every NFL football he could so I could get his autograph on them as an investment to sell when he became famous.
Another bad plan. But we do have a diehard David Carr fan here this morning.
She has an autographed David Carr Jersey that is of no value either except to show her how much her husband loves her.
April Klinkerman, I want to give you this David Carr autographed football that has a value of; let’s just say that Marlys and I love you.
Jeremiah 29: 4-11 NIV
4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.
10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I want to speak to those this morning that are going through difficult circumstances and are questioning, I don’t know why?
• I’ve done what seemed to be the right thing.
• I have been a good and hardworking employee.
• I have been a good and faithful husband or wife.
• I have given of my tithes and offering.
• I have done my best to take care of my physical body.
• I have been good to my family and friends and treated them the way that I would want to be treated.
We need to remember, the same clouds that bring shade, coolness, and breeze can also bring thunder, lightning, and rain.
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1. When God says yes, but we are thinking No!
I have never met anybody who I believe truly enjoy trials and tribulation in their lives, although at times it’s questionable.
We all want roses all the way, not all along the way.
Yet, God not only allows struggles to come our way, sometimes He brings them to us in many forms and fashions.
v. 4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, v. 7 I have carried you into exile.
Now that will just lick the sweet off your candy, won’t it?
I remember when I was struggling saying yes to the calling of God on my life.
I had a great job making plenty of money.
I didn’t have a care in the world. If I needed a little more money, all I had to do was work some doubles and it would be there.
I had a great wife, three children, life was good except for one thing, the Lord just would not leave me alone.
He kept dealing with me about the ministry.
I said, nope God, I’ve got it good and I like things just like they are.
He told me through a prophetic word, “You know that good job that you have become so comfortable with and dependant on, I gave it to you and I can take it away from you.”
God’s plan was a futuristic plan for my life, but I spent several years in the incubator of His time.
Just because things are going great, it does not mean that you are in God’s perfect plan, it can be a place of blessing leading to His plan.
Also, just because things seem to be falling apart, that does not mean that you are out of His will or His plan.
2. Difficult times can lend to prosperous Purposes.
So often, we view road-blocks and speed bumps as difficulties when they can be there to make us observe better.
"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
Life of Joseph.
If we knew the final plan of God for our life we would interfere with it by trying to help it happen.
Joesph:
• Joseph’s told his brother about the dream where they were binding sheaves of grain out in the field and one stalk rose up and the others bowed down to it.
• He then told them about another dream where the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to him.
• He was then hated by his brothers, thrown into a pit and sold as a slave to a band of Ishmaelite and taken to Egypt and sold as a slave.
• Made a servant in Potiphars house, but the Lord was with him and he prospered and was elevated him to be the head on Potiphar’s home.
• Lied on and thrown into Prison, but even in prison, God’s favor was on him and the prison warden gave him charge over all of the prisoners.
• Finally He is made to be the governor over all of Egypt. Only Pharaoh had more power than Joseph.
How was it that an Israelite became the second most powerful man in all of Egypt?
Even those who wronged him were subject to him.
How do you react when things go contrary to the way you think they should go?
The word of God tells us how to respond.
Increase, seek peace and prosperity, pray for your company, when they prosper, you prosper.
Pray for your marriage, when it prospers, you prosper.
Pray for your family, when they prosper, you prosper.
Pray for your relationships in life, when they prosper, you prosper.
Pray for your church, when it prospers, you prosper.
3. Remember, things happen as a part of God’s Plan.
v. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 8:28 NIV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
God has a plan, and you cannot alter it and enjoy fulfillment, happiness, peace, and prosperity in life.
ILLUSTRATION
Dr. Clarke – The ENT that I use.
His father was a Veterinarian and wanted him to become a Physician.
He did not want to go to school for that many years so he got a degree as a Chemical Engineer.
After a few years, he discovered that the plan he choose was not offering him the things that he desired out of life, so he worked as a Chemical Engineer and went to medical school to get his education to become a physician.
He has been a doctor for many years now and enjoys what he is doing and has found fulfillment and purpose in life.
Israel was taken captive by Babylon and king Nebuchadnezzar because they turned their back on God.
They were going to be captive for 70 years, but it was not a 70 year punishment, just a delay.
During this time they were in God’s incubator for His future plan for them.
God’s plan was not to harm them, but to give them a hope and a future.
While in the incubator they were to marry, to increase in number, peace, prosperity, and to spend time in prayer because God had a plan for their future.
