God Had A Plan
GNLCC Pentecost 6/3/2001 Joel 2:28-32 Acts 1:1-11 Acts 2
In a football game, if you are down by two touchdowns at half-time and nothing you have tried seems to be working, when you go into the locker room what do you think is on the players minds as they look at the coach? Nobody is thinking about quitting or going home. Nobody is thinking it’s hopeless. The smart players are looking at the coach, and they are thinking, “I wonder what plan the coach has in mind for the second half.”
There is something about a plan that gives you a new found confidence. Sometimes even a bad plan is better than no plan at all. At least you can tell when it is not working. We need a plan in life if we hope to get from point A to point B and get there on time in the way God would have us do it.
Do you ever feel as though you know God wants you to get from point Y to point Z, but God forgot to tell you what the plan was? It can happen in a variety of ways. God gives you an assurance that He’s with you and then that day you lose your job. Or God tells you, “I’m about to do a work in your life” and later that week you or someone in your family gets some bad news from a doctor. Or you commit yourself to follow the Lord, and then some relationship you look forward to having just falls to pieces.
Now we know, God does not expect our lives to end, because of this calamity or circumstance. Yet we may feel as though God has not provided an adequate plan to get us further down the road. Even Christians can feel overwhelmed at times, but there is something about knowing that God has a plan that can give us a new found confidence. Peter was pretty embarrassed and humiliated after denying Christ. It really hurt when Jesus asked him three times, “Peter do you love me” . But when Jesus made it clear, he had future plans for Peter, Peter instantly became a new man with a new outlook.
We often think, “I can walk with God so long as certain things do not happen in my life.” If certain hardships, persecutions, losses or sicknesses come our way, the temptation is to think, God has forgotten about us. Why should we try to hang in there any longer. We forget God has already asked the question, “What can separate you from my love?”
God goes on to answer that question by saying , Rom 8:37-38 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. What God is saying in this passage, is that no matter, what He still has a plan for our lives. Even when we blow it, God still has a plan.
Pentecost is about God having a plan. God will often give us a task to do, before He provides us with the plan or details for carrying it out. This is a requirement if we are to walk in the realm of faith. You see if you have a plan in advance that will not fail, then there is no need for faith and no need to rely upon God. To truly walk with God, we have to urgently need God or we will simply come up with a plan on our own.
Let’s go back to our New Testament reading. Jesus has died and has been resurrected from the dead. He then spends about six weeks with his disciples. He’s providing convincing proofs to others that he is actually alive. Then He gives the disciple this message that they do not fully understand. He says, “Now I want you to wait in Jerusalem until you get from my Father, the gift you heard me speak about. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with Holy Spirit.”
Now the disciples knew that whatever this Holy Spirit was, it was going to do something for them, that had not been done before. They put their heads together and came up with the wrong answer. They figured, that if God was about to do something new in them, that must mean he was getting ready to change the circumstances around them. They got excited because now they thought, it’s our time to be on top with Jesus ruling over everybody. So they asked him, “Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel.” In other words, “are you about to kick out the Roman government and remove the hypocritical religious leaders and let us rule with you. Are we about to get the power.”
You know so often, when we think of God speaking to us, we believe it is going to make our lives easier. But a careful reading of the bible reveals that often when God speaks to us, God is about to equip us for something to go through in life. The disciples wanted to know, “Lord is this the time you’re going to ease up on the hard times we’ve been going through. Can we finally prove to the world we were right and they were wrong about you? Are you about to reveal your plan?
Jesus comes back and says, “it is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” Now the words for times here, the first word refers to duration of times, and the word for dates refers to length and different kinds of times for instance good times, hard times and bad times. Notice that God has a plan for all kind of times that come into our lives, but God has reserved some things about His plan just for Himself. We want to ask the question, “God why didn’t you tell me about this sooner, look at the mess I could have avoided. Or look at the good I could have done.” God is going to keep some things secret right up to the moment they happen. God’s plan again calls for an element of faith on our part. God, You know how and You know why, and for now we are just going to trust You.
Jesus then, turns the topic back to the major subject which isn’t how much longer do we suffer, but rather I’m going to do something in your life you would not think possible. He says, “ you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
Now the disciples had wanted a power that would put them in charge of their Roman oppressors. But Jesus tells them, there is a different kind of power you’re about to receive when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. The power we may look forward to receiving is not necessarily the kind of power God wants to impart into our lives from the Holy Spirit. When a person turns 18 in our society, he or she receives a certain kind of power from our system of laws. Along with added freedoms come additional responsibilities and accountability.
When the Holy Spirit comes upon our lives, we receive power that we did not have access to before. The only reason God provides us with supernatural power is to accomplish a task that’s been laid out in His plan. We are held accountable for whether or not we use the power in the way God intended for us to use it.
The Holy Spirit was coming up on the disciples for the purpose of them being witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Now we often read these verses quickly and we miss the enormity of what God had called them to do. But even worse, as soon as Jesus tells them, “here’s what I want you to do”, He takes off before giving them the plans on the how to do it. There they are watching Jesus go up into the heavens and then He’s gone. They are straining their best to see which way He went, to find out how He wanted them to do this. Two angels, finally tell them, you fellows are wasting your time looking up into the sky. You’ll know when He comes back without any problem seeing it whatsoever.
Let’s look at the enormity of the task given to the disciples. He told them they were going to be His witnesses. One of the reasons the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon us it to tell others what Jesus has done. Now the disciples for the most part were uneducated. Did Jesus really expect them to be able to take the gospel to the learned and highly educated Pharisees and Sadducees in Jerusalem. Did Jesus forget, that there were people in Judea who had wanted him killed? Was Jesus serious when he said racial prejudice would no longer be tolerated, they would have to go to Samaria and actually deal with those people they did not like?
Could the Holy Spirit actually cause them to risk their lives to go to people who they despised and who likewise despised them? Was Jesus serious when He said they were to take to the gospel all over the world? Didn’t he knew Judas had ran off with the treasury before he hung himself. Didn’t he know they were broke financially. Didn’t Jesus also know they knew the Greek and Aramaic language but that was about it. They did not have any language schools to attend to preach to people in far away places.
Once again, God had a plan, but they were going to have to have some faith. Do you know when we discover whether or not we have faith. It is not until we attempt to do something for God that is so big, that if God is not in it, it cannot succeed. I think of the faith of Jeff Moffett, who knew that death could come at any time for Him, yet He was committed to doing God’s will with whatever time and energy he had left.
As a church we have two major acts of faith which will only be completed if God is with us. We do not have the funds to complete the New Life Center. But God has a plan. We cannot make New Life Fellowship turn into a full sister church standing on its own. But God has a plan. We cannot see what God may be doing in our individual lives, and what he’s asking may seem impossible, but God has a plan. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us we shall be equipped to do whatever it is God is calling us to do.
Now when the disciples were trying to figure out, what strategy they should be using to launch this bold new initiative. Somebody pointed out that they should not even try this thing until they receive the power from the Holy Spirit. Somebody said, “well where are we going to go and get this Holy Spirit from.” Another soul spoke up and said, “Jesus specifically said we were to wait in Jerusalem and in a few days, we would be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So they left from up on the Mount of Olives and went back to the city to the upper room.
There were about 120 people who were gathering together for prayer waiting on the plan of God. The apostles, some other men, some women, Jesus’ mother and his brothers all were coming together for prayer. It is not possible to know the exact place they were meeting. In acts 2:2 it says on the day of Pentecost, the 120 were in a house waiting for the Holy Spirit by spending time in prayer. This word house also refers to the temple in Acts 7:47. So it’s possible that the 120 were either in the temple or in a house that was very open and close to the temple.
Without warning, there was the sound of the most powerful wind you ever heard. It was as if a tornado entered the building. Then there seemed to be some large tongues of fire, that separated and came to rest on each of them. Now they were sitting down when this happened. All of them were filled with Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. This was the baptism of fire that Jesus had told them to wait to receive.
When this happened, people came from every direction because they heard the sound of the wind, and they heard the 120 people preaching and telling them about Jesus Christ in their own languages. Now remember how worried the disciples were about the task Jesus had given them to do. How would they learn the languages. God’s plan was to give them an instant ability to speak in other people’s tongues and languages. No classess required. They wondered how could they get the gospel to foreigners in their lands. God brought the foreigners to them, who could then take the message back to their own countries.
They wondered if they could cut cross the racial prejudice and stereotypes. In Acts 8 Philip went to Samarai to preach, and God gave him the power to heal all manners of sickness and disease among the Samaritans bringing great joy to the city and the people. Peter and John got there and started laying hands on Samaritans to received the Holy Spirit and they did. They wondered if they could talk with highly educated people, Acts 4:13 says that When the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law, Sadducees and Pharisees saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. They wondered where would they get the money to fund the ministry. We find in Acts 4:32, the believers were so united, nobody claimed that any of their possessions was their own but they shared everything they had. People were selling houses and lands and bringing the money to the apostles, to be distributed as anybody had need. But God had not told them any of this up front. He just told them to do the job.
Even though it looked like Jesus had abandoned them leaving them with an awesome task, God had a plan that took care of every one of their concerns. The same is true for our lives. We can’t see how certain things are going to be possible. We can’t see how we can make it if we do it God’s way. We can’t see how this is going to make sense for our lives. We can’t see how we can possibly go on, but Pentecost is proof that God has a plan. God built the church with 120 ordinary people and its been going strong for 2,000 years.
You know there are several tragic stories in the Bible of people who bailed out just a little too early. If the people of Israel had gone along with God’s plan for just one more month, they would have avoided forty years in the wilderness. If King Saul had of waited just a couple more hours, he would not have lost his place as king. Some of us do not need to take any drastic action at the moment. We just need to be faithful with God has already shown us just for a little while longer
We have a promise from God, that in all things, God is working for the good for those who love Him and are called according to his purposes. It’s not just the good times in which God works for good, but in all times God is working for the good. When we are in those moments of not knowing which way to turn, it’s the perfect time to discover God afresh and anew. Sometimes its when we are at the end of our rope and realize there is no other hope, that we discover God is there and God had a plan all the time. Only now we are we ready to give Him the permission to use it.
As we share communion together today, just think how confused it would be looking at the crucifixion on good Friday and having someone telling you, God has a plan. It’s not until you are on the other side of the resurrection, that you understand, God really did have a plan. Not all our questions will be answered and not all our tasks are going to be completed. But our call is to walk by faith and not by sight. When the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we will be what God has called us to be. God knows how to equip each of us with what we need to get us through this coming week.
8. Speaking To The Educated Acts 4:13 Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
9. The Fear Issue—Acts 5:40 Happy To Be
Beaten For Jesus
10. The Money Issue—Acts 4:32 Selling Houses &
Lands For The Needs--- God Had A Plan
11.The Equipping Of The H/S Makes A Difference
K. Just Because We Can’t See It Does It Mean ….
1. Don’t Quit Too Soon—Read The Bible
2. Israel Just A Few More Miles—40 Years
3. King Saul-A Few More Hours—Lost Kingship
4. No Drastic Action Needed—Just Wait A While
L. God Has Given A Promise That In All Things
Rom 8:28 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.
1. Blessed When We’re At The End Of The Rope
2. We Can Begin To Utilize God’s Plan
3. Think Of How Crucifixion Looked On Good
Friday—Then On Resurrection Day
4. Not All Questions Get Answered
5. Call To Walk By Faith & Not By Sight
6. When The Power Of The Holy Spirit Comes
7. We Shall Be Equipped At The Proper Time
Sermon Outline-Pastor Rick 6/3/2001
God Had A Plan Joel 2:28-32 Acts 1:1-11 2
A. The Power Of The Plan
1. Football Game—Down By Two At The Half
2. What’s On The Players Mind As They Look
3. They Believe The Coach Has A……
4. Plan And Confidence
5. Need A Plan To Get From A To B
B. When The Lord Provides A Plan
1. God Wants Me From Y to Z But?
2. Did The Lord Forget Something
3. Assurance—Job, New Work—Bad News
4. Commit To Follow—End Relationship
5. Christians-Overwhelmed Peter & Jesus
C. How Much Can We Take?
1. Has God Forgotten About Us??
2. What Can Separate Us From The Love
3. Romans 8:37-38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4. God’s Plan Still—When We Blow It
D. Pentecost---God Has A Plan
1. The Task Before The Details
2. Call To Walk In Faith—Must Need God Or…
3. NT Jesus 40 Day Period Of Preaching Teaching
4. Wait In Jerusalem Until You Get From My…
E. Disciples Unsure About What The H/S Was.
1. God Doing Something New—Easy Times Ahead
2. Were Circumstances Going To Change—On Top
3. Jesus Does This Mean It’s Time For You
4. God Speaks Not To Always Make It Easier
5. Read the Bible Carefully—
6. Has Our Time Truly Come
F. Jesus Comes With Disappointing News
1. It Is Not For You To Know The Times/Dates
2. Times-Duration Dates-Kinds Of Times Good
3. God Has A Right For Secrets
4. Why Didn’t You Tell Me—I Could Have…
5. God Calls For Trust—You Know Oh Lord
G. Jesus Changes The Topic To The Real Power
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
1. Disciples Had Expected Different Power
2. God Chooses What To Impart
3. 18—Power—Responsibility—Accountability
4. Gives Supernatural Power For A Reason
5. Holy Spirit Comes To Make Them Witnesses
6. Jesus Gives Enormous Task & Leaves—Details?
7. Forget Searching The Sky
H. The Size Of The Task—Jerusalem To The End
1. Power To Tell Others What Jesus Did-Witness
2. But They Were Uneducated—Pharisees & More
3. Go To The Hated Samaritans—Racism
4. No Funds Available Thanks To Judas
5. Languages Limited To Greek & Aramaic
6. We’re Scared Of Certain Parts Of Judea
I. God Had A Plan Full Of Faith
1. Faith—So Big Without God, It Will Fail
2. J. Moffett’s Faith—Not Matter How Long
3. Faith For New Life Center—Faith For New Life
4. Not Enough Money—Not Enough People
5. Faith In Our Own Lives—God Equips
6. What Do We Do---Remember What Jesus Said
7. Jerusalem—Wait—Went Back To City
J. God Chooses A 120 To Start A Mission
1. Place Of Pentecost Temple Or House
2. Acts 7:47 Temple & House—Close To Temple
3. No Warning- Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
4. People Came Running –Actual Preaching
5. The Language No Problem For God
6. Foreigners??? I’ll Bring Them To You
7. Racial Prejudice—Acts 8 Philip & Revival
Peter & John Bring A Touch
