Title: “The ‘Master’s Plan’ For Your Life”
When we built the Education Wing a Few years ago debt free the Builder asked us a very important question. He said, “What is your Master Plan for the Church”?
Where do you see the Church going in the next five years, and then he said over the next 20 years? Sometimes we never think beyond the present & that isn’t good.
God has a “Master Plan” for this Church, but He also has a “Master Plan” for your Life & the Life of your Family.
If we don’t develop a “Master Plan” for the Church, then things are sort of peace-milled together. But if we have a “Master Plan”;
-Things are done with an Order.
-Things are done with a Purpose.
-And we know where we are going!
-And we can work together to get there!
If we develop a “Master Plan” for our Lives & the Lives of our Families, then all of a sudden we began to have an Order & a Purpose for our Families. And we know where we are going, so we can began to work together!
The Lord places great value on writing down the things that He speaks to our Hearts, or that He challenges us to do. The prophet Jeremiah was told to write down the words of the Lord!
Jeremiah 30: 2
“Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying, “Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.”
Jeremiah 36: 2
“Take a scroll of a book & write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, & against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day.”
Habakkuk 2: 2
“Then the Lord answered me & said; “Write the vision and make it plain on Tablets, that he may run who reads it.”
It’s not enough for you to daydream in your Thought Life about things that you would like as Goals. A Goal must ultimately have a Statement of Intention.
With God’s Help, this is what I’m going to do. Nobody builds a House without a set of Plans. But many of us go from day to day without even knowing where we want to go!
Do you remember the move “The Jungle Book”? The Vultures are just setting there & they are saying, “What do you want to do?” And the response is, “I don’t know, what do you want to do?”
Finally one of the Vultures says, “Now don’t say that again.” They are bored & they are just setting there, going Nowhere! Sometimes, we can be just like those Vultures!
-We don’t have a Plan for our Lives.
-We don’t have a Plan for our Family.
-We don’t have a Plan for our Church.
-It’s just sort of Que sera sera......
-Whatever will be will be!
Have you ever ran out to the Airport & purchased a Ticket not knowing where you were going? You say, “No that would be Foolish! But we do it everyday with our Lives!
I. Goals Must Be Set In Context of Time.
In addition to writing your goals down, you should try to put them into a certain Time Frame.
1. We Need Immediate Goals.
These tend to be “Daily” or “Weekly” goals, or perhaps even goals that will take a month. I have an Immediate Goal each week of Preparing a Sermon;
-That is easy to Understand.
-That will minister to the People.
-A Message that you can apply to your Life.
-A Message that will Equip you for Ministry.
Regardless of the Time Frame set for any goal, the goal needs to be Broken Down into Tasks that you can do on a Daily Basis. Make a List of what you want to Accomplish today & keep the List!
2. Short Range Goals.
These are Goals that you can usually accomplish within a Month or no Longer than a Year. You say, “With God’s Help---this is what I want to do”!
3. Long Range Goals.
These goals usually extend beyond a year. They include Life-Long Goals. I believe it’s better for us to keep our Long range goals to ourselves----but that isn’t an Excuse not to write them down.
We need to Redeem the Times for the Days are Evil. Jesus told us to Occupy until He comes! Life is like a Vapor, & we need to Let every moment count!
II. Set Goals For Every Category of Life.
1. You Need To Have Spiritual Goals.
-I am going to Spend more Time in Prayer.
-I am going to Study the Word Daily.
-I am going to Witness to someone today.
-I am Pressing towards the Mark......
-What is your Mark?
A. What is an Immediate Spiritual Goal?
With God’s Help, I am going to be a Better Spiritual Leader! I am the Spiritual Head of my Home & I have a Spiritual Responsibility to my Family!
I think sometimes our Theme Songs for our Christian Walk is “I’m The Wanderer”.
-I will be committed to God Daily.
-I will find someone to hold me Accountable.
-I will make my Life count for CHRIST!
B. What Is Your Short Term Spiritual Goal?
-I’m going to join a Bible Study. When?
-I’m going to read through my Bible this year.
-I’m going to go on a Map’s Trip this year.
-I’m going to start giving to Missions.....
C. What’s Your Long-Term Spiritual Goal?
What do you want to Accomplish for God? God wants you to be Conformed into “His Image”, but what are you going to have to do in order for that to Happen?
2. You Need To Have Personal Goals.
Some of you are saying to me at this time, “Pastor, you are begining to make me feel uncomfortable”. Good! It’s called STRETCHING You!
I believe that there are far too many Christians in the Body of Christ that aren’t being STRETCHED! I Love you enough to Stretch You, because God’s got a Plan for Your Life!
3. You Need To Have Family Goals.
I planned on taking my Daughter for a Date on Saturday! That was Immediate!
A. Short Term
-I’m going to work at becoming a Better Husband.
-What is your Plan?
-I’m going to keep my daily commitment to Christ.
-If my Love for Him grows, it will effect my family.
The Church is planning a “Marriage Retreat”, in May & I’m going to sign up because it’s an Investment in my Family & My Family Is Worth It!
Don’t just tell your Family that you Love them, Love them enough to make Investments into their Future.
Do you know one of the things that make a Special Trip exciting is the Planning Process as a Family!
-Where are we going to go?
-What do we want to do?
-What do we want to see when we’re there?
-We had a great time planning for our Cruise!
-We even had people help us plan!
One of my Long-Range Goals for my Family is to be able to send all of my Children to College! But do you know what my most important goal is for them? To make sure that all of them are Saved!
Now you hear me Mom’s & Dad’s, if you aren’t involved in their Daily Lives right now, what makes you think that you are going to keep them on your Team for the Long Haul?
-Have a weekly date with your Wife.
-Have a weekly date with your Kids.
-Have a weekly date with your Grandkids.
-Give your family a portion of your Time!
-That’s one way that you Spell LOVE!
4. You Need To Have Vocational Goals.
As a Christian, I think that you should desire to be the very best that you can be! It’s a witness for Christ. Shine in whatever you do!
Learn to Enjoy Life, but also Learn to STRETCH Yourself to be the BEST that God can make of you! I want to be the best Pastor that I can possible be!
We drove past “Higher Ground Baptist Church”, one day & Nathan Looked at their Big Beautiful Building & said, “Daddy, maybe one day, you’ll be as good as Phil Hoskins”
The Size of the Building Doesn’t Make A Good Pastor. But what does make a Good Pastor? The Word of God tells us what a good pastor is!
1 Timothy 4: 1-6
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits & doctrines of demons,
“Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
“forbidding to marry & commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe & know the truth.
“For every creature of God is good, & nothing to be refused if it received with thanksgiving;
“For it is sanctified by the word of God & prayer,
“If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith & of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.”
I cannot Live your Christian Life for you. But I have a responsibility before God to keep the main thing the main thing.
It is my responsibility to Preach the Word, to Put the Meat on the Table & to make it Applicable for your Daily Lives. But it is your responsibility to have an Appetite for God.
I am Tired of seeing people running after Trends & The Warm Fuzzes! We must keep our FOCUS on HIM! This Word has got the Power To Set You Free!
5. You Need To Have Social Goals.
This congregation has grown over the Last 11 years & I want to see it continue to grow. One of my immediate goals is to visit 5 Families each week. But I also have a goal to be in Every Family’s Home by the End of the Year!
Let me tell you how you can Touch 12 New Families this year! Have a New Family at your Home once a month! Get involved in a Home Fellowship Group!
6. You Need To Have Financial Goals.
-I’m going to start Tithing! Immediate
-I’m going to pay off every Credit Card!
-I’m going to get completely out of Debt!
-Develop a Plan to do these things!
III. Ask The Lord To Help You Direct Your Goals.
The Key for a Christian in goal setting is this; Ask the Lord to guide you as you set your goals. Ask God what it is that He desires for you to do!
1. Begin Any Goal Setting Section With Prayer.
-Don’t do all of the Talking!
-Listen carefully as God speaks to your Heart.
-He said, “He would direct your Steps”.
-Don’t underestimate what God wants to do....
2. Write The Goals Down & Pray Over Them On A Regular Basis.
IV. Don’t Try To Rush God When It Comes
To Seeing The Goals Fulfilled.
1. Moses Took Matters Into His Own Hands.
-He saw the Need.
-God put a Burden on his Heart.
-But he tried to take matters.........
-God has to Accomplish the Goals.
-You are only a Vessel.
2. Abraham Tried To Help God Out.
-God promised him a Son.
-The Son didn’t come over night.
-Sarah said, “Take a Look at Hagar”.
-Don’t try to Rush God!
3. Nehemiah Waited For God To Do His Part.
-He heard about the conditions in Jerusalem.
-It broke the heart of Nehemiah.
-So what did Nehemiah do?
-He worked for an Unbelieving King!
-He was several hundred miles from the Project!
-He made it a matter of Prayer!
-He waited for God’s Timing!
-He continued to be a witness to the King.
-He did his Homework while God Moved....
V. Other Principles Related To Goal Setting.
1. State Precisely What You Intend To Accomplish.
2. Keep Your Goals Private.
3. Set Goals That You Can’t Reach On Your Own Ability.
4. Make A Personal Commitment To Your Goals.
5. Take One Step At A Time. (You Eat A Pie in Slices).
6. Take The Plunge. Begin To Go after Your
Dream!
God would not let me Stop with this Message. I have prepared something that will help you, if you take the time to ask ‘God’s Master Plan’ for Your Life.
“The “Master Plan” For First Assembly of God.”
1. What Are Some Immediate Goals?
-To Prepare a weekly message that helps the body.
-To Speak to at least 1 individual daily about Christ.
-To Develop a Spiritual Growth Pattern for the Body.
-To Strive Towards Excellence.
-To See People Become True Worshippers.
-To Challenge The Body To Win The Lost To Christ.
-To Be Faithful To What God Has Called Me To Do.
2. What Are Some Short-Range Goals?
-To see every family giving to Missions on a Regular Basis.
-To begin a S.S. Class on Christian Development.
-To begin a S.S. Class on Moving Christians To Spiritual Maturity.
-To begin a S.S. Class on Finding Your Spiritual Gifts.
-To see more Families involved in Home Fellowship Groups.
-To pour my Life & Vision into the heart of the Leaders.
-To see God raise up 50 Intercessors in the Body.
-To get the Saints Touching People outside of the Sanctuary.
-To use our Influence every day to touch others.
-To win 5 people to Christ, outside of the Pulpit!
-To get the Body to Begin doing the Work of the Ministry.
-To purchase the Snapp Property this next year.
3. What Are Some Long-Range Goals?
-To see every Christian become a True Disciple of Christ.
-To see ministers raised up in the Body of Christ.
-To see every family healthy & growing in their walk with Christ.
-To see a 1200 seat Sanctuary built for God’s Glory.
-To see Christians Continuing To Press Towards the Mark.
-To be Faithful to the Great Commission!
The “Master’s Plan” for Your Life & Family.
1. What Are Some Immediate Goals?
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2. What Are Some Short-Range Goals?
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3. What Are Some Long-Range Goals?
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