The Plan of God

Psalms 2 (NKJV) 1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” 7 “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Introduction:

• Many of mankind profess to believe and trust that God has a plan.

• And if the Lord God has a plan then we would believe that He is in control seeing that plan to come to past.
• Therefore we would believe that the Lord is in control.
• To what extent do you believe God is in control?
• Like many Americans ,and people from other Nations, and even the President we have asked ourselves the question “why does one turn his head to the right at the last moment”.
• Now before you begin making assumptions on where I intend to go with this thought today – this is not a message about who will be the next President of the United States of America.
• Instead today I want to challenge your thought life to consider the sovereign plan of God.

1. A man plans his way.

Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV) A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

1.1. We are told from youth to “make a plan”
1.2. Make a plan to spend our life toiling with our hands.
1.3. Part of man’s toil is trying to FIO God’s plan.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 (ESV) 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? 4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.

1.3.1. The questions of toil….
1.3.2. The Lord has made man to toil with our hands.
1.3.3. A struggle that even the greatest among men struggle with coming to the conclusion that much of it was vanity.
1.4. The plan of man should start with prayer, be led by peace, and end with a thankful for heart.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1.4.1. May the peace of God guarding and guiding your hearts out weigh the burden of toil.

1.4.2. So, how much peace do you have….?
1.5. At much of man’s plan the Lord sits in the Heavens and laughs.

Ps 2:4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.

1.5.1. Questions we should not be asking ourself in planning: 1.5.1.1. How do I make a name for myself?
1.5.1.2. How do I make a difference in this life?
1.5.1.3. How do I earn millions?

1.6. May your will be done.

Matthew 26:42 (NIV) He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

1.6.1.We begin to become aware of how little control we have of the environment around us.
1.6.2. Ela… When hurricane Katrina ravished our city. 1.6.3. We all all of the sudden felt very vulnerable. 1.6.4. “All that can be shaken will be”

2. The Lord has a plan and it is our responsibility to follow it.

Ephesians 3:8-10 (ESV) 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

2.1. I am the very least – (this is not false humility)

2.1.1. Flash of light.

2.1.2. Struck blind.

2.1.3. Have an encounter with the Lord.
2.2. Ela… again when a bullet whizzes by your head it gets your attention.

2.2.1. At the last you begin to have a greater understanding of God’s plan and being in control.

2.2.2. Ela… our bullet story: Christina was turned around looking through the back window, with child in belly, and when she turned back around I felt the pressure of the bullet pass my ear and through the front windshield. There are all kinds of thoughts that go through your head as you imagine what happened in the unseen realm.

2.2.3. He not only directs our steps but also the turning of our heads at just the right time.

2.2.4. “Why did you turn your head to the right?”
2.2.5. I would imagine Mr. Trump has a different perspective of life and purpose this week as compared to last week.
2.3. Recognizing the sovereign hand of God affects a person humbles a person.

3. The will of God.

1 Corinthians 1:1 (NKJV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God,

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV) For this is the will of God, your sanctification:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Peter 2:15-17 (ESV) 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

3.1. God has a plan that is derived from His will for our life.
3.1.1. Through life’s happenings we look back and begin to understand more clearly God’s will and plan is for our life.
3.2. One aspect of the will of God is His will to be done to us through Christ.

3.2.1. To bless us, save us, empower us, provide for us.
3.3. Another aspect of the will of God is that which God wills to be done through us.
3.3.1. Obedience, preaching the Gospel, making Disciples,

4. God’s strong right hand:

Exodus 15:6 (NKJV) 6 “Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
Exodus 15:11-13 (NKJV) 11 “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. 13 You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.

4.1. The term “my right hand”

4.2  Who is like unto the Lord…

4.4.  He stretches out His hand and things begin to happen.

4.5.  The wheels kick into drive.

4.6.  God the Lord had a plan for the Nation of Israel to display His glory.

4.7. The stories will be told for generations to come, never ceasing.
4.8. To accomplish this plan Pharaoh’s heart was harden against the Israelite people.

Conclusion thoughts:

• We follow every thread resembling the Will and Plan of God as far as it will go.

• God is truly great and majestic!
• He sets the times and seasons.
• He rules the Nations.
• All authority is placed here by God.
• Aligning with God’s plan in prayer:
• Prayer is a time to hear.