Hope in God's Plan vs. My Plan

Open Microphone Time:

I want you to think about this question....as we begin today...

As you reflect on 2023, what is one thing God taught you?

or what are you thankful for?

Let’s take a moment and think about this.

and then I want you to turn to your neighbor and share briefly—even if it is awkward. One of my mottos is still embrace the awkwardness.

and then we are going to open it up for sharing.

I have asked Larry McMullen—if you could make your way down here and answer first, and then I will open it up for you to share—those who feel led.

A few ground rules:

don’t be a microphone hog—keep it brief 2 minutes or less, so we can hear from as many as possible

keep in mind this is currently being livestreamed—be careful about sharing sensitive information, especially about others who may not want you to share it. so be wise in how you share it.

I want you to pay attention to the idea of hope and God’s plan...

I want to read Luke 2:1-21

Luke 2:1–21 NIV

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

we are in a series on hope...

I know that one of the reasons that people sometimes feel hopeless, even in their relationship with God—is because things don’t always go according to plan.

You have a plan in your mind of how the future will go and it doesn’t happen.

or maybe you have a plan that you would like God to endorse and He doesn’t make it happen, or maybe you thought God was going to do something in 2023 and it didn’t happen like you thought He would.

maybe you hoped retirement would be the golden years but it hasn’t been golden...

maybe you thought parenting would be different and it hasn’t been...

maybe you expected to be somewhere different at this point of life…but it hasn’t worked...

this can be disappointing...

just think of Joseph and Mary—I can’t imagine that their future plans as a young couple included...

—getting pregnant by the Holy Spirit (trying explaining that to people)

—and having a baby in another city—having to travel there while Mary is pregnant....

God changed their plans

and the Israelites who for centuries were awaiting a Savior to come and save them—I can’t imagine that they expected God to intervene in this way—by sending His Son as a baby. a helpless baby...

but the Christmas story reminds us that God’s plan is often different than ours, and even in that, there’s hope. there’s hope because God is in control.

it mentions in verse 1 that Caesar Augustus issued a decree…the most powerful man at the time—it he is causing everyone to move—and it looks like he is in control…figuring out how many people he has for taxation purposes and military purposes.

but all this is enabling God’s plan to happen.

Micah 5:2 NIV

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

though Caesar seems in control—God is. using Caesar’s decree to fulfill his plan

and this city of Bethlehem is important—even though it is small—it is where King David from the OT was born…and just as David was the most important king in Israel’s history—there is a new King in the line of David.

These small details God is arranging is telling us Jesus is king! He is the king promised from King David’s line—his kingdom will never end.

I am sure if you asked the average Israelite at the time—what they expected their coming Messiah and King to look like—they probably didn’t think it would be a baby....they wanted someone to come in an overthrow Caesar—but God’s plan was different than their plan—sending a baby...

a baby would grow and become a man who would die for us.

but look at verse 11..

Luke 2:11 NIV

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

this baby would be our Savior—as He lived perfectly on our behalf, doing what we could

and He died in our place for our sins on the cross

and rose from the grave...

all this began a plan centuries in the making…and it took much longer than expected...

God’s plan is different...

often slower...

often less glorious at first...

but so much better...

If God works in this way here…is it not possible that He can work in your life.

though it’s not always our plan—we can find hope that God knows what He is doing—He’s got a plan, and we need to trust His perfect plan and timing.

I want to close by reading Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah 9:6–7 NIV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

We can trust this kind of God who will reign forever and ever.

Let’s pray.

plug at end--

FPU -

—class...

—budgeting app… don’t have to be a part of our church

--Christmas Eve tonight - Candlelight service 8pm