Sermon 1: Laying the Plan

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

1 Peter 1. 18-21 The New King James Version

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Matt 25.34 The New King James Version

34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Rev. 13.8 The New King James Version

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

We shall see Hm as He is

1 John 3:2 (NRSV)

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

Ref: Gen 1.27 &

God has a plan

1 Corinthians 2:7 (NKJV)

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

Quote

Remember Christ lived a sinless life, as we have before remarked, he kept all his Father’s commandments. Had he not, he could not have a perfect righteousness to impute to us; and the plan of redemption would have proved a failure. He must not only take our sins upon himself and make a sacrifice for them which he did when he bled upon the tree; but he must have a perfectly obedient life to impute to us. Glory to his name! we’ve a Saviour that is all-sufficient, that “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.”

Advent Review, and Sabbath Herald, vol. 11 April 29, 1858, page 190 paragraph 10

Leaders must have a purpose in mind

As we just read, the plan of salvation was laid before the foundation of the world. Jesus was working to a clearly defined plan. So, we as leaders must have a plan. A purpose in mind; a clear goal.

The divine plan was that peradventure man sinned the Son of God would take off his divinity, becoming a man. The second Adam. He would live the perfect life, as the antitypical spotless lamb of God. He would die an ignominious death on the cross, to rescue man from sin, and restore the image of God in him. Evry step of that plan was clearly laid out.

What is our plan?

As churches, as leaders, as conferences, we must have plans. Clearly defined, explainable, measurable plans. Always remebering Philippians 4.13

Philippians 4:13 NKJV

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

‘He who fails to plan, plans to fail’

The heavenly council as a model for us

There was a heavenly council that responded, pleading with Lucifer when sin was found in him. The plan of salvation was made by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The divine council. Immediately sin reared its ugly head, initiated the plan of tsalvation.

Our plans should not be one person’s plan, and our decisions for the work of God should be taken in council.

READ (Prov. 11.14)

Prov. 11.14 The New King James Version

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Individual Judgment Not Supreme—There have ever been in the church those who are constantly inclined toward individual independence. They seem unable to realize that independence of spirit is liable to lead the human agent to have too much confidence in himself, and to trust in his own judgment rather than to respect the counsel and highly esteem the judgment of his brethren, especially of those in the offices that God has appointed for the leadership of His people. God has invested His church with special authority and power, which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising; for he who does this despises the voice of God. Those who are inclined to regard their individual judgment as supreme, are in grave peril. It is Satan's studied effort to separate such ones from those who are channels of light, through whom God has wrought to build up and extend His work in the earth. To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to bear the responsibilities of leadership in connection with the advancement of the truth, is to reject the means that He has ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of His people. For any worker in the Lord's cause to pass these by, and to think that his light must come through no other channel than directly from God, is to place himself in a position where he is liable to be deceived by the enemy, and overthrown.—Gospel Workers, 443, 444.

Taking counsel

Proverbs 1:5 (NKJV)

A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

Proverbs 24:5 (NKJV)

A wise man is strong, Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;

Matthew 7:24–29 (NKJV)

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Depending on the Father / Prayer

Jesus always knew where he was going. He was so clear about his direction and purpose. Yes, he was party to the plan of salvation, but during his earthly ministry he was wholly dependent on his father. Prayer was his connection. Who are we leaning on as leaders in God's church? Is pride a barrier to good council, to submission to authority, to delegation?

More prayer - A major reason to pray as leaders is because we will face opposition (Jn 17.6-19; Matt 24.9),

John 17.6-19 The New King James Version

6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Matt 24.9 The New King James Version

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.

We will face temptations (Luke 22.29-46)

Matt 22.29-46 The New King James Version

29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?”

So they said, “Nothing.”

36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”

38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”

And He said to them, “It is enough.”

39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

We will be targets for the evil one

As leaders in the work of Christ we will be targets for the evil one, just as Christ who is hated by the serpent.

More Prayer—If there were more prayer in the councils of those bearing responsibilities, more humbling of the heart before God, we should see abundant evidence of divine leadership, and our work would make rapid progress.—Testimonies for the Church 8:238.

A clearly defined mission (expanding on what was said earlier

Our mission defined

Mission – To show people Jesus

READ (Jn 12.32; Matt 11.28; Rev 14.6) (JisOL)

John 12.32 The New King James Version

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

Matt 11.28 The New King James Version

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Rev 14.6 The New King James Version (Chapter 14)

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people

We are “a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” 1 Corinthians 4:9. Our mission is the same as that which was announced by Christ, at the beginning of His ministry, to be His mission. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,” He said, “because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18, 19. {8T 134.1}

Mission – Call people to Jesus

READ (John 14.6; 1 Cor. 2.2) (JisOL)

John 14.6 The New King James Version

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

1 Cor. 2.2 The New King James Version

2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Mission - The end-time message (Matt 24.9), in the context of the 3AM (Rev 14.6-12), to call people out of Babylon (Rev 18.4).

Labouring tirelessly, as did Christ

Endurance

READ (Heb. 12.1-2)

Heb 12.1-2 The New King James Version

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Mark 13:13 (NKJV)

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Good news

Daniel 12:3 (NKJV)

Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

Revelation 22:12 (NKJV)

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

End

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