Trust His Plans
Notes
Transcript
Handout
We are already 2 weeks into the new year! We spent 2 weeks ago talking about trusting God. Last week we started a series on why we can trust God. We discussed being able to trust God because He is a Good God and has Good plans for us. This week we are going to look at the plans that God has for us. We have a God we can trust. We have a God who has plans for us and when He tells us to do something. God does not come up with off the wall plans for us or things that He cannot accomplish. We can trust God because He is capable of giving us plans and following through with the plans in our lives.
When we travel as a family my wife does not want to hear me say that I have it all planned out. She wants to see the plans. She wants to see the hotel confirmations, she wants to see the tickets for whatever activities we will take part in. My wife knows though that my planning is not great. I have been known to forget something along the way and make mistakes with hotel reservations. I booked us a Hotel in Orlando a few years ago and I did is because it was the cheapest. We got lost on the way because I knew a “back road”. It cost us an extra hour and a half. When we finally made it to our Hotel we checked in and immediately I realized I had made a horrible mistake. Between the bullet holes and the smells we knew that we were in some trouble. That same trip our two youngest were not tall enough to ride the rides at the park so I tried to add foam to their shoes to increase their height, it almost got us kicked out of the park. My plans do not always work out.
God’s plans always work out and there are three reasons that Gods plans always work out. First, God’s plans are Divine. Second God’s plans are Good. Third, God’s plans are Complete. Turn with me in your Bible to Exodus 3:1-22
1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
Exodus 3:1-22
God’s Plans are Divine
God’s Plans are Divine
6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:6 “6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”
Have you ever noticed that things we make as humans often times have expiration dates? They do not last like the things that God creates. Look back at our Scripture. When God spoke to Moses, He immediately let Moses know who these plans were being created by. God said to Moses, I am the God of your Father, The God of Abraham, the God if Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God was making a declaration with Moses that He was the God of all creation. Everything Moses knew God created. God made clear that the words to follow were not simply words from a person who might or might not have good plans. God was letting Moses know that what was about to follow was divine in nature. This was not some theological argument, some high minded religious elite that lays out plans. These plans are not plans laid out by a life coach. These plans are plans that are coming from the creator of the Universe. When God calls us it is a Divine plan that He has for our lives. God does not look at things from the flesh God looks at things in the spirit and because of this His plans often times do not make sense to us. We will spend time questioning the plans of God with no concept that these are divine plans. What does divine plan mean anyway? It sounds cool and it sounds important but what does it really mean? Divine in the Bible means that it comes directly from God. When something comes from God it comes with power.
In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.
Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
1 Chronicles 29:11 “11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.”
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20 “20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
Look up at the sky can you make the things that happen in the air happen? Can you make the earth orbit a ball of fire and do so at a 1 degree difference from burning up or freezing? We serve a mighty and powerful God. His plans for our lives are divine and are made by a powerful God.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16 “16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
Psalm 62:11 “11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,”
14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Exodus 14:14 “14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.””
10 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 “10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
We can trust God’s plans because they are divine and He is all powerful. We can trust God’s plans because our plans cannot compare to His plans. God’s plans are Divine, God’s plans are also Good.
God’s Plans are Good
God’s Plans are Good
8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
Exodus 3:8 “8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.”
Have you ever dealt with one of those people whose plans are always bad for you? I have had people in my life that seem like every plan they come up with is to lead me into danger.
One of my favorite cartoons growing up was Wacky Races. If you have never watched Wacky Races it was all the cartoons in a race across some landscape. In the show every week Dick Dastardly and Muttley his dog were developing plans to wreck the entire race so that they could win. They would change the arrow signs and they would destroy bridges. Everything they did was for their benefit and to the disadvantage of every other racer.
God is not like that. Our God does not make plans that are going to harm us or hurt us. It is against His nature. God said it Himself.
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 “11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
God’s plans for us are good plans. The plans of God will not lead to your harm or demise. God’s plans will always lead to good things. You may be sitting there and saying that well sometimes God calls people to the mission field and they die. I would say you are correct but I would also say that you must look at things from the spiritual side of things and death is certainly not the worst thing that can happen to a believer. God’s plans just like His plans for the Israelites was good. It did not mean that they would not have times of struggle but if they would trust in God they would experience the greatness of God. We are much like the Israelites. Because they did not follow God’s plan for them, they then began to doubt God’s plan in their lives.
10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
Exodus 14:10–12 “10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.””
Their doubt in God and their continued disobedience to what He told them to do resulted in wondering around in the desert for 40 days for what should have taken 3 days! Where are you in your life? Are you wondering around in the desert because you refuse to act on obedience to God? Do you continually doubt that God’s plans for your life are good?
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Chronicles 16:34 “34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
Psalm 25:8 “8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.”
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
Mark 10:18 “18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17 “17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11 “11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
It is not in God’s nature to be evil towards us or to do anything that would harm us. God would have to deny Himself to make plans that would lead to our demise. God has made plans so that none should perish. Think about that for a minute. God is desiring that the Satanic Temple leader this morning turns from his evil and finds the love of God. God desires for the person posting about how He does not exist to see His love for them. God’s plans are Divine, God’s plans are Good, and God’s plans are complete.
God’s Plans are Complete
God’s Plans are Complete
19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
Exodus 3:19 “19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.”
God does not have partial plans or plans that He has to make up as He goes. God has complete plans. God told Moses that the King would need to be compelled by His mighty hand and that the people would leave rich from the place they had been slaves. Look at that scripture again. God told Moses that He would give the people favor in the sight of their slave masters and that they would give them gifts of silver and gold, and clothing. God had complete plans and did not come up with things as they went. In your life God has a complete plan and you need to listen to Him. God is not asking you to step out and trust Him and He is going to come up with a plan as they go. God knew the Israelites would run up to the Red Sea and He already knew what He would do when they got there. Nothing in your life is a surprise to God.
Hudson Taylor had definite convictions about how God's work should be done. We can make our best plans and try to carry them out in our own strength. Or we can make careful plans and ask God to bless them. "Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask His plans, and to offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes."
Hudson Taylor had definite convictions about how God's work should be done. We can make our best plans and try to carry them out in our own strength. Or we can make careful plans and ask God to bless them. "Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask His plans, and to offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes."
God’s plans are complete in your life and you can trust in following His plans in your life.
9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:9 “9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5 “5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.””
God told Jeremiah that His plan for Jeremiah’s life was created in completeness. God was not going to guess at what He wanted in Jeremiah’s life. Jeremiah simply had to trust and obey.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6 “6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Are you prepared to trust and obey in the plans that God has for you life. A complete plan for your life is there and all you have to do is to trust and obey. You can trust and obey God because His plans are Divine, His plans are Good, and His plans are Complete.
