Sunday December 5, 2021
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=580258749736286
Proverbs 19:21 – “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
INTRODUCTION: When Jesus was born that first Christmas, nobody expected it. It messed up everybody’s plan. It messed up King Herod’s plan because he wanted to be King of the Jews and here was a Messiah coming. It messed up the Shepherd’s plan because they were planning another quiet night with the sheep. It messed up the innkeeper’s plan because he ran out of space.
But most of all it messed up Mary and Joseph’s plan. They were just young teenagers who wanted to have little Mary’s and Joseph’s. Then all of the sudden during their engagement period God comes along and says, “I’m changing your plans A LITTLE BIT.”
Mary you’re going to get pregnant before your wedding day. The Father’s not going to be Joseph and it’s going to be a virgin birth, a miracle that has never happened before.
And by the way, the baby is going to be God! That messed up their plans a little bit. They weren’t expecting that to happen.
Has God ever messed up your plans? You know plans don’t always go the way we planned them.
Sometimes my plans get messed up because I make mistakes and mess up my own plans. We all know that other people can mess up our plans sometimes.
But sometimes, God providentially, God sovereignly, changes circumstances around because He’s got another idea in mind!
One of the things you get to do when your God is call the shots! Too many people are saying “I like this part of God but I don’t I don’t like this part of God.
So I’m going to follow this part but I’m not going to follow that part because I don’t agree with it. Then He’s no longer your God! A God gets to call the shots.
The whole world is debating right now about stuff going on in culture, about what’s right and what’s wrong. God gets to call that and it’s not for us to debate.
If you don’t do it the way He ask you to do it because you don’t like it then He’s not your God anymore He’s your convenient religion on a Sunday.
SO WHEN HE MESSES UP YOUR PLANS
- GOD IS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION
In Mary and Joseph’s case God’s plan was so fantastic and unbelievable that He had to send an angel to deliver the message. God had to do something supernatural. They wouldn’t have believed it any other way!
You and I don’t need an angel today although God can use one if He’d like. We can hear God’s voice. Get an impression.
When Satan gives you an impression it’s called temptation. When God gives you an impression it’s called inspiration!
When God messes up your plans He’s wanting to stop and listen.
Psalm 81:13-“Oh, that my people would listen to me!……..
We get ourselves into trouble when we don’t follow what God is asking us to do!
Proverbs 16:25- “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”
When God tells us what to do and what not to do it’s not because He’s some kind of ego maniac or cosmic cop in the sky, some bully just trying to make up rules.
He does it because He loves us!
When a mother tells a child “don’t touch that hot stove” it’s not because she’s a tyrant it’s because she loves the child.
SO WHEN GOD MESSES UP OUR PLANS HE’S TRYING TO GET OUR ATTENTION. HE’S ALSO SAYING:
II. HE’S GOT A BETTER PLAN
The bibles clear, every person was made for a purpose. YOU WERE MADE FOR A PURPOSE. God designed you uniquely! He has a reason for you being on earth!
Part of your whole life is to figure out what your purpose is and do it!
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
God says, “My plans for you are good.”
A lot of people think, “if I give my life to God, if I start following Jesus Christ, He going to make my life miserable. I’ve got to become some Amish person or something.”
Yet God says, “No, you don’t understand, I made you, I love you, I designed you for a purpose on this earth.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU
- God’s plan for your life is always bigger than yours because He has a bigger perspective.
Mary and Joseph just wanted to get married, settle down and have a family. God said, “I want to bless the whole world through you.”
If you don’t get anything else out of what I say today get this. God made you for a purpose and you have no idea how much God wants to work through you, how much He could do through you if you were totally committed to His plan for your life rather than your little plan for your life.
2. God’s plan for your life is harder than your plan.
That’s why so any people cut out on God. It’s our human nature to take the easy way out. But God says it’s going to harder when you do things my way. WHY?
Because God is more interested in your character than He is in your comfort. He wants you to be mature! He wants you to be a person of character and integrity, to take responsibility.
3. God’s plan for your life is more rewarding than your plan.
1 Corinthians 2:9 – “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
So God says “I want you to know me and not just know about me! I want to have a relationship with you and not religion!”
God says “I want you to know the purpose I created you for, the reason you’re on this earth! “
God says “I want you to develop your character because that’s the only thing you’re taking with you into eternity!
WHEN GOD MESSES UP YOUR PLANS HE’S TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE HE HAS A BETTER PLAN!
That’s why Christmas is so important! God says “There’s no way you can ever get to me. I’m going to come to earth to get to know you.” God says “I know everything about you, I just want you to know me.”
When God messes up your plans He’s not only saying listen to me I’ve got a better plan, He’s also saying
III. HE WANTS YOU TO LEARN TO TRUST HIM
Can you imagine the faith it took for Joseph to do what he had to do? If your fiancé came to you one day and said “Honey I’m pregnant. And by the way, it’s God’s fault!”
Can you imagine the faith that Mary had to have when she realized that. of all the women in the entire world, God chose to use her as the instrument by which He would come into the world?
God’s plan for their lives was so different than the plan they had that all they could do was trust God!
Because the Bible says there’s only one way to please God! It’s not by religion, it’s not by ritual, it’s not by ceremony, it’s not by regulations. The Bible says,
Hebrews 11:6 – “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
GOD WANTS YOU TO LEARN TO TRUST HIM! AND EVERY TIME GOD MESSES UP YOUR PLANS IT’S A TEST! AM I GOING TO TRUST GOD OR AM I GOING TO TRUST ME?
CONCLUSION: This Christmas you may be feeling a little discouraged. You know a lot of people are.
This may be your first Christmas since the divorce. Your first Christmas since the death of a loved one.
Some you have all kinds of worries and concerns!
- God has a personal plan for you in 2022
- God is never going to leave you.
- He wants you to get to know Him and be known by Him! He wants you to discover your purpose! He wants you to make a difference with your life on this earth!
WHAT ARE YOIU SEEKING AFTER? THE BIBLE TELLS US THERE WERE WISE MEN THAT WNET SEEKING AFTER JESUS AFTER HE WAS BORN!
Jeremiah 29:13 – “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”
Just as God guided the wise men to Bethlehem he will guide your life!
When God messes up your planes it’s not because He doesn’t have a direction for your life. It’s because He does have a plan and He wants you to listen to Him and trust Him.
HERE’S THE KEY, YOU’VE GOT TO CATCH THIS! SURRENDER!
And no matter where you’re at in life, no matter the circumstances. No matter how good or bad you’ve been. No matter your successes or failures. I want to close tis message with the following verse.
Romans 8:28-“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYING TO YOU RIGHT NOW?
Let’s pray!