God’s Great Plan

God has a plan. In case you have not thought about it is a great plan.   God has always been one to plan.  In the opening pages of the Scriptures he had a plan for the universe. A plan for this earth, and he had a plan for the garden.  He had a plan for Adam and Eve.  Even after the fall, God had a plan and purpose for mankind.  He revealed that plan to Cain and Abel, men like Noah, Moses, Abraham and everyone who followed.    Just as God had a plan for David and Solomon the reality is he has a plan for you.

The believer has a responsibility to God's plan.   I Like what Paul had to say in these three passages:

Acts 18:21, “but took leave of them, saying, ‘I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.’ And he sailed from Ephesus.”

1 Corinthians 4:19, “But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.”

1 Corinthians 16:7, “For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.”

If God is willing, if he desires, and if he permits  -  this language in the text leads us to believe that the Lord has a unique purpose and a special plan for each of us.

Jimmy Draper, “We are to live in an awareness that our lives are under His inspection.”

Paul once made a statement of the Scriptures: “I have learned that in whatever state I am in I am to be content.”  It did not matter if it was prosperity or poverty, Paul was to be satisfied with God's will.

The majority of people who have ever occupied space in this earth do better in poverty than they do in prosperity.   It is easier to be content when you are struggling than when you have a lot.    When we have a lot in our hearts are not often satisfied.

If God has blessed you and likely HE has we need to ask:  “Lord, why have you blessed me like this and what do you want me to do with it?”

“If God wills” – this is a heart attitude; it recognizes the sovereignty of God in governing our lives; it is acknowledging our total dependence on God; just the opposite of presumption!

1.     We Can Defy God’s Will:  Living as if God did not exist

2.     We Can Deny God’s Will:  Knowing but arrogantly rejecting His will

3.     We Can Disobey God’s Will:  Know God’s will, affirm it, then proceed to disobey it

4.     We Can Delight in God’s Will:  Know God’s will, affirm it, then live in accordance to  it.

The choice is yours.  However, this one thing is clear:  We need to yield ourselves to His great plan.    We live in the most blessed nation on earth, and we have more resources at our fingertips than almost any other culture.  The question is what are we as believers going to do with the responsibility we have?