All Sunday services are memorable in that we are all together, praising and worshipping God as a body of believers. Last Sunday we sang Blessed Assurance and I was struck again by these words; angels descending, bring from above, echoes of mercy, whispers of love. I think we all heard the voices of those angels --- The Holy Spirit quietly speaking to our hearts, reminding us of His grace and mercy and soothing us with His whispers of love. What a great way to begin the service!
The message was about our life story -- how it doesn't begin with us -- example was Moses. His life story didn't begin with him - it began with his parents who secured him safely in that little basket, and placed it on the Nile, and with his sister who silently watched from the shore, and with his grandparents and back into the far, deep past. So it goes for us.
He used a really compelling illustration to start the topic. The whole sermon is on the church website -- just go to fbc-bc.org and click on Sermons. I can't adequately write notes on it. But you will benefit, I know, from hearing it for the first time (if you missed it) or from hearing it for the second time.
In the evening service he picked up the theme again.
He referred to Jeremiah 29:11 and wove it in with Romans 8:28.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
So God has all these plans....but what if we mess up? What if others mess us up? Have we lost the connection to God's plan? Have we lost our place?
It doesn't matter how we mess up. Or how others mess us up. God has already taken all that in account.
God is working out His plan.....
1. Even when His enemies are working against Him. Ex: from Moses' life. Pharoah ordered all the baby boys killed. But Moses' parents concealed him for 3 months and then placed him in the little basket (ark) and placed it carefully on the river. Moses was rescued and his own mother became the nurse. So he learned his real "roots."
2. Even when others do not directly cooperate with His will. Again from Moses' life. When he went out to observe his Hebrew brethren and witness their burdens, he was not recognized as being their "leader" or "savior." The two men fighting actually rejected his position..."Who made you a prince and judge over us?"
3. Even when we are not conscious of His efforts. Moses was a baby. He had no way of knowing how God was working out His plan. How often we just keep working out own own lives..doing our own thing..and later we see how it all dovetailed into the one perfect plan.
Like when we sold our rent house in West Columbia and the buyer just happened to be a retired Baptist minister who had a daughter in that same neighborhood and who would welcome the chance to serve at Sargent? I mean, was that truly amazing or what???
No one could ever have dreamed up that scenario. We just needed the money and they just needed a house in that neighborhood! And Sargent just needed a preacher! And Terry just needed someone to explain the gospel .And Mark just needed a Savior! And Carol needed someone to talk to...And on and on and on.....
4. Even when we actually rebel, sin, ignore or flee from Him and from His will. It still all works out.
Example: Joseph. Sold by his brothers into slavery. Circumstances lead him into a place of high authority in Egypt, just when his family needed help and how it all then led to the exodus of his descendants form Egypt (and the mighty revelation of God's power over all the Egyptian gods) and their arrival at the Promised Land..and on..and on..and on..And Jesus to come from the tribe of Judah....and Rahab to be saved and become an ancestor of the Messiah....It was all worked out just the way God intended.
Joseph's words to his brothers: Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day; to save many people alive." Genesis 50:19-20.
It was all factored in then. It is all factored in now.
But...I'm no Moses.
But it's not about you and me. It's about God and His plans.
This was a really great message. I just called the church and asked Kay if it could be put on the web site. Usually only the morning messages are available on the website. CD's are always available for both services, and so anyone can call and request a CD of any service. But it would be great if Sunday's evening message were available on line.
And so it is. Just go to fbc-bc.org and click on Sermons and both the AM and PM are there.
I woke up with a song this morning -- one of those gifts of "songs in the night" that God gives us...
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart.
All things work out for our good
Though sometimes we can't see how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth.
Our Father knows what's best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just can't see Him
Remember you're never alone.
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart.
He sees the master plan
And He holds our future in His hands
So don't live as those who have no hope
All our hope is found in Him
We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and the last
And like a tapestry He's weaving
You and me to someday be just like Him.
He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart.
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