Well, brethren, it is a privilege to seek to serve God's people. And for this hour and the next hour, I want to continue what I began. It's really three sermons. in this, if you will, a mini-series, if you want to call it that. But the title is, Our Plans and God's Will. our plans and God's will, and actually I've been studying a lot in the book of Revelation recently, but as I thought of coming here and I looked at my database and what I preached previously, and knowing the circumstances in which you are desire is for leadership in the church and you find yourselves at some what of at a crossroads and I thought it would be beneficial to continue in this series of our plans and God's will because I believe that speaks more to where you are as a church. So before we go forward into the material, let's once again ask for God's help this morning. Let's pray. Our father, we, we come before you and we, we thank you for the great encouragement we have that where two or three are gathered together in the name of Jesus, Lord Jesus, you are here. Whether we feel it or not, Lord, we know that you are here and you are the head of your church. And so Lord, we ask that in your mercy, that you will come and send us your spirit. That we would have a sense of your presence. That we would have a sense that you are in the midst of this lampstand. and that you would speak and that you would give us all the ears to hear what the Spirit says to this church. Lord, we ask that you would help us as we come here and with things upon our minds, upon our hearts, anticipation, hopes, expectations. Lord, you know every one of us, even as we pray. So out of your perfect knowledge of each of us be merciful Lord and come and minister to each one of us. We pray and ask for your mercies. We ask that you would also visit us with salvation. And we pray and ask for these things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. So just a a brief review of where we've been because there's a gap of months and so forth. So in our first installment we considered in our plans and God's will we considered a number of things and and one of the things that was brought out is that planning is a reflection of God our Creator. We are made in the image of God. We are image bearers of God. There are things about us as creatures that reflect the being of God. And one of those things is making plans. God created the world by plan. He didn't do it randomly. He didn't do it haphazardly. But he created according to his plan. And God works according to his decree. That is, what he has purposed, he fulfills his purposes. And therefore, we as creatures, it is, if you will, in our DNA. It is innately within us to plan and you don't have to be a Christian to plan unbelievers plan. And I believe I've heard Michael Jordan said this, but I don't I don't know if it's unique to him. But I heard him say, relative to sports or, you know, I forget what the topic was, but he says, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. And so you've heard that before. Like, if you don't make a plan, then, you know, don't be surprised if things don't work out. And in the business world, people plan they sit down they have a five-year forecast of where they want to be in the business or if you're running a school or if you're a teacher you have a lesson plan where you want to teach your students what goals and objectives you want to have and so likewise as a church as individuals plan so in this first message Among other things that were said there were some principles that I articulated and first one is this is that our plans are subject to God's wisdom. You make a plan and it could be a very good man plan, excuse me, but the ultimate outcome is determined by God. And therefore, as we make our plans, we know that especially as believers, God will determine what is best. And therefore, we must always be mindful that God overrules our ignorance because we don't know everything. We only work with the knowledge. We have we work with the information before us and therefore we carefully prayerfully map out a plan, but we don't know everything God knows all things and therefore whatever we plan to do as believers is subject to God's wisdom. Second principle is this. We must not trust in our plans. but in God alone. We must not trust, that is, we must not put our faith in our plans, even though it's a good plan, even though it's a plan based on biblical principles, even though it is a plan that is supported by wise and godly people, brethren, but we must not put our faith in our plan. But our faith must be in God alone. Because God is bigger and better than our plan. And God, his ways is not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. And he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. And the plans usually is a result of our thinking. and our praying. So therefore, God is bigger than our plans and it doesn't mean that if we are to achieve the blessing that we desire or the positive things we long for, God is not bound and God is not limited to work within our plan. So therefore, our trust must not be in our plans, but in God alone. Now, This doesn't mean don't plan. No, make a plan. The purpose of it is not, well, therefore don't make a plan. No, that's going to an extreme. We should plan. Remember, it's part of our DNA, spiritual DNA. It's how we are made as creatures. It is wise. The prudent man sees the evil and hides himself. And so we ought to make plans. It is wise and prudent. I'm just saying these are some perspectives we should consider relative to our plans. And thirdly, is that when these truths are embraced and applied, we will grow in contentment. So that was pretty much the first sermon. There was a lot of other things mentioned there, but that's kind of like the highlights there. The second sermon was relative to contentment. I expanded on that. When the truths are embraced, that our plans are subject to God's wisdom, that we must not trust in our plans, but in God alone, and when we embrace these truths, we will grow in contentment. Because, you know, we make a plan, and our plan just blows up. Does that mean all is lost? It's a failed cause? Now what do we do? No, we should be content with whatever the Lord does. Thy will be done. And God's will is perfect, good, and acceptable. But in terms of contentment, I kind of like focus on that in one sermon. And the first question was, what is contentment? And contentment is to be satisfied in the soul. It is to have this satisfaction within that is independent of external circumstances and conditions regardless of what's going on around you. You are content within and contentment it it means to be satisfied. In other words, I have enough. I'm fine. Like we anticipate Thanksgiving holiday, and a table spread with all kinds of delicious foods and everything. And so we indulge and we enjoy, then there's feasting, and there's nothing wrong with feasting, but feasting every day, that's not good for our health. But feasting Thanksgiving time, we eat in abundance, we have joy, we're thankful, we're rejoicing in God's goodness. But we get to a point along the meal, we say, I'm fine, you say, I'm content. Or you say, I've had enough, I'm okay. And so, to be content means we have enough. We're satisfied. We don't need something else. We don't need something other than what we presently have to be content. And then the second point is, how do you become content? If that's what contentment is, how do you become content? And largely from Philippians 4 where Paul says, I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. Philippians 4 verses 11 through 13. That was a passage we looked at. And first of all, contentment is something that has to be learned. Paul says, I have learned. Second, way in which we become content. The second item is that contentment is something that is only learned by experience. You don't learn contentment by reading about it or by listening to sermons. You only learn contentment by experience. Paul says, I know how to abound in everything and all things I have learned. I have been instructed to be filled, to be hungry, to abound, to be in want. I've learned all these things and all these circumstances, and therefore I know there's something flying around here. I'll try to ignore it. So Paul said, I have learned in all of these varied circumstances. And therefore we are we are exercise. What we do is that we're exercising our souls in the promises of God. We're exercising our mind and what God has said in his word and we apply it to our circumstance and we adapt and we adjust ourselves in terms of our attitude and our desires and our priorities and what's important. You see God's in his word and his grace is shaping our perspective about our lives and our circumstances. And so these things are not natural to us. We must learn this thing. And in order to learn, we must work it out. We must work it out in the circumstances in which we're in. And therefore, Paul says, I know how to be a base. I know how to abound. I know how to suffer hunger. I know how to be in one. Well, he had to learn those things. That wasn't just natural for Paul. And when Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians, he was in prison. when he wrote the letter. And then the third matter of our contentment is that contentment. It is attained by the power of God is not attained just by us doing certain things like the formula like as Americans. Give me the steps. Give me the five steps. Give me the keys to success. If you do these five things, you're going to have these results. No, it's not us doing certain things. Yes, these things must be done, but it is attained ultimately by the power of God. And so Paul could say I can do all things in him or through Christ who strengthens me. In other words, Paul could not be content by exerting his own strength and his own sweat and effort. Yes, we must exert ourselves and exercise ourselves, but we do it all in dependence and looking to God to give us the grace and the strength to be patient, to trust Him, to look at things differently. We need God to help us to do this. We need the Spirit of God to open our eyes so that we will actually believe and lay hold of the promises of God. And thus, Paul had learned this. He's been through the crucible. He's been through the discipline. And he says, I've learned it, and it is all because of Christ. And therefore, he says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And then some applications and conclusions from this. And I'll just first thing I mentioned is that contentment is is is attainable for all Christians. It's not just for the Apostle Paul. All Christians. You have the grace of God. You have the Spirit of God. You have what Paul had. And therefore, this is attainable. This is not for the super spiritual and those who are scholars. No, this is something that is within reach of all of us. And I'd like to use the word the key, but the essential ingredient is believing God's word, taking them at his word and applying it and living it out in our lives. So it is attainable. And then I asked the question, are you content? And I said, well, if you're not sure, then I asked the other question, are you learning to be content? And then to give further encouragement. I made this statement that this assertion that the contented Christian glorifies God. That's my motivation. You see, when we think about our lives and says, oh, why does it always happen like this? Why can't I get out beyond this point? Why my life and why this and why that? And it seems that I try this and whatever I do, it doesn't, I can't seem to get beyond this point. I can't seem to get myself out of where I am. And my circumstances, I make plans, I pray about it, I get counsel, I try this and try that. It seems like nothing seems to work. And you remember what Jacob said? He said, all these things are against me. He said, Joseph is gone. And now they have Simeon. And now Benjamin. And he says, oh, you're going to bring my gray hairs down to my grave with grief. And Jacob was lamenting and bemoaning, but not knowing that God was working all things together for good. And I just kind of gave away what we're going to consider later on. the contented Christian, the one that says, God is enough. That's where our contentment comes from. Lay not treasures for yourselves on earth, but treasures in heaven. And if your treasure in heaven, you cannot serve God and mammon. And even Paul had written with food and clothing, we shall be content. And then in Psalm 73, the Psalmist said, In Psalm 73 verses 25 to 26, he says, whom have I in heaven but you, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. And there's a Psalmist that struggled with contentment. When you read that Psalm, he was envious at the wicked, at the ungodly. They seem to be prospering. They walk around and they boast and they brag and they seem to die in comfort and peace. And here I am, I'm chasing every morning. I'm played. I'm trying to do the right thing. I'm trying to serve the Lord and I have all these troubles and difficulties and hardship. And then I thought that it seems to be in vain to serve God. It's like, where is it getting me? And people who are not serving God They seem to just have it so easy and life seems to be so well for them. And he said, until I went into the sanctuary of God, then I understood their latter end. And then there was a turnaround and Asaph said, no, God is my portion. God is enough for me. And so he had to get his perspective back in order. He had his he was looking at the world and started envying the world and those who are in the world and failed to realize what he has that is far superior than the joys of this passing world. And so he makes this statement, whom have I in heaven, but you, and there was none upon earth that I desire beside you. And so whatever the outcome of our plans, it is a win-win for the Christian. It's a win-win. You know, I, um, you know, you know, you, you know what the feeling is, man, I feel like a loser and I know that feeling a lot. And that's what I may feel at times. But the truth is, we're not losers. We are more than conquerors. And we need to see ourselves in the light of scripture, in the light of our union with Jesus Christ. And yes, in ourselves, we can say, yes, in myself, apart from God, yeah, I'm a loser. I'm a sinner. But in Christ, I'm more than a conqueror. I'm justified. There is Heaven that awaits me. There's no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. We are justified by faith. We have peace with God. I mean we are as a believer. We are the most blessed people on the face of the earth and it has nothing to do with us is all of God is all of his grace. And so that's where you kind of shift things around. And then you learn, you say, you know what? It's well with my soul. And you learn contentment as, as Asaph did. So contentment must be maintained. So when, when disappointment comes, remind yourself, the Lord will never leave me nor forsake me. That's what he said. I will never leave you nor forsake you. When success comes, it's because of God and God is my joy. And so God gives you success that is in the eyes of the world. You're prospering and it's out, you know, it doesn't go to your head and you say, Lord, thank you for all this abundance you've given me. Now, Lord, I want to use it. How do I use it for your glory? And there you use it to help others in need and to do good works and the cause of Christ. And you're not fretting and worrying about it. You said, this thing can all go and my joy will still remain. I'm using what God has given me for his glory. And when things are taken away, I still have the Lord. I still have the Lord and all is well. and soul contentment. Now for this morning, the newer material to present to you is our plans and God's will. First of all, we considered the first sermon, those principles, we consider contentment. Now regarding our plans and God's will, we need to consider God's providence. God's providence. Now, God's will is known to us in three categories. God's decree, as I mentioned before, the secret things belong to the Lord. And then also God's will is known to us in terms of God's revealed will. That is what he's revealed for our faith and our lives in the Holy Scriptures. And third category is God's Providence. God's Providence and our confession is 1689. Just a brief statement from the confession confession. I have here God the good creator of all things in his infinite power and wisdom. does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence." So God, the Creator, According to His power and wisdom, He upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures and all things. And this is what we call providence, like the weather we have here. The sun is shining. This is God's Providence, because God is involved. He didn't create the world and walk away from it, but God is the one who sustains and upholds, and he causes all things that happen to occur. God causes all things. Nothing happens apart from him. And one writer, and I've heard it mentioned in different ways, speaking about a molecule. or an atom, you say a molecule or a cell. If there was even a single molecule or a cell that was outside of God's control, then God would cease to be God. That little cell would be God because that would be something God has no control over. And so God is control of everything. the little insect, the laws of gravity, the laws of creation. Nebuchadnezzar, when his understanding came to him in Daniel 4, he said this about the Most High God. He does according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants on Earth. and none can stay his hand and say, what are you doing all things? There is nothing that that doesn't happen apart from God's will, whether it's decreed, whether reveal, but in his Providence, he he brings about all these things. And yes, we think about evil and the calamities. Yes, God is in control of those things as well, although he's not the author of evil." And then we said, but wait a minute, how can that be? How can God allow this or be in control? And it's true. The Lord said, I create light, I create darkness, even the wicked for the day of evil. He hardened the heart of Pharaoh. And he didn't make Pharaoh evil. It's not that Pharaoh was this innocent, holy man and God turned him from a holy man into a wicked man. No, he was already wicked. We're already born in sin, but God was, he's in control. He gives people up. Romans one, he gives people up to their own sinful desires and they go deeper into sin. And that's why when we look at what's going on and what people do in the world, and it's like, we say, how can people do that? We are understanding how depraved and what human depravity is more and more. But God is in control. Even the devil cannot do anything apart from God's authority. He has to go to God. And remember what Jesus said to Peter. He says, Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have you that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not. So the devil did have some time with Peter, but Jesus prayed that his faith fill, not Peter had to learn some lessons and God even uses the devil to for the sanctification of his people. You look at Job, this righteous man. And God said to Satan, have you considered Job? And God said, you can do this, but don't do this. You can do that, but don't do the other. And Job was a righteous man. And God was dealing with his servant, Job. We'll get into that, Lord willing, in the next hour. So you see, in God's providence, either he is sovereign, either he is God, or he's not God. He can't be mostly God, except for in certain circumstances. No, no, he's God. And he is in control of all things and in his providence. So I would ask you to turn with me just to look at some passages here. Turn with me to Psalm 147. Psalm 147. I've said some things, you know, verbally, but here's some things I'd like you to look with your own eyes. And the point here to my first head is that we must factor in the providence of God when we make our plans. You make a plan. You must factor in God's providence. You know, like you get up in the morning and you plan to, you know, you got a business, you got an appointment, you want to be there at nine o'clock. You get on the road. There's an accident. It just happened. It wasn't on the news. You didn't have any forewarning. There's an accident. There's a backup of traffic. And now you can't make your appointment. Well, you've been providentially hindered. You've been provident if out totally outside your control is not anything you did wrong. It's just something did it just happen. No God is sovereign even over those things that has impacted you and God has a purpose in all that for you as well as for all the motorists and all people who will find out about this event. And so in Psalm 147 look at verse 8 well verse 7. Sing unto Jehovah with Thanksgiving sing praises upon the harp unto our God and notice this speaking about our God who covers the heavens with clouds who prepares rain for the earth who makes grass to grow up upon the mountains. He gives to the beast his food the animals that feed the the food chain. He provides all of that and to the young Ravens which cry and then drop down to verse 16. He gives snow like wool. He scatters the hoarfrost like ashes. He casts forth his ice like morsels. Who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word and melts them. He caused his wind to blow upon and the waters flow that is melting to ice and now it's now flowing water again. And then if you go to Psalm 148, just drop down Psalm 148 verse 7. It says praise Jehovah from the earth. You see monsters in all deeps that is all the creatures in the ocean. fire, and hail, snow, and vapor, stormy wind, fulfilling His Word." Fulfilling His Word. And there's another psalm where God commands the snow. He says to the snow, fall on the earth. I think it's one of these psalms here. If I find that later, I cannot refer that to you. But God is the one he's controlling the wind, the rains, the clouds. He feeds the animals. Remember what Jesus says? You know, don't worry about yourself. Consider the birds of the air. They don't toil. They don't spin. Yet, your heavenly father feeds them. And when the bird on the ground and there's a little, there's a dead animal on the road and the bird is eating that, God is providing that. God is feeding that bird right there in God's providence. The state of New Jersey, we're in a drought. It's God's providence, brethren. He sends the rain. And in his wisdom, he's withheld the rain. Why is he doing this? His ways are not our ways. God is in control of all things. He brought you here this morning. All things that occur in the created order is ordained, but not only ordained, but it is controlled. It is in the hands of God. He's sustaining and ruling in all these things. Turn with me to Acts chapter 17. Acts chapter 17. Here Paul, Paul is speaking to philosophers in Athens. And back in those days, just like in our days, there are people who are regarded as great thinkers, who reflect upon things and come up with ideas, and they proclaim them, and other people listen to them, and they ooh and ah, and they say, wow, what a brilliant man you are. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, et cetera. And here these Athenians they like to gather in a marketplace and speak among themselves and kind of come up with some insight into the world and reality and how things work and what's important and where is the source of this information where the source of the information is in their own heads. as they look out about them and they seek to work it out in their own minds and then they speak and somehow these are words of wisdom and insight that all need to know and so they had these idols in Athens many worshipers and they have one inscription to an unknown God, in case they missed the God. They said, well, we'll just say this unknown God. So we, you know, don't miss anything. And Paul says, I'm going to tell you about this unknown God. And what Paul does, he doesn't start on the basis of philosophy, he basically tells them, just look around you. God, the creator, he begins with the creation. you can look around you can see the sky and Paul is seeking to interpret the world in which we live and this world you know what the psalmist says the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork Romans 1 it says the invisible things of him are clearly seen since the creation of the world and the things that have been made the very creation itself is a witness of God the creator and so Paul does this in verse 22 Acts 17 and Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said you men of Athens In all things, I perceive that you are very religious. For as I pass along and observe the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, to an unknown God. What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I set forth to you, the God that made the world and all things therein. He being Lord of heaven and earth dwells not in temples made with hands. Neither is he served by men's hands and as though he needed anything seeing he himself and noted this he not only makes the world but he gives to all and this is an ongoing activity that God does he gives to all life and breath and all things." Are you breathing, you men of Athens? The very breath in your nostrils comes from God. You're breathing because He is upholding you. this very moment. He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He made of one, that is, Adam, every nation of men to dwell on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live, and move, and have our being. And then Paul says, I'm going to even quote one of your poets. Your own poets have said this, For we are all His offspring. And then he goes on, therefore, being the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver or stone, graven by art and device of men. And then he urges them to repent as he goes on speaking about the day of judgment. You can't confine God to a piece of stone or device and say this is God and that's what they were doing. He says no he made the world. He's not dwelt in temples made by hand men. He's not served with man's hand. He gives life and breath and all things and he is appointed the Nations why this people is on this side of the world and this people is in another side and this people speak this language and that language and he is appointed the times and seasons. I mean, where's the Roman Empire today? It was an appointed season and that season season is over. is gone. There are nations that do not exist. Or if they do exist, they don't have the power that they once have. God is the author. God is control of all those things. And even our own nation, the United States. We have an appointed season. I don't know how long the season will be and what that entails. But this land is what it is under the blessing of God. This is and God's providence, brethren, his providence. We've been born in this land, many of us, if we not become nationalized. But the fact we're living here, this is all in God's providence. We're not in a land where the state outlaws or it's against the law to do what we're doing today. And we can be put in jail or even put to death for naming the name of Jesus. We're not in those lands and that's because of God's Providence. And then I would ask you to turn with me to Ecclesiastes chapter 3. We're just looking at some scriptures that just underscore God's providence. Remember the providence, remember God's providence is not just His sovereignty, is not just His decree, but is God actually working and bringing these things to pass. He is causing events to occur. He's causing things to happen. He's in control of all these things. Even Jesus says, not one sparrow falls apart from your heavenly father he knows the number of the hairs that's on our head even the sparrow that falls god is in control of that falling sparrow where it lands when it dies he feeds the birds of the air he causes the rain to fall upon the just and the unjust he sends out his ice and stormy wind and all these things earthquake mudslides floods beautiful sun shining weather drought All these things, God is doing these things. That's his providence. And so in Ecclesiastes chapter 3, here's something else that we ought to keep in mind. Often this passage is read at funerals. Well, it shouldn't be restricted to funerals. It is appropriate at funerals, but not only for funerals. Ecclesiastes three, I'm going to read a good bit of this verse one. For everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. Now what we're going to read is follow is providence, providence, providence. Yes, God's, God's determination, but God is the one that causes these things to occur. The timing, the duration, the end of it. He caused these things. He is the author of these things. Verse two, a time to be born. It doesn't just happen. God brings that about, and a time to die has been appointed unto men once to die. That appointment is made by God, and he brings it to pass. A time to plant, a time to pluck up that which is planted, a time to kill, and a time to heal, like war, sickness, a time to break down, and a time to build up, a time to weep, and a time to laugh, A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to seek and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to cast away. A time to rend and a time to sow. A time to keep silence and a time to speak. time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What profit have he that works in that wherein he labors? I have seen the travail, notice this, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. That is to travail and sorrow God has given us to the sons of men. He hath made everything beautiful in its time. This is God doing this. Also he have set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good so long as they live. and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy good in all his labor is the gift of God. I know that whatsoever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it. And God hath done it that men should fear before him." These things are not random. seasons. These things don't just happen. God is in control of all these things. And so brethren, which I hope to get more into that your life as a church. God is in control. God is not the author of sin. But where we are in God's providence, not only you as a church, but as individuals in your life, you know, I think of, and it kind of saddens me, but it sobers me. You think of when you buy a rose and you buy a bouquet of flowers, isn't that so beautiful? You smell them and there they are, so beautiful. But then they begin to wilt. and they wither, and then you throw them away. But it was so beautiful, but so short-lived. I think God is giving us a lesson in flowers when you look at that. You know, when you look at our lives, all flesh is as grass, and the glory thereof as the flower of the field. The grass wither, the flower fades. because the breath of the Lord blows upon it. The grass wither and the flower fades, but the Lord's will abides forever, or his word shall abide forever. And so in the seasons, making plans, I thought I'd be at this stage of my life here, but I'm doing something totally different. Well, anyway, let's pray. And, um, And let's ask God to help us to prepare for the next hour. Let's pray. Our Father, we thank you for this time, and we ask, Lord, that you will continue to speak to us, and you would help us to worship you, and to know the freedom and joy of being a believer, of knowing that you work all things together for good. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.