Acts 16:5-7 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
This last Sunday, Pastor Obie continued in our sermon series through the Book of Acts, coming to Paul’s Second Missionary journey. We all make plans for the future, but the best made plans of mice and men do not always work out as we wish. Like with the Apostle Paul, sometimes the Lord, our God has something better in mind.
Pastor Obie gives Christians 5 things they can do when their plans don’t pan out.(1) Stay flexible and seek godly vision and guidance. Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Our plans must align with Holy Scripture, but God’s vision determines and influences our direction. (2) Go where Believers gather and trust God’s providence. God’s guidance with open or shut doors. Like-minded people of God connect and encourage each other in godly living and good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them, especially in regards to advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ with the heart transforming Gospel of Salvation.
(3) Discern how to endure or engage, empowered through the name of Jesus. The way out of issues is either through, around or head-on. The Apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit engaged and said in Acts 4:9-12, “If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Surrender your will and align with the will of the Lord; call upon His name and walk in the Spirit. Romans 9:17 says, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”
(4) Pray and praise through the pivot on the plan. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 instructs us to, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We cannot change the circumstances that come down the road of life, but we can control our response to them. Be assures that the devil and the God-rejecting world will place distractions, deceptions, lies and temptations in your path to derail and misguide your kingdom journey with the Lord, but keep your heart and mind on Christ Jesus to guide your steps daily. True joy is a supernatural fruit of the Spirit and not based on earthly circumstances. Prayer changes things; it is the heartbeat and the lifeline of the Christ-follower.
(5) Remember that you are a child of God and your citizenship is in Heaven. Philippians 3:20 declares to all born-again Believers, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is not our home; we are just passing through, but we where born into this time and place for a godly purpose to fulfill in the process. Witness for Jesus that others may find forgiveness of sin and salvation at the foot of the Cross in Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. John 1:12-14 proclaims, ”As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” That’s Plan “A”, and there isn’t a Plan “B”.
In Christ, Brian
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