“God’s Plan Completed”
Pastor David Moore
Old Testament reading: Psalm 98 (NIV)
Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
Theme today: we will talk about the great things God has done for us and glimpse into His great plans.
New Testament reading: Ephesians 1:9-12 (NIV)
And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.
Last week we talked about God as our Father and our King and that He is a King with a plan. The plan is to bring all things under the authority of Jesus. This plan is in process, even now. ~D. Moore
When time comes to an end and all things are restored, we will be able to see that this was God’s plan and hopefully we will have participated and supported God’s plan. ~D. Moore
The world is falling apart, but in Hebrews 1:3 it says, in Christ all things hold together and that is the plan. To get all things to hold together under the authority of Christ. ~D. Moore
Christ’s Kingdom is going to move through all the earth until history ends, all opposition to His rule will be vanquished, and Christ will be all in all. ~D. Moore
This is the plan that God is working out; it is the plan that you and I can be part of the plan. You are His emissary, His soldiers, His servants, His herald, and His to command to make the plan come to fruition. ~D. Moore
God is working out His plan to accomplish the healing of the universe, and us, and He is working out that plan in every moment, in every event. ~D. Moore
We have to remember that God is the Lord of History, He is the Lord of your life. He is the Master of History; He works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. History is built up in God’s plan; nothing happens outside of it. The Bible says God’s plan is behind all things. ~D. Moore
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Why evil? Why and how could evil be part of God’s plan? God has His hands on evil and will not let evil do anything other than move His plan forward. ~D. Moore
Amos 3:6 When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?
Matthew 10:6-7 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’
Isaiah 45:6-7 So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.
God hates evil and suffering and didn’t create the world to have any of it. But we chose to sin, but even in that, the broken will not rule over God. ~D. Moore
Psalm 76:10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.
God is not the creator of evil, but God works it into His plan.
God’s plan is the ultimate cause of everything, God allows for evil, and works it into His plan. ~D. Moore
Your choices matter: you are still responsible for yourself and your choices. Key point: God works out our future through our choices. ~D. Moore
Ultimately either God is in control, or we are. If history depends on man’s wisdom, we’re in trouble. ~D. Moore
God is the Creator, the Author, the Controller of the universe. My perception in life will always be distorted through my own lens. Only God sees the end and the beginning and everything in between, so only God can be trusted with something so important as life. ~D. Moore
This week: Ponder our amazing God and what He has created. Think about the order of the universe and your journey, and wonder about how His plan has unfolded in your life. Think about how you are participating in God’s grand plan for the universe.
Have a good week. God bless.