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1 I 11 PLANS 2 PLANS New Year’s resolutions What do you plan to be when you grow up? There is nothing wrong with “making a plan.” Planning and preparing for the future are bible principles. I 23 Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. 3 PLANS T 5 We should all be making eternal plans! Spiritual plans will affect our earthly plans. OBEY WHAT CAREER? WHO MARRY? WHERE LIVE? 4 PLANS God’s Word can guide us in all our thoughts and plans. Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits. 3 Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established. I 16 5 PLANS However, sometimes people don’t base their plans on what God wants or says… Proverbs 19:21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. But, we need to understand that everything won't always go AS WE PLAN! N 1 6 G 17 OBSTACLES A path with no obstacles probably doesn't lead anywhere. 7 OBSTACLES When obstacles arise, many ask, “Where is God?” or “why do bad things happen?” Whatever your problem, You’re not alone. D 15 Matthew 5:45 for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Acts 14:21-22 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 8 OBSTACLES Understand that everyone is dealing with some obstacle, problem, or difficulty. Our problems may not be as bad as we think. If we all tossed our problems in a pile, when we looked at everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. R 14 9 OBSTACLES Why do bad things happen? F 9 Our world is governed by natural law. Colossians 1:16,17; Hebrews 1:1-3 Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Cause – Effect (gravity, inertia, chemical reactions) 10 OBSTACLES Why do bad things happen? Man’s choices. Man is unique among God’s creation in that he is the only one who can N deliberately place himself in or out of 21 harmony with nature. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Ex. – a person abuses drugs and then suffers mental or physical effects as a result. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you 11 can endure it. E 22 OBSTACLES Why do bad things happen? We may suffer because of another’s actions, either sinful or not sinful. Ex. – Stephen did not die accidentally or from old age; he was murdered! Acts 7:57 Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him (Stephen) with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 12 OBSTACLES Why do bad things happen? We may suffer for doing right. I Pet. 4:12-16. 1 Peter 4:12 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. S 12 13 OBSTACLES T 26 Why do bad things happen? By God’s appointment, we live in a decaying & dying world. Rom. 5:12; Heb. 9:27 Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 14 OBSTACLES Why do bad things happen? All will eventually die because of Sin, not necessarily our own, though that can occur. Gen. 3:17 – 19 Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” D 6 15 OBSTACLES Why do bad things happen? Is God responsible? NO! N 10 James 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James warns that we can be deceived into thinking that God is responsible for problems in life. Rather, we should always be confident that God is the source of all GOOD & PERFECT GIFTS. 16 OBSTACLES Why do bad things happen? Who puts obstacles in our way? Remember Mary Decker? A 19 Galatians 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 1 Thess. 2:18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 17 G 24 OBSTACLES It is Satan that “blocks our way!” He uses difficulties, false teaching and sin to discourage us. 2 Cor. 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. (buffet – to hit with great force many times) 1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 18 OBSTACLES Why does God allow bad to happen? Job asked the same question. Job 3:23-26 (NLT) Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties? I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water. What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes. Like Job, we may feel we are waiting for.. N 4 19 I 2 ANSWERED PRAYERS Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 20 S 18 ANSWERED PRAYERS Finding the good among the bad. I'm sure that Joseph would have questioned the difficulties he underwent in Egypt. He probably wondered if his prayers would ever be answered. Eventually, he understood. Genesis 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 21 ANSWERED PRAYERS Finding the good among the bad. Joseph’s obstacles were preparation for God's plan! Learn to run a man's house – Gen. 39:1–6 Learn to run the King’s prison – Gen. 39:20–23 Prepared to run an entire nation – Gen. 41:39–40 We have limited perspective concerning our surroundings, what the future may bring for us personally and specifically, and for the cause generally. GOD'S PERSPECTIVE IS UNLIMITED. He knows what is in our best interest, even D though it may not make sense now. 3 22 O 7 ANSWERED PRAYERS Finding the good among the bad. The Lord never lets us down. He provides what is in our best interest now and eternally. He promises that even trials strengthen our faith. (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-4) James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 23 ANSWERED PRAYERS Finding the good among the bad. We remember that Christ also suffered. 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; U 8 24 ANSWERED PRAYERS N 13 Finding the good among the bad. No normal person wants to suffer. But since Christ suffered, we are willing to suffer that we may be like him. (1 Peter 4:1,2; Phil. 3:10-12) 1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 25 ANSWERED PRAYERS Finding the good among the bad. And if I die? Death is not the end, but in reality a passageway from one existence to another. Death is a reminder of our own temporary, short – lived existence on earth, and should turn our hearts toward heaven (Eccl. 3:11 – 14; 7:2). Ecclesiastes 7:2 Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that (death) is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. I 25 26 S 27 ANSWERED PRAYERS Finding the good among the bad. Finally, we begin to understand God’s View: Suffering & Death are not the worse things that can happen... They are unimportant compared to eternity. Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 27 CONCLUSION God’s understanding is infinite. Puzzle Answer Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. God is never wasting our lives! Joseph was not able to see the end result when he was thrown into the pit or carried to Egypt by traders. It will be the same with many events in our lives. Only in heaven will it make sense. 28 CONCLUSION 1 Samuel 3:18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” May we all look to the Lord in 2015 for guidance from His Word, trust Him and His providence that all will eventually work out well for the faithful, and pray that He will bless our efforts that are right wherever we may labor for Him. 29 CONCLUSION 1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? God allows obstacles that we may be strengthened and draw closer to Him. Satan uses obstacles to overthrow our faith and cause us to fail. 30 31