God does not have a "Plan B" (Part One)

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." - Jeremiah 29:11

Most everyone can think of a time in his/her life when a choice was presented of which the outcome would vastly alter the course of his/her future. You may even be able to think of a time in your recent past when a choice you made had that very effect. Some people go through life with "regrets", wishing he/she had a certain choice to make all over again; and, if so, he/she would have chose an entirely different outcome.

The fact of the matter is we encounter situations on a daily basis where the choices we make change the course of the day. Some are so small we barely even notice them - the smile we pass along to a stranger - a random act of kindness to a fellow commuter on the way to work - stopping for coffee at McDonald's instead of Starbucks.

However, there are those opportunities - confrontations - temptations - trials - that present themselves to us and a "knee-jerk" reaction, a hasty decision, or even a long-contemplated choice so drastically changes the direction of our lives, one can only wonder "where would I be right now if I had chosen differently"?

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure..." - Isaiah 46:9&10

Beloved, although we may wonder how differently our lives would be had we made a different choice; maybe even stating "if I only knew then what I know now", God never has in the past, nor will He ever have to do so in the future. One of the distinct characteristics that make Him God is the fact He in omniscient - He knows everything - past, present and future. He created this universe knowing its end from the very beginning. He knows exactly where you are today, where you will be tomorrow, and where you will be at the end of days.

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love..." - Ephesians 1:4

There are countless souls that have fell by the wayside because of the lie from Satan declaring that they have went too far - that he/she has messed up too big or committed some sin so heinous that God has wrote him/her off and that there is no hope. Some have even been deceived into believing that God, in His infinite mercy, will still allow them into heaven; however, the original plan/calling He had for them has been "lost" or "changed" into a plan/calling of a smaller nature or lesser impact. Beloved, these are lies from the devil that have no truth in them whatsoever!

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." - Romans 8:28-30.

By the grace of God and the help of the Holy Spirit, we will address the issue of "predestination". According to the scriptures stated above, predestination is a valid doctrine found in the Word of God. However, we must dispel the idea of predestination according to the old Puritan belief - one that dictates that everyone is born either going to heaven or going to hell and nothing that person can do will change that. A better word would be "predetermination". God has a predetermined plan for each believer's life that will ultimately end at the foot of His throne.

Imagine a person planning a trip from New York to Los Angeles. This person will have to make several choices regarding the trip. There are several routes that person could take - routes that would contain different sites, different locales in which to eat, spend the night, etc. Then, there is also the "unforeseen" obstacles and delays that person will encounter on the way to Los Angeles - road construction, flat tires, mechanical problems, etc. Then, throw into that equation an enemy that does not want to see this person reach the destination, placing along the route distractions, detours, and problems - hoping to make this person give up the trip due to frustration, long delays, costly problems. The person planning the trip from New York to Los Angeles will have to make several choices on how to react to the unforeseen delays, obstacles, changes in the route that is taken. This person could choose to turn back, determining the trip is "not worth it". "too hard", not what he/she "thought it would be like", etc. Or, if the person is determined to make it, despite the problems and delays, that person would eventually reach the destination if he/she chooses not to give up.

God has a "predetermined" plan for every believer that leads from the cross to the throne. Of course, there will been unforeseen delays, obstacles, and choices to make while on this journey. And Satan will do everything God will allow to upset the believer, hinder the believer, attempting to cause the believer to determine the journey is "not worth it", "too hard", not what we "thought it would be like". But if the believer is determined to make it to heaven, the grace of God will assure the believer gets home if he/she does not give up.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ..." - Philippians 1:6

Watch for Part Two tomorrow! - (You can read this message in its entirety at http://www.psalm25-4.blogspot.com/)

BE STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE

NOTE FROM THE WATCHMEN: I JUST HAD TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU, AS IT GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE LAST FEW DAYS. PLEASE READ AND FEEL FREE TO PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL YOU THINK WOULD NEED IT. THIS IS BY HUMBLE PASTOR DAVID WILKERSON.


We have learned from Isaiah 49 that the Lord knows your battle. He has fought it before you. And it is no sin to endure thoughts that your labor has been in vain, or to be cast down with a sense of failure over shattered expectations. Jesus himself experienced this and was without sin.

It is very dangerous, however, to allow these hellish lies to fester and enflame your soul. Jesus showed us the way out of such despondency with this statement: “I have labored in vain…yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God” (Isaiah 49:4, italics mine). The Hebrew word for judgment here is “verdict,” Christ is saying, in effect, “The final verdict is with my Father. He alone passes judgment on all that I’ve done and how effective I’ve been.”

God is urging us through this verse: “Stop passing a verdict over your work for me. You have no business judging how effective you’ve been. And you have no right to call yourself a failure. You don’t yet know what kind of influence you’ve had. You simply don’t have the vision to know the blessings that are coming to you.” Indeed, we won’t know many such things until we stand before him in eternity.

In Isaiah 49, Jesus heard the Father say in so many words: “So, Israel is not yet gathered. Yes, I called you to bring in the tribes, and that has not happened in the way you imagined it. But that calling was only a little thing compared to what is coming for you. It’s nothing in comparison to what I have in store. I’m going to make you now a light for the whole world. You’re going to bring salvation to the whole earth” (see Isaiah 49:5-6).

While the devil is lying to you, saying that all you’ve done is in vain, that you’ll never see your expectations fulfilled, God in his glory is preparing a greater blessing. He has better things in store, beyond anything you could think or ask.

We’re not to listen to the enemy’s lies any longer. Instead, we’re to rest in the Holy Spirit, believing him to fulfill the work of making us more like Christ. And we are to rise up from our despair and stand on this word: “Be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

By David Wilkerson.

HOW WONDERFUL OUR FATHER IS!!!!!

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

I am amazed at these verses of scripture. At the extent of the care and love that God places on us is mindboggling. Another instance in scripture Jesus says that not even one of these birds falls to the ground without our heavenly father knowing it's demise, (Matthew 10:29). What kind of love the Father has for us, is beyond human understanding. If we really think on these verses, then we must understand that God knows what we are going thru, and he cares, and never again can we say, does God really know what I am going thru?

I want to show you something, maybe you've never thought of. Please don't missunderstand what I am about to say, I take nothing away from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, with this statement. His love is amazing by itself, but think about this, it was the plan of the Father, to execute his son on a cross for us. It was the plan of the Father to set in motion all these things from the garden of Eden to redeem us from the curse of Hell, eternal seperation from his presence. It was the plan of the Father, to create a race (The Jews) for which our Lord would come thru. It was ultimately The Father, God, behind all this, to save us and help us.

One of the most powerful verses in the Bible centers on a conversation in the garden with a risen from the dead Jesus and Mary. Jesus gives the command to Mary to go tell the disciples this word; "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17). Think about this, for such a long time, God was seperated from us due to sin, no way to walk and talk with us like he did Adam in the garden. But thanks to Jesus fulfilling the plan of God, that was now restored. This is what he meant by that statement, now his father was ours, now his God was ours.

I ask you a question, did not Jesus say it was expedient that he go so the Holy Ghost could come down? (John 16:7) And does not the Bible teach us that God is a spirit? (John 4:24) Why do you think this trading places was so important? Not only was it meant to impower the believer with power from on high, to be witnesses and live holy lives, but also, so the Father could once again have this fellowship lost to him in the garden. It is the Father behind it all. What love he has for you and I!

Worship him today. Don't go into his presence today asking for things and telling him what you want to do, go into his presence just to love on him. Thank him for his marvellous plan in his son Jesus, to redeem us back into the family. We have such a wonderful Father in God, don't take him for granted today.

RUNNING FROM GOD

I want to speak to you this morning that is carrying something against God. Now, before you dismiss this, and say; “I don’t hate God with anything”, I am talking about much more than just someone carrying hatred and anger against God. And I know there are some people out there who are angry, because they feel God abandoned them in some way. Please, let me speak to you this morning, hear me out in what I have to say. What will it hurt to listen to what I want to tell you? You have nothing to lose, yet.

First, let me speak to the angry ones. To you, who feel God failed you on a promise, left you for dead, I have a word, and this is for you. The Bible says this; “Jesus said unto her, (Martha, Lazarus’s sister) I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:25). You know this story here, how Lazarus died and how Jesus purposefully waited 4 days too late to come to him. It was part of a plan. And that plan was to show people that you must have faith in God. We as humans have this problem called “Time limits”. We fall into this trap of thinking something has to be done at a certain time or all hope is lost. To Martha, all hope was lost because Lazarus died. But we serve a God who is not bound by the power of Death, or time limits. Even after rotting and stinking in a grave for 4 days, Jesus commands three little words; “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43), and Lazarus rises from death and walks out! You must believe, you must not give in to giving up. God allows bad timing, to show you he doesn’t have to move before time is up, he controls it. Whatever way you think he has failed, or not kept his promise, don’t believe it! Time has not ran out, the promise you need and the thing you need God to do can still happen, but if you give up faith all is truly lost.

Last, let me speak to those who aren’t carrying anger, but grief. Those who feel they are to far gone for God to care or reach. You made a mistake, and you’ve suffered greatly for it. Something happened in your past, and if you just had seen it coming, everything would have been alright. But, it blind-sighted you and knocked you to the ground. I am talking to someone directly right now, and hear me; God is reaching to you thru this word today. Right about now you are feeling funny inside, and you are feeling a weight in the middle of your chest. This is the gentle tug of the Holy Ghost beginning to speak to you. God has been like that father of the Prodigal son, waiting and looking for your return, ready to forgive you when you called. But sorrow and depression over the “Thing” that happened in your life kept you apart, not allowing you to call on him. I have a word for you from the Lord; “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). He is also telling me to tell you this; “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” (Hosea 14:4). I know it maybe hard to believe, but he is calling you back, before it is too late.

It is time to let these things go. God is willing and able to clean the slate and start brand new with you again. But you must meet him there, and give him a second chance as well.

ONE LAST WORD ON "NEGLECT"

FROM THE WATCHMEN: WE WANTED TO ADD ONE LAST WARNING ON THE "NEGLECT" ISSUE THAT WE MENTIONED A FEW DEVOTIONALS AGO. THIS WORD FROM PASTOR DAVID WILKERSON SAYS IT BEST. ENJOY AND TAKE WHAT HE SAYS TO HEART.


There is one thing I dread above all others and that is that I would drift away from Christ. I shudder at the notion that I would become slothful, spiritually neglectful, caught up in prayerlessness, and go for days without seeking God’s Word. In my travels around the world I have witnessed a “spiritual tsunami” of evil drifting. Entire denominations have been caught up in the waves of this tsunami, leaving in their wake the ruins of apathy. The Bible warns clearly that it’s possible for devoted believers to drift from Christ.

A Christian who goes after “peace and safety at any cost” and merely hangs onto salvation pays a high spiritual price. So, how can we guard against drifting from Christ and neglecting “so great a salvation”? Paul tells us how: “Give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Hebrews 2:1).

God isn’t interested in our being able to “speed read” through His Word. Reading many chapters a day or trying to get through the Bible quickly may give us a good feeling of accomplishment. But what’s more important is that we “hear” what we read with spiritual ears, and meditate on it so that it’s “heard” in our hearts.

Staying steadfast in God’s Word was no small matter for Paul. He lovingly warns, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Hebrews 2:1). He also says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Paul isn’t suggesting to these believers that they’re reprobates. Rather, he’s urging them, “As lovers of Christ, test yourself. Take a spiritual inventory. You know enough about your walk with Jesus to know you’re loved by him, that he hasn’t turned from you, that you are redeemed. But ask yourself: How is your communion with Christ? Are you guarding it with all diligence? Are you leaning on him in your hard times?”

Perhaps you realize, “I see a bit of drifting in my life, a tendency to slumber. I know I’m praying less and less. My walk with the Lord isn’t as it should be.”

“We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Hebrews 3:14).

By David Wilkerson