"Building a Church Through Outreach"
What is Your Plan?
ELCOG 3/4/07
Text: Romans 10:9-10, 13
**Show D.V.D. on tornado damage form Enterprise.
We are all amazed at the power of the damage of a natural disaster. Our prayers go out to all the families that lost loved ones during this past week. Sirens sounded on Thursday and people were caught without anything to do but pray. I can only imagine how fast hearts were beating. As the noise of destruction came roaring into the hallways of a local school. Days before the television crews were telling everyone to get their plans in order. Everyone was making sure that the batteries were in the flash-lights and that the weather radio was working. The plan was set in motion.
Well, what about you and your plans? Do you hear the alarms in your life? There are the alarms of life sounding everyday and some of you are not prepared. Some of you need to get a plan and make sure the radio is working. Can’t you hear the alarms sounding? Can’t you see the signs of destruction coming?
1 Cor. 15:52
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Cor. 15:53
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Cor. 15:54
54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Cor. 15:55
55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Cor. 15:56
56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Cor. 15:57
57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Pet. 3:3
3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2 Pet. 3:4
4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2 Tim. 3:1
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Tim. 3:2
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Tim. 3:3
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2 Tim. 3:4
4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Tim. 3:5
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
The alarm is sounding. Destruction is coming!
Listen to the sounds…
1. Unbelievers question the fact of Jesus return
2. Believers fall asleep
3. Nothing changes –it’s the same old same old…
4. Men love themselves more than others
5. Disrespect and Disobedience to parents
6. Unthankful and unholy people
7. Unnatural relationships
8. Liars
9. Despisers of good
10. Traitors – people will stab you in the back!
11. Loves of pleasures more than lovers of God.
12. Having church without having God.
The alarm is sounding. What is your plan? What are you going to do?
Plan #1. – I’ll work more.
Some people will hear this message and begin to think that they will simply do more in church. Some people will respond to the message by trying to out work everybody else. Oh, Jesus in coming….I better do more,
Eph. 2:8
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph. 2:9
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph. 2:10
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I’ll become active in church and I’ll sign up to clean the church or keep the nursery. I don’t want to be caught off guard. Sign up for the work, but that is not a very good plan!
Plan #2 – I’ll slow down.
Some people feel like that their lives are out of control and that what is needed is a little down time. I’ll slow down and stop living life in high gear, that I way I get prepared. I’ll stop doing so much that I can’t find time to spend with God. Yes, you may need to slow down, yes, you may need to stop doing some of the harsh things of life, but will that be enough? Is your life out of control because of all of your activities, or do you have all these activities because your life is out of control?
Maybe the problem is that your plan has you looking for the wrong things.
Matt. 6:33
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Maybe you have so many things trying to occupy your mind, because you need to seek him first. Maybe you are looking for love in all the wrong places. I must say that your plan is no good. Maybe you are trying to fill that empty void in your life with everything except for God.
Plan #3 – I’ll just quit.
This is the worse plan. I’ll give up. Yesterday is too hard for me to get over and tomorrow will be too hard for me to overcome.
Some people think that it is better for them to gracefully bow out instead of standing up and fighting.
Eph. 6:13
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph. 6:14
14Stand therefore, …
1 Pet. 5:6
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Pet. 5:7
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Matt. 11:28
28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matt. 11:29
29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matt. 11:30
30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
It is never quieting time, its time to surrender.
The best plan is to surrender your life to God; to cast all your cares upon him because he cares for you. Take up your cross and follow him. You will never work enough, you will never rest enough and quieting will never help. You must surrender your life. You must take up your cross and follow him. Jesus is the only real source of help.
1 Thess. 4:16
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Thess. 4:17
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thess. 4:18
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
This is real comfort - Be alive in the Lord. We have hope because we live in God. We live in Christ. My plan to the sounding alarms is simply this: I will put my trust in Christ. I will give him my life!
Prov. 3:5
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov. 3:6
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Prov. 29:25
25The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
If the alarms are blaring in your life today…come on and give your life to Jesus. Trust him with your storms. He is able to help you…if you will come to him.