While serving as a Sunday School Superintendent, I felt that God was leading me to begin a Young Adult Class. God showed me a dynamic young man in our church to be the teacher.
The class went GREAT! Within a couple of months, the class grew to over 50 people. It was the most successful adult class the church had ever had. I was glad that I’d followed the direction of the Lord.
Then, one day, the Pastor informed me that the teacher had taken the class, rented a building across to the other side of town and started a church. Of course, I felt betrayed, used, and MERCY, I was mad! How dare this young man betray God’s trust, and my confidence.
Years later, the church that started from the Sunday School class is a thriving Independent Pentecostal Church with almost a thousand people in attendance. Obviously, God’s plan was different than my plan!
So often, we are committed to what we think God is doing. God has a plan; however, not necessarily the same plan that we have. The question is, are we committed to what we’re doing or surrendered to God’s perfect will?
There are times in both Old (Judges 14:1-4) and New Testaments when God’s plan wasn’t exactly what everybody expected. Even the disciples thought that Jesus had come to free them from Roman rule and be their King ( Acts 1:6). Jesus had other plans. (John 6:15, John 18:36)
The Apostle Paul had plans to preach in Asia. Instead, he was directed by the Spirit to Macedonia to preach the Gospel. (Acts 16:6-10) An important part of ministry is planning, but God’s plan is preeminent.
God uses ordinary people to do His will, people like you and me. It is important to remember that God is sovereign! When we serve God with all of our heart, we sign our name on the bottom line and tell God to fill in the contract. Not commitment to a goal; but total surrender to God’s will.
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.
Prayer: Father, help me to be sensitive to your voice and direction. I want to be a help, not a hindrance to what you are doing. Show me the steps you want me to take. Amen.
Scripture References:
Judges 14:1-4 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”
His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”
But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.” (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)
Acts 1:6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
John 6:15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
Acts 16:6-10 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.