Pastor Jonathan Burgess
September 18, 2016 - W1638

Today’s message is about Plan B, as we continue in our Future and Hope series. As we unpack this message, we will refer to David’s life and how he had to surrender his Plan A, which was to build God’s temple, to God’s Plan B to have his son Solomon build it.

The Bible tells us to make plans. As we kicked off the year 2016, many of us said that this year will be a year of surrender, where we let God’s Plan B, become our Plan A.

In one week during 2016: 100 hands were raised, 900 plus people accepted the 90 day challenge about tithing and about putting God first in their finances, 55 people were water baptized, and 1800 plus people completed the class “Now I was broke, now I’m not”.

After Cindy and I completed that class, we found out that our finances were at the bottom rung of the financial ladder that Joe Sangl presented. In order to eliminate debt, save, and invest, you first have to set goals. This means we had to say no to what we wanted, and say yes to God’s preferable future.

Last week each of you were given these commitment cards. There is a line drawn at the bottom of these cards to put a monetary commitment to the Future and Hope Campaign. Cindy and I would not have been able to fill in that blank had we not surrendered our Plan A, which was to stay in a much larger and more comfortable house, that demanded a higher rent. We chose to move to a house one-third the size which had a much smaller rent. This enabled us to give to this campaign. So our Plan A became God’s Plan B.

We will never see what God has planned for us. We are never going see our dreams and goals come to pass, until we surrender everything we have to God. As a church, we started this journey of surrender nine months ago. It takes nine months for a baby to be born. Tonight, I believe that God is going to be birthed in our spirit, so that He can bring us up to speed for what He has called our church to do.

This is our opportunity to participate in Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you.   Plans to give you a future and a hope.’” We want to invest in the next generation through this building initiative.

This week’s dog tag that our ushers will give you have the DOG TAG WORD “PLANNING”. We are going to come along with God’s plan. The Bible says, “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

The Bible is saying that we are supposed to plan, and not stop with our plan, but let God establish our steps. The key to the first part of this proverb is to surrender our plans to God, then He will direct our steps. We learned this from David who had a plan. “David said to Solomon: ‘My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God. But this word of the Lord came to me: “You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for My Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign.”’” 1 Chron. 22: 7-9

How do you respond when your plans are changed- especially when you have planned something for a long time, and others have supported your plan? Do you roll with change, or do you get a little frustrated? The first thing David did when God changed his plan was

1. Celebration

David did not argue or rebel, but instead celebrated when Nathan, David’s prophet told him that his son would build the God’s temple.

The most difficult time to surrender our plan A for God, is when in our hearts, our Plan A was for God. Can our heart hold on loosely to our plans, so that we can submit to God’s better plan?

The Bible says, instead of getting mad at Nathan, “Then David went in and sat before the Lord and said: ‘Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family that You have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in Your sight, my God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.’” 1 Chron. 17:16-17

Weekend service should not be the only time that we celebrate with God. You must learn to get alone with God and celebrate with Him, thanking Him for whatever He has done and has promised to do. David thanked God for what God had already done, and for what God was about to do.

“The sun is out, coconut trees are dancing in the light winds and the ocean is reflecting the sun rays…it’s a beautiful morning in Hawaii Nei…Blessings.” Claudia Alford, our video team leader posted this on face book while stuck in traffic. Claudia noticed all that God was doing, despite being stuck in traffic. From this, I reflected that this is exactly what David was doing in his circumstance.      

1. Confession

We must confess our sins in order to advance Plan B for our lives, and establish His steps in our lives. David sinned big, but was quick to repent   God said do not count your people in Exodus 30:12 God told David to not count his people, because he wanted David to count on Him. If David counted on his horses and chariots instead of God, then his ego would enlarge, and his confidence would have been put in men instead of in God. The Bible says, “The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem … This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel. Then David said to God, ‘I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg You, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.’” 1 Chron. 21:4, 7-8

May we be quick to confess ours sins as David did. The more influence or authority God has given to you, the more your sin will affect people that surround you. Therefore, may we be quick to confess ours sins as David did.

Confess your pride and embrace God’s Plan B for your life. For Cindy and me, our car full of kids matters - all the other stuff, and the big house that we previously lived in does not matter. Being smack dab in the middle of God’s world matters. This moves us to

1. Consecration

Surrendering our Plan A to God’s Plan B requires consecration.

After David confessed, he responded in consecration. “Then the angel of the Lord ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. So David went up in obedience to the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the Lord … But King David replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.’ So David paid Araunah six hundred shekels of gold for the site. David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.” 1 Chron. 21:18-19, 24-26

At the Burgess house, there is a Future and a Hope pledge card stuck on our ice box as a reminder for what God wants us to do. We are giving something that cost us, so that God can do what He is about to do.  

Would you go to the Iwilei Costco on a Friday for God? When everyone and their Aunty is there? Would you be willing to get on the H1 going west at 5pm on a Friday afternoon, if at that moment, God directed you to minister to someone? Thinking of these examples, what are you willing to do to answer the call of God on your life?

1. Calling

David gathered all of his people and told them that the building of God’s temple was not only his calling, but also a communal or corporate calling. “Then David said, ‘The house of the Lord God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.’ … David said, ‘My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord should be of great magnificence and fame and splendor in the sight of all nations. Therefore I will make preparations for it.’ So David made extensive preparations before his death. Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel.” 1 Chron. 22:1, 5-6

Evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said, “The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it.”

I believe that God is bringing revival, and the building campaign is a means to an end. When we are willing to no longer live without the fullness of God’s spirit poured out on this church, then we will answer this calling. I want you to answer to this calling. Throughout the next five weeks we will pray on Monday for our families, Tuesday for our youth, Wednesday for our community, Thursday for jobs and finances, Friday for relationships, and Saturday for our church leadership.   We are going to take this spiritual journey together and thank God for this journey that He has called us to embark on. In Jesus name, Amen

Questions:

• How do you respond when your plans are changed?

• Does God have a Plan B to replace your present Plan A??

• How will you contribute to this revival?