Sunday Recap for 4/9: You Can’t Mess Up God’s Plans
On Sunday (4/9/17), Evident Grace looked at this Big Idea:
Big Idea: You Can’t Mess Up God’s Plans or
And we looked at these scriptures:
John 19: 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
We found these details surrounding our Big Idea:
Big Idea: You Can’t Mess up God’s Plans
- When you trust yourself more than you trust God.
- When you get what you want.
- When you are being flat out ridiculous.
When you trust yourself more than you trust God.
John 19: 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
The religious leaders of the day truly trusted themselves more than they trust God. They thought Jesus would be a political king who congratulated the religious leaders and stayed away from sinners. Instead, Jesus brought a spiritual kingdom, He rebuked the religious leaders, and spent time with sinners. And because of that, they wanted Jesus to die and even blackmailed Pilate. Yet, even in that, God’s plans and purposes were not changed nor messed up. Jesus’ death brought about our salvation.
When you get what we want
13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
The religious leaders got everything they wanted. They wanted Jesus dead, and Pilate sits down on his judgment seat to declare Jesus was going to be executed as the Jewish king. Getting what you want may not be bad when your desires and God’s lineup. The difference most of the time is heart motive. Sometimes though, God lets you have everything you want, yet He still brings about His purposes.
Think about Joseph, he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Deceitfully thrown into jail and left to rot. Ultimately, God put him in leadership in Egypt. Ultimately, God used Joseph’s position to spare the people of God (including His family) during a drought. In a moment when Joseph could have punished his brothers, he said, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” Even though the Jewish people got what they wanted, Jesus’ crucifixion, God still used it to bring about His purposes for your salvation.
When you are ridiculous
15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
Caesar was the one who kept the Israelites occupied and at bay. He controlled Israel, not the Jewish people. Yet, when there is one last chance that Pilate wouldn’t crucify Jesus, the Jewish people declared that Caesar was their king, not Jesus. Ridiculous, yet God still accomplished His purposes, and He will in your life as well.
Big Idea: You Can’t Mess up God’s Plans
Truth: Even faithless, selfish, and ridiculous Christians can’t mess up God’s plans.
Application: Live knowing that no matter what you do, God is going to accomplish His purposes in your life.
Action: Stop agonizing when you fail, and trust God’s grace for your sin and His plans for your life.