Game Plan

   1. God’s game plan.

a. Believe it or not God has always had a game plan.

                                            i.     Now life is not a game, heaven and hell are not a game but in referring to God how He has always had a purpose for all things and a direction for all things.

b. Some think that God has fallen off of His throne or has forgotten mankind in some fashion but these are all lies and made up theories.

c.  God has never forgotten about us or abandoned us, or left us to figure things out on our own He has always been a guide to mankind for everything.

                                            i.     God chose to send us His very, very best (MVP’s) when He sent us His Son, His Holy Spirit, and His Word.

                                          ii.     Reading, memorizing, and meditating upon the Word of God are of no value without obedience to the Word of God.

1. To obey the Word of God, you do what the Word of God indicates should be done in any situation.

2. Obedience to the Word of God is the only way that the child of God can be pleasing to God in the new life.

Exodus 19:7 “So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the LORD had commanded him. 8 And all the people responded together, ‘We will do everything the LORD has commanded.’ So Moses brought the people's answer back to the LORD.”

   2. Coaches work hard to get the job done for their programs, but the head coach spends even more time in preparation for his or her meetings with staff in order to plan for the year ahead.

a. And it's not just the season preparations that need to be done, but also pre-season, post-season and summer workouts to consider.

b. The head coach must think of everyone in the program and blend every person together for the success of the next year.

                                            i.     Moses had quite a team.

                                          ii.     After patiently dealing with Pharaoh, the Israelites finally were given the freedom to go with their head coach and leader, Moses.

                                       iii.     Now, Moses took his job very seriously.

                                        iv.     He listened to and followed God in order to lead his team through their journey.

1. Though his team grumbled many times, Moses continually convinced them, “let’s stick to the game plan.”

2. Moses would go and speak with God and then come back and meet with his "assistant coaches" (elders or tribal leaders) and present to them God's game plan for the day or week.

                                          v.     The Israelites responded to God's plan through Moses that they would do all that the Lord had spoken.

1. Even though the Ten Commandments were given, Moses' team did not always follow the plan.

2. They relied on their own selfish desires and disobeyed.

a. Yes, Moses had quite a team.

   3. Yet Moses did the right thing.

a. He received God's "game plan," presented it to his assistants, and then set the plan in motion with his team.

b. However, there were defeats, disappointments and the destruction of many team members along the way.

c.  But Moses and his staff stayed with the plan and eventually made it to the Promised Land.

                                            i.     As players on God’s team we need to stick with the plan even in tough times.

                                          ii.     If we endure, we will reach our ultimate goal one day.

                                       iii.     As believers, it is important that we follow God's game plan for our lives.

1. Just because our Coach, Jesus Christ, is not among us in person today, His Spirit stills leads and still guides, helping us to stick with the game plan.

2. He also equips us to assist Him in carrying out His game plan for others.

a. The Word of God is the only flawless game plan you and I will ever need.

   4. Illumination is the last of three important steps taken by God in communicating His Word to us.

a. The first step was revelation, which occurred when God spoke to the bible authors.

b. The second step was inspiration, that process whereby God guided them in correctly writing or uttering His message.

c.  But now a third step is needed to provide understanding for men and women as they hear God’s revealed and inspired message.

                                            i.     This vital step is illumination that divine process whereby God causes the written revelation to be understood by the human heart.

                                          ii.     This third step is needed because unbelievers are blinded, by their fallen, fleshly nature, and by Satan himself.

d. The Person behind this illumination is the Holy Spirit.

                                            i.     Just prior to His crucifixion, Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit, who would illuminate to both unbelievers and Christ followers.

John 16:7 “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send Him to you. 8 And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world's sin is that it refuses to believe in Me.”

e. An important example of the Spirit of God using God’s Word to illuminate to unbelievers is seen at Pentecost, where three thousand people are saved after hearing Peter preach about Christ and the Cross.

Acts 2:36 "So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah! 37 Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God." 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!" 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”

f.   But Christians also need this illumination to help them fully grasp the marvelous messages in God’s Word.

g. Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit will show these tremendous truths to us as we read the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 2:10 “But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets.”   

   5. We are on the team.

a. I get to practice with you, I get to workout with you, I get to serve with you, I get to stand on the line and challenge our enemies with you, cause we’re on the team!

b. I get to give with you, I get to encourage with you, I get to pray for miracles, signs, and wonders with you, I get to go on missions with you cause we’re on the team!

c.  I get to make the difference in this community with you, I get to encourage with you, I get to baptize in water and in the Holy Spirit with you cause we’re on the team!

d. The game plan is that the Gospel message of Jesus Christ will be preached throughout every tribe, every tongue, every nation and every people group.

                                            i.     God’s game plan is for us to join in this miraculous endeavor.

                                          ii.     Stop taking a water break, stop sitting the bench, stop sitting on the sidelines, stop staying on the injured list, stop complaining to the team, stop complaining at the coach and get into the game!

                                       iii.     Vince Lombardi stated, “I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious.”

Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. 32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him." 33 When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. 34 But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. 35 Then he said to his colleagues, "Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! 36 Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. 37 After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered. 38 "So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!" 40 The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. 41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: "Jesus is the Messiah."

The game plan is that Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

The Anointed One.

The Savior.

The Liberator.

The Deliverer.