Lesson 243: "Detailed Account"
"'I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"' (Jeremiah 29:11).People have a longing or desire to know the significance of themselves and their deeds or activities.Solomon added that people cannot know the works of God from beginning to end (Ecc. 3:11); the sovereign eternal plan of God.We are uncertain if what we do means anything because we do not know the plan in its entirety. Christians get into the biggest messes when trying to do something that God has not planned for their life or has not called them to do (1 Cor. 7:20).Step out ahead of God and you will just find yourself standing and waiting for that voice behind you saying; "this is the way; walk in it" (Isa. 30:21).
God did not create the world, set it spinning in space and then go on to bigger and better things.He did not create the Garden of Eden because He needed somewhere to walk.He did not walk with Enoch and talk with Moses and Abraham because He was bored.He did not create the mercy seat to have a place to sit.Christ did not weep over Jerusalem out of self pity and is not in the midst of the church in Revelation because He has run out of things to do. HE HAD AND HAS A PLAN!"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.I say: 'my purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please'" (Isa. 46:10).
God's plan is precise and detailed and if read carefully there will be no mistake about what He wants you to do.You can check with Moses to see what could happen when you do not follow the exact directions of God's plan."There was no water!The Lord said to Moses; 'SPEAK to the rock and it will pour out its water.'Moses raised his arm and STRUCK the rock twice with his staff'" (Num. 20:2-11).The difference between SPEAK and STRIKE?Because Moses did not follow God's detailed instructions he was refused entrance to the Promised Land (Num. 32:48-52).Precise instructions on how to transport the Ark were set aside because they found "a better way" to carry it.Just any or every one could not touch "holy things" (Num. 4:15) and the holy things included the Ark and was to be carried on the shoulders of the Levite priests with poles (Num. 7:9).In 2 Samuel 6:3 we find the Ark being set on a "new cart" with Uzzah guiding the oxen.It is not plain whether Uzzah was a Levite but for sure he was not a priest and when "touched" the Ark, God killed him.
Ananias and Sapphira gave only part of the required money from their land to the Apostles.They may have given up to 99% but that was not the issue.They had lied to God and both fell dead at the feet of the Apostle Peter (Acts 5:1-10).God has even detailed plans for our thoughts.He knows them all you know (Ps. 94:11) and we are to take captive our thoughts to make them obedient to God (2 Cor. 10:5).Nehemiah was so set on carrying out God's plan of reform that he called down curses on the ones who disobeyed; beat some of them and pulled out their hair (Neh. 13:25).Do you need to be pulled back into obedience by the hair of your head?
Have you been making light of the details of your life (Pro. 19:21, Eph. 2:10)?Have you been disobedient to God in those areas (Acts 9:4, 1 Thess. 4:7)?Have you considered what your disobedience in those areas is doing to those around you (Rom. 14:10-13, 1 Pet. 3:8-10)?Does God have a calling on your life that you have been fighting (Acts 9:4)?Have you surrendered to take a ministry concerning the tabernacle or lead the march from one camp to another (Luke 22:42, 2 Tim. 4:2-5, 1 Pet. 2:21)?In all of this has God been getting the time of fellowship with you that He desires (Rev. 4:11, 1 John 1:3)?Everyone will give account of what they do (Rom. 14:11-12) so it is for this reason; "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe" (Eph. 1:15-23).