Planning

dig out your Bible if you need it don't take my word for it come on you need your Bible that way you can uh defend it on your own thank you brother drawn thank you so much so good to see all of you out tonight here in the house of the Lord God's doing such fabulous things and it's exciting isn't it it's exciting we are in the middle of our March Wednesday night sessions uh sister Stacy last week she helped pick up the slack because I was out of town working and I appreciate that very much from her this month of March on Wednesday nights every Wednesday or every month I should say we have a topic that relates to the yearly theme and our theme for 2023 is accelerate what's it mean to accelerate take your foot off the brake and hit the gas that's right and whatever that looks like for you do what there you go but uh this month we are talking about accelerating by growing our church everybody say Church growth last week sister Stacy laid the first foundational block which was prayer you've got to pray when you build a church otherwise it just becomes if I'm a social event or it becomes just a class reunion or it becomes just a club that everybody kind of gets together I say this often there's a there's a club out there for about everything if you want to ride a motorcycle there's probably motorcycle clubs uh if you want to ride a uh I don't know rocket there's probably a rocket club I don't know but uh you can join those things but when it comes to the church we have been given a blueprint and it's called the word of God and so when we desire to build a church for the glory of God then we have steps we have procedures if you will policy we have ways that are above human ways because it is God's desire that the Earth have people that will love him and serve him if you were Old Testament then you were living in that time of course it would be the children of Israel because of Abraham's Covenant with God God's covenant with him there was relationship it established a a group of people that would follow after God would fall on their face get up follow up okay you understand that in history when it came to the New Testament we understand that Jesus came the word of God robed in flesh dwelt here and in his 33 years walking on Earth he was fulfilling the prophetic from the past we'll get that but something happened to Jesus at 33 years old is he died at the hand of man agreed they they crucified him he went through all of that shame he went through all of that stuff they actually took him off of that cross they had him on they put him in a tomb and they rolled a stone and has anybody heard this story yeah they rolled a stone in front of it and that was done only to find out that he really did know what he was talking about and on the third day according to scripture he arose from the grave somebody say Amen he put a seal this is why I came and everything past comes here because there is a body of Believers that are not in that group now they are in a new testament the new testate or the one the Old Testament was fulfilled through him and it started in Jesus Christ's new testate or new testament you with me that's just basic Square now because of that we live in 2023. and I believe that there still is a church that walks in shoe leather I still believe there's still a body of Believers that believe the word of God was made flesh I I still believe there is a body of folk that will say yeah I I believe that God is still God his word is still true his promises are yea and amen come on I I understand it I get a grip on it what I want to do is I want to find myself submitted to God's purpose in the church if it were up to you and I we would make very bad judges Would we not come on every one of us know what it's like to sit in a judge's seat we've all done it oh they won't they won't be good Christians well just bypass them oh they don't they don't want this would just bypass them and all the while Jesus is saying my blood was enough for you so it's enough for them why won't anybody ever play the judge don't don't embarrass yourself where's your hand because everybody whoever's hands are down all right here's the thing 2023 I believe that our culture and our society is in a very very powerful point in history now I I'm not foolish enough to say never before have we been at this place because every generation says that I'm convinced what I do know is in 2023 there's a whole lot of information there's a whole lot of things there's a whole lot of lessons to be learned there's a whole lot of stuff going on that if we'll learn to get into the Bible we will find the seasons that God told us to watch for that okay and in that we can decide and discover you know what he knows what he's doing therefore if we'll get into the word we'll discover the fact that he wants a body of Believers in this hour that will still love him trust him worship him and bless his wonderful wonderful name I've said multitudes of times from this Podium I'll repeat it again I don't think at All That Heaven has a Church title over its door I really don't I don't think in heaven there's a 501c3 I don't think in heaven there's no stationary are you with me in fact I mean most of us are going to be greatly surprised uh I'm it's okay here's here's why when you get to heaven you did not navigate and negotiate your way in you follow the law of God you follow the promise of God if you're going to be mine your my spirit's got to be in you I'm going to call my name out and if you're attached to my name you'll be mine so when we get there believe it or not there probably are going to be people from all tongues and All Nations I'll say it I've been on the mission field I've been in several places around the world I am looking forward to the time when I can worship on streets of gold with those precious people that we had an opportunity to work with some of them I may go wait a minute listen to me carefully I believe it's God's will for the church the body of Believers to grow to multiply I do I really do now old school let's call it my grandparents uh let's see that would have been wow a bunch of years ago uh they didn't have computers uh they had Bibles and um Duran's favorite they had tambourines they had accordions uh the church that my grandparents were in when when they came into to the apostolic Doctrine they had 48 000 guitars on the stage and that many tambourines and it was church right and a banjo sorry um nowadays it's different this this Nord piano I I understand when when they say you can't get near the Lord unless you play a Nord that's not true but that's the saying the musicians use uh my grandfather was just fine without that in fact in fact when we came in to the the church that that I came into as a kid of course then I remember we went to brother tedric's brother thought brother Tetris church at that time they had an upright piano on the platform anybody remember those it's Furniture it's it's about it's about that big and she played with fingers down so I'm glad morning when this life is or uh far away two that's what it was as far as we were concerned Go baby go I was telling you church was had I can record I recall when the first electric base came into the church we were like it's Amplified I remember in the first set of drums was allowed you can put them back there but if I hear them they're going out Tim all right pork poor drummer got sit there you never touched them you know anyway here stay with me stay with me things have changed for some reason in all of that what you and I would call foolishness the church grew people were added people came here's a strange one for most of us they had tent revivals some of y'all like yeah good old day not here um big bugs there's everything out there I'm saying I don't it's okay I'll do it and I've done it I'm thankful for in here we got lights and anyways yeah air conditioner when it works and we can hear yeah um here's the thing through the seasons of time God has never changed how salvation is what has altered and changed is methods that we use for that okay a few years ago Even in our Fair City we would take flyers we would take tracks and we would go knock on doors on a Saturday and we'd invite a few folk to church and folk were very open open the door you know what I appreciate you stopping but I go to a church or tell me about your church whatever it was we pray you're there on the porch occasionally dogs will chase us down stuff like that uh the best one is sister Kathy knocked on the door and a dog got after the funniest part of that is she came walking back to the truck with one shoe where's your shoe I threw it at that dog oh do we need to go get it he's a big dog anyway sorry sorry uh honest I've gotta I've got a purpose tonight y'all hang on to me um and then covet hit and a lot of that social stuff was kind of frowned on um in our Fair City a UPS dressed guy knocked on the door of the package and killed the family inside and ripples began to happen it's been several years back some of y'all remember so so people didn't want to open their doors and things began to change how folk interacted on people's front porches but it's still the message so we as a church we have adapted and changed our way of letting folk know who we are and what we believe and why we're here and it's strange it's called social media I I'm I'm learning social media and I have people believe it or not I have folk Pastor friends of mine that call said man how do you do all that stuff you do and I was asking me like I've got time to explain this to you let me get your number and I'll I'll call you back hey Sam Dylan will y'all call this guy I have no idea what they're talking about the message is the same the methods have changed guess what's going to be tomorrow the message will be the same but the methods will adjust as we continue this month talking about it the first step that was spoke of last week was prayer you've got to pray everybody say pray the second thing I am convinced it is God's desire for the church not only to pray but to plan everybody say plan The Next Step that we're going to talk about tonight is planning as you continue to pray and use the emphasis and the focus that was spoke of last week in prayer and you're praying about God help us to grow as a church help us to multiply to reach others help us Lord just share your wonderful mercy and Grace and your good news to other people we make plans now here it's interesting that that I'm teaching this lesson tonight because we've made a whole bunch of plans here at CAC being here tonight at seven o'clock to start church was planned yeah that all these images that they had worked on Duran put his music together I've got a lesson together the door was unlocked water bottle was set out bathrooms were that's all part of the plan now when we're done here tonight what will we do we'll continue the plan and that is what go home all right and look forward to the next part of the plan now for some reason um because of our busy schedules that we live sometimes it becomes a great challenge to show up in the house of God anybody here busy okay ask your neighbor are you busy if they say no not really would you share something with them they can do for you and that'll free up some time okay this is actually spoken of the Book of Luke chapter number 14. The Book of Luke Chapter 14. let me read two three verses here for you this is instruction that's given to this this group of Believers and and it's more of an instead of this is what you have to do this is like I want to help you with how you proceed from point A to point B Luke Chapter 14 verse 28 for which of you intending to build a tower sineth not down first and counteth the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it that's a question last happily after this question after it laid the foundation is not able to finish it and that behold it begin to mock him saying this man began to build what you say was not able to finish now in notice in your KJ version these letters are in red Jesus is giving some instruction to those that are Fallen this lesson is I want you to understand that if you're not able or willing or you don't understand the power of planning then you're going to get past the first obstacle the second obstacle and something's going to hit you in the face and you're not going to be ready for it now here's the thing why would Jesus talk about this to his followers knowing full well that they were going to forget some things or not be well prepared or not have all their ducks in a row I believe in those days they had that an example there's a multitude of folk gathered man Jesus has been getting after it laying down the law giving it to him and then he looks and says let's feed these folk they didn't plan for that huh there wasn't a food truck there wasn't a Plaza Del Sol come on somebody go to church with me there was no free holes there was no Taco casitos oh somebody's hungry aren't you there was no tamales it was just a whole stack of folk upwards 15 000 could have been and more and Jesus simply says feed them and I I know what we would have been doing I know what my wife and I would have been doing oh Lord I only had your checkbook Lord today we're going fast we're just gonna call a solemn assembly we're just gonna fight you know hang on to me didn't Jesus know that about people there are some things you cannot plan for agreed follow me for a moment but in in the story of feeding the multitude with with a couple of pieces of bread and a couple of pieces of fish is what if he'll do and you'll be he'll make up the rest I have never seen everything fall into place perfectly like I planned it never have especially when it comes to the things of God and my wife she's a planter everybody everybody who knows my wife's a plan to just do this you'll be safe she believes a b c d e f g go in in a row I'm very good at element of what and she'll even say hun did you have your list uh-huh it's right here come on man I'm help help me don't don't leave don't leave me stranded men I gotta listen right here yeah just just throw it out here forgot it right there photographic yeah it's all grayscale and it ain't got no details in it there follow me how is it then that you can pray about the situation but when you go to make plans you can do everything you want to do you count the cost you know be on a shadow of a doubt this is what it's supposed to be but yet even through Jesus in his word says there will be times when you won't have everything does that mean then you're simply do not plan you know okay Sera Sera whatever will be will be is it just a flip of the coin let's just see how what comes out of it now I don't mind saying I I do that sometimes my my dear closest friend says that seat of the pants and I'm not sure what that means when you fly by the seat of the pants anybody help me with that anybody got that apparently I'm good at it Duron I do it a lot so I must be really good at it or lucky just get up there and fly by the seat of your pants see how that one turns out but here's what I have discovered here's what I have discovered if God is God the question that I have to pose is is there anything too hard for him and if I answer that with a you know there's nothing too hard for God then I have to decide in myself am I willing then to trust God when I make the plan I do what I do I try my best and yet I come up short am I willing to trust that God still has a purpose in the plan do I am I willing to trust that God actually knows my failures and faults and my shortcomings enough to say you want to build a church in this city for my glory you aren't near talented enough you don't have a degree you don't have all the theological yeses and nays you don't have all these books read and written you don't have all the ducks in a row and in fact you don't even know how a duck gets in a row and yet you think you want to build a church for me in this city and I revert back to continuously but God you called me to do that I'm not mad or upset or angry if I have to go through a valley or I have to go through a dry spell because I'm trying to figure out how to plan this I have to Simply trust God if you put me here I realize every step of the way you have led me in the path that I walk I can the last 16 years since my wife and I've been here I have seen the hand of God move in so many ways I simply woke up and God said I got this in the midst of a worship service I knew I had a message from the Lord I knew the word came I even knew who I was preaching it to that's not true because everybody's like he's preaching out to me no and God take what was I knew be a word and God changed the whole thing any other preachers and at the end of it I'm like boy that wasn't at all what I thought and the Lord just simply says you know what I needed to show you something way back Yonder country version when I was new in Ministry and preaching my pastor came to me one day and said all right you're up Sunday you're going to preach man what an honor you sure you're up so here we go I'm swimming in man I'm trying I'm digging I'm scratching I'm right up pleaded I'm like okay God oh this dog that didn't make sense and I got it all and after all the lament and all the stuff okay here we go this was back in the day when it was handwritten I show up at church I'm early to the prayer room I'm early to the platform man I am in my place and I am ready to roll choirs jumping things are happening Spirits moving and I'm standing going man it's going let's go be so good y'all don't shout too much you know because it'll get didn't have any preaching tonight no we got to because I got this word and Pastor stand up in front of me because his chair was there my chair was here and him turn around and say you're not preaching I got this and him walk to the pulpit and start to preach and I sit here you at least want my notes no go ahead you can use them and the Holy Ghost moved the spirit moved things blow up him never reference it to me again at that point and I sit there in my chair and I had a decision to make what about the plan because the plan was it was my turn and I learned very quickly that the glory of God is number one the purpose of God is number one and if I have to get out of the way that's what I needed to do I never would have tried in fact all he had to do was call me the day before he said you know what never mind but he didn't so ask these young guys that are preaching sometime I'll tell you know what be ready Sunday and then I don't they go wait a minute or I give him a time limit you got seven minutes you know why I give him that ask him because if you dare go over seven minutes guess what all the time you go over is going to be applied to the next time you preach for seven minutes and now you're down to two my pastor taught me and when he was mentoring and helping me he said if you if a pastor opens a Pulpit for you you better respect it with everything you've got and even you have to stop sit down and be quiet you better know that obedience is greater than sacrifice and I have I've been clocked amen go sit down oh that was the best part was just coming and the spirit of God still move the anointing of the Lord still move and people still receive the Holy Ghost healing still happen not because of me but why because obedience matters guess what we're gonna do at Cornerstone we're going to pray about church growth we are we're going to ask God 100 percent be with us lead us goddess give us what we need and we're going to make the plans every Sunday when you come in here there will be a group of people that have already invested in that service when you come on Wednesday night for Bible study there's already a group of people if you come on Tuesday night there's already a group there's things happening why because if you don't make the plan God is going to look at you for the purpose and why you didn't make the plan and guess what God can move regardless agreed but if that's the case and he worked that way all the time then why would he need the church if you're going to count the cost I'm learning about building I don't I don't care for it it's it's a lot of work but you have to you make a plan okay it's going to cost five dollars to build this house do you add are there going to be over cost or they're going to be expenditures you didn't see and what would that mean your plan was bad you know I'm notorious I have my own business I do audio video My bride is so kind to me sometimes honey did you not know that you were going to have to spend another 700 on that um how can you not know I don't know how I couldn't know is this a trick question she'll say well you should have I did but I didn't know but you know what I tell I said hey guess what now I know listen to me Jesus himself he planned these connections times with his disciples come on guys we're going together the New Testament begins to unfold here Jesus has chosen these 12 guys and guess what he's planning time with them come with me guys we're going fishing or come with me guys we're walking here come with me guys we're going there that means he's planning a trip everybody knows the story of the lady that's sitting at the well and Jesus walks up because he said I got to go here he planned that trip there and every one of his followers are saying man we can't go what is wrong with you we got that those dogs there those terrible people there we're going to be we can't go there Jesus says okay then go to town I'm going to Samara I got to go here you know the story he's up at the well he's talking to this lady he's telling her all this stuff and here come these disciples they're like ah he's talking to them hahaha that's the story and she turns and walks away and says what what did she say y'all need to come see this man I've never met anybody that knew me before I said a word I never met anybody that had a plan for my life before I had a plan for my life and when come on read the story where I want to pour out my spirit you'll receive power to be what a witness where come on now where's it at where Judea Jerusalem where else Samaria you can't do that apparently Jesus had a plan you know there's there's a whole lot of things that you and I go through every day and it might not be part of our plan because so many times we we qualify our plan we try to we try to work it to where it's the easiest electricity there's probably electricians or electrical Onyx people in here right the thing about electricity is it follows the path of least resistance why why is that it's easy now what is the path of least resistance you don't know do you you don't know until what till the electricity comes out till the power hits you know some of us Wise Guys in here have you ever seen lightning strike a house that is the weirdest thing it'll hit a gutter here and it'll pop out at a downspout over here and I'm like it'll hit a tree 30 feet in front of the house and blow the back window out of the house when I when I worked on Missile systems in the military they tell us first thing go find the weakest part how do I do that smell for smoke right there I can see the black around it and all the charcoal and the ash what happened weakest Point least resistance stay with me you and I want to live our lives that way God give me the path of least resistance and all the while the Lord's saying man if that were true and if that's how you lived your life how would you ever truly understand faith how would you ever truly understand Trust can I revert back to my grandparents way back there they had nothing else but Trust we're just going to trust the Lord on this one I've told you all the stories of how they would my grandfather would get up at 5am go work come home while he's walking in from his vehicle to go in the house my grandmother's coming out the door with all the kids get in the car he'd go in and put the shirt on that say wash his face come climb back in the car and they drive two hours to go have a Revival service somewhere one o'clock in the morning turn around and be home back in bed up five o'clock seven days a week didn't think nothing of it weeks at a time it was just what they did and yet we live in 2023 and there's a lot of historians and hysterical people out there saying they were foolish and they shouldn't have done that don't they realize this is how it can be done this how he listened to me I believe that you can receive the Holy Ghost anywhere at any time in any place but you understand something you listen to me it takes people to move the gospel and the reason that somebody in Timbuktu or somebody across the globe is receiving the Holy Ghost is because God's plan is being worked out and if you and I can submit to that plan and plan our plan according to his plan we can see the miraculous happen here I mean others Revival all over the globe what about here how about here I want to see it here I've heard people talk about about uh Miracles that happen I talk about them because I saw him as a kid and I saw him on the mission field I've seen some in this room right here I'm convinced that God still works miracles I think that's part of his plan okay then I have to understand if it's part of his plan but I need to make it part of my plan and if I make it part of my plan what do I need to make sure I do submit to what God's plan is and make it mine if God wants a church in Chattanooga guess what he could right now reach down his hand and smack any group of people any congregation and right there he could change it all and they can make sure the name of Jesus is exalted there God can do that he can because he's a god it's the same God that can blow across the Red Sea part it dry it up and say now walk it's the same God he can do those things but to me the greatest joy and benefit of serving the lord is to be able to come into the house of God as an individual on any given moment and to have truly desired a move of God and God say I will honor that and God blow into this room with an anointing and an unction and somebody received a wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost somebody receive a healing or somebody received Direction in their life here in as in heaven that is the greatest joy of watching the kingdom of God grow there are many sitting in this room you've been disappointed you've been hurt you've been you've been lied about you and all this stuff and you carry that stuff around with you I challenge you tonight tonight make a decision to change your plan I will not drag that stuff around I will bring it to an altar and I will gladly say I give this to you God my plan just changed I will do what you I will give I will submit I will learn I will grow the way you want me to the Holy Ghost inspires us the Holy Ghost breathes Vision into us when when the Lord begins to speak to me as pastor of this assembly I try the very best I can to listen carefully how many of y'all know sometimes I don't get all the details I can tell you I want to I really do but then when I come to to after what God's given me is the vision of Direction and I look at my leadership that God has so graciously allowed for me to ask would you help me in this department or help me in this area when I look at them and I say hey is there any way we could do this and they look at me with that look in their eye that's so fun I get this from Duran a lot and Iran says he wants to say something but he what do you mean well I don't know dorona just the Lord am I right John you don't know that's what I'm looking at and I'm sitting here looking at him okay can we do it can we do it he's like yeah we can talk about it we just did we just did you know what I'm trying I'm trying to get him to read my brain right God gave it here it's in here come on attach go ahead grab it out you know my my wife says this office she said yo I went to college a few semesters but the class I failed most often was mind reading I just couldn't do it here's my point but then when I let the creativity of Duran seeing and hearing the vision and the desire then his plan begins to formulate because God allowed him to attach himself to the vision of what the church is doing and he multiple times he'll say I'm usually thank you John for sitting over there and I can talk about multiple times he's still say Pastor is this what you want I see you know what I really don't know what I wanted but if you came up with it I trust God's plan it's not only working in me but it's working in you if God desires a church in Chattanooga I'm convinced God gives direction for that and then we begin to make plans for it and there's some things I'm not sure how it's going to happen but all I know is okay God you told us to come over here to this warehouse and to build a church and to put a thing in here and Lord all I know is we got 29 days to do it you men maybe y'all men remember that guys you got you got four weeks to finish this project and they all looked at me you ain't helping no I was here wasn't I mean some people only brought a Sharpie but uh herb get you alive right 27 and a half days later Pastor we're done and that's when we had this side right here and it was chairs that was ready for church but man God move things happen and then through three months later guys we're going to do something this space over here is now available can we do the same thing guess what they said we did it once we can do it again and boom this happens it didn't happen overnight it was a lot of long nights come on y'all painters and sheetrocker person workers and and insulator persons and all there were some long nights and some longer days right but God somehow someway allowed a plan to come together to where we have a place to worship we have a place to gather together you have a place to invite your dearest friends and your worst enemy to come and fall in love with Jesus why because a plan was put into motion we sat down and we counted the cost lord it's going to take this much money but aside from the money God it's going to take a whole lot of invested time effort and energy we had to replace a lot of our gear and I and I you know dear old Josh he's the pastor we got to buy a new mix I said I know and what are you gonna buy um and so I bought this Midas board because it and Josh said well you set up I said I don't got time and I don't care you have well we don't do I said you're gonna figure it out well how am I going to do that you're gonna figure that part out first and then you're gonna figure out that other part and what'd he do figured out I got people calling me I got folk in the church asking me Pastor how do I turn this on I did that on purpose why because I don't have enough room in the hard drive Stay With Me notice what happened when the church was birthed acts 2. this is very familiar 42. the Holy Ghost had been poured out they're out in the street now there's things happening people's lives are being changed language man people from all these tribes are coming together saying man you the spiritual thing is happening and wow and verse 42 they continued steadfastly in the apostles Doctrine and fellowship breaking of bread and in prayers fear Came Upon Every Soul Many Wonders and signs were done by the apostles and all that believe were together listen and that all things common sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every man had meat and they continuing daily with one Accord in the temple breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with what gladness and what singleness of heart praising God having favor with all the people and the Lord added who to the church daily such as should be saved this is where the New Testament Church it doesn't matter what religion you're at what what you believe this is where everybody believes this was the beginning of the church you got past Matthew Mark Luke and John the gospels acts comes along and the church the assembling together began in that environment the Bible said they had things in common they planned what they were doing now you and I we often wonder why would these new people gather together why would they sell possessions why would they bring it why would it be distributed that has nothing at all to do with the Old Testament way of doing Church the old Mosaic law was what men you bring a sacrifice you kill it shed the blood is pushed ahead once a year day of atonement holy of holies y'all are good for another year that you had to bring and give and then from there forgiveness pushing ahead dealing with the sin dealing with whatever sacrifice you were making we're now in the New Testament Jesus had come he lived and he died and this anointing this Glory this power of God is moving in the lives of people and notice what they are doing now they're not bringing sacrifices of their stuff they are selling their stuff and they're bringing that to the church the apostles are saying wow what will we do with this well there's people that have needs no why did the birth of the church plan include people sacrificially given and the church sacrificially imparting why was that a part of the New Testament Church that's not what was done prior this is brand new brand new so why is it today in 2023 that that still works anybody here still believe that giving to the things of God is worth planning for yeah 25.25 000 whatever it is you you can feel like okay God I'm going to give this to a missionary I'm going to give this to a church I'm going to give this to an individual and there's something about that feeling of giving how do you make plans to give we budget for it that fair yeah you put in your budget but then as you serve God you love God you connect with God you develop relationship with him you learn the voice of God and in that what do you do you learn to listen when God speaks to you does anyone here ever been the recipient of somebody listening to the voice of God you tell me is there any more humbling experience I know what it's like to somebody walk up and say I don't know why but the Lord told me to give you this and then hand it to me and it was the right time the perfect time and everything about it and all I could do is stand there and say why did God tell them that am I that special am I my eyes you only know how good I am that way God he speaks to focusing you give that to him because he deserves it when the fact of the matter is is when I receive something from somebody's listening to the voice of God what invariably happens inside of me that humbling what happens you figure out very quickly this is a God moment and God is using someone to help me now all of us like to receive gifts right but there is no Greater Joy than to give so as a church family we plan we do we give to missions we support other churches we help here and there we we make sure that we're there when other things are going on with other places we we do Outreach stuff we help people that are in need with uh Hurts Habits and Hang-Ups we're doing what we can to make sure people go and they Fellowship we're trying to teach and instruct folk how not to be a lump on the law but yet to be involved in in Ministry in some shape or form why because you got to add value to your life and how you interact with other people for some reason Jesus loves you Jesus loves you and he knows that the plan he has for you has what Jeremiah said it this way Anne expected wait a minute that means everything to that point has to have its place and so today I'm standing here saying we're going to build this church we're going to grow this church by praying but we're also going to grow this church by planning how Wednesday night bible study we're going to get in the word very low-key I see anybody got a tie on in here you're welcome to wear a tie if you'd like to you guys Connor's got a tie no he doesn't okay you're welcome to wear it you wear a suit if you'd like to I have a vest because I'm a vest guy it adds to my stature it's the only way I can say I'm all that because I got a vest do you have a vest Dakota you're all of that Sunday we come in and I have a suit on why does it make me a better Christian or worse no because I was instructed and taught when you go to the house of God what do you do well your best is that fair so I wear my best nobody's here telling me you better wear that suit and it better match may you make sure you wear the blue one you hear me the only thing I ever hear is my bride says baby that's not going to match what I put on fine which one well Elizabeth try these three oh no I gotta put them on take them all here's my point in the planning that God has for us He Loves Us in spite of us and he lets us grow try make mistakes fall fail and then he lets us get up in fact he meets you at the altar before you step out of your chair there's an unction pulling you here why because his plan for your life is not to leave you in the mess that you're in come on when you invite your co-worker your neighbor your family to the house of God are you simply inviting them here because our water fountain's cleaner than anybody else's no you want them to have an encounter with God why because if they'll Ever Fall In Love With Jesus it is the best thing that could ever happen to them get him in the house of God the family of God can love them help them encourage them now I'm watching the clock I'm coming to the landing gears out planning to build a New Testament Church in this hour guys it's going to take a whole stack of faith I mean a whole stack of Faith interesting that we're talking about the possibility of building another building or buying a built building isn't it it's very interesting that the Lord will let me teach this lesson tonight and we're in the midst of where we are I've said multiple times man years ago when we built the church over in iGo Gap I was a much younger man I could shimmy up all that shimmy that's the southern word I could shimmy up a ladder with all the tools and everything and I could have a two before in my mouth and a plywood strapped in my back you know what I'm saying just climb up fool what next 27 hours later still doing it what huh now now Lord you know I have no friend like you you know you don't believe me ask somebody to show you the pictures of our Nerf war on Sunday all right I'll just tell you right now that was the shortest War I ever was in there was only one person I was afraid of that was Sister Penny I was scared of death to her she was all crouched with two pistols I'm like whoa like you have to back up you had to just back up she gone I'm staying there gotta get my gun turned on Tim and I raced each other to the chairs Tim where you going I'm gonna sit down well I'm right behind you I got shot I got shot no you did um so here I am here we are planning planning to build listen we have 225 chairs on this floor I'm gonna give you a quick example then we'll go home 225 chairs on the floor that means we can sustain according to what the numbers run about 70 percent of that for you math Majors that's about 160 people we currently average now about 115. just some numbers on a Sunday some Sundays more some less but it's the average about 150 we've got kids group we've got youth group we got College age we got singles we got marriage we've got family we've got older families we got families that used to be families and no longer families but they want to be families all these groups are together they're reaching they're learning they're growing they're trying to invest in one another's life they're trying to make a difference they're trying to make sure that they're why because we are planning for success in the Kingdom now here's the question before you go home how does one measure success what number would you need to see written down on a Sunday school report to say we're successful what number would you need to see in a line item of the giving statement to say we have arrived we are successful anyone no takers I'll tell you in my because I know I got a weird brain my mind success will be measured when I hear him say well done foreign if he calls me good faithful servant I will know that I have done my part to follow him that I have done what I can do until I hear that guess what I am encouraged to do daily keep following keep praying and keep planning keep submitting keep asking God for guidance and Direction there are some areas in our city that we still need to reach and we have yet to do and I'm asking God I don't know how but please help me how will we reach Chattanooga church I'm asking you what are we going to do when we invite them and they come how are we going to respond how do we grow in leadership in order to grow and disciple new ones coming into the Departments the church facilities that we're looking at possibly building how are we going to do these things we've got to do what sit down plan count the cost where the drama would you come why because if you don't first sit down and consider the thing you won't complete the thing I will be the very first to tell you that when we started building over on I go it was silly I look back at that and I say man we didn't have 50 people and we were going to build a building like that that was going to cost us XY dollars and all and God began to move and things happened and then the first red tag showed up on the door and I'm like who put a red tag on my door and I took it down I didn't know that means stop building okay oops see what had happened I told them not to touch that red tag so so when I called the city they said yeah that red tag means this and I said boy did I learn a lesson and then we fixed that and we got another one and then I knew and guess what we fixed that one then we got another one like man I'm on track here you know they're using the same one over and over I can tell they're just flipping it over again but I remember the day that the final inspector came in now all the sweat the blood the unknowns the things the graciousness that God the people that God put in my life that helped me through that process that guy left the building and I did not know what to do I just stood there in that church with a certificate of occupancy sticker that he said we'll email the one to you that you can print out and I'm standing there in the quiet by myself and I said Lord how did I get here and very kindly and gently and gracious as the Lord is he says you planned for it and I plan for it you're welcome so I don't know what to do so I just started calling people guess what guess what guess what we know they've already told us well then I'm telling you and lo and behold I don't mind saying on that frightful Sunday night of Easter in 2020 when somebody called and said that it happened to the church my heart broke Josh and uh same thing walked into that building with rain falling and the roof gone sheetrock everywhere my dear friend Duron looks at me says now what I don't know I guess we start a new plan are you okay do I have a choice and I hugged my dear friend Josh and said Josh I don't know if I got it in me again and Josh said yeah well we can do this here we are now here's my point how do you grow an Apostolic Church you pray you make plans we're going to continue next week with another step of this but tonight would you stand with me it is 8 15 for us clock Watchers I want to ask you to do something for me first of all would you pray and when you pray right now would you pray God I thank you for the plans that you have for my life come on thank him right now thank you for the roads for the plant for the way for the things help me God to I thank you that I'm on your mind and there's a plan that you have established in my life come on tell him I thank you Lord that you're allowing me with with my little bit of experience or my my messed up life or all the junk I thank you that you've got a plan for me come on now as you're thanking him now pray Lord help me to know the plan and help me Lord God took my plan to connect with your plan come on some of you right now are in the Miss in the midst of a big issue in your life you've got obstacles you're trying to overcome you've got past failures that are haunting you you don't know what to do with them I challenge you right now allow God to work in your life Lord I don't know how this is going to turn out I'm not sure how this is going to connect but I know this God you've always got a plan and your plan is always right and it's always perfect if it includes this or if it includes that or if it takes me down this road or that Road apparently God you've got a plan come on Lord whatever that plan is for my life help me to follow you help me Lord to embrace the fact that you love me enough you love me enough to have a plan for my life and help me Lord to do my part praying and believing and planning God for what you're doing come on somebody you need the holy ghost in your life to move right now and open doors for you and your faith to grow to trust God you are doing it you are able more than able and I'm believing in God for great things I'm trusting you Lord for great things I know God that you are perfect in all of your ways come on now just love the Lord with me every voice lifted to Heaven come on just worship him I magnify you Lord I exalt you Heavenly Father you are real you are right You Are Holy you are righteous you are perfect oh god without you I am nothing all of my righteousnesses are his filthy rags I've got to have you Lord come on I've got to have you Lord help me every day to make a plan that includes you Lord help me every day Lord God to take steps that lead me closer to you not further away Lead Me in the playing path Lord make the Crooked way straight make the rough places Hume Down Smooth I ask you Lord to lead me and guide my footsteps come on somebody love the Lord before you go home tonight I worship you I worship you I glorify you I exalt you holy God you are perfect holy God You Are Holy magnificent Is Your Name Lord I love you so thankful to Know You Lord to have fellowship with you daily Hallelujah so the final word is this that I hear often and I do a lousy job at sometimes as you plan your work and then you work your plan say that with me plan your work and then work your plan I know beyond the shadow of a doubt God does not call lazy people you don't have time for that if you want to do something for God you want to be found doing things for God get up and plan it and go go plan it go go just Lord I'm doing this here it is here we go here we are it is bad or as messed up as you make it the Lord God and all of that can say work with that huh he's so kind to remind me every Sunday of what it takes to save people what's it called the foolishness preaching doesn't mean I'm a fool this means to the world doesn't look right but I plan or it might seem foolish but it's going to take foolishness what others are going to look at and say well you ought to be able just to shake your hand and do a dance and do a jig and then turn around and then put this on them and then you're saved No Heaven is not at all about that turn to your name and say are you going you better make plans come on tell somebody are you going to heaven you better plan for it ain't a soul gonna wake up in heaven and wonder where you are it's going to be because you decided it's what I'm going to do I'm planning for it amen I love all of you I am so glad you came out tonight thankful for what God is doing in your lives young people old people like kids I'm so thankful continue to pray pray for our church for guidance for our church in the next several days and weeks ahead so that we can make right choices and good decisions and God gives us strength to be able to where are you going well apparently we're done love y'all have a great week shake hands and be friendly hug next if it's appropriate