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Gospel Baptist Tabernacle

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741

Where the Love of God

abounds, everyone is

welcome.

Children’s Church taught

by Paul and Marsha Davis

during preaching.

www.rossvillechurch.com

2-23-2014

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In ConcertGospel Baptist

Tabernacle

Friday, April 4, 2014 at 7:00 PM

Everyone is invited for a free,

wonderful evening of worship.

www.rossvillechurch.com

Blaine and Christine Bowman

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We learned that lack of planning is one of the little

foxes that steal God's provision.

Like any other principle by which we live,

planning requires balance.

Too much and you begin to trust more in

your plans than you trust in God.

Too little and you drift through life,

constantly fighting fires (financial

crises) that could have been prevented.

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The proper balance for planning comes from a

thorough understanding of Scripture and a

conscience that is sensitive to the Holy Ghost.

We must be very aware every time the Holy Ghost

speaks to our hearts;

Especially with conviction.

God will tell us when we are getting out of balance.

He does it with the pricking of our conscience

by the Holy Ghost.

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In Genesis we will study the account of how

Joseph saved Egypt and other countries from

starvation by planning and preparing for famine.

Pharaoh had a dream and no one could explain it.

He dreamed that seven fat and sleek cows

came up out of the Nile River.

But then seven skinny ones came out and ate the fat

ones, but looked no better after eating them.

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He also dreamed that he saw seven heads of grain,

full and good, growing on a single stalk.

Then seven other heads sprouted, withered

and thin and scorched.

They swallowed up the seven good heads.

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They called Joseph out of prison to

tell the meaning.

Joseph told Pharaoh that God

was showing him what He was

about to do.

There would be seven years of plenty in Egypt;

the land would grow more than was needed.

But that would be followed by seven years of

famine, that would ravage the land.

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Pharaoh should appoint a wise and discerning man

to be in charge of preparing for the famine.

During the seven years of plenty, they should take

1/5 of the harvest each year and store it under the

authority of Pharaoh.

It should be held in reserve for the years of famine.

We are really seeing two principles here:

Planning and Saving for future needs.

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The plan was to save during the time of plenty, so

that they would have what they needed, during the

time of famine.

Prov 16:1 NIV To man belongs the plans of the

heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the

tongue.

TLB We can make our plans, but the final

outcome is in God's hands.

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First Principle of Planning:

Make sure our plans are in agreement with

God's Plan for our life.

The outcome of our plans is in God's hands, and

He will not bless any effort that is not in His Will.

He will not even answer a prayer, if we

are praying outside His Will.

James 4:3 (KJV) 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because

ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your

lusts.

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So, before you plan, study

and pray to know the Will of

God in the matter.

If your plan fits into the

Plan of God,

He will bless it.

If you can’t, with a good

conscience, ask God to bless

something you want to do,

You already know in your heart that

you shouldn’t do it.

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Prov 16:9 NIV In his heart man plans his course,

but the Lord determines his steps.

Prov 19:21 NIV Many are the plans in a man's

heart, but it is the Lord's Purpose that prevails.

Prov 20:5 NIV The purposes of a man's heart are

deep waters, but a man of understanding draws

them out. MotivesIf our motives are right, God will bless our effort; if

our motives are self-centered, God will let us fail.

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Prov 21:5 NIV The plans of the diligent lead to

profit, as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Prov 22:3 NIV A prudent man sees danger and

takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer

for it.

Saving for the

future

Insurance

Get rich quick schemes almost always fail.

Risky investments, gambling, the lottery

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Foresight is essential to good planning.

Look ahead and see coming needs.

Plan and Prepare

Follow throughFollow through

Work the Plan

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Priorities

Prov 24:27 NIV Finish your outdoor work and get

your fields ready; after that build your house.

What is the first thing you should do?

Build a house so your wife can get out of that

wagon! Right? Wrong.

Let her live a little longer in the wagon and

plant a crop.

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You can live in a wagon in the field, but you can't

eat frost when winter comes.

If you don’t plant when it’s time to plant,

you won’t eat in time of harvest.

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After you have made provision for the

real necessities;

There is time enough to provide for comfort and

enjoyment.

Set aside money for necessities

first in order of necessity:

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Necessities

Let’s summarize what we have studied.

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Find the right balance between drifting through life

without a plan, and putting too much trust in your

plan, so that God is left out.

Make certain your plans fit within God’s plan

for your life.

Be sure your motives are good. Be on guard

against selfishness, self-centeredness, and pride.

Work the Plan; do what you know to do.

Use Foresight; it’s essential to good planning.

Necessities first