Submit Your Plans Now. James 4:13-17

Bro. Jesse Byrd preaches “Submit Your Plans Now” from James 4:13–17, reminding listeners that while we may make plans for tomorrow, we must first seek God’s will and trust Him to direct our steps.

Message preached on May 31, 2026.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Tomorrow will go into such a city and continue there a year and buy and sell and get gain. Whereas you know not what shall be on the tomorrow, for what is your life? It is even a paper that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that. But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good and doeth not, to him that is sin. Let's pray. Father, we thank you again for this opportunity. We have to preach thy word. And I pray, God, that you are blessed to read the Holy Word. I pray God that you walk into a spiritual distraction from the box. I pray that next morning, I pray God, that the Holy Spirit worship someone, draw someone to the cross. And I pray, Lord, that you speak through each other, congregation. I pray, God, that one thing you need to say this morning. I pray that call upon you for his everlasting later. Amen. The title this morning is Submit Your Plans Now. Submit your plans now. You know, the devil has everything the Bible speaks of and more. You know, the devil has no respected person just as well as God does. The devil doesn't care how good you look, he doesn't care, how bad you look, he doesn't care, what racial, he doesn't care, what you're living, he doesn't care, how much money you got, he don't care how you're looking, how bad, how sick or the devil has no respected person. The devil comes at you. The same way God can save you, save those with no respected person, all those that God knows and sees he can save, the devil can destroy you as well. The devil knows everybody, the devil knows every weakness. The only thing the devil can't do is save you from hell. But the devil can destroy you, the devil can tempt you, the devil can give you anything you want in this world to keep you away from God, the devil can do it. The devil is very powerful and he targets everybody. He targets everybody in every territory, every place you live in, every community, every church, the dark, the devil targets everybody that he wants to. And the devil has no quit. At times we make plans, and for a while it seems that they're working. But only we realize later that they failed. You know, life is a mystery. Uh I don't care what we say about life, nobody can figure out life. Uh nobody knows what tomorrow's going to bring, nobody knows what the next section is going to hold. Uh but what we do know is that we serve a God that is the creator. The God that created all the planets, the God that created all the stars, the moon, the sun, everything that we see and feel and hear and spell. God created everything. So we realize this morning that we thank the Lord today that by us having his word, that we can live according to God's word, that we can do what God has called us to do. See, as a Christian at times, I still have to go back and learn the hard way. Sometimes the devil has to whoop me. As a Christian this morning, not only as a preacher, but as a Christian this morning, if you are a Christian this morning, you've got to understand that at times the devil gets you so down that he can also give you everything you want, can also take away things that you've got, worldly things. The devil can do all these things to make you start wondering what's going to happen. Start wondering, am I living right? But you see, as a child of God this morning, God allows us to hit that brick wall. God allows you to hit rock bottom. God allows you to go through trials and tribulations just so that you can realize that it's only God that can fix these problems. You see, the Bible tells us this morning that we've got to understand life is like a vapor. That for a split second you see it real strong and then it eventually fades away. You see, that's the way life is. When we first born in this world, we're in good health. We got plenty of energy. But as the years go on, we start fading away. We realize we look in the mirror, we start getting gray hairs. We start seeing wrinkles. We start getting tired of having to go to work every day. We get tired of life. You see, but as a teenager, none of these things bothered me. Because all I knew I had all the energy in the world. That I was young, I was fine, that I could do all these things. Never got tired. I know people that I've done it. That can go out all night before I got saved. You can go out all night, go to work the next morning like nothing was, nothing ever happened. You had all the energy in the world, but as you grow older, you grow older, you see your life start vanishing away. Slowly and slowly. But it tells this morning that today, young men and women, brothers and sisters in Christ, I want to warn you this morning that I give you advice to submit your plans to God now. Now you think about it. When you get ready to build a house, you've got to have plans. You've got to have blueprints. You see, and I remember we built our house seven or eight years ago. We went to a builder, they had the plans drawn out, but they still had to draw the blueprints up and submit them to the engineer for him to pass. Now I'm talking about quick people that draws blueprints every day, but they still send them to the engineer. And many times they get rejected because you've got to fix this, you gotta fix that, fix that. You see, so you gotta submit your plans in order for it to be corrected before you deal. Just like he is writing a letter, going through school. You always submit it a rough draft. Well, you wrote and wrote and wrote. Then you give it to your teacher and she stretches out, she online, she puts other words, she goes over it, she checks it and makes sure you got everything right. You submit a rough draft. Whenever we were writing this article for our church, our magazine, our paper of our church. I had to write about myself, my ministry, my family, the church. Then I had to submit it to somebody smarter than me so they can read over it. She sent it back to me with all kinds of marks on it. I thought I'd done a good job. But she sent it back with all kinds of marks on it, saying you should put this, here, that. She went over it, she got it right for me. But I had to submit my plans. So this morning, my advice to you this morning, I've been pastor now for 11 years, been saved for 16 years. My advice to you this morning is submit your plans now to God. Those plans is what you intend on doing in your life. But you submit your plans now so God can give them back to you and say, don't do this, do this. Don't go here, go here. Don't read this, read this. Don't live like this, live like this way. Submit your plans now to God so that he can read over them. That's what kind of God we serve this morning. That you can submit a whole list of the wrong plans, God, and God is a graceful God, he's a merciful God, he's a loving God, that he'll read those plans and he'll send them back to you and tell you what to do right. But the number one thing you've got to do this morning, though, when you submit your plans to God, just like our scripture says, that if it's the Lord's will. Amen. You're gonna stand you following me this morning. We can write book after book and give them to God. Say, God, this is what I want to do. This is what I'm gonna do, this is what I'm not gonna do. But if you leave off the number one important thing by saying, if Lord wills, I'll do it. If you leave off, if Lord wills, your plan is going to get bought up and threw away and threw back at you hardly. But this morning, my advice to you is, submit your plans of God, but say, if it's your will. If it's your will for me to be this, let me be it. But if it's your will for me to be going the other way, let me go that way. Whatever your will is, let it happen in my life. That's what kind of plans you've got to submit. So it tells us, we see, James, of course, wrote the book of James. He was the half-brother of Jesus. He died at 62 years of age. He was martyr. It says that he was after he got saved, but before we get to this, let me tell you about James. James was a half-brother of Jesus. James didn't believe in Jesus the 33 and a half years Jesus was ministering and preaching. I'm talking about his brother. He didn't believe in him. He could see Jesus through this. Jesus was telling him, I'm not of him through nobody's will, but my father's will. I'm not of him, I'm of the father. All these things Jesus was telling his disciples, his mother, his brother, everybody in his family and his friends. James didn't believe it. So James went around and he was skeptical. He didn't know Jesus was legit. So 33 and a half years, Jesus couldn't win James over. So the moment he died and was crucified, resurrected, and the resurrection, it's one of a Jesus won James over. You see, he had to see for himself. He had to watch him die. He had to watch him raise, be raised from the dead. Then he had to watch him ascend to the Father before he believed. So after he believed, he went on to be one of the, it said that he was the best preacher. Paul said that he was one of the greatest preachers in the New Testament. But it tells us at 62 years old James was mourned. He was killed. Such a big preacher, lived by faith, lived off prayer, preaching about Jesus, preaching about salvation. 62 years. They took him up to the top of the building. Doctors believe that they took him up to the top of the building, on the building. They threw him off. When he hit the ground, they were waiting on him at the bottom with clubs, beating him to death. A man that preached Jesus. A man that was half-brothers with Jesus. A man that preached about faith. A man that preached about the only way to heaven is through Jesus. But the world was so cruel that he was doing such a good deal for God that they killed him. All the disciples and apostles was killed because they preached Jesus. So as you go into this world this morning, the world hasn't changed. The world is still great. We live in. Everybody loved the world. You think about the sun, the moon, the rain, everything, everything about the world, people love. God done a great job, a perfect job. But as you go into this world that we're living in, the people is so cruel that if you preach Jesus, you're going to be willing to die for Jesus.

SPEAKER_00 11:12

Amen.

SPEAKER_01 11:13

But this morning you've got to understand that James submitted his plan to God. James probably had 33 and a half years. He didn't believe in Jesus, so he had other plans. But when he submitted the plan to God, James said, if it is your will that I do this, then it happened. So it happened. So we see when we submit some plans to God. We live off planning every day. Every day we got some kind of plans we go through. You wake up, you already got the day planned out of what you're going to eat, where you're going, what you've got to do, all these things. We live off nothing but plans. And if you if you married this morning, men folks, you're still living off plan because your wife already got it planned out of what you're going to do. Every day. They're going to tell you what to wear, they're going to tell you what to eat, they're going to tell you what to go, they're going to tell you how much money to spend, they're going to tell you all these things. They got it planned out for you. But you see, when we make self-plans, we fail. Our whole intention is to do for us, to gain for us, to do whatever I want to do. That's what self-plans are. So it tells us that we don't realize our plans fail. But God's plan never fails. You see, it tells us this morning that we must understand that we will never be ahead of the Creator. I don't care how smart we become, I don't care how powerful we are, we'll never top God. There's three heavens. We'll never make it past the third heaven. Well God is. You see? I don't care what we do. We'll never make it to the heaven without Jesus. So tell us this morning that in verse 14 that we don't know tomorrow what God does. He asked, James asked, What is your life? What are you? Who are you? Who are you to tell God what you're going to do? Who are you to tell God what I'm not going to do? Who are you to tell God that I should go this route when God knows you go that way? So James is asking, what is your life? Who are you? Man, who are you this morning? How can I tell God that it's better for me to go this route and he's God? How can I tell God that I'm not going this route and it's God who directs our footsteps? How can I be that person? Who am I this morning? What life do I have this morning without me acknowledging who God is? So James was saying, Who are you? What do you think your life is this morning? So it says that life is short, and James says it. There's so many things in life that happen that we don't understand, that's unexpected. There's no way we can guarantee you tomorrow. I can't tell you what I'm going to do the next second. How can I tell you what I'm going to do tomorrow? This morning you don't know what's fixed to happen by tonight. You don't know what's fixed to happen by end of the morning. So how can you tell God in 10 years from now that I'm going to be here? You can't tell by nothing because the only one that holds tomorrow is God. That's the only one. So I can't tell you what's going to happen the next section. But I can tell you this morning that if you trust God, then you're in the right place in the right hand this morning. So it tells us that on the other hand, God has created since the beginning, He knows everything about us. Think about it this morning. How can I tell you what I'm going to do? We can go down to the jail this morning and interview everybody on death row. And they can tell you. Maybe I tried sin one time and before I realized I told myself I'm going to do this one time and I won't do it again before you realize it just got a hold on you. You can go down to the hospitals. All the ones that's in the rehab, all the addicts, all the people that's struggling this morning, maybe they say, Well, I just have one time to try it and it won't hurt. And the next thing you know, one time leads to the next time before you realize that you can't do it, you can't get out of it without God. Then to the person this morning that says, I'm going to miss church Sunday, but I'm going to go back the next Sunday. Before you realize that you missed this Sunday, the next Sunday, you say, I'm going to go back the next Sunday. Then before you realize that you're in a hole where you ain't been to church in two months, you've forgotten about God. That you don't even know how to find your way back to church. But you tell yourself you make yourself feel good. That it's just one time, one time ain't going to hurt anybody. I told myself that many times growing up as a teenager, that just one time it wouldn't hurt me. Then before I realized it had a chunk code on me, and the only way to get away from it was by accepting God. So this morning we've got to understand that just because we tried a little small sin, we say, that small sin is going to make you try a big sin. For you realize that you're going to be in a snowball state where that little small sin is going to be so big you can't find your way back to God. That's the way it is this morning. Just try a little bit. The devil says, just try. Just one time, just have a good time. But the Bible tells us this morning that sin doesn't last forever. But the pleasure of sin is just for a season. But when we have God, it lasts forever this morning. So it tells them also that we can be wealthy this morning, we can be happy in this world without God. But the problem is, do you want to be in eternity without God and be miserable? See, as I said, the devil will give you anything you want by this morning. He'll give you everything you ask for to keep you away from God. So it says the world has plenty to offer, and if we slack with our commitment of God, we give in the second. So the second thing this morning is, what are you willing to say to God this morning? Are you willing to say yes to God's plan if it's not your plan? You see, we submit a plan. Everybody growing up wants to be a millionaire. Everybody growing up wants to have to be rich and be famous and look pretty and all those things. But what if that's not God's plan? What if God says no to your plan? God gives you his plan when you say yes to God's plan. You see, second question this morning is are you willing to follow God in the dark hours? You see, there's a lot of people going through dark hours this morning. All these people on our prayer request that's been battling with sickness, they're going through dark times this morning. But even though you're going through dark times this morning, are you still willing to say yes to God this morning? So you think about it. The rich young ruler had his own plans. He had his own plans. He said, What are you gonna do with all these things? All your goods. He says, I'm gonna pull down my barn and I'm gonna bail. God said, thy fool. You know why he called him a fool? Because he didn't say, Well, if God's will is, I'm gonna do it. This morning, if we're living outside of God's will this morning, the Bible says you've got to find your way back to God because God gives and God takes it. So this morning we've got to understand, Jesus said that he says this, if the Lord will, we shall live and this or that. So if you live this morning, if you're living this morning for God and you realize that whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen. Whatever God's will is. That's what I say, if we're gonna do this, whatever God's will is. That's right. But I prayed about this church being extended out. I said, whatever God's will is, God ain't never failed, they never will. But it tells this morning that Jesus prayed in Luke 22 and 42, nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done. That's the statement we live by this morning. We'll be okay here. Lord will. Third thing this morning, it says that if we make a promise today to yourself and God, when you make a promise this morning when you pray, ask for God's will to be done. Then make another promise saying, God, whatever my plans get interrupted, I'm still gonna follow you. You see, I've submitted plans to God, plans got interrupted, we still got to follow God. Just because we're plans that interrupted, don't mean we quit following God. We just keep following God. So it says this morning that we've got to understand that we make a promise to God that I'm gonna follow you as long as I live. Now you think about it. We all suffer this morning. We suffered this, we suffered this week, we suffered this morning. Well, you think about Job. Job lost everything. Job lost his health, his wealth, his children. Job even lost his cattle. This man lost his children, his money, his wealth, his health, everything. But you see what Job said. Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh. May the name of the Lord be praised. Amen. So this morning, young men and women, elders of the church, when we make our plans, we submit them to God. But we've got to understand this too. That even though our plans don't go the way we want it to go, even though we suffer, we still got to hold up God's name this morning because it's Him that should be praised and worshiped. Amen. Also, think about Paul and Thomas. They went to prison, they were put in prison, being put in prison for preaching Jesus. Not one time when they were in prison, you think about how bad the devil came out of it. They were bound to change in a prison cell for preaching Jesus. Think about how many people made fun of them, but they kept preaching. When time got tough, it said they prayed and sang hymns. Then all of a sudden God pulled them out of prison. You see, well, if you get in trouble, you start singing the praise of God, the devil can't take it. You start saying to God, thanking you Jesus. Start praying to God, the devil can't take it. But it says life is gonna hit you. Life's gonna hit you hard. Newly graduates, you fix them and get hit hard. Everything's been good because mom and dad's had to take care of it. But now you're gonna realize now that life is tough. You're gonna realize now that you can't live without groceries, you've got the body. You can't live without gas, you've got to buy it. You can't live without electricity, you've got that body. You're gonna see now that just because you have a headache, you can't miss work like you did school. You've got to get up and go. Life's gonna be tough. You're gonna find out there's gonna be sicknesses that you don't want to deal with. But as a pastor this morning, I'm encouraging everybody the three words to live on. 1 Corinthians 13 and 13 says, Now these three remain. That means these three last. Faith, hope, love. But the greatest of all these is love. So as you go out into this cruel world, be that one that loves like God loves. Be that one that loved like Christ loved you. Be that one this morning that when everything else fails, the only thing last is faith, hope, and love. Be that one this morning. So it's realize this morning in closure. I'm asking you as a pastor for everybody. Make sure you have your plans submitted to God. Don't be mad when God comes. I could have been mad when I rolled the hands back. When I rolled the hands and I got sent back and I just like don't be mad about what God gives you this morning. Take this to the bank this morning. And you get ready to do anything, you say if it's God's will. Live by God's will this morning. If you haven't done so this morning, now is the time to submit the planet. If you haven't accepted Christ this morning, now is the time to accept Christ. Maybe you're wandering away from God. You see, we can't overlook God's mercy. That you get saved, and maybe you're wandering away from God. But God has given you this opportunity today to find your way back to Him. I'm not going to make fun of you. Nobody's who made fun of me. I'm going to be happy for you. Because I wander away and have to find my way back to God. But today is a day of salvation. Card not your heart to come down. God has done his part for you this morning. What will you do with the precious blood of Jesus this morning? God has done his part. God didn't say you've got to be in perfect shape in order to accept Christ. God didn't say you've got to be destroyed. Whatever God sent his son, he died on the cross for a poor or broken sinner like me and like you as well this morning. God did his part. Now what will you do with the blood of Jesus? Jesus has given you another opportunity. Maybe you live in the dark hours this morning. Now is the time to find God. When you're all getting older as the world returns this morning, everybody's getting older. Remember this life is like rain. One day you hear, the next day you're gone. What will they say about you when you're gone? They're gonna say, he or she was a good Christian. God's gonna say, well done. What will God say about you this morning? Make sure this morning you know to say it. Make sure this morning, you're a man that lives with me. Make sure this morning you're living not on your will, but whatever God will do this morning. That's right. Father, we thank you again for the scriptures read. We're thankful this morning. That you are a God that knows everything, that you are our God that sees everything. And Father, we thankful this morning that at the beginning of time you knew that we needed a savior. We thankful this morning that you sent your only begotten Son, on the cross for our sins. And God, I pray this morning that this seed has been planted through everyone, upon the sound of my voice, from the children all the way to the elders this morning, God. I just pray this morning that they realize they got to submit their plan to you before they do anything. And I pray this morning, God, that they never leave you out. That the first thing they do is say, if it's God's will, God, I pray this morning that we realize that it's all about your will. Not my will, but your will be done. Father, I pray this morning for all of these young men and women that's graduating and stepping out in the real world. I pray, God, that as they're looking to find their way in life, that they never exclude you, that they always involve you and put you first in everything they do. God, I pray for these young Christians, the elders of the church. God, I pray that every day of our lives we make our plans according to your will. That everything we do, we say, God will it. And Father, I pray this morning that we are living what you call us to be, God, that we do everything pleasing to you. Father, forgive us for what we have failed you. God, I fail you daily, God, but I'm begging you and asking you this morning to forgive us of our sins, Lord. That you'll lead us in the right direction. Help us that we'll stop living in the sin or stop committing the same sins when we're closer to you. Father, I pray this morning that if anyone to lead or savior, anyone to need a prayer this morning, they step out on faith. Come down and pray this morning. Father, we thank you, we love you. We ask this in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.