WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:01.840 All right. 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:06.480 Good to see you this morning and uh thank you for for being here. 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:12.320 Uh Colton, this is like a really small uh piece of board here. 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:16.960 I'm scared I'm gonna lose my stuff, but uh how you do that, but uh nonetheless. 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:25.839 As I was printing out uh my information, uh my notes and things, uh this morning my wife asked me, she said, How many pages did you print? 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:27.039 I said, Uh oh. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:29.039 Well, I said, made it clear. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:30.879 I I've got about eight pages. 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:33.280 However, however, an asterisk there. 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:36.320 I got like size 15 size font. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:40.320 Okay, so uh it's not as many as it might appear to be. 00:00:40.479 --> 00:00:43.520 Uh, but nonetheless, thank you again for for joining us. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:45.119 Uh we're here. 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:49.119 We're here last Sunday of 2024, right? 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:51.039 Yeah, we made it. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:52.479 There we go. 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:57.520 Just 52 more of those, and we'll be at the end of next year. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:04.079 Well, Christmas season is uh I don't know how you define this time frame. 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:04.719 I don't know. 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:07.760 Some of you may be like Christmas is over and it's over. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:13.200 Some of you might define this by the holidays, which extends into New Year's. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:17.760 So I don't know how you see the holidays, but for me, it's Christmas once it's over. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:20.799 I want the decorations down right now. 00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:25.280 But I'm still fighting that battle at home, so when I've I've lost uh so far. 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:29.680 But uh nonetheless, we are moving into a new year. 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:41.519 And I thought uh I'd share a few thoughts with you this morning uh regarding a very short passage uh that we have and uh from the book of Proverbs. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:44.799 And uh it's um there's a lot in there, okay. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:46.879 We're gonna try to unpack that this morning. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:49.120 But before we do that, I have to ask you the question. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:54.959 I'm just curious, I I would like for you to raise your hand, but I'm not going to give, I'm not gonna ask you your answer. 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:56.079 I just want to see your hand. 00:01:56.239 --> 00:02:02.239 How many of you, in preparation for 2025, have made a New Year's resolution? 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:05.680 Okay, okay, good, good. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:10.479 Well, according to statistics, that's uh that's about average, you know, on that. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:13.439 So maybe you're thinking, I just got out of Christmas, give me a break here. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:15.759 I don't really think too much about all of next year. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:17.360 So just kind of slow down for me. 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:22.080 Well, I just thought I'd give you some uh some interesting stats regarding New Year's resolution. 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:25.680 America's top New Year's resolutions for 2025. 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:26.800 You ready? 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:37.840 This is a share of adults who have made the following resolutions in the top of the list, top of the list for the New Year's resolutions. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:42.560 21% of those said to save more money. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:44.159 That's the New Year's resolution. 00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:45.120 That's number one. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:45.680 Okay? 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:47.599 Are you there? 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:49.520 Is that one of your resolutions? 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:52.639 How about 19% to eat healthier? 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:54.479 That's always on the list, isn't it? 00:02:54.560 --> 00:03:03.360 You know, I'm always gonna eat healthier, better foods, you know, cut out the fatty stuff, uh, but 19% that tends to be the resolution for 2025. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:07.439 Coming in a close third to 17% is to exercise more. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:12.400 I'm gonna get off the couch, I'm at least gonna walk to the refrigerator and get some more food. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:15.599 You know, it's uh I'm gonna exercise somehow. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.240 17% is the New Year's resolution. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:21.280 Just below that at 15% is to lose weight. 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:24.240 I'm gonna lose weight this year. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:25.520 Okay. 00:03:26.639 --> 00:03:30.400 14% said I'm gonna spend more time with family and friends. 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:32.800 A noble New Year's resolution. 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:35.360 Spend more time with family and friends. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.400 9%, I was kind of surprised it made the list to it. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:40.800 9% said I'm gonna quit smoking. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:42.080 Done with it. 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:43.919 You know, done with it. 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:51.680 And then uh at 9% as well, we have New Year's resolutions to reduce spendings on living expenses. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:54.639 I'm gonna cut out buying all the junk off Amazon. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:57.840 I'm gonna trim that out of here, and it's gonna be my New Year's resolution. 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:01.360 I'm not gonna spend as much money on living expenses. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:07.439 So it doesn't seem to be a whole lot, but then there's this category by itself that stands at 43%. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:11.039 I think this is where most of you are that didn't raise your hand. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:13.919 I am not making a resolution. 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:15.360 There you go. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:20.079 43% of people surveyed. 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:23.519 Uh, the the number one answer was I'm not making a resolution. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:24.240 43%. 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:29.600 I'm just taking life as it is, and uh like the way things are, so I'm gonna keep it that way. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:35.839 You look at the passage, you know, you wonder the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:39.199 What in the world does that have to do with a New Year's resolution? 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:47.600 Well, we'll uh get into this in just a minute, but I also wanted to think um, I thought of some C3 New Year's resolutions. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:49.040 Now, how cool is this? 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:52.560 I'm thinking, I'm thinking for you, okay? 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:57.600 How about this New Year's resolution for C3 in 2025? 00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:02.000 I'm gonna learn the names of five new faces here at C3. 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:07.199 Learn the names of five new faces here at C3. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:11.920 I think some of us have been around so much we still don't know some people's names. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:13.120 I can give you a description. 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:15.439 Oh, I know that, but I don't know their names. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.120 New Year's resolution. 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:18.160 How about this one? 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:21.040 New Year's resolution for C3 in 2025. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:24.639 Start wearing your C3 name tags. 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:26.879 Yep. 00:05:27.360 --> 00:05:28.319 I'm there. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:34.959 Hopefully just once a month, so that we can get them off the informational table there in the back. 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:37.600 That's my New Year's resolution. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:39.199 How about this one? 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:44.720 Invite someone new to your house just once this year. 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:53.120 Invite someone new, not someone you know, but someone new to your house just once this year. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:54.399 This is a good one. 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:58.160 This is probably the most difficult one on the list that I've uh pulled up here. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:05.199 Sit on the front row once every three months, or at least just once in 2025. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:08.160 Bless you, brother. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:13.199 He is already getting an early start on his 2025 resolution. 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:15.439 Sit on the front row just once, maybe. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:16.240 Just once. 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:20.079 And maybe the last one, maybe to arrive on time at 10:15. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:25.120 So Chris doesn't feel like he's singing a solo, you know. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.360 Yeah, C3 New Year's resolutions for 2025. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:37.920 Well, perhaps the best resolution that we can make this year is simply how about trusting the Lord? 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:41.199 That's my New Year's resolution of 2025. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:49.199 Everything else aside, I'm gonna make it my uh personal objective to trust the Lord. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:53.839 It is clearly a difficult task, is it not? 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:58.879 And even has its effects on our mental and physical health. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:06.879 For instance, how does trusting, not trusting the Lord in that area, how about, you know, you ever heard of high blood pressure? 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:11.360 Maybe it's because we're not trusting as we should. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:22.480 Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey states that the high blood pressure, or sometimes referred to as hypertension, increases with age. 00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:30.959 If you're in the age group this morning between 18 and 39 years old, you have 22% of that group has high blood pressure. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:33.120 Starting out young, isn't it? 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:34.879 Just wait. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:43.519 If you're in the age group of 40 to 59, 54 percent in that age group have high blood pressure. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:46.879 And let's move on off the scale here. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:53.839 And if you're 60 or over, 74% of people have high blood pressure. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:58.959 And if you're over that, well, you're probably dead. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:07:59.759 You know? 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:02.079 High blood pressure. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:09.680 Maybe it's because we could use a little dose of trust in the Lord and not be so concerned about things that we can't control. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:18.160 Not only high blood pressure, but worry is also lurking out there in the darkness in 2025. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:19.360 Worry. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:29.839 It was Mark Twain who said, I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:33.120 Why we worry? 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:36.480 Because most of the things we worry about never happened in the first place. 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:39.440 How about the great theologian Charles M. 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:45.360 Schulz, the uh founder and developer of Peanuts? 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:48.559 He says, I have a new philosophy. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:53.679 I'm only going to dread one day at a time. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:57.440 Pretty smart guy, right? 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:04.320 And then Arma Bombach says this worry is like a rocking chair. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:07.600 It gives you something to do, but never gets you anywhere. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:09.360 Never gets you anywhere. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:10.879 Rock and rock and rock. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.120 And as you're rocking, you're worrying. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:15.279 But you don't go anywhere. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:18.879 You stay in that mind frame all the time. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:25.200 Well, maybe trusting in the Lord can reduce our high blood pressure. 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:28.559 Maybe it can take away our worries and concerns. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:38.159 So this morning we'll be looking at this text in Proverbs 16, 9, along with a lot of supporting scriptures that I want to unfold this morning. 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:46.720 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:10:02.399 So if you have your Bibles, I would certainly like for you to turn to that passage because as we get ready to transition into the new year, I would ask you to consider taking this short, direct passage as your new year's resolution. 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:07.840 In 2025, I will trust in the Lord. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:09.519 Are you with me on that? 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:12.159 I think it's got to be a good one for all of us. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:15.840 I will trust in the Lord in the year 2025. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:22.879 There are several other passages, I'll just read through them very quickly, that deal with the same issue that we're going to be looking at here. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:24.159 Proverbs 16, 1. 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:27.679 The plans of the heart belong to man. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:31.279 But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.080 Proverbs 19, verse 21. 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:40.320 Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:46.399 Proverbs 20, verse 24 says, A man's steps are from the Lord. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:50.000 How then can man understand his way? 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:59.519 And then the last one along the same line is Psalm 37, verse 23 the steps of a man are established by the Lord when he delights in his way. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:11.759 See clearly, the scriptures indicate that we as people have our agendas, and then the Lord has his agenda. 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:15.679 I think all those verses kind of communicate that to us this morning. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:24.879 So in the in these in the Proverbs, there is a what they call a contrasting structure that's often you can find in the Proverbs. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:28.240 And that's the way that I want to kind of work through the passage today. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:33.840 There is what they call parallelism in the Proverbs. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:37.759 So let me kind of work through that for just a minute, if you'll indulge me to explain. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:52.480 The book of Proverbs often uses what is called parallel syntax, where the first part of the sentence, and we can look up here at this, the first part of the sentence sets up the contrast, and the second part delivers the opposing idea. 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.440 Okay? 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:58.799 So the first part of this passage, the heart of man plants his way. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:04.159 But you've got a little three-letter word up there, but that's the contrast. 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:08.480 In contrast to the first part, the Lord establishes his steps. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:12.159 That is the parallelism that you find. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:25.120 So presenting two opposing ideas side by side to highlight the difference between a positive and negative action or outcome, typically within a single proverb sentence. 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:27.039 And that's what we have here. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:28.799 We have a parallelism. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:34.080 We have a contrast from the first half of the verse to the second half of the verse. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:38.000 It's our job if we study the scriptures to find out what the difference is. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:40.080 That's what we do. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:53.200 So within the difference is seen in how man structures his own life in contrast with that of how God structures man's life. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:13:01.200 So with this contrast structure in mind, let's dig into Proverbs 16, 9 to find out what this message teaches about trusting God. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:04.320 We will be contrasting three ideas in this. 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:04.879 Okay? 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:17.440 Three ideas the persons in the passage, the actions in the passage, and the direction in the passage. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:23.759 Because they have two different views in this: the person, the actions, and the direction. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.039 They're different. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:26.639 They're different. 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:36.480 Let me give it a kind of get you to understand the context, maybe that we're talking about here, about the idea of man plants his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:41.840 A good context passage for this is found in James chapter 4, verses 13 and 14. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.279 I'm sure you're familiar with it. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:45.200 If you want to turn there, please do so. 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:47.440 If not, you can just listen to uh to this. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:49.440 This is what the passage says. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:14:01.279 James says, Look here, you who say, Today or tomorrow, we are going to a certain town and will stay for a year. 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:04.720 We will do business there and make a profit. 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:10.080 And then James says, How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.320 How can you say that? 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:20.559 How can you lay out a year's worth of business and plans and arrangements because you don't even know what tomorrow is going to bring? 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:22.320 That's what James is talking about. 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:24.639 Your life is like the morning fog. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:28.240 It's here a little while, then it's gone. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:35.600 That's the overall context of this idea that the book of Proverbs talks about. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.879 We don't know what tomorrow holds. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:41.519 We don't know what it's going to bring. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:45.120 It could be great joy, it could be tragedy. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:54.879 And to go out and make plans as if they're concrete, they're never going to change, we've got it down, is pretty presumptuous, don't you think? 00:14:57.360 --> 00:15:01.200 Just because we make plans doesn't mean they're going to happen. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:07.200 So I want to contrast the first part of this, the persons in the passage. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:12.799 And what we're talking about here, the persons is understood to be the heart of man and then God. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:21.200 You have man and contrast with God relating to the idea of how we're going to live our lives and what's coming. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.799 So let's talk about man's heart real quickly. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:30.320 Because the passage says the heart of man plans his way, not God. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:32.399 Us. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.759 We develop our own plans. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:39.360 We develop where we want to go, when we're going to do things. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.960 That's what we do. 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:44.080 There's a little bit of an issue with this, though. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:53.519 Because the term heart in the passage here is a reference to the inner self, the will, the intention of man. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:58.559 It is a focal point of the mind, the reasoning part, the emotions of man. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:02.639 It is a driving mechanism behind our planning. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.320 Okay. 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:12.159 So the idea of man's heart could almost be also use the term our minds. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.080 Our minds. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:17.039 Somewhat interchangeable in that idea. 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:25.840 So it's us that go through the process of planning and working and looking and searching and getting everything in order. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.120 That's what we do. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.559 That comes from us. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:31.440 That comes from our minds, our hearts. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.720 However, this is the asterisk beside that. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:44.000 The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah gives us a little insight into the heart of man in his book, Jeremiah 17, verse 9. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:46.559 This is not encouraging for us. 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.039 Okay? 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:57.279 He says, the human heart or the mind is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:59.840 Who really knows how bad it is? 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:06.480 So as I take a look at this, in contrast, the heart of man plans his way. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:12.480 We're starting out the very first thing with a mind that is fallen. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:21.119 We have to deal with fallen emotions, and that influences our thought process in making our plans. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:25.359 We have a tough start to begin with. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:34.160 Because of the fallen condition of the human mind, we are automatically limited in knowledge, in wisdom, and intellect. 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:41.519 When we go into our plans, we walk into that with that right looking right at us. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:43.279 We don't know everything. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:46.799 We're not as smart as we think we are. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:18:02.160 We are prone because of our fallen heart, our fallen mind, we are prone to selfishness, misplaced priorities, and flawless, or excuse me, flawed motivations. 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:04.960 Do you see where this is tying in? 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:14.960 When we look to make our careers, our plans, our hearts' desires, we do so from a mind that is fallen and limited. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:18.240 Sometimes selfish. 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:27.039 Not what benefits maybe someone else, but it's all about me. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:29.119 Looking out for number one. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:31.920 That's part of what we are facing. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:36.640 Contrast that in the verse here with the word the Lord. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:38.480 See that's how man looks at it. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.839 Let's see what the Lord is about. 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:41.359 We contrast those two. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:44.319 It says, the Lord establishes his steps. 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.480 It's not the Lord's steps he's talking about. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.160 He's talking about the steps of man. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:51.119 That the Lord establishes man's steps. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:56.240 So let's get a quick character reference on Lord compared to man. 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:58.400 We know what Jeremiah says about us. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:18:59.759 So let's look at the Lord. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:03.759 It is the name of Yahweh, the only self-existent eternal God. 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:05.359 There is none other. 00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.960 Not even close. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:14.480 Isaiah 46, verses 9 through 10 says, Remember the things that I have done in the past. 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:18.559 This is the Lord speaking, for I alone am God. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:22.640 I am God, and there is none like me. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:27.200 Only I can tell the future before it even happens. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:31.279 Everything I plan will come to pass. 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:35.599 For I do whatever I wish. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:38.160 In theology, you know what that's called? 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:40.559 That's called full sovereignty. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:44.720 God is in control, and we're not. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.799 That's the character reverence of God. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:55.759 Psalm 115.3 says, Our God is in the heavens, and he does whatever he wishes. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.599 Full sovereignty. 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.720 You know why? 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:01.200 He has that level of authority? 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:03.119 Because he's the creator. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:06.559 And we are the creature. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:09.200 We're not at that same level. 00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:11.440 We're not at the same level. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:18.319 So when it talks about in this passage, the Lord is talking about this full sovereignty in every area of life. 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:24.960 It talks about the omniscient God, the all-knowing God in all things, He is omniscient. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:30.720 Isaiah 55, my thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:35.039 And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:45.599 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:49.759 Jeremiah 17, 10. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:55.680 But I the Lord search all hearts and examine secret motives. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:21:00.480 I give all people their due rewards according to what their actions deserve. 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:03.359 The Lord God is omniscient. 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.880 He knows all things. 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:07.519 He's got that advantage over us, doesn't he? 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:09.599 It's a pretty big advantage. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:19.920 When you contrast the Lord with the heart of men, he's also omnipotent, he's all powerful over all things. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:21.519 You've seen the passage before. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:23.839 Is anything too hard for the Lord? 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:27.039 The rhetorical question, the applied answer is no. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.240 No. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:40.400 Jeremiah proclaims in chapter 32, O sovereign Lord, there's a word sovereign, you know, O sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:42.000 Nothing is too hard for you. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:49.599 You show unfailing love to thousands, but you also bring the consequences of one generation's sin upon the next. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:55.039 You are the great and powerful God, the Lord of heaven's armies. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:58.240 He is omnipotent. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:02.880 In the last of this Character reference, if you will, he is omnipresent. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:05.359 He's everywhere. 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:08.319 He is present in all places. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.640 Love Psalm 139. 00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:20.880 David, in in uh in that writing that passage, he says in verse 7 of that chapter, I can never escape from your spirit. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:24.480 I can never get away from your presence. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:28.400 If I go up to the heaven, you are there. 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:32.480 If I go down to the grave, you are there. 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:42.079 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:52.960 I could ask the darkness to hide me, and the light around me to become night, but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:56.880 To you the night shines as bright as day. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:00.079 Darkness and light are the same to you. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:02.559 God is omnipresent. 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:05.279 He has that going for him. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.319 We don't. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:14.400 So when you contrast this idea of the heart of man, contrast that with the Lord God, quite a difference, isn't there? 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:15.839 We know nothing. 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:17.759 He knows everything. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.599 He can do anything. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:22.319 We can't do much of anything in our own power. 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.279 He can. 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:26.400 It's a great contrast to look at the two. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:29.920 Those are the people in the contrast here. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:34.559 Second thing, second contrast is the actions in the passage. 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:38.720 You have man plans and you have God establishes. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:42.000 And there we have our second contrast. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:46.000 Man plans and God establishes. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:52.079 Well, let's talk about man's plans for a minute, as we go back to as we shift back and forth here. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.839 The heart of man plans his way. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.839 What does it mean, plans? 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:06.880 Well, the term actually for plans has the idea of respect or to hold it a high regard, to assume regarding the plans. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:11.279 The scriptures clearly teach that planning is a wise thing to do. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:16.079 Please don't walk out this morning saying, well, I shouldn't plan anything. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:18.160 I'm gonna leave it all to God. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:18.640 Okay? 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.960 I mean, after all, he's sovereign right, he controls everything. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.160 I have to do nothing. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:25.599 Yeah, live it that way, see how long you last for that. 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:28.160 We do have human responsibility. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:36.000 God did give us a brain, fallen as it may be right now, but we're still able to rationalize and reason and think things through. 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:40.400 So please understand, planning is a good thing. 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:42.880 It's a good practice to be involved in. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:46.400 So the scriptures clearly teach that planning is a wise thing to do. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:53.599 Proverbs 21:8 says, good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:56.160 So sure, we should plan. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:25:05.839 We should lay things out of the table as we begin looking at situations and options that we have, whatever might be related to, to make our decisions, we need to plan. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:08.480 We need to plan ahead. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:12.079 So it's not really planning, it's not the problem here. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:20.400 The problem is when we make our plans for the future, we have no consideration of God in the process. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.839 That's the problem. 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:24.880 That's the problem. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:29.920 I fear that we're all guilty of this, are we not? 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.200 We just let out. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:33.119 Do I buy a new car now or later? 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.559 I mean, you know, should I trade it in? 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.759 Should I not trade it in? 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:39.200 Have you ever even thought about God in the process here? 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.680 He might have something different for you. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:45.279 When things don't work out our way, we are like, we are surprised. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.720 We kind of get angry at God. 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:48.640 I wanted to go this way. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:51.920 But God said, no, that's not my plan for you. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:54.240 I've got something better for you. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:26:00.319 So another problem is that we don't have any consideration of God in the process of planning. 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:07.039 We pay too much respect and hold in high regard our own thoughts for the future. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:14.720 We arrogantly assume that our plans are well thought out and therefore foolproof. 00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:18.400 After all, I thought this through. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:20.160 I considered everything. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.839 It can't go wrong. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.720 Mm-hmm. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.880 So you think. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:38.000 Consider the passage in Luke 12, I think gives us a good uh understanding of this idea about the arrogance of our planning and no consideration for God. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:42.720 He says in Luke, then he told them a story. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:48.160 A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:52.799 And he said to himself, what should I do? 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:56.000 I don't have room for all my crops. 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:59.759 Then he said, I know. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.839 Here comes the plan. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:05.359 I know I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.480 That's the plan. 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:11.119 Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:12.240 There you go. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.200 Done it. 00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:15.119 Over, got it down on paper. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:21.759 And I'll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for many years to come. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.680 Here's the next part of this plan. 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.599 Now, take it easy. 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.880 Just chill. 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:29.279 Good plan. 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:32.400 Eat, drink, and be merry. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.839 That's the plan. 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.599 Hmm. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:38.720 But God, you know. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:43.039 But God said to him, You fool. 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:45.039 Seriously? 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.240 You fool. 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:49.599 You will die this very night. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:53.519