Pastor Tone

6th June 2010

Post with 1 note

No more Scheming!

SCHEMING:       In my mind I picture a man in a dark room with a dark plan. I picture a person kinda like this gargoyle rubbing his hands together thinking about how make himself prosper. So many negative thoughts with that word. In my mind, this word always has to do with what I want and what I will do to get it. 

Proverbs 24:8 Whoever plans to do evil will be called a schemer. (ESV)

My problem comes when I have to look at my life in light of scheming. See by nature, I am a schemer. No I don’t look to hurt others, I don’t want to break the law and if you looked at my schemes you might even think that if they happened it would be a good thing. See that is the problem! I have trouble discerning what it is I do that makes me look good and what is I do for God’s glory. Part of the problem is they can both happen at the same time! But regardless of how people see me, I know my heart and I have found it deceives me because it wants what it wants. So what do I do? 

First let me just say this. A plan is not a bad thing. It’s good to have a plan. I am working through my life plans and ministry plans and it really helps me to see the future. So plans are not bad. 

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Lately I have been reading in Genesis about Abraham and he was going along fine walking in faith when somewhere along the way He gets off of God’s plan and starts to devise his own plan or as I would call it a scheme. C’mon Not Abraham dude! Yep. Abraham! Look at Genesis 12 

Genesis 12:11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.” 

So where does this becomes a scheme? Abraham that is your wife dude! You say I would never do that. Yeah whatever. Here is what I want you to look at. Read how many times in these verses he says “they will”. You know you are going down the wrong path when you are more worried about what “they will” do than what God has said. The fear of man is a snare! God would have had to be a liar if those guys killed Abraham. Because God had just told him Abraham I will make you a great nation (Gen. 12:2). But Abraham is a sinner and a Schemer just like us. But he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Jesus Christ is the only one who was perfect! He died for Schemers! Praise God. But here is the deal, God still wants us Schemers to repent of our Scheming. So….

Is there any situation in your life where you are trying to control? (give it over to God)

Are you making decisions based on the fear of God or the fear of man? 

Do like I did and get on your face, ask God to reveal your scheming mind. Pour out your heart to Him and ask him to cause whatever needs to happen in your life that He might get more Glory. As followers of Christ, it has to be our life motivation.

God wont you please use our lives for your Glory! Amen.