JPhillipJones.com

Greetings in Jesus' Name. I'd like

to read a little from the book of

II Chronicles tonight:

2Ch 16:1 In the six and thirtieth year

of the reign of Asa Baasha king of

Israel came up against Judah, and built

Ramah, to the intent that he might let

none go out or come in to Asa king

of Judah.

2Ch 16:2 Then Asa brought out silver

and gold out of the treasures of the

house of the LORD and of the king's

house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of

Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

2Ch 16:3 There is a league between

me and thee, as there was between my

father and thy father: behold, I have sent

thee silver and gold; go, break thy league

with Baasha king of Israel, that he may

depart from me.

2Ch 16:4 And Ben-hadad hearkened

unto king Asa, and sent the captains of

his armies against the cities of Israel; and

they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim,

and all the store cities of Naphtali.

2Ch 16:5 And it came to pass, when

Baasha heard it, that he left off building of

Ramah, and let his work cease.

2Ch 16:6 Then Asa the king took all Judah;

and they carried away the stones of Ramah,

and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha

was building; and he built therewith Geba

and Mizpah.

2Ch 16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer

came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him,

Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria,

and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore

is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of

thine hand.

2Ch 16:8 Were not the Ethiopians and the

Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots

and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on

the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.

2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to

and fro throughout the whole earth, to show

himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart

is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done

foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt

have wars.

You see King Asa was man that had a destiny.

Asa was destined to take down the host of the

pagan king of Syria. Asa was a king that had

already relied on the hand of God and had

already seen God deliver him and his kingdom

from a mighty host first hand.

But Asa... resorted to plan B. And because of

that, he fell short of the calling upon his life.

My friends, never resort to plan B. I think of

Saul how he was standing before the host of the

Philistines, waiting on Samuel to come and offer

the offering. The people with him were trembling

and hiding. Some had even fled the country. But

Samuel was late, and did not come on time to offer

the offering. Plan A didn't seem to be working out

that well, so Saul decided to jump in there and resort

to plan B and offer it himself. Look what Samuel told

him because of it:

1Sa 13:11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done?

And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were

scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the

days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered

themselves together at Michmash;

1Sa 13:12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come

down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made

supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore,

and offered a burnt offering.

1Sa 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done

foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the

LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now

would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon

Israel forever.

1Sa 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue:

the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart,

and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain

over his people, because thou hast not kept that which

the LORD commanded thee.

Because Saul did not wait and follow the plan of God,

and in his haste and fear he jumped in there and did

the wrong thing, his kingdom was taken from him.

There are many other examples of people in the Bible

not wanting to wait upon the Lord and follow instructions.

Often times they thought that they could do good by

jumping out there and doing what was convenient. Many

have even compromised it within themselves as Saul did

thinking that they were "forced" to do this thing that was

not really what they were supposed to do, but was really

just plan B.

But now I want to talk about someone that didn't resort

to plan B. I want to talk about Jesus Christ in the garden

praying that the Lord would let the cup pass from Him.

All power in heaven and earth was at the His command.

How convienient and seemingly good it might have

been to just destroy His evil accusers and live and reign

on earth... but then you and me would never be able to

live above sin. We would never be able to be right and

escape the punishment that the justice of God demanded

of us. And think of all of those in the Old Testament who

died trusting that the Messiah would save His people

from their sins.

No, Jesus did not resort to plan B. He executed the

will of God perfectly. And I believe that each and

every one of us has a plan A for our lives. I believe that

if we just trust God and refuse to resort to plan B, if we

just hold out for Samuel to arrive until he does, rather

than when we become afraid, we will see the hand of God

directing our paths and blessing us beyond our expectation.

You only have on life to live for God on earth, do not settle

for plan B.

God Bless!