GOD'S PLANS AND HIS MERCIES 1

7 BUT if you had known what this means, ‘I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:7,8 (NKJV)

"FOR I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."
Hosea 6:6 (NKJV)

• If you had applied all the biblical principles of success you seem to know:

• You have been living according to the principles of the Word of God. You study the Word of God and practice it (Joshua 1:8; James 1:22,25).
• You pray and fast regularly (Acts 13:2,3; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27).
• You live a holy life (1 Peter 1:15,16).
• You allow and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to shape you, your character (Romans 5:3,4); And the fruits of the Spirit are found in your life (Galatians 5:22,23).
• You are prompt, quick or swift, in obeying the leadings of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14).
• You have a right heart towards God and your fellow human beings (Matthew 22:37-39).
• You submit to the spiritual authorities over your life, that is, you are under the right covering (Hebrews 13:7,17).
• You sow seeds regularly. That is, Giving is part of your life (Luke 6:38; Hebrews 13:16).
• If you had been faithful in all the spiritual principles mentioned above, and much more; yet, it seems you do not have the results you desired; compared with your contemporaries' results.

• Know that God works in line, or according to the election of Grace:
10 AND not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, THAT THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO ELECTION MIGHT STAND, NOT OF WORKS BUT OF HIM WHO CALLS), 12 it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger" (Romans 9:10-12 NKJV).

• God does things according to His preplanned arrangements. Some people do get results, in whatever they did, early in life, whilst some would need to exercise some Patience to see the results of their labour. Their successes, breakthroughs, may come a little bit late!
• And in some, they might not see all the Glory of whatever they had laboured for, whilst on earth. Their works will speak much more after they might have left:
  "ALL these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, YET NONE OF THEM RECEIVED ALL THAT GOD HAD PROMISED" (Hebrews 11:39 NLT).

• Everything happens according to God's preplanned programme—election of Grace (Romans 9:11).

• God has planned things according to His knowledge and infinite wisdom. He did it in His sovereign power. God has the right to do and undo, but He is not capricious. He works with principles!
  "IF God wants to demonstrate his anger and reveal his power, HE CAN DO IT. BUT CAN'T HE BE EXTREMELY PATIENT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE OBJECTS OF HIS ANGER BECAUSE THEY ARE HEADED FOR DESTRUCTION?" Romans 9:22 (GOD’S WORD Translation).
• In other words, God has principles that governs Things, yet, He may overrule the principles, to do certain things—in exceptional cases.

• Do not be discouraged if you have put in much, but you have not gotten the desired results.

• Do not compare yourself with someone else, because God is doing things according to the election of Grace:
  11 BUT before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she [Rebecca] received a message from God. (THIS MESSAGE SHOWS THAT GOD CHOOSES PEOPLE ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSES; 12 HE CALLS PEOPLE, BUT NOT ACCORDING TO THEIR GOOD OR BAD WORKS.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son"
  (Romans 9:11,12 NLT).

• Do not blame yourself, it is not because you have not worked hard enough, or you are bad, but according to God's purpose—election.

• Whatever you got is by God's mercy, not how hard you labour; although you have to work smart and hard in whatever you do, and be diligent in your walking with God; yet, not by works that no man should boast—no person should take the Glory meant for God:
  28 GOD CHOSE what the world considers ORDINARY and what it DESPISES—what it considers to be NOTHING—in order to DESTROY what it considers to be SOMETHING. 29 As a result, NO ONE CAN BRAG IN GOD’S PRESENCE" (1 Corinthians 1:28,29 GOD’S WORD Translation).

"SO IT IS GOD WHO DECIDES TO SHOW MERCY. WE CAN NEITHER CHOOSE IT NOR WORK FOR IT" (Romans 9:16 NLT).

• You do not choose what you become in God, He does make things according to His plans and purposes:
  "AND we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] CAUSES ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER [as a plan] FOR GOOD for those who love God, TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN AND PURPOSE" (Romans 8:28 AMP).

"AND we know that ALL THAT HAPPENS to us is WORKING for our GOOD if we LOVE God AND ARE FITTING INTO HIS PLANS."
Romans 8:28 (the Living Bible).

• If you are born-again, and you are sincere and genuine in your commitment to God, and the communion with Him; things will work out for you according to God's plan—election (Romans 8:28).
• God destined you for good and greatness, If you are born-again; although the levels of individual's glory differs.
• We may all be Christians, children of God through Christ, but different levels of Glory:
  40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; BUT THE GLORY OF THE CELESTIAL IS ONE, AND THE GLORY OF THE TERRESTRIAL IS ANOTHER. 41 THERE is one glory of the SUN, another glory of the MOON, and another glory of the STARS; FOR ONE STAR DIFFERS FROM ANOTHER STAR IN GLORY" (1 Corinthians 15:40,41 NKJV).
• Do not compare your Glory with that of another. No Glory is superior to the other. And there is no inferior Glory!
• Individual's Glory is according to the assignment, God's purpose, for the person's life.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever is not planted in your life by God, that is working against your health, such is rooted up in Jesus' name.
• You live in health as from now onwards in Jesus' name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED