God’s Plan for Our Lives
The Lord Yahweh tells us His plan in Jeremiah 29:11 which says “for I know the
thoughts that I have toward you, says the Lord Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and
not of evil, to give you an expected end”. God has put things in motion for His
plan for our lives to be established. He made the plan and Jesus came to fulfill it.
The Bible says in John 3:16-18 “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believes in Him is not
condemned, but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”.
This shows God’s love for us and not only are we saved from hell and damnation,
but He has predestined us to be like Christ (Romans 8:29-32) “for whom He did
foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that
He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did
predestinate, them, He also called and whom He called, them He also justified,
and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own
Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us
all things”?
In Colossians 3:15-17 it says “and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to
the which also you are called in one body, and be you thankful. Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him”.
Not only did God predestinate us to conform to the image of His Son, He also
provided the way for us to do so (Ephesians 4:10-15) “He that descended is the
same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.
And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and
some pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure
of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we hereafter be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of
men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking
the truth in love, may grow up unto Him in all things, which is the head, even
Christ”.
Whom He predestinated, him He called. People often think of some big calling,
yet He called us all to be witnesses of Him (Acts 1:8) “but you shall receive power,
after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me both
in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the
earth”. To us that means from our families, to our neighbors and friends, to the
ends of the world. A lot of times you will witness by your lifestyle. Your family and
friends will see the difference in your life and want to know how you changed.
This is you chance to witness to them. Your calling might not seem great to you,
but you might be called to witness to someone like, Billy Graham, or one of the
great preachers. Jesse Duplantis testified that he was strung out on drugs, when
some man kept walking passed his house, and shared the gospel with him. You
don’t know, so take every opportunity to witness to whom is before you. Our
motivation should be that “God does not want any to perish, but that all should
come to the knowledge of the truth”.
We are called to be salt and light to a world in darkness. Jesus told us in
(Matthew 5:13-16) “you are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savor,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that is
set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel. But on a candlestick, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven”.
Whom He called, him He also justified. We have been justified (Romans 3:23-26)
“for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by
His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God has set
forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To
declare I say at this time His righteousness that He might be just, and the justifier
of him which believes in Jesus”. God looks at us through Jesus, and sees us just
as if we had never sinned.
Whom He justified, him He also glorified (Romans 8:15-17) “for you have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with
our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of
God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be
also glorified together”. I Corinthians 6:11b says “but you are washed, but you
are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the
Spirit of our God”. That’s why in Romans
8:1-2,9 it says “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death. But you
are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be, that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any many have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His”.
We are sanctified unto God (II Timothy 2:19,21) which says “nevertheless the
foundation of God stands sure, having this seal. The Lord knows them that are
His, and, let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. If a
man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified,
and fit for the master’s use, and prepared to every good work”. People are
waiting around for themselves to look and feel sanctified, but Jesus has made us
sanctified. As you serve God and worship Him, He fills your life. A personal
relationship with God is the key to us living out God’s plan for our lives. As you
are moving toward God, you will be moving away from the world. Jesus said
“come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and
you shall find rest to your soul” (Matthew 11:28-29).
We are a new creation in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:17). “We are His
workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before
ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus explained this to
us in John 15:1-5 which says “I am the true vine, and My Father is the
husbandman. Every branch in Me that bears not fruit, He takes away, and every
branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you
are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in
you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more
can you, except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he that
abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without Me you
can do nothing”. The key for us is to stay in Christ, is to stay in His word.
God wants us to become fully persuaded as Abraham did (Romans 4:17-24) “as
it is written, I have made you a father of many nations, before Him whom he
believed, even God, who makes alive the dead, and calls those things which be
not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might
become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall
your seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now
dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of
Sarah’s womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was
strong in faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that what He had
promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for
righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to
him. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him, that raised
up Jesus our Lord from the dead”. As I was reading this passage, I heard in my
spirit man whatever God called became, the Bible does says many times “and
God said, and God saw”. Let’s take the time to study some of the great people in
the Bible and you will see that when God called them, they became what He
called them. So take faith that it can happen to you too.
Jesus said “I am come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly” (John
10:10b). And in III John 2 it says “beloved, I wish above all things that you may
prosper, and be in health, even as your soul prospers”. Remember that our soul
is our mind, will and emotions. We are told to renew our mind (Romans 12:1-2) “I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service. And be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God”. Let us follow God’s plan, so that we can bear much fruit
and bring glory to God.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: November 18, 2008
The Lord Yahweh tells us His plan in Jeremiah 29:11 which says “for I know the
thoughts that I have toward you, says the Lord Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and
not of evil, to give you an expected end”. God has put things in motion for His
plan for our lives to be established. He made the plan and Jesus came to fulfill it.
The Bible says in John 3:16-18 “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believes in Him is not
condemned, but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”.
This shows God’s love for us and not only are we saved from hell and damnation,
but He has predestined us to be like Christ (Romans 8:29-32) “for whom He did
foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that
He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did
predestinate, them, He also called and whom He called, them He also justified,
and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own
Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us
all things”?
In Colossians 3:15-17 it says “and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to
the which also you are called in one body, and be you thankful. Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him”.
Not only did God predestinate us to conform to the image of His Son, He also
provided the way for us to do so (Ephesians 4:10-15) “He that descended is the
same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.
And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and
some pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure
of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we hereafter be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of
men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking
the truth in love, may grow up unto Him in all things, which is the head, even
Christ”.
Whom He predestinated, him He called. People often think of some big calling,
yet He called us all to be witnesses of Him (Acts 1:8) “but you shall receive power,
after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me both
in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the
earth”. To us that means from our families, to our neighbors and friends, to the
ends of the world. A lot of times you will witness by your lifestyle. Your family and
friends will see the difference in your life and want to know how you changed.
This is you chance to witness to them. Your calling might not seem great to you,
but you might be called to witness to someone like, Billy Graham, or one of the
great preachers. Jesse Duplantis testified that he was strung out on drugs, when
some man kept walking passed his house, and shared the gospel with him. You
don’t know, so take every opportunity to witness to whom is before you. Our
motivation should be that “God does not want any to perish, but that all should
come to the knowledge of the truth”.
We are called to be salt and light to a world in darkness. Jesus told us in
(Matthew 5:13-16) “you are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost its savor,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out,
and to be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that is
set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel. But on a candlestick, and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven”.
Whom He called, him He also justified. We have been justified (Romans 3:23-26)
“for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by
His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God has set
forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To
declare I say at this time His righteousness that He might be just, and the justifier
of him which believes in Jesus”. God looks at us through Jesus, and sees us just
as if we had never sinned.
Whom He justified, him He also glorified (Romans 8:15-17) “for you have not
received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with
our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of
God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be
also glorified together”. I Corinthians 6:11b says “but you are washed, but you
are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the
Spirit of our God”. That’s why in Romans
8:1-2,9 it says “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death. But you
are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be, that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any many have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His”.
We are sanctified unto God (II Timothy 2:19,21) which says “nevertheless the
foundation of God stands sure, having this seal. The Lord knows them that are
His, and, let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. If a
man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified,
and fit for the master’s use, and prepared to every good work”. People are
waiting around for themselves to look and feel sanctified, but Jesus has made us
sanctified. As you serve God and worship Him, He fills your life. A personal
relationship with God is the key to us living out God’s plan for our lives. As you
are moving toward God, you will be moving away from the world. Jesus said
“come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and
you shall find rest to your soul” (Matthew 11:28-29).
We are a new creation in Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:17). “We are His
workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before
ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus explained this to
us in John 15:1-5 which says “I am the true vine, and My Father is the
husbandman. Every branch in Me that bears not fruit, He takes away, and every
branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you
are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in
you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more
can you, except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he that
abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit, for without Me you
can do nothing”. The key for us is to stay in Christ, is to stay in His word.
God wants us to become fully persuaded as Abraham did (Romans 4:17-24) “as
it is written, I have made you a father of many nations, before Him whom he
believed, even God, who makes alive the dead, and calls those things which be
not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might
become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall
your seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now
dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of
Sarah’s womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was
strong in faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that what He had
promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for
righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to
him. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him, that raised
up Jesus our Lord from the dead”. As I was reading this passage, I heard in my
spirit man whatever God called became, the Bible does says many times “and
God said, and God saw”. Let’s take the time to study some of the great people in
the Bible and you will see that when God called them, they became what He
called them. So take faith that it can happen to you too.
Jesus said “I am come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly” (John
10:10b). And in III John 2 it says “beloved, I wish above all things that you may
prosper, and be in health, even as your soul prospers”. Remember that our soul
is our mind, will and emotions. We are told to renew our mind (Romans 12:1-2) “I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable
service. And be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God”. Let us follow God’s plan, so that we can bear much fruit
and bring glory to God.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: November 18, 2008
