Achieving God's Plan for Your Life
God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says
the Lord Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”.
In order to achieve this plan we have to do it God’s way.
The Bible tells us concerning the fallen man, in Isaiah 55:7-9 “let the wicked forsake
his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord
Yahweh, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly
pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither, are your ways My ways,
says the Lord Yahweh. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My
ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”.
And in Isaiah 64:4 it says “for since the beginning of the world men have not heard,
nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O God, beside You, what He
has prepared for him that waits for Him”. But God does reveal it to us by His Spirit, it
tells us in (I Corinthians 2:9-14) “but as it is written, eye has not seen nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for
them that love Him”.
But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea,
the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of man, save the spirit of
man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of
God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God,
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also
we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit
teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not
the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned”.
Paul breaks it down to us by saying “for they that are after the flesh, do mind the
things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be
carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the
carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-
8).
God provided for us to be born again through the blood of Jesus (John 3:16-18).
God predestined for us to be conformed to likeness of Jesus from the foundation of
the world (Romans 8:29-30) “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”. This is
the way mankind was originally designed, we were made in His image (Genesis 1:26).
God established the way for us to achieve his plan in (Ephesians 4:11-15) which
says “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 into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”.
We are told to renew our mind (Romans 12:1-2) in other words put off the old mind
set (the way you thought before you were saved) and put on the mind of Christ
(Ephesians 4:22-32). In I Corinthians 2:16 the Bible tells us that “but we have the
mind of Christ”. Philippians 2:5 says “let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus”.
We have to surrender our life and let Jesus live His life through us; Paul said “I am
crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me; and
gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Paul declares that the redeemed are re-created into the image of God as they are
transformed into the image of Christ, who bears the untainted image of God. Just as
the fall into sin was not without its effect on the image of God, so also redemption
from sin affects humans as the image of God. Ephesians and Colossians speak of
renewal in the image of God the Creator.
Knowing that we are made in God’s image and thus share many of His
characteristics provides a solid basis for self-worth. Because we bear God’s image,
we can feel positive about our self. Knowing that you are a person of worth helps
you love God, know Him personally, and make a valuable contribution to those
around you. It is a fact you can only love others as you love yourself.
Those who love the world are void of love for God the Father, the Bible says
“friendship with the world is opposition toward God (James 4:4). Followers of Christ
should not be conformed, to the values, ideas and behaviors of a fallen world.
Believers should continually renew their minds through prayer and the study of God’
s word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and so be transformed and made like Christ
(II Corinthians 3:18) “we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of
the Lord”.
We are to walk together with Christ in one accord (Ephesians 5:1-2) says “Be you
therefore followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has
loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet
smelling savor”.
Believers are to “put on Christ”. Jesus tells us in John 15:4-5 “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”. As we stay connected to the vine, we will bear the fruits of Jesus, because
the branch can only bear after its kind.
We have the ability to reflect His character in our love, patience, forgiveness,
kindness and faithfulness. Christians have been illuminated by the light that is in
Christ, who dwells within His people. Ephesians 5:8 says “for you were sometimes
darkness, but now are you light in the Lord, walk as children of light”. Those who
respond to the light may be characterized as “sons of light”. Light is closely linked
with God, in fact, God is described as light.
Conformity to the image of Jesus Christ is achieved through the process of
sanctification. And the good news is that we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 says “this I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust
of the flesh”.
As we grow up into Christ likeness, remember that He spent time with His Father, He
studied the scriptures. We are to draw near to God, and this is accomplished by
reading and studying the word of God. God established the Bible as a manual for
us to live the life He has designed for us. Remember that III John 2 says “beloved, I
which above all things that you may prosper, and be in health, even as your soul
prospers”. The condition is that our soul, which is our mind, our will and our
emotions, must prosper.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 27, 2009
God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says
the Lord Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”.
In order to achieve this plan we have to do it God’s way.
The Bible tells us concerning the fallen man, in Isaiah 55:7-9 “let the wicked forsake
his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord
Yahweh, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly
pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither, are your ways My ways,
says the Lord Yahweh. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My
ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”.
And in Isaiah 64:4 it says “for since the beginning of the world men have not heard,
nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O God, beside You, what He
has prepared for him that waits for Him”. But God does reveal it to us by His Spirit, it
tells us in (I Corinthians 2:9-14) “but as it is written, eye has not seen nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for
them that love Him”.
But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea,
the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of man, save the spirit of
man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of
God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God,
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also
we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit
teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not
the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned”.
Paul breaks it down to us by saying “for they that are after the flesh, do mind the
things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be
carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the
carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-
8).
God provided for us to be born again through the blood of Jesus (John 3:16-18).
God predestined for us to be conformed to likeness of Jesus from the foundation of
the world (Romans 8:29-30) “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”. This is
the way mankind was originally designed, we were made in His image (Genesis 1:26).
God established the way for us to achieve his plan in (Ephesians 4:11-15) which
says “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 into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”.
We are told to renew our mind (Romans 12:1-2) in other words put off the old mind
set (the way you thought before you were saved) and put on the mind of Christ
(Ephesians 4:22-32). In I Corinthians 2:16 the Bible tells us that “but we have the
mind of Christ”. Philippians 2:5 says “let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus”.
We have to surrender our life and let Jesus live His life through us; Paul said “I am
crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me; and
gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Paul declares that the redeemed are re-created into the image of God as they are
transformed into the image of Christ, who bears the untainted image of God. Just as
the fall into sin was not without its effect on the image of God, so also redemption
from sin affects humans as the image of God. Ephesians and Colossians speak of
renewal in the image of God the Creator.
Knowing that we are made in God’s image and thus share many of His
characteristics provides a solid basis for self-worth. Because we bear God’s image,
we can feel positive about our self. Knowing that you are a person of worth helps
you love God, know Him personally, and make a valuable contribution to those
around you. It is a fact you can only love others as you love yourself.
Those who love the world are void of love for God the Father, the Bible says
“friendship with the world is opposition toward God (James 4:4). Followers of Christ
should not be conformed, to the values, ideas and behaviors of a fallen world.
Believers should continually renew their minds through prayer and the study of God’
s word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and so be transformed and made like Christ
(II Corinthians 3:18) “we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the
Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of
the Lord”.
We are to walk together with Christ in one accord (Ephesians 5:1-2) says “Be you
therefore followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has
loved us, and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet
smelling savor”.
Believers are to “put on Christ”. Jesus tells us in John 15:4-5 “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”. As we stay connected to the vine, we will bear the fruits of Jesus, because
the branch can only bear after its kind.
We have the ability to reflect His character in our love, patience, forgiveness,
kindness and faithfulness. Christians have been illuminated by the light that is in
Christ, who dwells within His people. Ephesians 5:8 says “for you were sometimes
darkness, but now are you light in the Lord, walk as children of light”. Those who
respond to the light may be characterized as “sons of light”. Light is closely linked
with God, in fact, God is described as light.
Conformity to the image of Jesus Christ is achieved through the process of
sanctification. And the good news is that we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 says “this I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust
of the flesh”.
As we grow up into Christ likeness, remember that He spent time with His Father, He
studied the scriptures. We are to draw near to God, and this is accomplished by
reading and studying the word of God. God established the Bible as a manual for
us to live the life He has designed for us. Remember that III John 2 says “beloved, I
which above all things that you may prosper, and be in health, even as your soul
prospers”. The condition is that our soul, which is our mind, our will and our
emotions, must prosper.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 27, 2009
