Fulfilling The Purpose Of God For Your Life

 

Ps 139:16 (NKJV) — 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

 

Psalm 139:16 (NIV84): your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

 

• Psa 139:16

• • This tells all of us that before we were even formed in the womb, God knew us and was watching over us. 

• • Then, he wrote down a plan for our lives.

• • • From our study on Thursday nights, we should recognize from question 7 and 8 of the catechism, God issued a decree. According to our studies, we know that he executes his decrees by Creation and by Providence.

• • • • Meaning that at your Creation, (Conception in the womb) he decreed a plan of life for you.

• • • • Then by Providence, (as you live your life) he will bring to pass his will.

• • • • • The heavens and the earth will work together to bring the past his will . 

• • • • • if you are submitted to following his word, all things created will obey and line up with his decree.

• • • This is a point we need to keep in mind. Therefore, meditate on this principle for a moment.

• • • • God has a divine plan for your life. He has decreed it by writing it down in a book. It is set. Hardwired in the universe.

• • • • • It is up to you to choose to walk in his divine plan.

• • • • • Or, because God has given man choice, reject his plan and decree for your life, and walk in the ways of man.

• • • • Scripture proofs from our Westminster study

Isaiah 14:24 (ESV): As I have planned, so shall it be,  and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

 

Isaiah 46:10 (ESV): declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done,  saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Isaiah 46:11 (ESV): 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country.  I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it

• • • This is known even by reason. Everything God created by decree in the beginning had a purpose and by Providence continues to fulfill its purpose. Nothing can stop the decrees of God from coming to pass.

• • • • You also have a purpose. Decreed and written by God. Those things in your life shall come to pass, if you accept his lordship, because it is written. 

• • • • So, you can say to the devil and those against you,

• • • • • it is written I will achieve this goal . 

• • • • • It is written I am the head and not the tail . 

• • • • • It is written I was CreatedToExcel and not fail .

• • • • • It is written, this weapon will not prosper against me. 

• • • • Since God has written your purpose it would be wisdom for you to find your purpose and walk in it.

• • Confirming the decree of God for Jeremiah

Je 1:5 (ESV) — 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 

• • • God had a plan for Jeremiah before he was born. 

• • • He was consecrated, which means set apart to do a specific work.

• • Confirming the decree of God for Paul

Ga 1:15 (ESV) — 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 

• • • God decreed a plan for Paul before he was born.

• • • Throughout all of Paul’s trials and tribulations he had the confidence that God’s Providence was guiding and protecting him.

• • God’s decrees for man consist of two options

• • • That which is beneficial for you to do

• • • That which is permissible for you to do

1 Co 10:23 (NIV84) — 23 “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. 

• • • But both options have been decreed and written by God for you.

• • • • The beneficial option is his best plan for you. You should choose to walk in it. 

• • • • The permissive option is one he allows, and you can choose to walk in it. 

• • • • Your life is choice driven, you live or die by the choices you make.

• • • • • You decide each day whether it is going to be a beneficial day for your life and your eternity, or 

• • • • • whether it will be a day that is permissible and wasted away.

• • Summary: Before each of us were born, God had a plan for us. He decreed it and wrote it down in his book So that it cannot be changed and at the appropriate time he called us to be born. 

 

GOD HAS DECREED AND WRITTEN A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. 

 

• • • It is up to us to fulfill or reject his will for our life.

 

• • What do you think is the quality of life he has decreed for you? Good or bad?

Je 29:11 (NIV84) — 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

• • • God’s plans will work out for good but only if we work out our life according to all of God decrees. We must submit to him as Lord. 

• • • When he is our Lord, we may have difficult times in our life, but because we know God has decreed and written the plan, we trust in him to do what is good for our welfare (even when we don’t understand it, consider Job). 

Ro 8:28 (ESV) — 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

 

See, only if we follow the plan according to his purpose is there is an expected end of good. As I was explaining earlier, all things means all of nature will work for your good because God has decreed good for your life.

 

Let’s continue reading the verses following the 28 verse.

 

Ro 8:29–30 (ESV) — 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 

• • • • See God has a plan for your life!

• • • • God has decreed ultimately a glorified position for you.

• • • • Recognize this is a process to get to the glorified position

• • • • This is why I say we must move ONWARD! along the Narrow Road marked out before us.

 

• • Now, if God decreed and wrote down his plan for us, he also has an expectation of what we are to accomplish for him in life. Does that make sense? What is the supreme purpose of man? To glorify God and enjoy him forever.

• • • The example of the talents given to the servants.

• • • The expectation to bear fruit in John 15. 

• • • • Remember fruit can only be brought forth if we remain in the vine? 

• • • The example of the fig tree that did not bear fruit.

 

Mk 11:12–14 (ESV) — 12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. 

 

Mk 11:20–21 (ESV) — 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 

 

• • God has an expectation of every one of us according to his decree for our lives.  

• • • He will hold each of us accountable according to his expectation.

• • • We must not be consumed with covertness for the lives of others. We should not pattern ourselves after others. The only one we should desire to be like is Christ.

• • • It will not matter what we desire for our lives. 

• • • • Only his will matters! He wants us as his children.

• • • • We must learn to submit to what he has decreed for us. 

• • • • • For what he has decreed is what is beneficial for us.

 

• • Proof of his expectation: GOD WILL JUDGE US ACCORDING TO OUR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DECREES.

Heb 9:27 (ESV) — 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 

Each of us will face judgment and God will measure our works according to his standard that is written in his book. 

Re 20:12 (ESV) — 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. 

 

Books (many) of the works of all men vs the book(one smaller) of life listing those that have accepted Christ.

 

And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 

 

GOD HAS DECREED AND WRITTEN A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. 

 

AT DEATH, YOU WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO HOW WELL YOU HAVE WORKED HIS PLAN. 

 

• • You will not be judged by human standards, but according to how you fulfilled God’s plan for your life. Not based on the world’s value system

• • • Money or wealth

• • • Education or degrees

• • • Status in life

• • • Votes

• • • Likes

• • • Friends

• • • Comparison to others

• • • There is only one standard that matters: God’s

 

• • At the judgment, everyone will be measured according to his decree.

• • • If one did not accept Christ during their life, they will still be judged according to the perfect plan that God had for them to do. 

• • • • Then, because they didn’t measure up to his plan, they will be condemned to the lake of fire. 

Revelation 20:13–15 (ESV): 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. (Reading from the books of their works)

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 

15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

• • • If a person did accept Christ, they will still be judged according to his plan but rewarded for the works they accomplished according to his decrees.

1 Co 3:11–15 (ESV) — 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 

 

• • Considering that God has a plan for us to live by and that he will judge us according to his plan, let us learn from the life of Apostle Paul three things  we should do as we live each day.

• • • Paul knew his mission as told by Ananias Ac 9:15–16 (ESV) — 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 

… And near the end of his life he said 

• • • 2 Ti 4:7–8 (ESV) — 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

• • Therefore, I’m going to say three things

• • • Know the plan of the Lord decreed for you

• • • Fight the good fight by faith to fulfill it

• • • Finish the race

 

Now for the remainder of the message I’m going to teach you 1) how to know the plan of the Lord for your life, tell you 2) how to fight the good fight of faith to fulfill it and 3) how to finish the race.

 

• How to know the plan the Lord has decreed for you. 

Ps 139:16 (NKJV) — 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

• • The book of the days of our lives is not the Bible. This is a different book. The Bible is the book of the word of God. It is the mind of God towards us. From the Bible we learn the voice of God so that we may hear the plan he has for us. He told Joshua

Jos 1:8 (ESV) — 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 

 

Dt 32:46–47 (NIV84) — 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” 

 

• • You see, as you study the Bible, you come to know the voice of God. You learn to distinguish his voice from the many voices of the demons and the world.

• • • When you study the Bible, you come to know the voice of God, you hear him guiding you

Is 30:21 (NIV84) — 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 

• • • You will then be led by the voice of God to fulfill the plan that he has for you. 

• • • • Then, when you pray, give us this day Our Daily Bread, you will also be asking give us this day, our daily direction. 

• • • • This is because man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

• • • God wants you to fulfill his divine decree and he will Empower you to do it.

Php 2:13 (ESV) — 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 

• • • God has given all of us the ability to accomplish the work he has planned for us to do. 

• • •  All things are possible when we know the truth that it is God who will do it through us.

• • Then, We can face any opposition and

 

• Fight the good fight of faith to fulfill it - the lord will fight for you

The race will not be easy. There will be difficult days ahead but remember God has written those difficulties in his book but also decreed the outcome. 

 

Therefore, the challenges you face have only come to strengthen your faith. So, count it all joy when you are experiencing them.

 

You will have to face and overcome the demonic forces of this world to accomplish the divine plan that God has decreed for you. So you must mature yourself in the word of God.

 

The good fight of faith cannot be fault unless you develop your faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. You must get in the word of God.

 

Then when you ask in prayer you can believe and whatever you ask for believing you shall receive.

 

Paul tells us

Ro 12:2 (ESV) — 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

 

The word of God develops your faith so you may fight the real enemy behind what we see with natural eyes.

Eph 6:12 (ESV) —12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

 

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 

 

2 Co 10:4–5 (ESV) — 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 

 

• • We overcome demonic spiritual forces against us by Faith in prayer. This means growing in the word to know the word of God. Re 12:11 (ESV) — 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 

• • The more of the word of God you know, the more you can as a child of God decree his word over the obstacles in your life.  Remember his word does not return to him void. 

• • • The more the use of his word, the more power you have to fight the good fight of faith. 

• • • • Therefore, strive to be a heavyweight fighter not a featherweight.

• • • This is why I am teaching you the catechism on Thursday night so that you will be educated in the word to know the truth of God’s word and be renewed in your mind to stop following after the ways of the world.

• • • •  So that you may walk in the power and anointing of God’s word as his child and no longer a child of this world.

• • Satan and the world will be relentless in their attack against you.  They will come after you to keep you from following the word of God. 

• • • But be faithful. You will not be judged according to the world standards.

• • This World is not your home! Heaven is your home!

• • • You must fight the good fight of faith and run the race on the course marked out for you.

• • • You must live your life according to God’s plan, not man’s!

• • Don’t become discouraged when you encounter setbacks! Remember God has decreed and written the plan for your life, not man!

• • • Stop letting men define you by their standards. 

• • •  Men do not define your destiny. Stop thinking like them! 

• • • Don’t let them get you to go against God’s word.

• • • You are a child of God. You are not bound by this world!

• •  A few words of encouragement

• • • Ps 37:23–24 (NKJV) — 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. 

• • • Ps 23:1–4 (ESV) — 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

• • • Is 43:2 (ESV) — 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 

 

•  Finish the race

Remembering the words of Paul 

2 Ti 4:7–8 (ESV) — 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

• • Paul was looking towards his graduation from this world. He endured the rebuke of the people to live the word of God. How? 

• • He told us:

Heb 12:2 (ESV) — 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

 

• • Press on to finish the race! Press on toward the end!  Keep in mind the eternal blessing awaiting you!

• • Knowing that God has decreed and written in his book a plan for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future.

• • We should all press on to finish the race being steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord our labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58) forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, Let us press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. You 

• •  And if it comes to the point that it appears you have to face death remember this

• • 2 Corinthians 5:6–10 (ESV): So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

 

• Ps 139:16 (NKJV) — 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

• • Know the plan of the Lord decreed for you

• • Fight the good fight by faith

• • Finish the race

• When this day is over, will you have moved forward towards the divine plan that God has for you? Or, will you have stood still, or God forbid, backslid?