FULFILLING THE THE PURPOSE OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES
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OUTLINE
1. JOSEPH
2. NAOMI
3. JOB
4. ELIJAH
5. PETER
6. PAUL
7. JESUS.
THE MESSAGE
FULFILLING THE THE PURPOSE OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES
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1. JOSEPH
The Lord is working in our lives and He makes everything work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The Lord even turns the evil intended to harm us into good. Sometimes we may not understand or enjoy the process He takes us through to fulfill his work in our lives. But later we will look back with gratitude and amazement at the process which God took us through to fulfill His plan for our lives. Joseph in the Old Testament went through a very difficult and painful process in his life. His brothers hated him and sold him as a slave to Egypt. He was greatly distressed at that moment and pleaded with his brothers to spare his life. But later in his life after the Lord had established him as a ruler over Egypt , Joseph realised the hand of God in his journey of life. He comforted his brothers and told them not to be distressed over selling him as a slave because it was the plan of God for his life. Joseph realised this important truth in his life and he comforted his brothers by telling them that God had made everything work for good.God wanted to preserve the descendants of Abraham through Joseph in order to fulfill His covenant with Abraham. And through the descendants of Abraham the Messiah the Lord Jesus was born. The experience of Joseph has continued to bless the people of God throughout the centuries . Thus God had a great purpose for the life of Joseph to make him a blessing not only during his lifetime but also throughout human history to inspire His people. The Lord is working in our lives all the time. Sometimes we may not understand what the Lord is doing in our lives. At such times we must simply trust the Lord and believe that He has a purpose in what He is doing . The Lord Jesus told Peter, while washing his feet ,that although Peter did not realise the significance of what Jesus was doing at that time, he would be able to understand it later. Sometimes we may also go through such experiences. Sometimes it may appear as though the Lord is not doing anything in our lives. At such times we must realise that God is always working in our lives , even though sometimes we may not be able to see it . Sometimes God works secretly and behind the scenes and He will reveal His work to us when the time is right.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ROMANS 8:28
" And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
GENESIS 50:20
" You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. "
GENESIS 42:21
" They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come upon us."
GENESIS 45:4-8
" Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!
And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.
For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping.
But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. "
JOHN 13:7
" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
JOHN 5:17
" Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
2. NAOMI
Naomi had a bitter experience in life. She went to Moab with her husband and two sons in search of a better life. Sadly she lost her husband and two sons during her stay in Moab. She decided to return to her hometown Bethlehem. One of her daughters in law Ruth decided to accompany her back. When they came back everyone was excited at the return of Naomi. But Naomi told them not to call her Naomi which means ’pleasant’ but instead to call her Mara which means ’bitter’ . Naomi was very discouraged . She thought that there was no future for her. But the Lord had a great plan for her. Her daughter in law Ruth married a wealthy man named Boaz and had a son named Obed. And Naomi had the responsibility of bringing up the child and the child was called the son of Naomi. In her old age the Lord had a great purpose for her life . The Child whom she brought up was the grandfather of David in whose lineage the Lord Jesus Christ was born. We must not get discouraged by our present circumstances. Through the eyes of faith we must see the blessings that are waiting for us .
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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RUTH 1:1-5 , 19-21
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.
The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
Now Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.
They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years,
both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, "Can this be Naomi?"
"Don’t call me Naomi, " she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."
RUTH 4:13-17
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!
He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth."
Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.
The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
3. JOB
Job had a bitter experience in life. He was a righteous man who pleased God and was greatly blessed . However he lost everything suddenly and his life was filled with sorrow and suffering . However he continued to trust in God and was patient in all his afflictions. Finally the Lord turned his captivity and gave him double blessing for all that he had lost. Job tried to see the work of God during his time of trial and he could not see it. Then he understood that even if he did not understand what has happening in his life, the Lord knew the path through which he was going and after his trial he would come forth as gold. The Lord wants us to realise that through patience in tribulation we can also receive abundant blessings from God.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JAMES 5:10-11
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
JOB 13:15
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
JOB 23:8-10
"But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.
When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. "
JOB 1:1-3 , 13-22
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
He had seven sons and three daughters,
and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,
a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,
when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
and said: "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
JOB 42:10-16
After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.
All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.
And he also had seven sons and three daughters.
The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch.
Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.
And so he died, old and full of years.
4. ELIJAH
When Elijah faced danger to his life from Jezebel , he got discouraged and prayed that he might die . He told God ’ it is enough .let me die ’ . He felt that it was better to die than to live . Elijah had just demonstrated the power of God in a bold challenge to the prophets of Baal by calling down fire from heaven. But soon after that he fell into a great depression and discouragement. He could not see any purpose for his life to exist . He did not realise that God still had work for him to do . But the Lord sent His Angel and strengthened him and told that he still had a long way to go . There were still many important tasks that God had for him to fulfill. He had to anoint kings for two nations and also anoint his successor Elisha . And moreover it was God’s plan for Elijah that he should not see death and that he should be taken up alive upto heaven in a chariot of fire. Elijah in his state of discouragement did not realise the glorious plan of God for his life and instead prayed that he should die. But the Lord encouraged him and helped him to fulfill his life ’s purpose and destiny. Even in our lives sometimes we get discouraged due to heavy burdens and pray that the Lord should take us away and that we had enough of this world . But we do not realise that we still have a long way to go and that the Lord still has much work for us to do . The Lord wants to encourage us to go on and accomplish all the tasks that he has assigned for us to fulfill in this world.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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I Kings 19 ; 1-7 , 15-16
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them."
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."
Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat."
He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you."
The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.
Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.
II Kings 2: 1, 11
When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
5. PETER
Peter had a great calling on his life. But he stumbled in his faith and denied the Lord Jesus . Peter got discouraged after the cruxifixion of Jesus , he decided to go back to fishing . And a few disciples, instead of counseling Peter not to do that , decided to join him in fishing . But after fishing all night they caught nothing . The Lord Jesus was watching the actions of these discouraged disciples . And in the morning Jesus was standing on the shore when these disciples returned from their fishing expedition . He did not rebuke them in anger but instead he lovingly enquired about them and performed a miracle for them to catch a multiitude of fish . He even prepared food for them and invited them to dine. Then he asked Peter three times whether he loved the Lord and Peter replied that he did . The Lord then told Peter to go feed His lambs and sheep . Thus the Lord lovingly restored Peter to the call of God on his life . Even in our life the Lord is watching us when we go through periods of discouragement and feel like going away from the call of God on our life . He comes to us in such moments and with much love and kindness encourages us and performs miracles for us and re-establishes us in the call that He has placed on our life.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MATTHEW 16:13-19
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
LUKE 22:31-34
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
JOHN 21:1-17
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way:
Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
"I’m going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We’ll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, "Friends, haven’t you any fish?" "No," they answered.
He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.
Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
ACTS 2:14-21
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
" ’In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
6. PAUL
The Apostle Paul was committed to fulfilling the purpose of God for his life. He did not get discouraged when he faced sufferings for the sake of Christ. He realised that his imprisonment was actually helping the spread of the gospel in the Palace . Therefore he rejoiced that his sufferings were helping to fulfill the purpose of his life. We have the wonderful promise that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Therefore when we realise that everything is working for good because our lives are dedicated to the purposes of God , we will not get discouraged when we face trials because we know that all these trials are only fulfilling the purpose of God in our lives.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PHILIPPIANS 3:10-14
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. "
ACTS 9:10-16
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.
The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
PHILIPPIANS 1 :12-18
"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,"
ACTS 20:22-24
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.
7. JESUS.
The Lord Jesus was totally committed to the purpose of God. He had total faith and confidence in every situation that He faced. Jesus had this confidence because His life was in total harmony with God. He always lived a life that was pleasing to God . He always carried out only the will of God. He only did what He saw the Father do. Jesus submitted Himself to the cross because that was the purpose of His life on earth. He knew that all His sufferings were only fulfilling God’s purpose for His life. He told Pilate that he had no power over Him except what is given from above. Jesus knew that His life was totally in God’s control and not in the hands of any man including His enemies. When we are committed to the purpose of God in our lives we can also have this same confidence.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JOHN 4:34
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
JOHN 8:29
The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."
JOHN 5:30
By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
MATTHEW 3:16-17
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
JOHN 5 : 17 , 19-20
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.
JOHN 18:36-37
"Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
MATTHEW 26:50-54
Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.
Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
JOHN 19:10-11
"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
ACTS 4: 24-28
When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " ’Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:7-8
No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
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