God's Purpose for Your Life (2 Chron 7:14)

I know two things about you that you don’t know I know:

1. Your life is turning out differently than you expected.

It’s OK that your life is turning out differently that you expected because if you’re a Believer, then God’s plan is always working in your life IF you will allow it to!  Without violating your free will, He is orchestrating circumstances to move you into His perfect plan for your life.  The bottom line question in all things is “do you trust Him?”

2.Deep inside you there’s something that says “my life must matter”.

Whether your life matters or not is totally up to you but its NOT about “trying harder or doing better”; its about understanding this fundamental truth about human nature and spiritual thingsà If you are a Believer, then your “flesh” will always demand that you seek security, comfort, pleasure and ease.  While there’s nothing inherently wrong with these things, they were intended to by BY-PRODUCTS of life, not the PRIME PRODUCT!  If you pursue them as the prime product, then your flesh will always be in control and your life will NEVER matter like it was intended to!  On the other hand, as a Believer, your spirit will always guide you to seek the things that please and honor Christ.

Luke 9:23…"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Matthew 10:38-39à and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

1 Corinthians 15:31 I die every day—I mean that, brothers…

SO----we know that, as a Believer, your life is turning out differently than you expected and that’s happening b/c God knows what’s best and because He wants you to learn to trust Him!

AND----As a Believer, your life WILL matter as long as you life by the spirit and not by the flesh.  Living by the spirit is not a one-time decision; it is a way of life and here’s exactly how you can begin to pursue such a life:

So, how do we need to change if we are to go with God?

 
If My people

Please don’t ever take for granted what it means to be “My people” (KJV uses the phrase “my people” 217 times).
Humble themselves

Matt 11:29à Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Pray

Personally (Lord, teach us to PRAY)

Corporately (My Father’s House shall be called a house of PRAYER)

 
Seek my Face

Seek His Hand (intercession for physical/other needs)

Seek His FACE (Phil 3:10)

 
Turn from their wicked ways

 

Isa 59:1-2 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Joel 2:12-13 Even now," declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God…

James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a “CLEAN HEART” availeth much.

 

If we always do what we always did, we’ll always get what we always got!  And up till now, we’ve perhaps been disappointed that our life is turning out differently than we expected.  We found out today that is part of God’s better plan.  His paths are always better AND they teach us to trust Him!

 

If we always do what we always did, we’ll always get what we always got!  And up till now, we’ve perhaps tried to live by the flesh and the spirit.  It will never work.  One of them has to die every day.

 

So let me ask you personally, DO YOU TRUST HIM?  DO YOU TRUST HIM ENOUGH TO LIVE BY HIS SPIRIT?  DO YOU TRUST HIM ENOUGH TO ASK HIM TO CRUCIFY YOUR FLESH EVERY DAY?  DO YOU TRUST HIM ENOUGH TO SURRENDER COMPLETELY TODAY TO SURRENDER COMPLETELY TOMORROW AND EVERY DAY THAT FOLLOWS?