following after god by knowing god’s plan for you

FOLLOWING AFTER GOD BY KNOWING GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU

IMPORTANT QUESITONS TO ASK*HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO IN LIFE?*HOW IS GOD PERSONALLY INVOLVED?*HOW DOES GOD LEAD ME IN LIFE?

I. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU!

“For I know the PLANS that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “PLANS to prosper you and not to harm you and to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

A. GOD’S PLAN IN PERSONAL

Ps. 32:8 “I will guide YOU”

“I will teach YOU”

“I will counsel YOU”“I will watch over YOU”

“THE STEPS OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN ARE DIRECTED OF THE LORD AND THE LORD BUSIES HIMSELF WITH HIS EVERY STEP” Psalm 37:23 (amplified)

B. GOD’S PLAN IS BOTHPLEASING AND PERFECT

“…THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS, HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL.” ROMANS 12:2

C. GOD’S PLAN IF PEACEFUL!

“IF ONLY YOU HAD PAID ATTENTION TO MY COMMANDS, YOUR PEACE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE A RIVER…”

Isaiah 48:18

“STOP QUARRELING WITH GOD. IF YOU AGREE WITH HIM YOU WILL HAVE PEACE at last.”

Job 22:21

QUESTION -

If God’s plan is so personal, so pleasing, so perfect and so

peaceful, - why don’t we all experience it in our everyday lives?

ANSWER -

1. WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN PLAN “…we have all gone our own way” -Isa. 53:6

2. WE LIVE IN A WORLD CONTROLLED BY THE EVIL ONE“…the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” -I John 5:19

3. SOMETIMES WE JUST MAKE FOOLISH DECISIONS “A man’s own folly ruins his life” -Prov. 19:3

II. GOD MAKES HIS PLAN KNOWN

“Thou, O Lord, will make known to me the path of life…” Ps. 16:11

“Make me know Thy ways, O Lord, teach me Thy paths.” Ps. 25:4

WHAT DOES GOD’S PLAN INVOLVE?

1. GOD’S PLAN INVOVLES LIVING A LIFE STYLE OF BEING LIKE JESUS CHRIST

“For those He foreknew, he pre-destined to become conformed to the image of His Son…” Rom. 8:29

“We know, that when we shall see Him, we shall be like Him…” I Jn. 2:3

2. God’s plan involves living a lifestyle of obedience to God by doing what He has prepared for us to do.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should do.” Eph. 2:10

WHAT DOES GOD’S PLAN INVOLVE

WHAT DOES GOD’S PLAN INVOLVE?3. God’s plan involves a lifestyle of sharing the good

news of Jesus Christ with other people.

“…and you shall by My witnesses…..even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us…” II Cor. 5:20

WHAT DOES GOD’S PLAN INVOLVE?

4. God’s plan involves a lifestyle of honoring his name and living a thankful life.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17

III. HOW DO I MAKE GOD’S PLAN A PART OF MY LIFE?

1. ADMIT

2. SUBMIT

3. PERMIT

4. COMMIT

5. BENEFIT

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

1. GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN OUR OWN PLAN FOR OUR LIVES!

BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT WE DON’T KNOW!

TRUTH TO LIVE BY2. STUBBORN PRIDE AND DECEPTION MAKES IT

VERY DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP OUR PLAN TO FOLLOW HIS PLAN!

BECAUSE:WE DECEIVE OURSELVES BY THINKING WE KNOW WHAT WE DON’T KNOW!

TRUTH TO LIVE BY3. WHEN WE FINALLY GIVE UP OUR PLAN TO FOLLOW

GOD’S PLAN, LIFE BECOMES SO MUCH BETTER WE WONDER WHAT TOOK US SO LONG!

“You will show me the path of life and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore!”Ps. 16:11

“If any man be in Christ, he is a brand new person. Behold the old is gone and the all things have become new.” II Cor. 5:17

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

4. WHEN WE FOLLOW GOD’S PLAN, WE EXPERIENCE LIFE THE WAY HE MEANT IT TO BE IN THE FIRST PLACE!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “Plans for good and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11