Purpose and Plan (Part 3)

All of God's preparations for you have been focused on His purpose. It is not a vague purpose or a "hoped for" purpose.  He is working for a specific, settled purpose in your life.  The purpose of God is clearly communicated in His Word.  Perhaps one of the best summaries of His purpose is given in the book of Ephesians. 

Here is God's "statement of purpose":  

Ephesians 3:11 "According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord..."

Ephesians 3:9, 10 "Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him."

Yes, God wants to bring all men into right spiritual relationship with Himself:

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,"

God's purpose is that all people experience forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, be brought into right relationship with Him, and become part of the Kingdom of God as explained in John 3. God prepares men and women and uses them to accomplish this purpose. God especially anoints and uses those who bring their own life purpose and ministry plans in harmony with His purpose and plans.  If you do not understand God's purpose, your life and ministry will not be in harmony with His plan.

For example, when Jesus revealed to His disciples that He would suffer and die, Peter rebuked Him. Peter did not yet understand God's purpose.  Because of this, He was not in harmony with God's plan.  Jesus rebuked him and said:

Mark 8:33 "...Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou savorest [understand] not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."

King David was a man who was in harmony with God's purpose:

Acts 13:36 "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption."

The Bible assures that God's purposes will be accomplished:

Isaiah 14:24 "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand."

Verses 26, 27 "This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?"