Forged

Genesis 37:1–11 NIV84

Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Seven processes that occur in our lives to enable us to fulfill God’s purpose

Seven processes that occur in our lives to enable us to fulfill God’s purpose

Seven processes that occur in our lives to enable us to fulfill God’s purpose

Revelation: the process of God revealing to you His purpose for your life

Opposition: the forces that seek to prevent God’s purpose for your life

Preparation: the process God uses to refine you and prepare you for your purpose

Temptation: Satan’s efforts to seduce you away from your purpose

Consecration: commitment to live for God’s purpose and not your own pleasure

Promotion: God positioning you to fulfill your purpose

Salvation: the ultimate fulfillment of God’s purpose in your life

Revelation

Jeremiah 29:11–14 NIV84

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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

There is nothing wrong with not knowing God’s will for your life. There is something very wrong with being content not knowing.

James 1:5 NIV84

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Do you need to know God’s plan for your life? Yes

Why?

To give you strength to resist temptation

To give you strength to persevere: Sick in India To give you hope in the difficult times

To give you motivation to be diligent: Roy story

When we don't know God’s purpose for our life- we waste time and resources that can never be regained.

Proverbs 29:18 NIV84

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Knowing God's purpose brings hope, passion, energy, and strength to resist temptation and to persevere through trials.

Norman Barnes: You need a dream from God. “Chad if I had not given you a dream, you would have abandoned following me long ago.”

(NIV84) Knowing God's purpose brings hope, passion, energy, and strength to resist temptation and to persevere through trials. Norman Barnes: You need a dream from God. “Chad if I had not given you a dream, you would have abandoned following me long ago.”

(NIV84) Knowing God's purpose brings hope, passion, energy, and strength to resist temptation and to persevere through trials. Norman Barnes: You need a dream from God. “Chad if I had not given you a dream, you would have abandoned following me long ago.”

Opposition