02-28-2008, 01:48 AM
L E S S O N 4
The First Indisputable Fact of God’s Purpose
In Ephesians chapter one verses 9-11 we find three indisputable facts of God's
purpose and in this lesson we will look at the first one. Ephesians 1:9-11 says
this: “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: In whom also we have
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who
works all things after the counsel of His own will.”
So the first indisputable fact of God's purpose is: God has a will. God has a
purpose!
Most of the world's philosophy, most of the world's religion, is based on man's
attempt to answer these questions:
1) Who am I?
2) Where did I come from?
3) Why am I here? and...
4) Where am I going?
But these questions can only be answered when we consider them in the light of
God's ultimate will and His purpose. He created nothing by accident! In Isaiah
45:18 it says that the Lord created the heavens and He formed the earth, He
established it and He did not create it in vain.
In other words the earth did not just suddenly appear by accident! God had a
specific purpose in mind when He created the earth. A design implies a Designer.
A creation implies a Creator. A plan implies a Planner. And a purpose implies a
Person who decided upon that purpose. There is a purpose, a reason for being.
There is a reason for creating, a reason for living: a purpose which is larger than
us, yet it includes us.
You are a living miracle, you are not an accident! You were not created in vain!
Just like the earth, you too were formed to be inhabited by God Himself. There is
a will, a purpose, a reason, a goal towards which God is moving. He has an
intention. He is seeking a result! God is not floating along aimlessly towards
everything in general and nothing in particular. He is moving towards something.
God wants us to know His will so that we can enter into His will and work in
harmony with Him, cooperating together. Why not just do what He wants? Why
bother to reveal it to us at all? Because you and I are part of that will and part of
that purpose.
So the first indisputable fact of God's purpose is: God has a will. In our next
lesson we will discuss The Second Indisputable Fact of God's Purpose.
QUIZ
Lesson 4 – The First Indisputable Fact of God’s Purpose
1. Ephesians 1:9 says that God has made known to us the mystery of His Will. If we believe
this to be true, then we have no choice but to conclude that
a) no one can be sure what His Will really is
b) God DOES have a Will and He wants us to know what it is
c) only deeply spiritual Christians can understand His Will
2. The First Indisputable Fact of God’s Purpose is
a) everything is determined by cause and effect
b) God has a Will and a Purpose
c) man is in control of his own destiny
3. The “Big Questions” most philosophies and religions attempt to answer are
a) who am I and where did I come from
b) how did I get here and where am I going
c) all of the above
4. If there really is a Purpose for everything, then there must be
a) an amazing series of coincidences that explain it
b) a Person who decided what that purpose should be
c) a scientific way to figure it out eventually
5. If God can do anything He wants at any time, why would He bother to reveal His Will and
His Ways to us?
a) because we are part of His Purpose
b) because He can’t do anything without our permission
c) because He needs our help to make it happen
The First Indisputable Fact of God’s Purpose
In Ephesians chapter one verses 9-11 we find three indisputable facts of God's
purpose and in this lesson we will look at the first one. Ephesians 1:9-11 says
this: “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: In whom also we have
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who
works all things after the counsel of His own will.”
So the first indisputable fact of God's purpose is: God has a will. God has a
purpose!
Most of the world's philosophy, most of the world's religion, is based on man's
attempt to answer these questions:
1) Who am I?
2) Where did I come from?
3) Why am I here? and...
4) Where am I going?
But these questions can only be answered when we consider them in the light of
God's ultimate will and His purpose. He created nothing by accident! In Isaiah
45:18 it says that the Lord created the heavens and He formed the earth, He
established it and He did not create it in vain.
In other words the earth did not just suddenly appear by accident! God had a
specific purpose in mind when He created the earth. A design implies a Designer.
A creation implies a Creator. A plan implies a Planner. And a purpose implies a
Person who decided upon that purpose. There is a purpose, a reason for being.
There is a reason for creating, a reason for living: a purpose which is larger than
us, yet it includes us.
You are a living miracle, you are not an accident! You were not created in vain!
Just like the earth, you too were formed to be inhabited by God Himself. There is
a will, a purpose, a reason, a goal towards which God is moving. He has an
intention. He is seeking a result! God is not floating along aimlessly towards
everything in general and nothing in particular. He is moving towards something.
God wants us to know His will so that we can enter into His will and work in
harmony with Him, cooperating together. Why not just do what He wants? Why
bother to reveal it to us at all? Because you and I are part of that will and part of
that purpose.
So the first indisputable fact of God's purpose is: God has a will. In our next
lesson we will discuss The Second Indisputable Fact of God's Purpose.
QUIZ
Lesson 4 – The First Indisputable Fact of God’s Purpose
1. Ephesians 1:9 says that God has made known to us the mystery of His Will. If we believe
this to be true, then we have no choice but to conclude that
a) no one can be sure what His Will really is
b) God DOES have a Will and He wants us to know what it is
c) only deeply spiritual Christians can understand His Will
2. The First Indisputable Fact of God’s Purpose is
a) everything is determined by cause and effect
b) God has a Will and a Purpose
c) man is in control of his own destiny
3. The “Big Questions” most philosophies and religions attempt to answer are
a) who am I and where did I come from
b) how did I get here and where am I going
c) all of the above
4. If there really is a Purpose for everything, then there must be
a) an amazing series of coincidences that explain it
b) a Person who decided what that purpose should be
c) a scientific way to figure it out eventually
5. If God can do anything He wants at any time, why would He bother to reveal His Will and
His Ways to us?
a) because we are part of His Purpose
b) because He can’t do anything without our permission
c) because He needs our help to make it happen
