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For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. - Jeremiah 29:11?

In the second part of this series Gods Plan For Our Purpose, we will explore the ways in which God makes His will known.  As you start here and understand that your life is made up of more than coincidences and casual interactions, but God has designed a specific plan and purpose for your life before the worlds were framed.  Ephesians 1:3-12 says:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 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 fulness 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 worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ."

God has a plan  for everything in the universe.  He is the Creator of all things and has not created anything without purpose.  The sun, the moon and stars, the angels and the hosts of heaven, the southerly flight of the birds in the winter and their return in the spring, the rise and fall of the tides, the rainfall, the change of seasons and it goes on and on all have a specific purpose for its design.  Nothing was done haphazardly or by trial and error.  God knew from the beginning what He intended to create and He knows the end result.  His wisdom, planning and control from the design of a single snowflake to the balance of the earth on its axis in its course around the sun was well thought out.  The prophet Isaiah poetically states (Isaiah 40:12 NLT): "Who else has held the oceans in his hand" Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?" This same God who has taken such precision in creation has a definite plan for our individual lives.  Psalms 37:23 says "the steps of a good man are ordained by the Lord."  This means that the same wisdom established the courses of the sun, moon, planets and stars with precise precision has also established the steps of man.  God doesn't have a Plan B.  His original plan and purpose was established before the foundations of the world.  He is the alpha and the omega, meaning He is the beginning and the end. He is not caught by surprised, nor does He sit upon His Throne with His fingers crossed hoping His plan will work.  He has all authority and is in control.

Let's look briefly at a few basic ways the Lord reveals His plan to man.

AT THE ALTAR

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2).

Many spend years trying to learn God's will for their lives by reading books on the subject, praying for guidance, and seeking a formula to receive a revelation of God's divine will.  There's nothing wrong with reading books, and we ought to pray for guidance as we will cover later, but God's will is revealed to those who have made the decision to say yes even before His will is revealed. But how is that possible?  How can one say yes before knowing what is expected?  Because we trust Him and love Him.  Have you ever had a friend ask you for a favor, and before you know what the favor is you already said, "sure what is it?"   God says, "I have something for you, its a plan of success and not failure.  If you trust me all the way through, it will be glorious!"   We need to stay in His presence and trust Him daily, listen to His voice and follow Him.  It is through a daily walk with Jesus that His will is revealed.  He shows us that His will is good and acceptable and perfect as we walk with Him.

IN THE WORD

All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Jesus and the Word are one (John 1:1-3).  Anything that is revealed as it relates to the Will of God will not contradict what is established in the written Word.  God never contradicts His Word.  He may contradict OUR interpretation of His Word, but He will never go against what He has established as doctrine and righteousness.  Jesus while on earth showed us the Will of God.  He was the Will of God upon the earth in action. Through His earthly life, Jesus Christ showed us it is God?s will to save from sin, heal from all manner of sickness and disease, deliver from oppression and bondage, provide for daily needs and live in the supernatural  (Psalms 37:4; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:8; Matthew 11:5; Mark 6:56; Luke 7:22: Acts 10:38; Philippians 4:19; 3 John 1:2).

We cannot look at the scriptures as just a book of principles or as formulas to get results and success, but as the Word of the Lord, the Voice of God spoken directly to us having the power contained within it to perform what was spoken.  His Word is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12), His Word produces and does not remain ineffective.  Isaiah 55:11 says, ?So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.?  His Word as contained in the scriptures is for us today. It is just as powerful now as it was when it was written.

IN PRAYER

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereh is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall received any thing of the Lord (James 1:7).

It has been said that God will do nothing in the earth until it is first birthed through prayer.  An amazing revelation of the nature of God towards man in this scripture is if there is a lack, ask God.  It's a simple truth that God answers faith.  That was not an error, I meant to say faith.  Faith is the vehicle that carries prayers into the throne room of heaven.  So important is faith in all that we do that the Bible says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).   If you lack wisdom concerning the will and purpose of God for your life, you can ask God in prayer through faith.  Prayer is only as effective as our obedience to the Holy Spirit who has come to give us guidance into all truth.  John 16:13 says, "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and he will shew you things to come."

There are various definitions of what prayer is.  On its most basic level prayer is a conversation with God. But yet there is a higher realm of prayer that we are called into. Something deeper than a conversation, but a lifestyle of a continual relationship with God as our Father who wants us to live in His presence, seek Him daily for His divine will to be established in the earth, trust Him for daily provision and live upright before others.  Jesus dealt with each of these as He explained prayer when His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 6:9-13).   Let's go through it quickly:
    
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name."  Our relationship and call to be in His presence through a lifestyle of worship.  The goal is to grow from children into sons of God.

"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."  Seeking Him daily for His will to be established in the earth as it is in heaven. The call to walk in the supernatural power of heaven.

"Give us this day our daily bread."  Trusting God for daily provision for the whole man spirit soul and body.  This daily does not mean we have to ask God daily for provision, but it is a constant abiding in His presence.  He is the vine, we are the branches (John 15:1).  We receive all we need from Him as we stay connected, producing what He desires.  He is our bread.  Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven.  He is our spiritual source of life.

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."  Our call to live upright before man as we also live upright before God.

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."  It is God that keeps us from falling and presents us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy! We are citizens of His Kingdom. To Him be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever! (Jude 24-25)

BY REVELATION DIRECT AND INDIRECT

Jesus said "My sheep know my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" John 10:27.  Jesus speaks to us today and reveals His purpose through direct revelation.  Direct revelation may be either by vision, as in the case of Paul's vision in Acts 16 which was a revelation of God's will for him to go to Europe with the Gospel.  By the audible voice of God as it was in the case of God's call to Samuel (I Samuel 3).  By angelic visitation, by dreams, by visions, by prophecy, by an inward witness.  All of which are just a small list of the ways God does and will speak His will and reveal His purpose.

Sometimes God confirms His will to us by indirect means as through circumstances.  Events may happen in such a way that we are able to recognize His Hand at work to fulfill His purpose in our lives. The Bible is full of illistrations of situations that seemed to work against God's plan but in the end proved to be the leading of God. The Lord is not hindered by what we consider challenges,  Romans 8:28 says, 'And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.'   Paul wrote to the Corinthian church (2 Corinthians 9:8) saying, 'And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.'

In learning God's plan for our purpose, it requires time in His presence. Learning to be open to His leading sometimes through trial and error.  God is not seeking to be mysterious but He reveals Himself to us as Father. Wanting us to come to Him, trusting His Word and ability, knowing that He will complete the work He has begun in us, and it will be good.