THE PURPOSEFUL GOD

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD: The steps of a good man are ordered by the lord. “Ordered” is from the Hebrew word “kun” and means “to establish, to prepare, fixed, set in place”. If such a small thing as a step is controlled and ordained by God, there is nothing in our life He is not sovereign over, concerned about, and involved in - absolutely nothing! (Psalms 37:23)

THE NARROW GATED DIFFICULT WAY: Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity? “Adversity” is from the Hebrew word “ra/raah” and means “the entire spectrum of bad.” Adversity is God’s judgment on mankind, a reality of life. (Job 2:10; Matt. 7:14)

THE WORK OF GOD: Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?  In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after Him (i.e., know what is to happen). God “appoints” through willing good and allowing bad. (Ecc. 7:13-14)

COUNT IT ALL JOY:  Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, Though the olive crop fails and the fields provide no food, Though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will be jubilant in the Lord, I will rejoice in the victorious God of my salvation. Rejoice... In everything give thanks. (Hab. 3:17-18; James 1; 2-4; Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Thess. 5:18)

GOD TURNS BAD INTO HIS GOOD:   He knows the way I take, When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandments of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Only melted purified gold is minted! All things work together for our good. (Job 23:10-12; 1 Peter 1:6-7, 4:12-13; Rom. 8:28)

GOD’S PURPOSE... OUR PERFECTION: The Lord God is my strength, my personal invincible army; He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And enables me to walk over my “mountain” of trouble and suffering, And to make spiritual progress. Therefore, you shall be perfect... spiritually mature... Christ-like. (Hab. 3:19; Matt. 5:48)

ADVERSITY, GOD’S SCULPTURING TOOL:  We are predestined to be conformed to the image... nature, of Christ, for God loves us to much to leave us the way we are. The purpose of trials and tests is to teach us faith.  The purpose of tribulation, the pressures of life, is to teach us godly character... Christlikeness, through patience endurance. The purpose of chastening is to teach us obedience. The purpose of reaping what we sow is to teach us dependence on God. The purpose of demonic opposition is to teach us grace.  The purpose of persecution is to teach us godliness, filling up in our bodies what is lacking in the suffering of our Lord.  All of life’s difficulties work together for good in the believer to bring forth the implanted nature of Christ and teach us how to rest in the Lord... the peace of God. (Rom. 8:29; 1 Peter 1:6-7; Rom. 5:3-5; Heb. 12:3-11; Gal. 6:7; 2 Cor. 12:2-10; Col. 1:24; 2 Tim. 3:12)

ALL DIFFICULTIES ARE WITHIN GOD’S PURPOSES