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TITLE: Does God have a Plan for my life?
TEXT: Psalm 37:23-25
QUESTION: How?
KEY WORD: Controls
SCRIPTURE READING: Same

INTRODUCTION:

  1. This question comes from 2 sources

    1. Calvinism – Predestination – life is set and can’t be changed – birth to death, how, where, when you will die is pre-set, can’t be changed.
      NOTE: This view removes any personal faith, obedience or action. All events in my life are predetermined, beyond my control. If I am bad, it is God’s fault.

    2. Belief in Providence – God is able to lead and direct us, answer prayer

  2. Does God have a plan? Can I foil that plan?

Does God have a “plan” for a person’s life?

  1. Psalm 37:23 – The steps of a good man are ordered by Jehovah

  2. Proverbs 20:24 – Man’s steps are of Jehovah

  3. Isaiah 47:13 – Exhausted by making own plans, let astrologers and stargazers save you

  4. Micah 4:12 – They do not know the plans of Jehovah

  5. Proverbs 16:9 – Jehovah directs his steps

  6. 2 Samuel 14:14 – God does not take a life, but has devised plans

  7. Jeremiah 10:23 – It is not in man who walks to direct his steps

  8. Isaiah 45:13 – I have raised him up, I will direct all his ways

  9. Proverbs 3:6 – He shall direct your paths

  10. Luke 1:76-79 – To guide our feet in the way of peace

  11. There are many more passages that teach this.

Does God “control” the events in your life?

  1. We are still free to make choices – good and bad

  2. We are free to follow His lead – or depart from it

  3. Read all the “whosoever” passages – John 3:15

  4. Study 1 Samuel 2:27-31

    1. God had a plan

    2. Man messed up – made wrong choices

    3. God changed the plans

What “Predestination” means?

  1. Ephesians 1:3-6 – Predestined to the adoption of sons

  2. The word means – determinate purpose (see Easton quote below) – I decide what my purpose, plans and goals are. Then I determine to seek fulfillment of that purpose.

 

Easton’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Predestination

This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Romans 8:29-30; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events.


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