Theme: A Study about God’s Plan and His Promises concerning His People
Introduction:
When you were adopted into God family after receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior, He destined you for a life of victory and success beyond anything you ever experienced in your life. From Genesis to Revelation God has given you promises for an abundant – overflowing – satisfying life. These promises are full of being successful in this life. God did not have a lifetime of mediocrity, worry, doubt or failure in mind for your future.
Throughout the Scriptures God has revealed Himself as a God of love, full of mercy and compassion. He watches over His Word to perform it.
God has given promises of abundant life for believers
John 10:10, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
The Greek word for “abundant” is perissos which implies Super abundant (in quantity) -superior (in quality), exceeding abundantly above or beyond measure. This suggests a life that is filled with vitality, vigor and a zest for living.
Jeremiah 29:11 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 gives us a picture of a good loving God that has a plan for His children’s life. Though God was speaking to wayward Israel we still view the mind of God for all those who have believed on Him and are committed to follow Him.
The word “prosper” entails safety, health, peace and stability in Him. He wants the best for His children. You are His child and He is your Father.
Romans 8:14-17, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
John writes to believers in III John 2, Beloved I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
So God’s children have a promise that good things are in store for them. Even when bad things happen God is there to work all things out for our good.
Rom 8:28, 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 gives us conditions for these promises – “to them that love God”, “are called according to His purpose”, but the promise tells us all things work together for our good.
So as believers who love their God can claim the abundant life promises for everyday living. We may have some bad events happen, but God takes these bad things and puts them in a mix or weaves it all together. In the end we see good come out of it all. I like the analogy of salt. We know that a certain amount of salt is good for us. Also, salt makes our foods tasty. However, salt is made-up of sodium and chloride. If you were to take either one of these ingredients individually you would ingest poisons. But put in the correct mix and it is good. That what God does. He mixes the good up with the bad and things work out for our good. Through it all, God is working.
In the book of Joshua God gives us a formula for success. Note that He outlines three things in the following verses.
Joshua 1:7-8, Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
If you want to be successful in life through God, you must follow His plan for success.
- Speak the Word. Do not let it depart from your mouth.
- Meditate on His Word day and night.
- Walk in obedience to His Word.
If you do these three things, God promises that you will make your way prosperous and have good success.
If you want to be successful as a parent or as a marriage partner you can apply these principles to these areas of your life.
Successful Parent:
- Speak the Word of God over your children
- Teach your children to meditate or memorize God’s Word
- Train your children how to walk in obedience to God’s Word
- Be a godly example in their lives
Successful Marriage:
- Speak God’s Word
- Meditate on God’s Word
- Obey His Word – follow the precepts or principles of God’s Word.
- Meditate on the counsel given in God’s Word.
God has a purpose for your life. It is only when you are following that plan that you will experience happiness and success. As you trust God to bring to pass His plans for you, He will direct your steps.