Our heavenly Father designed a unique plan for you before you were even born—and He wants you to pursue it with anticipation and confidence. In this message, Dr. Stanley points us toward the principles God established for abundant life as we seek His will, learn His ways, and engage in His purposes.
I was 12 years of age I always sat on
the second row and the first seat on the
aisle on this particular Sunday a lady
was preaching and I don’t exactly
remember what she said think that only a
million things she said except when they
gave the invitation it was about seven
steps to the altar I went straight to
the altar get on my knees and ask the
Lord to save me and before I knew it I
had five of my Sunday school buddies
around me praying that I’d get saved but
I remember thinking okay now Lord I’m
saved now what and nobody ever said
another thing to me about anything about
the future nothing then I begin to think
well Lord you saved me would you save me
for anyway and then I began to think in
prayer bed and not the whole Lord maybe
you have something for me to do wasn’t
very long before I realized and learned
and reading a scripture God has a will a
plan for all of his children and if you
will turn to Colossians for a moment and
I want us to begin reading in this ninth
verse and read through the twelve first
and I want you to listen very carefully
to this message in the ninth verse Paul
writes to the Colossians for this reason
also since the day we heard of it we
have not ceased to pray for you and to
ask that you may be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all spiritual
wisdom and understanding so that you
will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord
to please him in all respects very fruit
in every good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God strengthened with all
power according to his glorious might
for the attaining of all steadfastness
and patience
joyously giving thanks to the Father who
has qualified us to share in the
inheritance of the Saints in light
filled with the knowledge of his will
when is the last time you ever thought
about that God has a will he has a plan
for your life you probably we’re saved
at some point in your life and thought
well that’s it and you got baptized and
joined the church and you just sort of
been living out your life has anybody
ever told you that God has a plan for
your life what is his will listen to
this I want to be sure you get it
clearly that which God approves of and
determines to bring about it concerns
God’s choices of what to do and what not
to do in our life God has a will and the
plan for your life it isn’t making them
as how old you are where you came from
what the situation is God has planned to
your life don’t ever listen to someone
tell you well you’re not important
anytime anybody looks at you intelligent
you’re not important you look at the
cross and say I’ll tell you why I’m
important he died for me he not only
died for me but he died for everyone but
everybody’s important so if you haven’t
thought about the fact that God has a
will for your life he knows all about
your background all the things that she
would bring up say well God couldn’t use
me he couldn’t do this he can do that he
knows all about you he knew about you
before you ever born he has a will and a
plan for all of our lives the tragedy is
that most people will never think about
that they were never told that they
never thought about that that God had a
special plan for their life yes he does
well what’s God’s plan for my life have
you ever asked him and what I want to
ask you to do is to listen carefully
because there are three aspects of this
plan and so think about in this life
first of all those God’s predestined to
will and that means he’s referring to
those things that he will do
is predestined will will happen and
nothing can interfere with it no matter
what’s happening in the world he has a
predestined will those things he will do
this is or his overriding sovereign will
by which he operates in the world in
general and in their lives personally it
is irresistible unchangeable and
unconditional
that is his predestined will cannot be
changed no matter what happens who it
happens in through cannot be changed and
a good example of his predestined will
is across he predestined the death of
Jesus before the world was ever created
he makes no mistakes
his predestined will we can do anything
about with wit just here then does his
moral will now watch this this applies
to every one of us and let’s go back to
Exodus chapter 20 and you know what this
says listen to this you shall not murder
period you shall not commit adultery
period you shall not steal you shall not
bear false witness you shall not covet
your neighbor’s house and belongings
that’s just part that’s just part of his
moral will and then I’ll turn to 1st
Thessalonians chapter 4 and this is a
part of his will also his moral will now
listen to this finally then brethren we
request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus
Christ as you receive from us
instructions as to how you ought to walk
and please God just as you actually do
that you excel even more and then listen
to what he says this is moral will but
you know what Commandments we gave you
by the authority of the Lord Jesus
Christ listen carefully well this is the
will of God your sanctification
live a holy life that is that you to be
specific that you abstain from sexual
immorality that each one of you know how
to possess his own vessel in
sanctification are not in lustful
passion like the Gentiles unbelievers do
who know not yard now this is a part of
God’s moral will we have the Ten
Commandments and specifically he
identifies in this chapter Thessalonians
this is the will of God your
sanctification that is that you have
stained from sexual immorality that is
the law of the Living God
it doesn’t make a difference what you
think doesn’t make a difference what
group you belong to or why are you from
or whatever it might be and it is a
moral law of God for which all of us
will give an account for by the way we
respond to it and we have people today
who want to they want to defend all
kinds of things
the scripture says abstain from sexual
immorality that each one of us you know
how to handle ourselves not in lustful
passion like the Gentiles like the
unbelievers who do not know God every
believer knows God through Jesus Christ
we live under the moral law of God to
abstain from sexual immorality which is
a major major major cause of sin
wickedness violence and a lot of other
things in this country and people can
reason all they want to but you go back
to the Word of God it is absolutely
crystal clear that it is a sin against
Almighty God a sin against his moral law
then of course there is one other and
that is God’s desired will they said we
say is predestined will cannot be
changed his moral law is of all we
should live by Jung Eun’s desired will
is this listen carefully those things he
desires for us
salvation baptism the fruit of the
Spirit in our life service giving
forgiving loving praying about
everything many decisions in their life
that is their three parts to his will
his predestined wheel which cannot be
changed his moral willful which we were
responsible God’s desired will is for a
whole life
somewhere in this you are today so let
me ask you where are you and in light of
the will of God you say well I’ve never
thought about it well you need to start
thinking about it today because you have
to think about the day because I’m
reminding you of it you have to think
about it
that the holy God Almighty God before
whom all of us will stand one day and
give an account for a life but read
frustrating is we don’t we gonna give an
account for our life and some people
will die having only known the Lord a
few days or a few weeks sometimes a few
minutes so you said what about so and so
much runs on so you know what I forget
so and so you think about your life
you’ve heard the gospel you’ve had
opportunities you’ve had awesome
opportunities maybe you didn’t have too
many opportunities maybe you’ve never
felt loved in your life you got two
loves you he has a plan for your life
you say well what about this this point
in my life listening carefully he’ll
pick you up right where you are right
where you are he’ll start the day in
this minute if you said God I never
thought about this before I want to do I
want the rest of my life to be in your
will Lord whatever it takes Here I am he
pick you up right where you are and he
watch this he will enable you to do your
best the rest of your life but what he
needs and is waiting for is your
willingness to surrender to his will
because watch this he always has the
best does that mean the same no I don’t
understand why he allows some people to
suffer the way they suffer they’ll
understand why people grow up there
where they have to grow up situations
and circumstances but God knows and all
of his judgments will be according to
his perfect will he knows he knows their
hearts
this he knows the things that people are
plagued with and he knows the
opportunities he’s given us so the issue
is this not what have I done
what have I missed but God beginning
today maybe you never thought about the
fact that he has a will for you like
well and you say watch this you don’t
know what kind of influence you had some
of you had tremendous influence since
you’ve not even thought about and some
maybe have thought about it you have an
opportunity you have influence you have
testimony you you have the privilege of
living a life with God if you choose to
now watch this if you had never heard
before if you’ve never heard before that
he has a plan for your life what does he
do I’ll say it again it takes you
upright when you are begins to show you
his will from this point on in your life
Lord and I never had you you had a will
yes well Lord I’m will I won’t know what
your will is yes it’ll show you well
Lord what is your will he will begin to
put people around you and your pair
something something you read something
you hear message you might hear that you
begin to realize for God I never thought
about you having a will for my life
well lord I want to surrender my life to
you that whatever you have in mind for
me Lord Here I am
watch this that’s always the place to
start God he knows what opportunities
you’ve had and have not had and he knows
that he’ll take you wherever you willing
to surrender yourself to him he will
begin right there and do hard work out
the best in your life you don’t ever
give up you never quit because God
doesn’t give up he doesn’t quit on you
he’ll take you right where you are
some people are brilliantly brilliant in
many areas some people have a little of
that you know what God takes them both
right where they are and when they stand
before them they will not be judged on
the basis of that smart oh how ignorant
they were they’ll be judged we will all
be judged on the basis of what did we do
with what we knew
and what we had that puts us all in the
same category
it’s Marvel and those who are less
fortunate whatever it might be God has a
will for your life and when I look at
this he says that we may be filled with
the knowledge of his real which means
that God he listen he’ll give you
whatever you need to begin today if you
ask him Lord
I missed it somewhere back yonder I’m
please forgive me but I’m surrendering
myself to you today that whatever you
want to do with my life God Here I am I
probably probably messed up Lloyd but
here I am will he forgive you absolutely
you have to beg him to know all you have
to do is surrender your life at this
point
Lord up from this point on I won’t
whatever you have for me the issue is
have you ever thought about it have you
ever thought about the will of God
through your life and so when I think
about that and not thinking about the
fact that he’ll show us it’s consistent
with the character for God to show you
his will
I was we’re talking about beginning
right now we can’t change the past but
here’s what we can do we can say god I
blew it
I thought I had another chance I might
have done something else but I’m asking
you to forgive me for my failures
forgive me for my ignorance maybe I
didn’t pursue it Lord asking you to
forgive me and Lord just enable me from
this point to walk in your footsteps and
to follow your will listen all of us
have had second chances third fourth
fifth how many chances all of us of it
the grace of God the love of God listen
God has looked at trying to judge you
God wants to live his life in and
through you and he’ll take you wherever
you will surrender yourself to him you
can’t do better than having Jesus the
Lord the second person of the Trinity
living his life in you and picking you
up where you are and taking you on to
what he had in mind to begin with so
where would you consider yourself to me
as far as the will of God in your life
maybe you’ve said well I never you’ve
heard about him before
oh I knew about it but I was too busy
doing my own thing I do about it but I
had something else in mind
and here you are this morning and you’re
hearing about it again
I pray that you won’t ever have to hear
about it another time before you
surrender your life to the Lord Jesus
Christ and see what he’ll do in your
life God can do an amazing work in
what’s left because He loves us because
he knows exactly what we need
he delights in showing us his will for
our life and I want to read you three
passages of Scripture so let’s let’s
turn to Psalm 16 and it is the eleventh
verse of the sixteenth Psalm listen you
will make known to me the path of life
in your presence is fullness of joy in
your right hand there are pleasures
forevermore look at that you will make
known to me to your path of life well
you have to be a certain age and much we
don’t didn’t talent skill know you ask
him so watch this if you left church
today you in the home and you got in
your bedroom you got on your knees or
setting your easy chair whatever and you
said to Almighty God Lord I heard it
I’ve messed up badly but today I’m
surrendering in my life to you that for
the rest of my life I want you to have
your way in my life you will be shocked
at what God will do let me give you
another verse some but there 32 verse 8
and you’ve heard me talk about this
verse probably several times listen to
this verse Psalm 32 I will instruct you
and teach you in the way which you
should go
I will counsel you with my eye upon you
listen to that I will instruct you and
teach you in which you should go is that
by a certain age no certain person
though that’s his offer to all of us who
to listen to him you may think well I’ve
really blown it in my life I really
messed it up I wish I wish I’d done
better but Lord today whatever’s left
here’s my life what would you do with me
you will be surprised at what he’ll do
and so I mean I think I think about
these verses and think about how many
times that proverbs 3:5 and 6 for
example one of my favorite passages
trusting the Lord with all of your heart
lean not to your own understanding and
all your ways acknowledge him and what’s
his promise he will direct your path
just trust him see what he’ll do so
there are things that often hinder us
from discovering and doing the will of
God now I’m gonna give you a little
quick list of them because oftentimes we
come to a place of decision and we give
God some excuse so think about this
things that hinder us from discovering
the will of God for our life number one
self will we can’t get all over what we
want to do how we want to do it
secondly the influence of other people
within other people influence us oh that
won’t work well why would you want to
try something like that you’re talking
to God who works the impossible
ignorance of the Word of God think about
all the promises he gives us of an
answered prayer and then don’t well I
don’t think I can do that in my life
listen the God who created this world
can do anything he uses to do no matter
what’s been in the past that’s who he is
feelings of unworthiness well it may
work for somebody but not for me because
I’ve really blown it bad God is willing
to love you forgive you cleanse you and
give you a new beginning well I’m too
busy to deal with that listen you don’t
want to die having rejected Jesus Christ
do you think God is going to accept an
excuse well I would have but I just
didn’t have time there are people who
are so foolishly busy they don’t have
time for God listen fear well I know
that’s what you gotta wants to believe
but I just don’t think I can do that
probably every preacher who’s ever stood
in the pulpit has told God at first oh I
couldn’t do that
I can I can stand in front of all of em
you can’t deliberately willfully choose
to disobey God and be happy with your
life and there are other people because
of their money they can cover up a lot
of stuff but you can’t cover up a
disobedient heart if you’ve got millions
you can’t cover up disobedience to God
no matter what you have or who you have
or whatever it might be God has a will
for your life he loves you he desires
the best for you and if you’ve missed it
so far start today and tell him Lord I
don’t know what you do what’s left over
but God Here I am take me like I am
he’ll forgive you cleanse you let me
tell you something God won’t endure you
want here well somebody does one thing
you God won’t do to you he won’t bring
you up the past and say see there I told
you mmm see you man yep mm-hmm he
doesn’t throw up the past he brings up
the future of what he’s able to do and
can do with you
it may be late in life or early in life
but one thing for certain he is taking
away you are and you’ve got willful
known sin in your life maybe now watch
this one God speaks to your heart this
morning in the worship service and he
already points to you he’s already said
to you but you know you have to correct
this you know you have to stop this you
know you have to change this and you’re
sitting here thinking oh my goodness God
what am I gonna do you let God take you
where you are and watch him do what he’s
able to do in your life you listen if
you waited you figure it out you’ll
never do it it takes surrender God I’m
not coming to you claiming that I’m
worthy of anything I’m coming to you
saying Lord I’ve messed it up I’ve blown
it I just
the ants you know more toleration of
excuse me I’m just laying it before you
go whatever you can do with my life God
Here I am Lord whatever you want to do
Here I am
what do you think God will do he’ll
amaze you first thing he’ll do is give
you this awesome sense of peace
forgiving forgiving forgiving forgiving
and then watch him work in your life
what’s this you know waiting on God
God’s waiting on you he’s waiting to
give you his best to the past he
forgives and he forgets it and he gives
you the opportunity to start all over
again that’s the awesome indescribable
eternal will of God for your life and
the question is are you willing to be
are you willing to say to him lord if I
the only know God I’m ashamed God thank
you for giving me one more chance and
Lord hears my life I want to see what
you’ll do with me here’s your
opportunity today you came to church
today here’s your opportunity before you
walk out of this place here’s what you
can do you can say god I don’t even know
how to confess all of my sin but I’m
saying to you Lord that I’m not blown
that lots of times how to send against
you haven’t taken advantage of my
opportunities I’ve overlooked your
goodness and love and mercy and
forgiveness toward me but today it’s
best I know I’ll I’m asking you to
forgive me of my sin I’m surrendering my
life to you I probably won’t do a very
good job of it I’m surrendering my life
to you and I’d say to you dear father
forgive me and here’s my life I want you
to govern my life from this point
forward here’s my life if you will
surrender your life to God sitting right
where you are you don’t have to give a
minute details he knows
the details all you need to say to him
sincerely with all your heart god I
messed up I’ve blown it I’m sorry I’m
ashamed I’m asking you to forgive me and
Lord by your help by your strength by
your wisdom by your grace by your
goodness by your love your mercy I wanna
start all over again think about how
awesome God is but he’s willing to
forget your past and they’ll learn
remember the future amen
father we couldn’t even begin to
describe how awesome you are
what grace really means when we think
about all that you forgive us for all
that you’re willing to do innocent
through us we pray that the Holy Spirit
will do his work right now
and that every single one of us would
take a fresh look at our life and
surrender ourselves totally to you again
if necessary we love you and we praise
you in Jesus name Amen
[Music]
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