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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