JULY 24, 2022
THE CHALLENGE OF THE INTENTIONAL LIFE
Ephesians 2:10
Eph. 2:10 – God is our Maker, and in our union with Christ, He has created us for a life of good works, which He has already prepared for us to do.
Acts 13:36 – David served God’s purpose in his generation.
Acts 20:24 – (Paul) I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me, in order that I may complete my mission and finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do.
THE BENEFITS OF LIVING AN INTENTIONAL LIFE
1. It will reduce frustration.
James 1:6-7-A doubtful mind is unsettled as a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
James 1:8 – The double minded man can never keep a steady course.
Isaiah 49:4 – I’ve labored to no purpose. I’ve spent my strength in vain and for nothing.
2. It will increase my motivation.
Job 7:6, 17 – My life drags by, day after hopeless day, I’m tired of living, my life makes no sense.
Jer. 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Eph. 3:20 – God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of.
3. It will allow greater concentration.
Phil. 3:13 – I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: forgetting what is behind and looking forward to what lies ahead.
Eph. 5:15-17 – Pay close attention to how you live. Make good use of every opportunity you get, find out what the Lord wants you to do.
4. It will attract cooperation.
Ezra 10:14 – Tell us how to proceed in setting things straight, and we will fully cooperate.
5. It will prepare me for God’s evaluation.
Rom 14:10, 12 – We will all stand before God’s judgment seat. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
HOW TO GET STARTED
Believe God has a purpose for my life.
Pr. 16:4 – The Lord has made everything for His own purpose.
Receive God’s Son into my life.
Eph. 1:4-5 – Long ago, even before He made the world, God choose us to be His very own through what Christ would do for us, His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family be sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And He did this because He wanted to!
Live in Christ each day.
Col. 2:6 – So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him.
Acts 20:24 – Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus.
I Cor. 6:20 – Use every part of your body to give glory to Him.
Use your treasure in view of eternity.
I Timothy 6:18-19 – Use your money to do good, always being ready to share whatever God has given you. By doing this you will be storing up real treasure for yourself in heaven.
Luke 16:9 – Use worldly wealth to make friends who will welcome you into eternal dwellings.