PART 3 — THE PROPHETS: DO THEY LIVE FOREVER?

3. The Will of God Is More Important Than Our Will

• “I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it...” (Zechariah 1:16) God has a plan for His people. Get in on what He is doing.

A. “Before I die” (3 times in the Bible)—I want to:

• Become—truthful and trusting with character and contentment (Proverbs 30:7–9)

• Behold—someone I need to see again, make contact with, go and be reunited with    (Genesis45:28)

• Bless—those who will come after me—give them what I’ve gathered (Genesis 27:4)

B. “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17)

• Give your life to that which never dies.

• “Abide still” (1 Timothy 1:3)

             1. Don’t develop the habit of laziness, loathing or leaving.

             2. The key to accomplishing something for God is getting out of the bed, loving people, and staying.

             3. Learn from your mistakes and keep going—“live it and give it.”

             4. Sometimes you can’t feel, sense, or see God at work —that is when you say, “So, this is faith.”

• Survive the quitting spots

             1. Pray for the preacher who is suffering in silence; dying by degree, with a dagger in his heart only God can see.

             2. When misrepresented and betrayed, study the life of Joseph.

• That opportunity you despise today, you will desire tomorrow. (Numbers 27:14; Hebrews12:17)

C. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

• “...yet not I, but Christ...” (Galatians 2:20)

             1. Live (Galatians 2:20)

             2. Labour (1 Corinthians 15:10)

             3. Lead (1 Corinthians 7:10)

• God is with me, for me, and working on my behalf (Philippians 1:6).

• Our lives are, “A vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). The days of our years are, “Soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). We are as,“…a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again” (Psalm 78:39).

• Take care of the body God has given you—it is the only one you’ll get in this life. Live a balanced life with proper schedule, diet, exercise and rest (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Conclusion:

It has been said, “Life is like a coin. You can spend it any which way you wish, but you can only spend it once.” Invest the coin of your life in eternity because the work of God is greater than us, the Word of God is more powerful than our word, and the will of God is more important than our will.

Sincerely,