Your Blessed Place Pt. 2 Series

In the first part of this study we were discussing how we are called for a purpose and how our gifts will be used to edify one another. We all have gifts and they should be used in conjunction with other gifts within the body to fulfill the plan and purpose of God within that local body. In fulfilling our purpose we not only fulfill the plan for ourselves, but also contribute to the greater plan God has called us to complete within the body of Christ as a whole. This takes the obedience of a body with a shared vision, but it starts with the individual being obedient to his or her calling to make this happen on a corporate level.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Before the world was created, God had a plan and purpose outlined for each one of us. The significance of this is hard for many to comprehend. Why would Christians walk away from their God ordained destiny, if they truly understood the significance of what they were doing?

Many times Christians walk away from the place God has called them to be a part of because of disagreements, or in many cases a lack of commitment to the plan God has called them to fulfill. The vision must be clear if you are going to fulfill it. We are not stumbling through this life on our own without help. There is a plan for each of us, and God expects us to find it and take the necessary step to fulfill it.

The Living Bible says it like this…

1 Corinthians 6:20 For God has bought you with a great price. So use every part of your body to give glory back to God, because he owns it.

There is an attitude that has come out of the world, of I’m doing my own thing. This is a form of rebellion towards God and will greatly hinder His plan for our life. This same attitude has permeated the church and has become a major problem. Many Christians are doing their own thing and don’t understand why they are not walking in the blessings of God. This is not a new thing, it’s been around since the beginning, and has been the root of every sin. I realize this is a very strong statement but if we were to always walk in obedience there wouldn’t be a sin problem would there? Obedience to the plan God has for our lives has got to be ever present in our thoughts and prayers. Our choices should be based not just on what we feel is right but on the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

God will certainly forgive this attitude but why put ourselves in this place if it is not necessary? God’s Word promises us blessings, yet we have to understand blessings will always follow obedience. So many Christians think that all they have to do is make a few positive confessions and go their merry way. I believe in the power of our words, and understand the great importance that God places on us lining our words up with His words. But I also know that disobedience and a good confession will not bring blessing. We can not walk in disobedience and blessing at the same time. Disobedience breaks fellowship with God and causes our faith to loose its potency. A minister I have great respect for used to say, faith quivers in the face of sin. How true! Blessings always go hand in hand with obedience. How much more we can do for the kingdom when we have found God’s purpose for our life and follow in that path instead of our own plans and purpose and what may seem good to us at the time.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

When we choose our own path outside of God’s plan then we have made a choice to walk in the way of death. This is a very sobering thing to consider, yet God loves us enough to warn us over and over in His word so that we will walk in the path of blessings. He has also given us His Holy Spirit that will lead us in the way that we should go. Let’s look at a some sections of Scripture that shows us a very good example of this. Starting in Genesis 12 We will look at specific sections of Scripture because of space. I would encourage you to look at the whole section through chapter 19.