Intentional God - Intentional Living

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-14; Psalm 23

Theme: Intentional God – Intentional Living

Paul shares with us these main truths: 1. THE GOOD GOD of Creation (the Lord God Almighty – Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is an Intentional God. 2. He calls us to live a life INTENTIONALLY IN CHRIST.

INTRO:

Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Passionately reading and studying the Bible will transform your life. It will take your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life to a whole new level. Billions of people have and continue to testify to this reality.

There are certain passages in the Bible that when you read them you can experience the presence of heaven. Passages like Psalm 1, 23, 46 and 100 along with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7, the Apostle Paul’s writings in Romans chapters 8 and 12, 1 Corinthians 13 and the Apostle John’s words in Revelation chapters 21-22.

Our scripture reading this morning could be added to those passages. It’s a passage that can be quite overwhelming as you read it for it contains so much truth, so much insight that it takes some time to understand it all.

We must always understand that the Apostle Paul wrote with a purpose. He wrote with a purpose that was birthed in him through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. A purpose that was to assist those who had accepted Jesus’ call to follow Him and be Christ’s disciple.

Paul begins his letter by reminding us of a few things. Let’s look at some of those things this morning, looking chiefly at verses 1-3.

The first thing Paul wants us to remind us of is:

I. THE LORD – The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY IS INTENTIONAL IN NATURE

Paul wants his readers to fully understand that the God he is asking them to serve, the Lord God Almighty, the Good God of Creation is intentional in nature. He plans and does things by purpose and by design.

God intentionally called Paul. You can read all about that in Acts chapter 9. God intentionally called Paul to be an apostle; to be one of His messengers who would spend their life sharing and teaching about redemption through His Son Jesus Christ and experience the continual infilling presence of His Holy Spirit.

As you read the Bible from Genesis chapter 1 all the way to Revelation 22 this characteristic of intentionality is written on every page and in every passage.

To serve the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, to understand the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY is to realize that God always has a purpose and plan in what He reveals and does.

From the very beginning when He spoke the creation into existence, He had a purpose and a plan.

+We see that revealed in the days of creation – each day revealing a little bit more of God’s intention and plan. Light/dark, chaos/order sun/moon plants/animals Adam/Eve

None of it is random. It is all a part of an overall plan. A plan that will reflect His glory and honor. A plan that will bring forth a creation that at its very core is to bring life, joy, celebration, worship, praise and love.

We see God’s intentionality in calling such people as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel and David. We see God’s intentional plan in working in the lives of Sarah, Rebekah, Rahab, Ruth, Deborah and Mary.

Solomon reminds us how we are to handle God’s intentionality:

“Trust in the LORD will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

King David put it this way:

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11

23 The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not [a]want. 2 He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures;

He leads me beside the [c]still waters. 3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life;

And I will [d]dwell in the house of the LORD [e]Forever.

God not only had a plan for creation, for individuals like Abraham and Sarah, He has a plan for you and me.

It is His plan that we follow the path that He has for us – as individuals, as a family group, a collective group and as the world.