Living An Intentional Life Series

Living An Intentional Life

Introduction

This week we are starting a new series titled, “Living An Intentional Life”. During this series, it is my desire to focus on the priorities of life and what we can do to assure that they are accomplished.

To begin my study for this series, I went to the dictionary to find the technical definition of the word intent. This is what I found:

INTENT = a determination to act in a certain way; Resolve

RESOVLE = fixity of purpose; Resoluteness

RESOLUTENESS = firm determination marked by boldness and steadiness

With these definitions, I formed this statement about living an intentional life: An intentional life is one with purpose. The purpose is followed with a bold and steady determination until the desired outcome is realized. To make it easier to remember, I settled on this phrase: An intentional life has purpose, discipline and vision. With these words in mind let’s begin exploring what it means to live an intentional life.

Before we can jump into priorities, we must first ask why is this an important issue? The answer is simple: If we do not have an agenda for our lives, one will be provided for us—either by the events of life itself, or by other people. You see, to live intentionally means to live on purpose. It means that we are taking control and determining how we will live our lives and spend our time, energy and resources. Without such a plan, life can easily “get away from us” and seemingly have us at its mercy. I do not believe God wants us to live in such a manner.

This morning, I want a lay a foundation for intentional living by considering the fact that God has always operated in an intentional manner.

Let’s pray.

I. God has a plan

A. God’s plan was mapped out before the world began.

1. Psalm 139:16—All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

2. Isaiah 46:10—I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what is still to come. I say: My purpose shall stand and I will do all that I please.

3. Ephesians 1:4—For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

4. God’s purpose was mapped out before the world began.

B. God’s plan includes all areas of life.

1. We live compartmentalized lives

We have our…

a. Home life

b. Spiritual life

c. Work life

d. Recreational life

e. School life

f. Etc.

2. But with God, there is no distinction between the differing areas of our lives. He’s concerned with all of it.

3. So we see that God’s purpose was mapped out before the world began and it involves all areas of life.

C. God’s plan is certain to be accomplished.

1. Isaiah 14:24 & 27—The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand….For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand has stretched out and who can turn it back?

2. Psalm 33:11—But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

3. God’s purpose was mapped out before the world began, it involves all areas of life and it is certain to be accomplished.

D. God’s plan is unchangeable.

1. 1 Samuel 15:29—He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.

2. Malachi 3:6—I the Lord do not change.

3. We must understand that God has a purpose. It was mapped out before the world began, it involves all areas of life, it is certain to be accomplished and it is unchangeable.

NOT ONLY DOES GOD HAVE A PLAN, BUT…

II. God has a will

A. Every life has a part in God’s will.

1. Generally—God’s will is that people have a relationship with him.

a. For those who are not Christians, he wants them to know him

b. For those who are Christians, he wants them to grow and mature in their spiritual lives.

2. Specifically—He was a will for each individual life.

a. This has a lot to do with what you do.

b. It’s important to note that God’s will does not contradict his word.

B. His will is not always accomplished in individual lives

1. 2 Peter 3:9—God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2. God has given us a free will

a. Joshua 24:15—But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.