the purpose of God. Look in verse 10 of Psalm 33. The Lord bringeth the counsel,
the purpose of the heathen to not. They intend something that
they're not able to do because he brings their purpose to nothing. He maketh the devices of the
people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth
forever. The thoughts of his heart to
all generations. God's counsel, God's purpose
is eternal. the thoughts of his heart to
all generations. Now, the Lord is called in Isaiah
9, 6, the wonderful counselor. And by counsel, that's not talking
about one who gives good advice. That's talking about one who
decrees, who purposes something And it becomes past tense when
he purposes it. It's the absolute decrees of
the Lord. The counsel of the Lord standeth
forever. And I love this phrase, the thoughts
of his heart to all generations. God is a person with thoughts
in his heart. He said in Jeremiah 29, for I
know the thoughts I think of you, thoughts of peace and not
of evil to bring you to an expected end. Oh, I want his thoughts
to be that way of me, don't you? Thoughts of peace and not of
evil. That's why David said, how precious
are thy thoughts unto me? Oh God. How great is the sum
of them. You see the thoughts of his heart
is his purpose. Now I want to attempt to bring
a message on the purpose of God. God is a God of purpose. Ephesians 1.1 says we're predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after
the counsel of his own will. I think of these scriptures and
we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Second Timothy 1.9 says he saved
us and he called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given
us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Would you turn with
me to Isaiah 46? God is a God of purpose. That's
who He is. His purpose is the thoughts of
His heart. His purpose is eternal. Whatever He thought in eternity
is exactly what He is thinking now. Whatever He purposed in
eternity must come to pass in time. Isaiah 46, beginning in
verse 9. Remember the former things of
old, for I am God and there is none else. I am God and there's
none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient
times, the things that are not yet done, saying my counsel shall
stand. I will do all my pleasure. Calling a ravenous bird from
the east, the man that executes my counsel, my purpose from a
far country. Yea, I've spoken it. I will bring
it to pass. I have purposed it. I also will
do it." Now, God's purpose covers everything. You take the fall
of our first parents in the garden. Remember what God said to Adam?
He didn't say, if you eat of the fruit, you'll die. He said,
in the day you do eat, you will surely die. God purposed the
fall of our father Adam, and he purposed the cross. You know, when those soldiers
were driving the nails in his hands and feet, they were doing
what the scripture says, whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determine
before to be done. God is a God of absolute purpose. Now there's one reason you're
here this morning. You know what that reason is? He purposed it. That's the only
reason you're here. And somebody that's not here,
that is according to his purpose. God is a God of purpose. God has a purpose with regard
to all men. and all events. Turn with me
to Proverbs chapter 16. Verse 4. The Lord hath made all things
for himself. Yea, even the wicked for the
day of evil. I think of the scripture, for
he saith to Pharaoh, even for this same purpose have I raised
thee up, that I might show my power in thee and that my name
might be declared throughout all the earth. You there in Proverbs
16, look in verse one. The preparations, the inclinations,
the disposings of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue
is from the Lord. The inclinations, the disposings
of your heart and how you answer something, how you respond to
something is of the Lord. He is a God of purpose. Look in verse nine of Proverbs
16, a man's heart. devises his way. He makes all
of his plans. This is what I'm going to do.
But the Lord directed his steps. Look in verse 33 of this chapter,
the lot is cast into the lap, and that's what we consider luck.
A lot, a short lot. The lot is cast into the lap,
but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Now, God's in
control. The king's heart is in the hand
of the Lord. Your heart is in the hand of
the Lord. As the rivers of water, he turneth
it whithersoever he will. Now, this scares people. When
you hear something like this, naturally, our first response
is it scares us. I mean, I'm just utterly in his
hands as clay in the potter's hands, and he can do with me
whatever he's pleased to do. Why, I don't have any control
of this. I have no control at all. That
scares people. Well, you know, the alternative
is scarier. But thank God there is no alternative. This is who
the Lord is. He's a God of purpose. He's a just God. Now, when we
think of, well, you mean God purposes everything that takes
place? Well, I don't understand that. Well, I don't expect I
do either, but I know he does. And I know that whatever he does
is right. I know that whatever he does is just, and we can leave
it in that. Shall not the judge of the earth
do right? Yes, he will. So when we read
of ungodly men who were before of old ordained to this condemnation,
When we read of those who stumble at the word being disobedient,
whereunto also they were appointed. That's what the scripture says.
We may not understand it, but we know he does. And I'm fine
with that, aren't you? He does. And whatever he does
is right. Now, God is a God of purpose
and his purpose is his own glory. Turn to Ephesians chapter one.
Now, this is what drives God. This is why he does what he does,
his own glory. Ephesians chapter one. Beginning in verse 11, in whom
also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel
of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his glory. That's God's purpose. Look in
verse four of the same chapter, Ephesians one, according as he
has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having
predestinated us under the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the
praise of the glory. of his grace. That's why he does
what he does to the praise of the glory of his grace. Revelation
4 11 says, thou has created all things and for thy pleasure,
they are and were created. I remember a philosophy class
I had at UK when I was going to school there. And I remember
the professor got up and said, if there is a God, Obviously,
his great end is the good of his creatures. So there are a
lot of problems with that. I guess if that is the case,
there would be a lot of problems with that. But that's not the
case. God's great end is not the good of his creatures. God's
great end is his own glory. And I like it that way. I like it that way. God's purpose is his own glory
and everything he does is subservient to that end and everything in
Providence is working to that end. That is why all things work
together for good. To them that love God, to them
who are the call according to his purpose. God foreordains
whatever comes to pass. Somebody says, well, I just don't
believe that. He foreordained that. He surely did. He's in
control of everything, even the thoughts that go through our
mind. He has one purpose and all events
are used for that. He sovereignly controls everything,
even the sinful acts of man. The cross, Him being delivered. by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God. That's the most wicked thing
that ever took place when men nailed their creator to a cross.
And it happened according to the sovereign will of God. Now,
people object to this. Why, this is inconsistent with
man acting freely. No, it's not. You do what you
want to do. When men nailed Christ to the
cross, it wasn't like they were, I don't want to do this, but
I have to because it's determined. No, men do what they want to
do. I do what I want to do. And God's
in control of every bit of it. Now that's just the way it is.
You act freely. I act freely. Yet God sovereignly
controls every bit of it. It's of God that worketh in you
both to will and to do his good pleasure. That's what the scripture
says. We do what we want to do. But isn't it amazing how the
Lord makes us willing? He makes us willing in the day
of his power. People say, well, Um, that seems
to be, if he foreordained the sin, uh, that seems to be inconsistent
with his holiness. Well, if you, if you think that
the cross of Christ is inconsistent with his holiness, you can think
that, but that obviously it's not. Well, this, um, this just seems
against God's justice that he, that he would allow sinful things
to take place when he could prevent it. Once again, there's a man
setting in judgment on God. You and I don't have any business
setting in judgment on what God does. We don't have the right
or the ability to set in judgment on whatever he does. Whatever
he does is right. Someone will say, well, this
will destroy effort if everything's just determined and foreordained.
No, it doesn't. I know for a fact that doesn't
destroy. People might say that. And if
you want to use an excuse for your sin, you can do that. But
no one who's Here's an example. God has determined whether or
not the crops are going to be successful. Okay, do I say, well,
if he's determined, there's no point in me planting anything.
There's no point in me getting rid of the weeds. Of course,
we don't talk like that. We never talk that way, but we know that
God has determined what's going to happen. Somebody says, well,
this is fatalism. No, this is a personal God causing
his work to be done. This is not blind fate. This
is a personal God causing the thoughts of his heart to be done
throughout all generations. Now, God's purpose is eternal. Everything done in time was purposed
in eternity. I love that scripture. I quote
it a lot. Second Timothy 1.9. I'm quoted again in this message,
but I'm gonna quote it. He saved us and he called us. Which came first, the saving
or the calling? He saved us. He saved us in eternity. All the works were finished from
the foundation of the world. And he called us with a holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before
the world began. His purpose is free. And what
do I mean by that? Do you know that God never responds? He never reacts. Our whole life is a series of
reactions, isn't it? I'm trying to cover this, I'm
trying to do that, I'm trying to back away here, go over there,
responding to what's taking place. God never responds to anything. All of his acts are free. I'll have mercy on whom I will
have mercy, he says. The scripture also says, whom
he will, he heart. That's what the Bible says. All
of God's acts are absolutely free and his purpose is most
wise. Turn with me to Romans chapter
11. Verse 32. For God hath concluded. He shut
them up all in unbelief for what purpose that he might have mercy
upon all. Oh, the depth of the riches,
both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God, how unsearchable are
his judgments and his ways past finding out for who had known
the mind of the Lord or who had been his counselor or who had
first given to him and should be recompensed to him again.
For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom
be glory forever. Amen. God is so infinitely wise. He shut them all up in unbelief
that he might have mercy upon all. Now his purpose is immutable. it never changes. I love the
way Paul read that passage of scripture where the Lord repented
of the evil that he'd done. I thought that's, I'm glad he
read that along with this because in our thinking, when he, he,
he does change. I mean, you know, he was going
to destroy this people. They repented and he decided
not to do it. Well, he purposed salvation for that people all
along. You know that. And that's how it took place. But God is immutable. He never changes. Hebrews 617
speaks of the immutability of his counsel, the changelessness
of his counsel. It never changes. Malachi 3,
6 says, I am the Lord. I change not. Therefore, You
sons of Jacob are not consumed. Now a mutable God could have
a changing person, purpose, but thank God, there's no such thing
as a mutable God. He said, I change not. Therefore
you sons of Jacob are not consumed. And his purpose, whatever his
purpose is, it always comes to pass. Always. It's efficacious. Whatever he
purposes must take place. Look in Hebrews chapter four
with me. I want to say this Reverend,
we preach a big God, don't we? We preach a big God. A God who
controls everything. And I love him being that way.
It says in Hebrews chapter four, verse three, for we, which have
believed to enter into rest, as he said, as I sworn in my
wrath, if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were
what finished completed from the very foundation of the world. Everything God does in time was
already completed before the foundation of the world, and
everything that is done in time, there's a necessity to it. It
must happen because it was already done before the foundation of
the world. Now here's what I love thinking
about God's purpose. I love thinking about everything
about God's purpose, but think of this. His purpose is a purpose
of grace. Grace was in His heart before
time began. His purpose is a purpose of grace.
He saved us. He called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own purpose
and grace. Grace has always been in the
heart of God. He is a gracious God. He delights in grace and His
purposes are purposes of grace. Go ahead and turn to 2nd Timothy
chapter 1 and let's look at those 3 or 4 verses. Verse 9 says, who has saved us. That's all of our theology right
there, isn't it? He saved us. And he called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace. which was given us in Christ
Jesus before the world began. Everything I have was given to
me in Christ Jesus before the world began. But it's now made
manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ. What
was purposed before time began is made manifest by the appearing
of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Now once in the end of the world
hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
And here's what he did. He abolished death. That's what
he accomplished on Calvary's tree. Because he abolished sin. He abolished death by abolishing
sin. And he hath brought life, his
very own life and immortality, deathlessness to light through
the gospel. Whereunto I'm appointed a preacher,
an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles, for the which cause
I also suffer these things, preaching stuff like this. Nevertheless,
I'm not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded
that he's able to keep that which I've committed to him against
that day. Turn to Romans 9. It's his purpose to save us. Here's
another thing that the scripture says about his purpose. Verse 11, for the children, talking
about Jacob and Esau being not yet born, neither having done
any good or evil that the purpose of God, according to election
might stand. Here's what God's purpose is,
that salvation might not be at works, but of him that calleth. That's God's purpose, that salvation
might not be at works. I'm so thankful for that. I love
that scripture to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifies the ungodly. His faith is counted for righteousness. That's God's purpose. Look in
Romans 8, verse 28. Here's God's purpose. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are thee
called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, not
what he foreknew, but whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be
the firstborn among many brethren. He's purposed to have a bunch
of brethren for the Lord Jesus Christ that are perfectly conformed
to his image. And God's purpose for every believer
is that they be perfectly conformed to the image of Christ. And his
purpose always comes to pass. Both he that sanctified and they
who are sanctified are all of one for the which cause he's
not ashamed to call them brethren. Turn to Ephesians 2. Ephesians 2. Verse 10. For we are his workmanship created
in Christ Jesus unto good works. Look what it says next, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. That's God's ordination created
unto good works. What a good works anything done
out of love for Christ. God's ordained that we should
walk in them. Turn to Acts chapter 13. Verse
48. And when the Gentiles heard this,
they heard Paul preach the gospel. They were glad and they glorified
the word of the Lord. And as many as were ordained
to eternal life believed. Now, there's God's purpose. He
has ordained that everyone that he has ordained to eternal life
believe the gospel. As many as were ordained to eternal
life believed. I know somebody is going to believe.
those whom he has ordained to eternal life. I turn to Job chapter
23. Job 23. We looked at this in Sunday school
a couple of weeks ago, but didn't say much about it. But look,
look what it says in verse 13. This is Job speaking of the Lord.
But it says in verse 13, but he is in one mind. God's got one mind, one purpose,
his own glory. Who can turn him from his purpose? What his soul desireth, even
that he doeth. He's of one mind in all of the
acts of God. There's only one purpose. Only
one, not two. One. His own glory. Now, thank God there's so much
benefit to us out of that. But he's got one purpose. His
own glory. And who can turn him? The purpose
of God remains unchanged. Whatever his soul desireth, even
that he doeth, his purposes are always carried out. And that's
why the Lord said in John 6 37, all that the father giveth me
shall come to me and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise
cast out. Now, what, what do we get from
such teaching? What, what does that do for us? It's what the scripture teaches.
Well, first here's the thing that really hit me about it.
Child of God, Do you know you have always been in the thoughts
of his heart? Isn't that an incredible thing?
He said, before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee. He can't know someone that's
not. Every believer has always been
in the thoughts of his great heart. I know the thoughts that
I have of you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to bring you
to an expected end, something that I've ordained and it's going
to take place. You know, the Lord said in John
chapter 15, verse 16, you've not chosen me, but I've chosen
you. And I've ordained you that you
should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain. His purpose remains unchanged. So saved you must be. You see, if I'm a believer. I've always been saved in Christ. I'm being saved right now, and
I'll yet be saved when I'm perfectly conformed to the image of Christ.
Saved according to the purpose of God. Now, does someone think,
I see this all makes sense, I see it's logical, I mean it couldn't
be any other way, God being this way, I understand that, but what
I'm afraid of, what if God hadn't purposed my salvation? That's
what I'm afraid of. I see this. I see the Bible teaches
it. But how can I know if God has purposed my salvation? Because I know if God has purposed
my salvation, I'll be saved. And I see that this is who the
Lord is. But how can I know if God has
purposed my salvation? Beloved, you can know the answer
to that this morning. You can know if God has purposed
your salvation. Now how can you know? Turn with me to Romans chapter
5. Now I know this. Christ died for
those God purposed to save. Now, don't you know that so?
The Lord said, I lay down my life for the sheep. He said to
one group of people, you believe not because you're not of my
sheep. As I said, my sheep hear my voice. Christ died for his
sheep. He died for the elect. He died
for those the father gave him. Now, Christ died for those God
purposed to save. That's so, isn't it? I mean,
you just see that from the scripture. There's no, there's no arguing
about that. Christ died for those God purposed
to save. Okay. Romans chapter five, verse
six. Here is who he died for. For
when we were yet Without strength, in due time,
Christ died for the ungodly. Now how are those people described
that he died for? We know that these are the people
he purposed to save. I want to ask two questions to
you. I want everyone to answer this question honestly, before
God. Two questions. First question
is, are you without strength, without any ability to save yourself? You're without strength. I don't
mean just weak. I mean without strength. Somebody
says, well, I don't know if I can take it that far. Well, you don't
need a savior then, do you? Who needs Christ if you have
some strength, if you can do anything, if you even have the
power of free will? But if you're without strength,
without strength to save yourself. And what's the other description?
When we were yet without strength in due time, Christ died for
the ungodly. Would that be you without strength and ungodly? Beloved, if that's you, Christ
died for you. Your salvation was purpose by
God saved. You are saved. You will. Christ died for you. Now, what are you to do? Trust him. Trust him. Well, what if I'm not elect?
You don't need to worry about that. Are you without strength
and are you ungodly? If you are. Trust Him to save
you. That is God's command to you. You don't need to worry about
whether or not you've been purposed. Your business is to trust, to
rely upon, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, to call on
His name. Believe! on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. If we confess with our mouth
the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God raised him
from the dead. Do you believe that God raised
him from the dead? That God purposed him to come
here to save and that he was successful in what he did and
God raised him from the dead because God was pleased with
what he did? Do you believe God raised him from the dead? Scripture
says if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you'll be
saved. Now, I've been talking about God's purpose. I love God's
purpose, don't you? His eternal, immutable, efficacious,
all-encompassing purpose. But listen to this, that doesn't
close the door of mercy for any sinner. It opens it wide. It's a purpose
of grace. It's a gracious purpose. And if you come to Christ as
an empty-handed sinner, don't think the purpose of God will
prevent you from being saved. No, this opens the door of mercy
wide. It's a purpose of free grace. I hope this verse of scripture is a wonderful verse of scripture
to everybody here. It is whether we see it or not,
but I hope this scripture is a wonderful scripture to everybody
here. All that the father giveth me
shall come to me. There's God's purpose. And here
the door opens so wide Him that cometh to me, I will, in no wise,
for no reason, cast away. May the Lord enable every one
of us. God commands you to. God commands
you to. God commands you to come to His
Son. God commands you to believe on Christ. Don't wait. Don't
wait for an experience. Don't wait till you feel something.
Don't wait till you get your life straightened out. Don't
wait for anything. That's works. That's all it is.
That's works. You come to him right now as
you are. I don't care if you've already
done it for 30 years or whether this is the first time you've
ever done it. Come to Christ. and you'll find he will not cast
you out. His purpose is a purpose of grace. Let's pray together. Lord, I ask in Christ's name, we ask
with united hearts in Christ's name that you would take your
word and use it to drive out any hopes of self-salvation
and give us the grace to look only to come to the feet of thy
blessed son. Lord, that's beyond our ability
if you don't draw us. So Lord, we say draw us, draw
us to your son and teach us to rejoice that you are a God of
purpose and how we thank for your purpose
and for your grace. In Christ's blessed name we pray,
amen. You know, I would like to sing
as a closing hymn, just as I am, without one plea. But that thy
blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to thee, O
Lamb of God, I come. What page is that on, Dwayne? 249. 249, we'll stand and sing.