Bible Study

A Discovery of God’s purpose in Your Life

Published on: 9 November 2023

We should not be surprised to find the prophet Elijah was, for a while, fed by ravens. What is interesting is that, Elijah so readily adapted to these new circumstances in response to the word of God to him (1 Kings.17:2-6). It is clear from Scripture that Elijah was one of those folks who were willing to go wherever the Lord would send.

This is not to say that the process of hearing and doing is always easy. The prophet Habakkuk was a God-fearing man yet he struggled to understand God’s purpose in the coming overthrow of Judah (Habakkuk.1:12-2:1). Having set his face to discover the way of the Lord for that time, he then set his face to wait patiently and keep faith with God (Habakkuk.3:17-19).

Both those prophets mentioned above, had things in common. Both of them were given to proclaim and praise the Lord in an atmosphere of apostasy. As it turned out, neither of them were agents of renewal although, both would have been delighted to be so. Both of them had to adapt to the prevailing circumstances in order to fulfil God’s purpose in each case.

We may take another case study, this time from the New Testament (Acts.16:6-10; Romans.15:23-25). It is clear that Paul had many plans which, were subject to the will of God. Indeed there had been many occasions when Paul had had to change his plans when they did not coincide with God’s purpose at that time (2 Corinthians.1:15-17). Yet it is not an easy thing to be as flexible as the purpose of the Lord may require us to be.

What did the Apostle Paul have in common with the holy prophets of old? Among other things, they were all in submission to the known and revealed Word of God. Not only that but, all their resources and acquisitions were at God’s disposal too. Further, they were not comfortable to covet all that they had achieved so far. As soon as a new door opened an opportunity for them, they took it without standing back to admire their progress (1Kings.21:17-20; Habakkuk.2:4b; 1 Corinthians.16:8-9).

The ability to hear is, without doubt, subject to the willingness to listen. Listening, hearing and doing ‘as says the Lord’ is, the sequence and the discovery of God’s purpose for you. Today’s society will find it difficult to listen, especially as there is an intense desire to have everything now. The average ability level of concentration is reckoned to be somewhat below that of our forebears. To what extent has this entered into the Church? Whatever the answer to that question, if we are to wait on Him, listen for His voice and on hearing that voice commit ourselves to His way, it will require us to be available in the first place.

Folks who are available for God’s purpose are not content to have everything the same way it has been if it no longer serves the purpose. Methods and structures are suitable for the purpose of their time. When they are no longer suitable, change the methods and/or the structures even though the direction will always be God’s way. Once upon a time someone invented the wheel. Sometime later, someone invented a constant velocity joint (useful in front wheel drive motor cars). The wheel has to drive something otherwise it’s no good.

Prayer: Lord call us to be drivers, movers and doers but, please Lord, You do the shaking in Jesus name Amen.

Roger Stone