You Can Fulfill God's Perfect Plan — Zac Poonen

God's Purpose and Good Works in Christ

I want to turn today to Ephesians and chapter 2. In these last days, these studies that we've been going through, we've been seeing something of God's wonderful purpose for us, and how that purpose can be accomplished, how Satan has been defeated on the cross, and how if we cooperate with God in his working in our lives, we can live the most useful, the most fruitful, the most profitable life that any human being can ever live.

Now in Ephesians chapter 2, there are two verses I want to show you. First of all, in verse 10, salvation is by grace, verse 8, through faith. It is a gift from God, and it is not a result of works, lest anybody should boast.

There is nothing we can ever do that can bring us that free gift of God, of forgiveness of our sins, and no works that we can ever do can qualify in any way for even one sin to be forgiven. But even though it says not as a result of works in verse 9, in verse 10 it speaks about the works that we have to do after we are born again, after our sins are forgiven.

It says we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, a new creation for good works. So just as much as no good works can bring us forgiveness, equally, after our sins are forgiven, our life should be full of good works.

Many people are taken up with that first part. No works of ours can bring us forgiveness, I agree. But what does it go on to say? It goes on to say that once you are forgiven, God created you specifically for good works, and not just any good works, but good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Earlier in chapter 1 we saw how he has chosen us before the worlds were created, and at that time he not only chose us in Christ, but also prepared certain works, or we could say a certain plan for our life.

I believe that includes every detail of our life. The Bible says in John 17 verse 23 that God loves us as much as he loved Jesus. It's one of the greatest truths in scripture. We know that God loves us, but John 17 verse 23 tells us that the extent of that love was as much as he loved Jesus, his own son.

So when Jesus came to earth, all that God did for Jesus as a man, he will do for us, because he loves us just as much. As much as he cared for Jesus, the little details of Jesus' life, he cares for us.

In little things, right from the time when Jesus was a little baby and the angel told his parents, Joseph and Mary, to take him to Egypt to protect him from the wrath of Herod. So he cares for us too, and at different times the way the Lord protected, the Father protected Jesus.

He cares for and protects us. Many times in the scriptures we read about Jesus' life, that this thing happened so that the scripture might be fulfilled. Right from Matthew chapter 1 onwards we read that.

So that the scripture might be fulfilled, and then something else, so that the scripture might be fulfilled, and right through to the cross. Even his saying, I thirst, was so that the scripture might be fulfilled.

So small little details. When he went to Galilee, it says, it was so that the scripture might be fulfilled. So all these verses indicate that Jesus' life was specifically planned. The place where he was to be born, Bethlehem, the home in which he was to be born, the exact date on which he was to be born, which we don't know exactly what that date was, but it was a specific date, the exact date when he was to be crucified, that we know was the Passover day.

The day he was to be raised up, and every day of his life was planned by God. Where he should be, how long he should be in Nazareth, and when he should go to Judea, and when he should go to Galilee, and different things.

There were works planned beforehand, and when Jesus did them, the scripture was fulfilled. Now if God loves us, also, like it says in John 17, 23, as much as he loved Jesus, I believe that God has planned like that for you and me too.

Jesus' Perfect Rest in the Father's Will

For every little thing in our life, if we respond to him, we could say there is a perfect plan that God has for our life. We're not just to find out the best thing we can do and somehow do it. Jesus didn't have to find out what is the best thing I should be doing, where should I go now.

He waited on the Father, and the Father led him to some places, and did not lead him to some places. And that's how he lived. And he said in John 6, verse 38, a principle that guided him throughout his life.

And that is why Jesus' life was one of perfect rest. You know Jesus often said, come to me, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and you will find rest for your souls. That's because he himself lived a life of perfect rest.

We can say that Jesus lived in a continuous Sabbath, a continuous rest in God, and a continuous fellowship with his Heavenly Father all the time. And we read here in John 6, verse 38, Jesus says, I've come from heaven, what for?

And we would say, many people say, he came from heaven to die for our sins. That's only a very small part of the answer. That was only on one particular day out of the 33 and a half years of his life.

But what did he do the rest of his life? And that's summed up in this verse. He came from heaven to do his Father's will, to do the will of him who sent him. And in order to do that will, it says here, he had to deny his own will.

So we can say that the entire life of Jesus was spent denying his own will and doing the Father's will. One part of which was dying on the cross. But there were many other parts of it in 33 and a half years.

And he could never do the Father's will until he denied his own will. He says that, I came from heaven, we can say to deny my own will and to do the Father's will. You see, when Jesus came as a man like us, he had a soul like us and he had a will.

And that will had to be denied. That means he had to say no to what he wanted in order to do the will of his Father. And you see that very clearly in Gethsemane. Where it's very clear that his own will was, I don't want to drink this cup.

And he expressed it. Father, can you move this cup from me? But, not as I will, but as thou wilt. He denied his own will and finally drank that cup. And that is how he lived his entire life. Now do you know that when you break bread and take part in it, you are saying the same thing to God.

You are saying, Lord, let my will be broken in this body. Just like Jesus' will was broken in his body and he did his Father's will. I also want to walk that same way. From childhood, we have wanted to do our will.

We've seen that earlier as the root of all sin. When Lucifer said, I will. And Jesus came with salvation by saying, not as I will. Denying that, he did his Father's will. And this teaches us that if you want to fulfill God's plan for your life.

You know that perfect plan that God has made for your life right from the day you are born again. Till the end of your life or till Jesus comes, whichever is earlier. If you want that plan to be fulfilled in your life, the most important requirement is that you deny your own will.

That you give up your own choice in everything. You know the story of that man who went to the Lord and said, Lord, tell my brother to divide the property with me. If he had said, well Lord, if you want me to have my half share of the property, tell him to divide it.

But if you don't want it, that's fine. If that half share of the property is going to ruin me, I don't want it. Then he would have been at rest. Otherwise he would be at perpetual unrest. Because that chap is not giving him his share of the property.

You know the number of believers who are going around in unrest. Because some family property is not being divided for them. There will always be unrest in your life. If you are not willing to give up your own will.

Sometimes we want something. Maybe you want to marry someone. And you are perpetually at unrest, seeing whether it will work out or it won't work out. Will it work out? Will it not work out? You think God wants you to be at such unrest?

You got to give up your own will. You got to say, well Lord, that's my desire to marry him or marry her. But if it's not your will, I don't want that marriage. It will just mess up my life. It may look so wonderful right now.

But after getting married to that person. I may discover that he or she is a completely different type of person than what I thought. Who knows what type of person that person is? Only you Lord. I want your will.

If it's your will, let it work out. I'm submitted. I want your will. Don't let the devil hinder it. But if it's not your will. However much I may want it. Lord, don't give it to me. Can you pray a prayer like that?

Surrendering Every Personal Desire to God's Will

We have so many desires. We want this. We want that. You may want to build a house one day. You may want to travel somewhere some day. You may want to go to some place. You may want to serve the Lord in a particular field.

Or you may want to have a particular ministry. In all these things, you can express your desire to God. But if you want to be at rest. You must say, nevertheless, not as I will. But as thou wilt. And if you will surrender to Jesus like that at every point.

Jesus said, we got to take up the cross every day. At every point you say, Lord, in this particular area, this is my desire. But if it's not your will, that's fine. I want your will. It's because I don't know your will.

That I'm expressing my desire. We have every right to express our desire. But once we know the will of God clearly. Then our desire is gone. We say, no Lord, I don't want that. Even though I wanted it very much, I give it up.

That is the cross. And a person who takes up the cross every day like that. In every decision, yielding, yielding, yielding. At the end of his life, when he looks back. He will see he has fulfilled the perfect will of God.

Nothing could hinder that perfect will. Nothing. No man, no demon. Not all the hosts of hell, not all the people in the world. That perfect will. That's why in Jesus' case. Every single thing in his life was so that the scripture might be fulfilled.

And this was the simple secret of his life. That he gave up his own will. So when we read in Ephesians 2. That God has prepared good works beforehand. That we should walk in them. Some of those things which God has planned.

May not be what we plan. We make a plan for our life. And God's plan may be another direction. And when we come to that place. You have to say, well Lord. I want your will. And there will never be a disappointment.

Concerning anything. Maybe you apply for a job. You don't get it. And you sought to honor God in your life. Well, that may not be what God wants you to do. It's not God's will. It's the end of the matter.

Maybe God has something else for you. Better. Better does not necessarily mean a higher salary. But better because it fulfills God's plan. Sometimes the job with the best salary. It may not be God's plan.

Sometimes the girl with the prettiest face. May not be God's plan. Or the man who is most good-looking. May not be God's plan for you. If you are willing to say, Lord. I want your will. You'll find that even those closed doors.

Christ's Authority to Open and Close Doors

The Lord has closed them. One of the things you must remember. As you walk through life. Seeking to fulfill God's perfect plan. Is what we read in. Revelation. And chapter three. Revelation three. And verse seven and eight.

Middle of verse seven. The Lord says, I have the key of David. And when I open. No one can shut it. And when I shut. No one can open. That is authority. Jesus has the key. To every door. In front of you.

He opens. Nobody can shut it. He shuts it. Nobody can open it. And he says. Into this particular church. Now in this particular case. I've set before you an open door. Which no one can shut. You don't have power.

Verse eight. You have very little power. You can't keep that door open. Because demons and men may try to shut it. But it doesn't matter. You kept my word. And I will keep that door open for you. And it's like these automatic doors.

You may have seen some of them in some places. Where there is a little photoelectric cell. Which signals that somebody. Something has crossed its path. And that triggers an electrical mechanism. That opens a door.

So as you come near the door. The door opens. And when you go past it shuts. The doors that God opens in front of your life. Will be like that. You won't have to bang and bang. And break it to go through.

You pray and seek God. And when the right time comes. When you come right up there. It opens. He doesn't very often open it. Well in advance. You know. When the children of Israel. Came right up to the Red Sea.

It is when they came to the edge of the waters. That the Lord opened the waters. And they went through. It wasn't many hours before that. Later on when they came into Jordan. It says when the feet of the priest.

Touched the water. It opened. So very often God opens doors for us in our life like that. You think it's closed. It's closed. It's closed. It's closed. And when you come right up there. It opens. If it is God's will.

And if it is not God's will. It keeps it shut. And no use wasting your time there. Back up. And go in another direction. And God has wonderful ways. In our life. To make us fulfill his plan. If you are totally committed.

Trusting God's Sovereign Plan

To do God's will. In your life. Let me turn you to Psalm 139. Psalm 139. It says. Verse 16. In the last. In the middle of that verse. It says. In your book. All. They were all written. The days. That were ordained for me.

When as yet. There was not even one of them. Now I understand that verse to mean. Before I was born. You know. Verse 13. It speaks about forming my inward parts. And weaving me in my mother's womb. And you saw.

Verse 16. My unformed substance in my mother's womb. And when I was even unformed. There was a diary. Up in heaven. A diary. That specified. What I should do with my life. Where I should go. And what I should do.

And it says. All the days. That are ordained for me. Are written in that diary. Before. I had started living. Even one of those days. On earth. Before I was born. Now when we believe this. It brings tremendous rest into our life.

We are not restless. Because we believe. We live under a sovereign God. Who knew us. When we were in our mother's womb. Before that. And he formed us in our mother's womb. And brought us to the place.

One day. Where you found Jesus Christ. As your Lord and Savior. And then allowed you to hear. The message of salvation. Of freedom from sin. And how God can fulfill. His plan for your life. And you opened your life.

To the Lord. So that His plan can be fulfilled. And now. Your job is only to seek that will. Say Lord. Show me what you want me to do. Each day of my life. You got a plan. Help me to fulfill it. Lead me to the right person.

To get married to. Lead me to the right place. For ministry. Some of you may have heard of. Adoniram Judson. He was an American missionary. Who. Came to India. To serve the Lord. But. He couldn't stay.

And so. He had to get on to a ship. I think it was in Madras. I don't know what were the reasons. Why he couldn't stay. But he had to leave. And he went to Burma. Because the ship was going to Burma. And he spent the rest of his life there.

Doing a tremendous work. For God. But that wasn't where he planned to go in the beginning. When he left the United States. He thought he was going to come to India. But God shut the door. And opened another one.

And said that's where I want you to go. And that happened through circumstances. Circumstances which. Were beyond his control. But at the end of Judson's life. When he looked back. He would have said well praise the Lord.

It wasn't the way I planned it. But God worked it out perfectly. That's exactly where I'm supposed to be. God wanted to do a work in Burma. Through Judson. But he allowed him to think. For a long time.

That he was going to come to India. And then. He finally took him where he wanted him to be. You know if you're one of those. Who is totally committed. And you've got no complaints. And you say Lord. Whatever you plan for my life.

I want that. You can be sure of one thing. God himself will work out his plan for your life. You don't have to be afraid. At the right time. Certain doors will open. Certain doors will close. And that's why we are at rest.

The Bible says in Proverbs 21 in verse 1. That even a king's heart. A king. In those days. Nowadays kings don't have much power. But in those days a king had tremendous authority. He was everything. His word was law.

It says the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. Like rivers of water. And he can turn it. Wherever he wishes. The king's heart can be turned. Wherever he wishes. God can turn it. Have you seen a river?

Have you seen a picture of a river? In a map of. A state or a map of India. No river flows straight. All rivers are this way and that way. Sometimes it's flowing north. Sometimes flowing south. Sometimes flowing west.

And then again east. That's how a river is. And it says God can turn. Even the king's heart. To the north or south or east or west. Any way he wants. Like the rivers of water. This is why our life is at such perfect rest.

That if you commit your life to God totally. And you only want his will for your life. And you don't want anything else. You don't want anything but God's plan. That which is written in the diary in heaven for you.

Every detail of every day. You want that to be fulfilled in your life. Nobody can stop you. You know no human being can hinder God's plan for your life. No demon in hell. Can hinder God's plan for your life.

Only you can hinder it. By disobedience. By not doing God's will. By not yielding your own will. And in other words. You say no I want this at any cost. You're not willing to give up your will. Then of course you can miss the will of God.

And lots and lots of people. Miss God's perfect will. Because they are stubborn. And they want to do what they want to do. And they go their own stubborn ways. And at the end of life. Look back in regret.

Over how they lived. The Bible says in 1 John. Chapter 2. A wonderful word. Verse 17. The world is passing away. And all its lusts. But the one who does the will of God. Will abide forever. The one who does the will of God.

Will abide forever. So who's the one who's going to abide forever? The one who seeks to do God's will. In every detail of his life. So if you realize that God's made a plan for your life. You must believe that that plan must be better.

Than any plan you can make for yourself. Because God sees the future. If a man who can see the future. Makes a plan. Won't that be better. Than somebody who makes a plan. Who cannot see even what's going to happen tomorrow.

You and I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. But God sees all the way to the end of time. And he's got wisdom. He knows all the factors and circumstances. Surrounding your life. He knows your temperament.

He knows your background. He knows what you're fit for. He knows what type of ministry you can fulfill. He trained you for that. He equipped you for that. From the time you were born. For a particular task in his body.

In a particular place. In a particular time. In this generation. And you say Lord. I can never make a plan. Better than the one you made. So I want to know your plan. Every day of my life. I don't want to do my own will.

To make the maximum amount of money. That's not the greatest thing in the world. To live a comfortable life. That's not the greatest thing. But to do the will of God. Even if it means pain and suffering.

And ridicule. And all types of problems. You look at the Apostle Paul. He was a man of faith. In fact he asked the Lord on the Damascus road. When he fell down from the horse. Lord what do you want me to do?

And the Lord told him only the next step. Go into the city. Then you will be told what to do. So that's all. God shows us one step at a time. He went to the city. Then he was shown the next step. And the next step.

And the next step. And when he looked back at the end of his life. That plan of God included. Being beaten 195 times on his back. Being stoned three times. Being imprisoned. So many times he couldn't even count.

Being shipwrecked. And traveling in dangerous circumstances. And through jungles. And danger of robbers. Shivering in the cold sometimes. Sometimes not having enough food. It was all part of God's plan.

Paul's Faithfulness Through Suffering

But at the end of his life. Paul could say. I have fought a good fight. 2 Timothy 4 .7. I have finished my course. And I have kept the faith. Do you think there are many believers who can say that? People who have not sought God's will.

But sought their own comfort. And their own gain. And their own honor. Well they may have lived a comfortable life on earth. But they can't say at the end of their life. I have finished the appointed course.

God has for me. Paul said now I am ready to go. Because I have finished the allotted task. God had for me. He had that sense. I finished it. It was a very difficult path. But at each point. He didn't turn back.

He didn't say well Lord this is getting too much. He said that's fine. If that's your will. I accept it. Like David said in 2 Samuel 24. Verse 24. I will never offer to the Lord. The principle of sacrifice.

By which Jesus lived. And any person who wants to do the will of God. In his life. Must accept. The principle of sacrifice. There are lots of people today. Who are seeking to serve God. Without this principle of sacrifice.

All I can say is. They completely miss the will of God. In their life. You will never find the will of God in your life. If you don't accept the principle of sacrifice. I will never offer to the Lord.

Nothing. To follow the Lord means. A way of painful. Self-denial. There's something I want to do. And God says no. And I yield my will and my will is broken. That's the meaning of the breaking of bread.

Let me repeat. Every time I break bread. Jesus said do this. In remembrance of me. That's the way he went. So even though the way is painful. When you come to the end of life. All the. Few sorrows and difficulties.

Are all forgotten. Because we. Were able in a life. Of service. And self-denial. To show Jesus. That we were grateful to him. For dying for us on Calvary. Say thank you Lord for dying for me in that way.

That is the question. And it's not something that. You just say today at the end of this meeting. And say well I've done it. No. It is a decision that you have to renew. Every day. Jesus said if you want to follow me take up your cross.

Deny yourself. Daily. Say no to your own will. Daily. Luke 9 23. Say no to your own will. Daily. Take up your cross. Put that will to death. And do the will of God. You have to renew it tomorrow morning.

And day after tomorrow. You have to renew it again. Say Lord today I choose your will. I say no to my own will. I want to do your will. And it's not just once a day. Many many times. During the day we take decisions.

Say Lord I'm going to go the way of the cross. And finally 10 years from now. You will become. A spiritual man. If you have taken those decisions. Day by day by day by day by day by day. Another brother.

Or another sister. Who has heard the same message. But does not respond. In that day to day. Way to the Lord. In denying himself or herself. At the end of 10 years. Will either be. Exactly where he or she is today.

Spiritually with no growth of maturity. Or. What is more likely. In time. Than where they are today. It is the decisions you take. Every day. In relation to God's will and your own will. That determine what you're going to be.

Five years from now. 10 years from now. This is why you find two people born again on the same day. 10 years later. They are completely different spiritually. One is still a carnal Christian. Another man has become a man of God.

How did that happen? It didn't happen overnight. He was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Maybe both were baptized in the Holy Spirit. But one man took up the cross. Every day. Denied himself. Painful. Gave up his own will.

Chose the will of God. Was upright before God. Chose God's will. Allowed the circumstances of life to break him. And finally came through to maturity. And as he continues like that. One day he'll be able to say at the end of his life.

I finished my course. I did what God wanted me to do. And you know it's such a blessed thing. If you can realize this when you're young. How sad. If you discover this truth when you're 50. I discovered it.

When I was 20. I'm very thankful. I'm thankful I didn't discover it late in life. Because so many years would have been wasted. I think of so many brothers and sisters I've met. They're good brothers.

They don't commit gross sin. They don't do anything in the church. But they don't have a passion. To fulfill the will of God for their life. To make their life count for God. On this earth. They are just drifting.

They are good church members. Like passengers in a train. Sit there. Sleep there. And the train takes them somewhere. No God doesn't want us to be like that. God doesn't want you to be a passenger. He's got a plan for your life.

He's got something to fulfill. So break Him. And if you resist all the circumstances that come in your life. Where He's trying to break you. It'll never be fulfilled. Maybe one day God will just give up on you and say.

Go your way. I won't disturb you anymore. That'll be terrible. I think I've seen some believers like that. I can't explain any other way. They never. The strongest message in the world will not shake them.

They're like icebergs. Nothing can melt them. They're there. Just the same. Year after year after year. Never seeming to learn the lessons God wants them to learn. Because they are not willing to deny their own will.

Grace for Daily Obedience and Endurance

When you seek to go this way. Sometimes as I said. It's painful. One of the verses that can really help us. Is 2 Corinthians 12 9. Which says. My grace is sufficient for you. That means in every situation.

Exactly what your need is. God will give you grace for that. He won't give you grace for tomorrow. He'll give you grace for today. Jesus said in Matthew 6 34. Sufficient unto every day. Is the evil that there is in that day.

Every day has got a certain quota of evil. That we encounter. And the grace God gives us. Is sufficient to overcome that day's evil. That's enough. It's like God saying. Every day whatever your experience.

Whatever your expenses are. I'll give you the money for that. Isn't that enough. If you have more expenses tomorrow. I'll give you more money. If you have less expenses tomorrow. I'll give you less. My grace is exactly sufficient.

So we can face the whole future with confidence. Maybe a time of tremendous persecution. Let's say a time of tremendous persecution comes. In fact many of our fellow believers. In other parts of India.

Are being persecuted right now. And let's say. In the first third century and all. They begin to torture Christians in prison. And start pulling out the nails. And burning them at the stake. And throwing them to the lions.

Or harming us in some way. And when we look at it. You and I may say. Boy I can't imagine how will I face it. If they start pulling out my nails. And burning me. And cutting off my parts of my body. Will I deny the Lord.

Well right now we don't have grace for that. Because we don't need grace. But at that particular moment. You'll get grace. And you'll be able to bear it. It's like you know. If you need only 50 rupees today.

That's all he'll give you today. 50 rupees. But in that day you may need 5000 rupees. He'll give it to you. That's the wonderful promise of God. My grace is sufficient for you. And there's another wonderful promise.

In this connection. In 2nd Corinthians 9. It's one of the most wonderful verses. About grace. In the whole New Testament. God is able to make all grace. Abound to you. So that always. Always means 24 hours a day.

You will have all sufficiency. You need 50 rupees. You get 50 rupees. You need 50 lakhs. You get 50 lakhs. In everything. Nothing is excluded. So that you can have an abundance. For every good work. That God has planned for you to do.

Wonderful. God. It's not a question of you are able. Notice those words. God is able. If you look at my ability. Your ability is nothing. But God is able. To give you grace. To put your own will to death.

And to do the will of God. To face the future. To face any situation. That can ever come into your life. Difficult or easy. To conquer it. And to be more than a conqueror. In Christ. This is our calling.

To demonstrate to the world. That Jesus conquered Satan. And that we follow in Jesus footsteps. We may be mistreated. Abused. Persecuted. But we conquer Satan. Our goal in life is not to have comfort.

Our goal in life is to conquer Satan. To do the will of God. And accomplish his purposes on this earth. Before we leave it. And now I want to say a few words. To those. Who feel that they have. Missed God's will.

God's Power to Restore a Failed Life

Some way. Or made a mess of their life. But it's not much hope for somebody like me. I'm always falling. I heard these messages before. I'm still defeated. Still frustrated. Remember this word. God is able.

What is God's plan for those who have failed in their life? The Bible is full of encouragement. For such people. So I want to spend a few moments. Speaking specifically. To those who feel. Your life is a failure.

Those who feel. You are utterly defeated by sin. I never seem to overcome. I'm always discouraged. I'm always gloomy, depressed. No matter how many messages I hear. In Genesis chapter 1. We read that when.

We already spoke about that. That when the world. Was created perfectly by God. And Lucifer came and sinned. And messed up the whole thing. We read the earth became chaotic. Empty. Dark. The heavens and earth.

When he made them. But Lucifer came and messed it up. Did God give up on that? Did he destroy that heaven and earth? No. He remade it. That's what you read in Genesis 1. The first day he did something.

The second day he did something. And every time he said that's good. That's good. The third day is good. It's good. It's good. That God can take a situation. Or a life. That has been messed up by Lucifer.