God’s Purpose for Your Life.

Hello again, I’m Randy Gaudet, founder and director of All Thailand Experiences. Those who have read my profile know how I first came to Thailand and my association with missions and churches since 1989.

We use funds from our tours to help the needy, change lives and spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We teach about the Holy Trinity, Love and Grace because of Jesus Christ and to tell Christians they are free from the Law, sin and death.

At most churches in Thailand the old covenant law is being taught and that Grace is not available to you if you break the law. We are training pastors about the New Repentance as written in the Bible with help from Pastors Nathan and Salilia Gonmei at Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai.

On all our All Thailand Experiences Christian teaching blogs I will point to scriptures and explain the meaning on the topic. As our mission is to reach Thai people we will then watch or listen to Pastors Nathan and Solila give a sermon on the topic in English and Thai Languages.

Today we’re going to talk about God’s Purpose for Your Life

Romans 8:28, NIV: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Despite its incredibly comforting message, some Christians have had an awkward relationship with this verse over the years. That is in no small part due to how easy it is to take this verse out of the context of Romans 8. Stripping these words of their context destroys the essence of what Scripture is saying. It is also possible to interpret the verse correctly, and still misuse it to dismiss the genuine pain and suffering of another person.

Paul has been describing the life of Christians on this side of heaven as one of groaning as we long to escape the suffering of this life and to be with our Father God in person (Romans 8:18–23). We wait in the sure hope of the day our bodies will be resurrected and we will share in God’s glory (Romans 8:24–25).

What about all the hard things that come along while we are waiting? Paul seems to offer the promise of this verse as a comfort for us.

Crucially, though, this promise is limited to “those who love God,” and “those who are called according to His purpose.” In short, that means the promise is for Christians: for saved believers, who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ (John 3:16–18; 14:6; Romans 3:26). No matter our feelings on a given day, loving God is part of what it means to live in Christ. That’s who we are. Each of us is also called to fulfill God’s purposes.

In other words, this verse cannot rightly be applied to non-Christians. Those who reject God do not express their love for God by coming to Him through faith in Jesus. For those who die without Christ, things will not have worked out for the better; they will have rejected the opportunity to take advantage of this promise (John 3:36).

What is the promise? That, for those who are saved, all things will indeed work together for good. “All things” should be taken to mean each and every circumstance one might experience, even pain or suffering. “Work,” or “work together,” must be understood in light of God taking action in the world. He is the one who causes all things to work together or, perhaps, works in and through all circumstances toward a specific end. What is that end? “Good.”

The word “good” does not necessarily mean happy or painless or financially successful or our idea of the best possible outcome on any given day. God’s ultimate good for us is to glorify us in eternity (Revelation 21:1–4). Beyond that, God works in and through us toward an ultimate good that serves His purpose for the universe.

The comfort of the verse is that nothing in this life of waiting and suffering is wasted. It is all meaningful for those in Christ, even if that doesn’t diminish our pain in the moment.

God created you to live in His purpose. To live the abundant life you need to understand these 5 purposes why God created you.

1. To be God’s children and be Loved by Him.

Jeremiah 31:3, NIV: “The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

God is holy, and God is just, but the very nature of God is love. The Alpha and Omega of God’s eternal and unchangeable attributes unite together in perfect love, for despite their bitter waywardness and foolish choices, the Lord loved Israel with an everlasting love and His love for the Church reflects that same, never-ending love.

Intermingled deep within His eternal character of love, there is a multiplicity of godly attributes and divine graces, for He is good and gracious, He is patient and kind, He is long-suffering, and abundant in truth. He is infinitely unchanging and perfect in all His ways. And by His grace and goodness we discover ourselves to be His beloved children – by faith in Christ. God’s love rests upon His eternal, unchangeable, divine character.

God has a unique and unfathomable love for all mankind which was demonstrated toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, dead in our sin and at enmity with God, Christ died for us. Jesus paid the price for our sin so that His unconditional love and unswerving justice could be demonstrated through Him.

Christ was the One Who was wounded for our transgressions. He was the One Who was bruised for our iniquities. He did not die because of who we are, but because of His everlasting love towards the children of men. Christ did not go to the Cross because of what we have done – but simply because of Who He Is.

Herein is love – not that we loved God, but that He took the initiative and loved us first, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for sinful man, so that whosoever believes on Him would not be condemned, but be given abundant and eternal life, by grace through faith.

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 1 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below

• To know God and walk with Him.

Get to know God through His word, you will then know His purpose. The Holy Spirit will guide you. You will begin to walk with Him and fulfill His purpose along with yours in everything you do. John 17:3, NIV: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Elsewhere, the gospel of John points out that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ (John 3:16–18, 36; 14:6). Salvation brings “eternal life,” in contrast to the eternal death of being separated forever from God (Matthew 25:30, 41, 46). Only by faith can a person be saved (Titus 3:5), and only by faith in Christ (Acts 4:12). John refers to the idea of eternal life numerous times in his writing (John 6:47; 10:28; 12:25; 1 John 2:25; 5:11).

The Greek term for “know” used here implies a deep level of intimacy. Though we are saved only by grace through faith, not by actions (Ephesians 2:8), saving faith is more than intellectual agreement (James 2:19). The gospel of John routinely uses the verb form of the Greek pisteuō, translated as “believe,” in connection with this thought. Saving faith is not passive, temporary, or mechanical. It is trusting, active, and engaged (Hebrews 11:6; John 14:15). The connection between God, Christ Jesus, The Holy Spirit and a true believer is profound, rooted in an ever-closer connection. This is God’s Love to man. Those who refuse to know God will not be saved by Him (John 8:55–59).

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 2 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below .

• To proclaim God’s Grace.

Ephesians 2:8, NIV: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–“

Paul returns again to his theme of grace in this classic verse. Salvation’s source is grace; the means of salvation is faith. We believe by faith to be saved (Romans 10:9), but would never choose to believe apart from the grace of God operating in our lives. That salvation would never be available, other than as a result of the grace of God. Both parts are important in the discussion of salvation.

Immediately following this declaration, Paul repeats and clarifies it. Paul does not want anyone to think salvation is based on something they had done, or could ever do. No action is good enough to provide our own salvation. No good deeds can undo the sins we have committed. Salvation is a gift. Further, it is a gift only God can provide. No matter how much we desire to give salvation to another person, we cannot. Only God can offer the gift of eternal life. Instead, we are called to proclaim the gospel, live it, share it, pray for the salvation of others, and help people grow in the grace of God. The Lord must be the one to provide salvation and does so as He chooses.

1 Peter 2:9, NIV: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

In contrast with those who reject Christ and are destined to “stumble,” Peter now describes the chosen people of God.

Why? For one, He has made us to declare His praises. That’s more than just a natural response to our Father’s mercy or something we should do to be polite. Declaring God’s greatness is one reason for our very existence. When we praise Him, we fulfill our purpose. He has called us out of the darkness of a meaningless life, and an eternity apart from Him, and into His wonderful, marvelous light. Because we belong to Him, we belong in His light.

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 3 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below.

• To be a Godly influence to others.

As we pursue God, discover His Love, experience His Grace then our lives become a Godly influence to others with the guiding of the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:36, NIV: “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.”

David was one of many people God chose to save His people (1 Samuel 16:3, 11–13; Acts 13:22). He did so by defeating Israel’s enemies and continuing the charge God gave Joshua to inhabit the Promised Land (Joshua 1:1–9). When David’s service was finished, he died and was buried (1 Kings 2:10). To “sleep” is a euphemism for death in both the Old Testament (1 Kings 2:10) and the New Testament (Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 15:6; 2 Peter 3:4). To say he was “laid with his fathers” is also a euphemism since David’s tomb is in Jerusalem and his “fathers” were from and presumably buried in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1).

1 Timothy 4:12, NIV: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Paul gives five specific areas in which Timothy is to serve as an example. First is his words. Second his actions, which should reflect an example of godliness. Third, his love was to be an example (1 Timothy 1:5, 14; 2:15). Fourth, Timothy was to be an example in faith. This is similar to 1 Timothy 1:5 where Paul said, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Fifth, Timothy’s example was to include his “purity,” both physically in his behavior around young women (1 Timothy 5:2) and in his spirituality (1 Timothy 5:22).

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 4 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below.

• To walk in His Blessing.

The very first words God spoke to Adam was “be blessed” (Genisis 1:28).  The Hebrew word translated as “blessed” can also at times signify a curse. Here, without a doubt, it signifies that God’s conferring of good on the newly created couple is to be shared by their descendants.

2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Why would someone be hesitant to give to meet the needs of others? One reasonable concern might be fear that we won’t have enough left over to meet our own needs. In this way, giving for Christians becomes an act of faith, trusting God to meet our needs while becoming the method by which He meets the needs of others.

Christians can afford to trust the God who loves us. He has already proven Himself faithful by giving us His grace through our faith in Jesus. He has given us all things forever in Christ. That knowledge should help Christians to be convinced He can be counted on to continue to make all grace abound to us. He will make it so we have “enough” of all things at all times so we can accomplish the good works He wants to see from us.

Christians who give generously are convinced that the source of their provision will not run out—because that source is God Himself !

Pastors Nathan and Salila Gonmei of Abundant Grace Church in Chiang Mai Thailand explain Biblically : Purposes of Your Life Part 5 in English and Thai languages in the 16 minute video below.