God's Appointed People

Do you ever think about what it would be like to live during another time period? Sometimes I think what it would have been like to live during the 70's and early 80's, seeing some of Carlton's famous grand final victories. But there is a reason why we are here now, there is a purpose for each of us in the position we are in. We are God’s appointed people for today. He put us here for a reason, at this point in time. But are we all living to fulfil the purpose? If not, what is holding us back? Are we single minded people, set on the goal? Or are we double-mided, as it states in James

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

We must remember everything in our lives is appointed for us unto God!

In life there is basically two ways to live:

• Highway to heaven
• Byway to hell

Therefore we must constantly refill ourselves daily with the word of God, this word should be final for us. We must stay on the straight path, as it describes in Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight

But the problem today is too many people do not stick on the straight path, they like to take detours via things that are unpleasing to God. They indulge in things that satisfy the flesh, things which ultimately lead you to the byway to hell. Today many “Baal’s” still exist, false God's in our lives, things which take our focus from Christ. But God wants us to be single minded for only Him. Therefore we must

refresh ourselves daily with Gods word, we must know His plan for us. Romans 8:6-8 talks of the importance of this:

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

We must live our lives according to our calling and we learn this through reading his word and obeying His commands

Apart from being single-minded and focused on God, we cannot allow our past to creep back in and take hold. Matthew 6:24 says:

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

We have been born again and moved on from our past, we are forgiven and God has given us power to beat our past. So we must protect ourselves from the desires of our past. We must no longer live according to what is right in this world but instead how Romans 12:2 says:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Even on the straight path, we may fall and make mistakes, but we must remember what Acts 3:19 states:

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Jesus is the truth and that doesn’t change! Jesus can make all things work together for those that love and worship Him. This highlights the significance of living in line with His heart and denying ourselves. Romans 8:28 reads

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.

If you love God and live for His word, we are different to others, when we enter a room, the spiritual level changes! Just as Romans 8:37 says:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

But we can only achieve what we put in. You can only reap that which you have sowed. Galatians 6:7-10 says

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

If you continue to allow the flesh to guide you, it will only result in destruction. But if you sow according to the desires of the Holy Spirit, you will receive eternal life. Therefore we must be single minded and not give up our good works. Luke 11:17 warns of the consequences:

Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall

People continually attempt to split themselves, be in both sides. But this isn’t what God planned for us

We need to be the best we can be for God and enhance the lives of others.

We are the people God has a purpose for today, thats why we are here now. But in order to know our purpose, we must read His word, spend time in His presence. In order to successfully serve Jesus, we cannot continue on serving other gods, it unpleasing to Christ and we will ultimately fail. We must leave our past in the past, we are a new creation in Christ. Just as 2 Cor 5:17 tells us:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

We must attack our worries with the promises of God!