God’s Plan and Purpose (Part-4)

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph. Plan to serve purposefully. God Bless!)

• We have been created primarily FOR HIM. Therefore our lives must revolve around Him. 
• It is part of His plan to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.
• We are part of His family and part of His body; His plan for us includes others in the body of Christ.

Acts 13:36 says:“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;”

This is the purpose that I would like to explain today – serving; because this is the will of God for each one of us. We can identify with David as a shepherd boy- an ordinary young man, mostly ignored, left alone. David’s, family too was quite ordinary- he was the son of Jesse, whose sheep David tended. And while David cared for his father’s sheep, he began to grow close to God. His heart was full of praise for the God of Israel. 

And David understood that God had a specific and special plan and purpose for his own life as well. Because he writes in Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my substance,being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” What a wonderful revelation! God unfolding a plan for each day of David’s life- a plan that was formed even before David was born! And the verse in Acts 13:36 testifies that David fulfilled- accomplished, served -God’s purpose here on earth. 

That is why it is important for us to align our life-lines in accordance to the plan of God. God lifted up David- a simple shepherd boy, and placed him as head and king overall Israel. But David’s passion FOR GOD never waned- he sought after Him with all his heart and found Him. David said to himself that he will not give sleep to his eyes till he had built a temple for God’s presence. And even after knowing that Solomon would build the temple, David went about seeking and collecting the best of artisans and materials for the work of the temple. Such was his passion that David found the testimony- a man after God’s own heart. A man interested in seeking God’s purpose; a man passionate about fulfilling God’s purpose. 

Think about how and where you were, before being saved. Almost everyone will testify to this: God saw us in our lowly state and bestowed His grace upon us. Yes, He lifted us up out of the deep pit and placed us in high places; He has exalted us in the midst of people. Do you now see as David did- that God has a specific and special purpose for you? Are you interested to serve God in this your generation? 

Eph. 4:16 says: “From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” 

Paul talks about the purpose of each member in the body of Christ- every joint must supply,every part must do its share; the result is effective work and edification of the whole body as it grows.



Each part of the body is different from the other; and each does its work. There are some members in the body that are hidden- like the heart, lungs and kidney; but their function is unique and important for the entire body. So is the function and calling of each member in the body of Christ. Yes, each one is different from the other. If you are married, you will find that your spouse will be quite different from yourself in so many areas. If you have children, you will find that one child is so different from the other. We ARE unique; we ARE different- accept that. But, we are called to work TOGETHER in our specified roles that God has purposed for each one of us.

Are you seeking to find out what is YOUR purpose in His body? Are you willing to serve,accomplish and fulfill YOUR purpose? Find out YOUR purpose and function. 

Personally, I have been blessed by the book Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren. He explains that each one of us have a specific shape, that will FIT right into the body of Christ for the function that it has to fulfill; without YOU, the body will be incomplete. And we can find our place, and do our functions, by knowing our SHAPE. 

S-H-A-P-E coined as an acronym stands for:
Spiritual gifts 
Heart 
Abilities 
Personality 
Experience

1. Spiritual gifts 

1 Cor. 12:7 and 1Cor. 12:11 remind us that each one of us has received (at least one) spiritual gift(s). For it says: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ... But one and the same Spirit works all these things,distributing to each one individually as He wills. 

Two principles of gift is explained above: (i) Everyone has received at least one gift; and (ii) the gift is given not according to our will, but His. Therefore, every person must use his/her gift; and since the gift is for all, no person is inferior or superior because of his gift- this is the underlying theme of this chapter Paul writes to the Corinthians. In further verses, the Bible explains that everyone who has a gift (and a member in the body of Christ) must use his/her gift. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? (1 Cor. 12:15). And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” (1 Cor. 12:21). 

We must not envy the gift of others; and we must not neglect our own gift. This happens if we feel that our gift is inferior and think that others will not notice it anyway. But the truth is that there are hidden and unnoticeable parts in our human body too,that does its function- like the heart, or lungs; and these functions are ESSENTIAL, just as all other functions by various parts of the human body; so also is a member’s role in the body of Christ. So if you use your gift of intercessory prayer, no one may notice; but it will bring someone close to Jesus and bring glory to God. 

2. Heart

Romans 5:5 - Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in ourhearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

The love of God has been poured out in our hearts- therefore whatever are your interest and passion, use it to fulfill God’s purpose. We are ‘shaped’ to serve; do it with all your heart. 

A few days ago, I met a brother from Vizakapatnam; he shared with me how he had always felt in his heart to minister to the inmates of a prison. And so he goes regularly, to meet with the prisoners and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. And the brother did testify, how some had been transformed by the word of God and continued their Christian walk after their release from prison. 

What is in your heart today? Maybe some of you would have a passion for children or teenagers,or maybe orphans or slum-dwellers? Let your light shine from your heart, that it may bring glory to God. 

3. Ability 

Do not be enamored by only the spiritual gifts; God has also entrusted us with talents and abilities. 1 Cor. 12:28 says: And God has appointed these in the church:first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 

If you read theparable of the talents, you find the master giving the servants talents- to each according to his ability. So go ahead and use your abilities “in the church”, whether helps or administration. This is God’s purpose that we love one another and serve one another in the body of Christ. There is not one person who has it all [1 Cor. 12:29] and there is not one person who has none [parable of talents]. We need one another for edification and spiritual growth; this is God’s wondrous plan for our lives. 

4. Personality 

If you look at Psalm 139:16 again, notice the words “You formed me...”. God’s plan and purpose is included in the shape of your personality. And there are a wide variety of personalities- just look around you! Some are adventurous and impulsive; like Peter-the disciple of Jesus, they would want to get started right away... full of action. And we all know how God used Peter, even after his denial of Christ... and after the Pentecost, it was Peter who first stood up to preach- and 3000 souls were added that day! And we know of John, another of Jesus' disciple- who had a deep love for Jesus; different from Peter. Yet, God used him for declaring the end-times in the revelation of Jesus Christ. Timothy, another apostle- was meek and timid, and had to be constantly encouraged to DO more... and God used him, too. 

What about you? In spite of your struggles with your own personality, you can channel your thoughts to serve Jesus Christ. As you begin to take your fledgling steps, it is God who will use your personality to bring Him glory; and you must thereby fulfill your purpose in your generation. 

5. Experience

2 Cor. 1:4 is an excellent reference to our ‘questioning’ attitude to our own experiences. Blessed be the God... who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

Beloved, if you have not gone through pain, how can you relieve the pain of others? If you havenot gone through financial difficulties and found the answer in Jehovah-Jireh (God, our Provider), how will you counsel others in their financial need? We see, not just our bank balances, but we bank on what others do not see- the promises of God. And God shall supply all our needs... this is the cheque we encash at the throne of God.



Every person,every situation and every place that you have passed before, have in some way become your experiences; and if you have found comfort in Him through all your experience of tribulation and pain, then you are ready to comfort others who may go through similar painful circumstances in their own lives.

Romans 12:1,2 calls us for ‘proving’ what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God in our lives. Think about your spiritual gifts- how are you called to use them?And what about your passion, your abilities and talents- what are you waiting for? This life here on earth, and within the church where you are members in the body of Christ, that is the place to start your functions; SHAPE your vision and SERVE God; and thereby FULFIL your purpose here on earth and in this generation.

We- both small and great, have a sure reward in heaven for the SERVICE that we do. (Rev.11:18). May the God of peace grant you insight and clarity as to your calling and ministry for others, and grant you grace as you step forward to do your service to Him. Amen.