Lesson 6: Created for a Purpose (4)
Read Ephesians 2:1-10 - https://www.bible.com/bible/59/eph.2

The fourth "will of God" we will study here is "doing good." This is found in 1 Peter 2:15 and Ephesians 2:10. The first of these verses tells us the purpose of good works is to "silence the ignorance of foolish people." The second of these verses tells us it was for this purpose, the purpose of good works, that we were saved – works which were planned and prepared for us before the foundation of the world. In this sense we are irreplaceable in God's kingdom. He designed these good works just for us. This does not mean if we fail we have messed up God's kingdom, because we are told in Isaiah 14:24 ALL of God's purposes will come to pass, and EVERY purpose will stand.

Finding God's will is not as difficult as we sometimes want to make it. We want it to be a mystical revelation from the heavens, and then we go forth and achieve fame and glory for God's kingdom. But that is not the way it works. We are faithful in the little things – allowing God to have control over what movie we watch, whom we talk to, what we buy in the grocery store, how we dress when we water the lawn, the actions of our hands when another driver cuts us off on the road, the word we say to the fellow shopper behind us in the line at the checkout who runs their buggy into our leg, and the look on our face when the weather is not cooperating with our plans. If we are faithful in the little things (and those may not be so little) He will give us the opportunity to be faithful in the big things.


We have not addressed how we know which job to take, which house to buy, or when do I get a new car. If we have followed the above steps, God makes us a promise – “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Does this mean you can have anything you want? Yes – the point is, you will want what God wants because you will be seeking Him first and His kingdom; you won’t be interested in your own way or seeking your own pleasure. It is not a formula for obtaining riches and power and glory; it is a lifestyle that seeks His kingdom, His power, and His glory. God will never be manipulated. He will only bless those who honestly seek Him. When we honestly seek Him, His blessing is “the desires of our heart” because this is when His desires have become ours.

Look up each of the following verses and write down what it says God wants you to do:
*2 Peter 3:9
*Ephesians 5:18-19
*1 Thessalonians 4:3
*1 Thessalonians 5:18
*1 Peter 2:15
*Ephesians 2:10