Isaiah 14:22
Chuck Smith explains that God has an unchanging purpose for humanity, which is to achieve close fellowship with Him, and that trying to fight or hinder this purpose is only to destroy oneself.
Chuck Smith emphasizes God's unchanging purpose for humanity, asserting that life is not a product of chance but part of a divine plan known by God from the beginning. He explains that God's ultimate purpose is to have close fellowship with man, which requires willing submission to Him, and that the chaos in the world serves as a reminder of humanity's need for divine guidance. Smith warns against the futility of resisting God's purpose, illustrating that attempts to thwart it only lead to self-destruction. He calls for the church to focus on leading people to Christ rather than merely alleviating suffering, as true redemption comes from turning to the Savior.
Text
"GOD'S UNCHANGING PURPOSE"
Intro: Why were you born? What is conscious life, whet is the purpose of it?
I. GOD'S SET PURPOSE VS. 24.
A. World not product of chance - fortudious con.
B. World conditions are not an accident.
1. From the beginning God has known each successive form of govt. men
would try.
a. God has known the weak points that would deteriorate &
ultimately destroy it.
b. God spoke to Daniel at the zienth of the Babylonian Kingdom.
c. In immediate context God speaks of Babylon long before she
was a world power.
1. He speaks of her utter destruction.
2. Humanity is running according to pre-determined course.
a. Peter's sermon at Pentecost.
b. Present day conditions described in scripture.
II. WHAT IS GOD'S PURPOSE?
A. His ultimate purpose is close fellowship with man.
1. To achieve this purpose man must be in willing submission to Him.
2. To make man willing to submit, He has allowed him the liberty to
rule himself.
a. Man must come to the end of himself before he fully
submits to God.
1. This is a problem for many Christians.
b. The present world chaos should be final proof against
all self improvement cults.
We need more than a minor do-it-yourself adjustment.
We need a major overhaul by the spirit.
3. Man needs to wake up to his need for God.
a. You might say that God is trying to teach him this fact, but
He has to get his attention first - 2x4.
III. WHO CAN FIGHT OR HINDER GOD'S PURPOSE? PEOPLE TRY VS. 27.
A. You can stop a fast train by standing on the tracks.
B. Man trying to move Empire State building.
"Throw himself at it. "I'll move it if it kills me."
C. Children singing "we got even with the man at the..."
D. To try to fight the purpose of God is only to destroy yourself.
1. Many churches today seeking to thwart God's purposes.
2. God desires that man should taste the fruit of his rebellion, so that
he would cease rebelling.
a. The church that makes its chief goal the alleviation of
suffering humanity is working against God.
b. The true goal of the Church is to point suffering humanity
to a Savior who will redeem them if they will only turn to Him.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - God's Set Purpose (vs. 24) - World conditions are not an accident - '[''God has known each successive form of govt. men would try'', ''God has known the weak points that would deteriorate & ultimately destroy it'']'
- II points: - God's Purpose - Ultimate purpose is close fellowship with man - '[''Man must be in willing submission to Him'', ''Man must come to the end of himself before he fully submits to God'']'
- III points: - Who Can Fight or Hinder God's Purpose (vs. 27) - To try to fight the purpose of God is only to destroy yourself - '[''Many churches today seeking to thwart God''s purposes'', ''The true goal of the Church is to point suffering humanity to a Savior who will redeem them if they will only turn to Him'']'
Key Quotes
“We need more than a minor do-it-yourself adjustment. We need a major overhaul by the Spirit.” — Chuck Smith
“To try to fight the purpose of God is only to destroy yourself.” — Chuck Smith
“The true goal of the Church is to point suffering humanity to a Savior who will redeem them if they will only turn to Him.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We need a major overhaul by the Spirit to achieve close fellowship with God.
- Trying to fight or hinder God's purpose is only to destroy oneself.
- The true goal of the Church is to point suffering humanity to a Savior who will redeem them if they will only turn to Him.