Contributor: Wale Abiona

INTRODUCTION
Last week, while studying God’s Plan for Man, we understood that His original plan for man and location He placed man was to replicate what was present in heaven here on earth. The Lord’s Prayer in Mat. 6:10 gives us this insight …“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
Rev 4:11 also tells us that God created all things for His pleasure
Gen. 3:8 revealed to us that God walked with man in the Garden for fellowship, and after the fall of man, He didn’t put man off but He sought to keep His original plan by giving us instructions on how to maintain the fellowship.
The book of Micah revealed three things that will help us with that and continue to give God the pleasure He desired in our daily fellowship with Him.
As we go through this verse of scripture, I want us to ask ourselves one question and as we progress in today’s today, we should individually answer the question
What does God want from me?

Text Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?"

A. TO DO JUSTLY

Acting justly, or doing justice, is “the quality of being impartial or fair.” Our world is full of injustice and God wants you and I to be different. This could be achieved by questioning our actions
1. Who will suffer the consequence(s) of my action(s)?
2. At what cost am I getting this done?
The 4 way test of the rotary club comes to mind
• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

In Proverbs 12:3 the Bible says: “Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots..”

Proverbs 12:19 also says: “The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.”

Perhaps some people try to accomplish things and advance in life through deception. But it is clear that it will not last! What is done right is what will stand at the end.
Jesus spoke about the two houses, the house that was built on the sand and the one built on the rock. The house on the rock was not shaken when the storm beat against it. Everybody encounters the storms of life, the elements of life, both the righteous and the ungodly. But the house of the righteous is built on a rock; it is built on righteousness and it stands firmly.

So, what does the Lord require of you?

To choose righteousness and goodness in all your ways! To try and gain something for yourself in an ungodly way never pays. There is no blessing in that.
Doing justice is helping the needy around us. Jesus said the poor you will have with you always. Mat.26:11
In Proverbs 21:13 we learn that God’s Word shows no impartiality. It says, “Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need”

B. LOVE MERCY
The next command offered by God in Micah 6:8 is “to love mercy.”
This means to show compassion. It is a combination pity and love that produces a kind reaction towards others.
Mercy refers to God’s loving kindness to us. It is interesting to note that God wants us to show mercy—having compassion for those in need. This is not always easy, as we see so much human need; it is on our streets and are bombarded daily by social media. It is easy for our hearts to harden and our minds to judge.
“As one of my people, I hope you love mercy—for that is what you have received.”

There is the story of the founder of Food for the Hungry Organisation (Dr. Ward) whose core value is mercy. He had learned that 10,000 people worldwide were dying of hunger every day and was distraught over the number, begging God for an answer to how he could help. “I’m just one person,” he prayed.
He sensed God saying to him, “But they die one at a time, my son, they die one at a time.”
Dr. Ward realized that if people die one at a time, we can help them one at a time. He founded FH on the concept that mercy can be shown to one person at a time, by one person at a time.

Moved by compassion, each of us can take the step of showing tangible mercy to a person in need.
One of the challenges we face is the thought of the numbers needing mercy and this has prevented us from doing what is expected of us. One at a time, that is all that is required. We cannot solve the world problem, but you can help one person. And he will later help one person and so on and so forth.

C. WALK HUMBLY
The third command in Micah 6:8 is “to walk humbly with your God.”
The “walk” is used often in Scripture to describe the overall direction one’s life is heading. The adverb “humbly” moves us away from arrogance and the egocentric need to always be better than others, to the simple acceptance of the gifts that God has placed within us
In Deuteronomy, there are a number of references to walking in the way of the Lord, several psalms refer to a walk being blameless, and 1 John 1:7 encourages us to walk in the light.
This gives us an insight into what type of relationship God is calling us to, a life that fits into that path. Humility is what helps us to trust and obey God.
Humility is the hallmark of our walk with Him. To acknowledge that without God’s grace, we are nothing, we are poor but He is rich and became poor so that we may become rich in His love. To understand that we’ve been saved by His grace is a sign of humility.
Walking humbly with God is of key importance when relating with people especially those who are below us. On many occasions, we often forget that we were once in their shoes and it was only by His grace that we are who we are today.
The hymn “Trust and Obey” comes to mind as the first verse reads
“When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.”

QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1. What does the Lord desire for me?
These we have seen through our study today
2. What gifts and abilities has He given me for that?
The power and ability to make right choices and the Holy Spirit is available to guide us
3. How can I step outside my comfort zone to other areas the Lord may be desiring for me? (obeying God rather than my flesh)
By taking a step of faith, trusting God by holding unto His Word
4. What are ways I can make Micah 6:8 an action in my life?
By purposefully doing what we learnt today, always desiring to do His will.

John 1:12 tells us that for as many that believes, to them He gave power to become what they desire in line with His plan, according to the power that work in us.
Ephesians 3:20 says: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”

CONCLUSION
God’s expectations are actually very simple, there is no beating around the bush with Him. His desire is that His children should be like Him, have the same mind, the same thoughts, and the same life, and the same godly sorrow over unrighteousness in our hearts. The same honesty and straightforwardness in every areas of our lives.
Disciples of Christ are characterised by integrity and honesty. There should be no deceitful, or hidden agenda in our behaviours. Everything should be direct and straightforward, as we follow in His footsteps.
God’s desire; what He requires from us is to do what is just, show mercy and be humble.

Contributor: Clem Roberts

INTRODUCTION
God has knowledge that will bring results in our lives. Knowing His plan will yield tremendous outcomes to our journey that He has predestined for us all. When God created Heaven and Earth in Genesis 1:1, He created the heavens and the earth because He wanted two places where He could have fellowship. A place to Fellowship comfortably in Heaven and also comfortably on the earth. You are on this earth to become better, to know God, and to find happiness. And as you follow God’s plan and His commandments, you can experience joy now and throughout your life.

Text Gen 1:28 -

"Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
•God's will is what He desires;
•His plan is what He desires we follow.
•His will is that we keep His commandments
•So that we can become like Him and experience everlasting joy

God's Original Plan Was For Man
•To live forever on earth
•Live without sin
•Be in perfect health
•Of a sound mind and body

God's Wants To Talk - He Craves Communion
That why He says in Isaiah 1:18
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

Man's Deviation From The Original Plan Brought:
•Loss of communion and fellowship with God Isa. 59:2, Eph.2:11-12.
•Death - Spiritual (Rom.6:23a); physical (Heb.9:27); Eternal (Rev.20:15).
•Received the nature of sin and debt to sin Gen.1:27 and Gen.5:3.
•Transferred our fatherhood to the devil (Jn.8:44).
•Slavery to Satan (Col.1:13, 2 Tim.2:26).
•Loss of God-given authority to the devil – Jn.14:30, Lk.4:5-6; Eph. 6:10-18
•Loss of Dominion over all the works of God’s hand Gen.1:28.
•Loss of freedom from diseases, sorrow, hardship and sufferings, Gen. 3:16-19.
God's Plan Does Not Include:
•Being religious or churchy – Acts 10:1-9, Jn. 3:1-3
•Keeping the Law – Rom.3:20, Gal.2:16-21
•Being self-righteous – Isa. 64:6, Phil.3:8-9
•Educated and cultured – 1 Cor.1:18-25, Matt.15:2-3, 8-9
These things are good and important but they will not Substitute for the plan of God

Salvation – God’s Realignment To His Original Plan
•It is the redemptive process put in place by God to rescue man from theprecipice of eternal separation from Him.
•It is God’s life-line to save His creation from the helplessness and devastationof man’s treachery against his Creator.
•Salvation therefore is the comprehensive road map designed by God to redirectman from his fallen nature to the embrace of the newness of life.

God’s original plan made provision for joy and eternal bliss. The more you understand and follow His plan, the more you realize you can only make it back to Him not by following your own plan by His own plan alone.
•He made it possible for every sin and every mistake you make to disappear
•He made possible for your sin be forgotten through Jesus Christ.

How To Follow God's Plan
•Sincere Repentance.
•Baptism and Receiving the Holy Ghost.
•Constant and Continuous Effort to Return to God.
•Acknowledge that Jesus Christ and only Jesus is the Center of God’s Plan

Benefits Of Salvation
•You become a new creature in Christ Jesus. 2 Cor 5:17
•You receive the spirit of adoption into the beloved sonship of God - Rm 8:15;Eph 1:3-6
•God makes His domain in you - 1 Cor 3:16
•You become Heir with Christ - Rm 8:18
•You are entitled to all of the blessings heaven has - 1 Cor 3:21-23
•Demons flee from you- Mark 3:15, 16:17-21
•Angels assist you - Heb 1:14, Psalm 91:6-7
•Your name is written in heaven - Heb12:23
•Eternity awaits you as a priest and as a king - Rev:1:5-6
•You have access to the throne of grace - Heb 4:14-16
•You carry divinity in your humanity - 2 Pet 1:3-4

CONCLUSION

Proverbs 19:21 says:

"There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand."

The Bible directly tells us that no matter what our plans are, the Lord's plan is what will come to fruition. And the conclusion of the whole matter is for us all to fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty(“plan”) of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Contributor: Alex Alajiki

4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah. 1:4-5

INTRODUCTION:

Welcome to our bible study sessions for 2022. I strongly believe that the Lord will use this series of studies to help us know Him better for ourselves, allow God to take note of us and eventually make God known to our world by shinning His light through Christ Jesus. I will encourage us to take the studies of this year more seriously than we have ever done, because this will practically affect the directions of the rest of our lives, individually and collectively. Let us be like the Berean believers in Acts 17:10-11

“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

The studies will practically be focusing on God’s purpose, plan and pursuit. This will take us into different aspects that will help unfold the mind of God through scriptures to us. 

God’s Big Picture; Matt. 6:10
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The above scripture gave us insight into God’s supreme agenda in our world since the beginning and the fall of man. We need look no further than Jesus, who was in every way the complete and full expression of God’s will in action. In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus prayed,
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

The propagation of God’s kingdom and the doing of His will on earth can only be perfectly realised when each one of us can discover his/her purpose, embrace His plan and be willing to pursue His plan to the end. Jesus Himself discovered God’s purpose, embraced His plan and followed it to the very end.

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8; I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Ps. 40:7-8

1. Understanding God’s Purpose; Jer. 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
The purpose or reason why anything exist can only be defined by the creator. Our purpose was already programmed into every creature of God and nobody can discover purpose outside the creator. Our complete identities, compositions and assignments were in God before we were created, and nobody can change that original intention of God except Him. There are two reasons why it is important for everyone to discover their purpose in life;

a) Your sense of purpose is important to your well-being; Ps. 82:5
"They do not know, nor do they understand; They walk about in darkness; All the foundations of the earth are unstable."

Our individual identity is rooted in our purpose. Maybe you know someone who bases their identity on the things they own, their partner or even a job, what happens if they lose any of those things? Their sense of self quickly crumbles and they’re left trying to figure out what to do. Our well-being and self-acceptance is rooted in discovery of purpose. Finding your purpose in God doesn’t carry that risk. God never changes and so we can be sure that when we ground our identity and purpose in Him, the foundation remains firm.

b) It is God who gives you purpose; Isa. 43:7
"Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory, I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

God specifically created everyone of us for His glory and only the people who discover and fulfil that purpose can bring glory back to God. Every man must find out their purpose from God.

2) Embracing God’s Plan; Jer. 29:11
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peaceand not of evil, to give you a future and a hope"

A plan is a product of several thoughts. God’s plan is His thought-out steps, with details of timing and resources to accomplish our purpose in life. His ways are not always the way we like to go, but only His plans can take us to His desired destination for our lives.

3) The Pursuit of God’s Purpose and Plan; Prov. 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

When we embrace God’s plan, then we have simply put our trust in Him. We must now be ready to pursue that plan of God for our lives. The Holy Spirit is ever committed to lead us all the way through the journey of our individual destinies.
Ps. 32:8-9 says:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.