RUSSELL SANDERS

10-9-2025

GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU

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From the time you were conceived in your mother’s womb, your destiny was already written in the books of heaven. Psalm 139:15 says of the Lord, “Thine eyes did see my [physical] substance, yet being unperfect, and in thy book all my members [body parts] were written…when as yet there was none of them “formed.”

In Jeremiah 1:5a, God said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…I sanctified [set apart] thee” (for a specific purpose).

As we live our life on earth, our quest should be to find out God’s purpose for our life. Jeremiah’s purpose was to be a prophet to the nations. Your purpose will be specifically for you as an individual. How do you find out your purpose?

There is a general purpose that applies to all of us. We are to pursue a knowledge of God and to worship, honor, and glorify Him. But He also has a more specific plan or destiny for you. Are you studying His word with ears to hear the Holy Spirit to determine and to follow His purpose for you?    Proverbs 3:6b says that “he shall direct thy paths” if you will pay attention [acknowledge] to him.

You must keep your spiritual ears open rather than trying to figure out everything by your own reasoning. Provers 3:7a says, “Be not wise in thine own eyes.” When we try to set our own path, we can easily miss God’s path for us. This is because our spiritual ears are either deaf, or we choose to ignore and push aside God’s leading.

God’s path may be difficult or challenging, but the reward makes the journey worth it. The apostle Paul compared life to a race that you must finish to the end, no matter how difficult it is. God’s grace for strength and endurance will aid you to the finish line as long as you trust Him. Do not quit or give up.

HELEN SANDERS

10-9-2025

THE SEED PART 11

ZACHARIAS

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In the first chapter of Luke, we see the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth. They were both advanced in age. They had never had a child. Zacharias was a priest but of the lineage of Abia, the offspring of King David as was Joseph, Mary’s husband. Elizabeth was of the lineage of Aaron, which was of the Levitical priesthood line. 

As Zacharias was doing his office as the priest, burning incense before the Lord the angel Gabriel appeared and told him he would have a son. He would name him John, and he would be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb. This child would turn many to the Lord.

A son? No way, Gabriel. [my version of the story] I am too old and so is my wife, Elizabeth. Because of his lack of faith to believe God’s messenger, Zacharias would be struck dumb.  Yet, it would happen. Later at John’s birth Zacharias regained his voice when he announced the child would be called John. John was not the promised seed, but he would be used greatly by God to announce the coming of the promised seed.

Before John was born, Gabriel would make another visit. He would come to another descendant of king David; a virgin named Mary. Gabriel told her that she would conceive when the Holy Spirit would overshadow her. The holy thing, the seed that she would give birth to would be called the Son of God. The Promised Seed was now planted.

Gabriel tells her that her cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant. Mary then goes to see Elizabeth and a miraculous event happens. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped at the presence of Mary, now pregnant with the Promised Seed that would be called Jesus.

Elizabeth then prophesies over Mary in Luke 1:54-55 and said, “54 He [God] hath holpen [helped] his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.”

The promised seed was planted in Mary’s womb, and her day of deliverance would come. Yet, Satan would try to stop that seed from being able to fulfill God’s promise.

Tomorrow we will see how many infant’s lives were lost in trying to destroy the promised seed.