Purposes and Plans - Working Together for our Good

Teachable Woman Podcast

Purposes and Plans - Working Together for Good

Reverends Michele Owes and Diana P. Cherry

[00:00:00]

Rev. Michele Owes: Welcome back, podcast family. Welcome to the Teachable Woman Podcast. We are excited to be with you today. We are grateful that you will allow us to join you on your ride to work, on your ride home while you're cleaning the house, or whenever you choose to listen to our podcast. I am Reverend Michelle Owes.

Rev. Michele Owes: I am with the one and only Mrs. Diana P. Cherry. Together, we are teachers of good things. Mrs. Cherry, say

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Hello, podcast family. Always remember to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. He's the one that made us. He's the one who knows us. He's the one that we ought to be serving.

Rev. Michele Owes: Amen. Amen. Thank you for that. He is the one who knows us. He is the one who made us. We have been talking to you about the purpose and plans. [00:01:00] God has a purpose for our lives, and he has plans. And we should say, I should correct that. I should say purposes. Because it's plural. It's not one-and-done. It's not the one thing you'll do for all the days of your life. God has purposes and plans for our lives, and our obedience is required to fulfill those. We shared from Jeremiah 29 and 11, where the Lord said, I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. We learned that an expected end gives us hope for our future. I don't know about you, but the fact that God has thoughts me warms my heart in a way that I cannot explain. The fact that he thinks of me warms my [00:02:00] heart and changes my mind about how much he loves me. It's one thing to say you love someone, but to have thoughts toward me and plans for me is a whole new ball game. We went from there to Jeremiah chapter one. We proved via the scripture that before God placed us in the womb of our parents, he knew us, which means that he set us aside for purposes and plans according to his will. He ordained us, meaning that he's given us the grace necessary to fulfill whatever plans he has for our lives. Mrs. Cherry ended with, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” That's from Romans. Hey, that's a New Testament scripture. And we're going to springboard from Romans today. Mrs. Cherry, start us off.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: All right. I didn't expect that so soon, but we're in [00:03:00] Romans chapter eight. The entire book of Romans is just one of my favorite books. I think it's because they always call me a sin preacher. And Romans, you can just,

Rev. Michele Owes: They do.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: I can get down on sin out of Romans, but Romans chapter

Rev. Michele Owes: eight

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: yeah, Romans,

Rev. Michele Owes: and

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: number 13.

Rev. Michele Owes: verse 29.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Verse number 29. Okay. The Word of God says, well, I will start at 28 because I use this almost every day of my life. Now, you have to actualize the scripture in your life. The Word of God says, and we know, we're confident, and we are assured that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: If you know that you [00:04:00] are the called according to his purpose, we must get to the point where we become almost like belligerent Christians, belligerent about our belief. You know, this is what I believe. You can't make me change it. You can't upset me. You can't pull me off of what I believe. So we know without a doubt that if we are the called according to the purpose of God, it might not look good.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: It might not feel like it's good, but we have confidence that all things, all things at work, all things in my marriage, all things in my home. All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. The key is knowing that you are called according to his purpose.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: That’s first and foremost. The Word of God says for whom he did foreknow, [00:05:00] he foreknew all of us. We saw in Jeremiah that he knew us before we were formed in our mama's bellies. So whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Jesus Christ was the firstborn of many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, he also called. Jeremiah told us this. And whom he called, he also justified. And whom he justified, he also glorified. So we're called, we're justified, we're glorified. So, listen. God asks us a profound question in verse number 31.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against [00:06:00] us? Why are we whining and crying and complaining and blaming? God is for us. I believe that.

Rev. Michele Owes: Yes.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: It doesn't matter what I feel like.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: It doesn't matter who's done what to me. God is for me. God knows me. God has a plan and a purpose for me. God knew me before mama and daddy got together and had fun having me.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: God knows me. Right? God knows me.

Rev. Michele Owes: Right.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: So, who can be against me when God is for me? God will move heaven and earth for me. God gave his only son to die on the cross so that I could be justified. My God, and then I'm going to be glorified eventually. What else is more precious than that? [00:07:00] Please lift yourself up out of the pits of despair.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Don't allow people to pluck your last nerve. None of us have any extra nerves that we can allow anybody to pluck. Don't allow anybody to, what do they call it, ruffle your feathers. We don't have feathers.

Rev. Michele Owes: Yes.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Once this podcast is over for today, I want you to find a quiet time, read Romans, and know that God is with you.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: God is for us. No matter what we're going through, we must know that everything will work together for good. Is it good? Does it look good? Does it feel good? No, [00:08:00], but patience, it will work together for good. But we must ensure we don't upset the apple cart before the manifestation comes.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: We just have to believe.

Rev. Michele Owes: For the Good. Yes, good.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: It doesn't feel good. We might think it's not good, but the word of God says it will work together for good to those who love God. Do you love God? Are you called according to his purpose? Then relax. Take a deep breath.

Rev. Michele Owes: Yes,

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Just relax.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: God is with us. God is for us. It's going to be all right. Amen.

Rev. Michele Owes: Yes, it is. As I listened, you are so right about believing that everything works together for good. I remember one of the lowest points [00:09:00] of my life. I remember a conversation that I had with my mother when I was hurting and—telling her what was happening. I also remember that that lowest moment was also the beginning of the best moments of my life. It had to get to that low moment where I was so grossly disappointed by man and everything that I could possibly be disappointed by, but it was the beginning. Of my life in Christ Jesus, that low moment drew me to Christ in a way that I had not expected, known, or even fathomed. It brought me to a life I’ve never since turned away from or looked back on. For those of us who may be at a point in our lives where we feel low [00:10:00] emotionally or haven't accomplished all the things we want to achieve in life. , or we have the woe unto me's because we made plans for our lives verse 28 says all things. I'm going to work together for your good. We didn't check with God to even see if they were his plans, but we made plans, and we're not there yet, but all things work together for our good.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: 28. Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: It's 28.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: That all things are working together for good. That, that low moment in my life, those tears, that heartache, it worked together for my good. Now, did I feel like it while I was crying, mad and upset? No, it didn't feel like it at that moment, but because God is…

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: The things that I learned in those moments, I made some never agains, in my life. Some courage came out of that moment that I didn’t have prior to experiencing it. There was some knowledge that I didn't have that I gained afterward. I had a resolve in my heart and mind about who I would be and what I would do, what I would take, what I wouldn't take.

Rev. Michele Owes: I didn't have any of that before that moment. So if some things are not going well in your life, take stock of these

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm . Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: Find out what it is God would have you to learn and know from this.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: Don't pull out a cot and stay there. From this moment, make you some never-again lists.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Amen.

Rev. Michele Owes: Have a resolve to do better and have better for yourself. And I don't mean have things, I'm talking about having a level of respect for yourself and others that will not you in [00:12:00] situations that God wouldn't be

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: with. Just God's word is now leading you. We're not making any more of those.

Rev. Michele Owes: Well, I want to, and my heart said, Cause your heart's not even supposed to be talking. I'm

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yeah. Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: allow the word of God to lead you, but no on verse number Based on Romans eight and 28, that even these things that you don't like, they will work together for

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: If you will allow God to

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: some things from these times, because God was able to teach me through this time.

Rev. Michele Owes: He showed me some things about me and he also showed me some things about him. Daughter, I warned you about this. This is when I told you,

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: I showed you this. And I said, no, but you press forward

Rev. Michele Owes: This was not my will for you. It was your will for you.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: We have the right to choose? And so it's [00:13:00] going to work together for your good because God has destined you.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yes.

Rev. Michele Owes: He has called you. When we hear that word called, I don't want us to get scared. It doesn't mean we're called to preach or go to the pulpit, or start a church. Cause when people hear that word, that's typically what they think. But it means that God is summoning you away from where you

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm

Rev. Michele Owes: He's calling you

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: To be his child.

Rev. Michele Owes: that there is an option in your heart to be his. no longer be your own, to be

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Amen.

Rev. Michele Owes: and that's what he means when he's calling

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Amen.

Rev. Michele Owes: So it's all

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yes.

Rev. Michele Owes: It is, it works. That's why we can say it's all good.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right, right,

Rev. Michele Owes: For the good.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: I'm gonna read some script. I might preach a little bit. Romans excite me so much. [00:14:00] But listen,

Rev. Michele Owes: You are free.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Romans 8 verse number 31. Listen to this. If God be for us, who can be against us? He spared not his own son. He didn't spare Jesus Christ so that we could have life. He delivered him up for all of us.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: How shall we not with him, with Jesus, also freely, how shall he not give us freely, give us all things? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him for us all. How shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Listen, children of God, podcast listeners, who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: If God be for us, who can be [00:15:00] against us? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercessions for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulations or distress, or persecution, or famine,

Rev. Michele Owes: Mm-hmm.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: nakedness, or peril, or the sword, or some crazy politician, or the loss of our jobs, or the loss of our good government paychecks.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: What's going to separate us from Christ? These trials, these perils, these things identify who is with God. And who might be a little shaky draw closer to God

Rev. Michele Owes: Sweetheart.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: it is written. For thy sake we are killed all the day [00:16:00] long. We're counted as sheep for the slaughter, but nay,

Rev. Michele Owes: Mm-hmm

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: all these things, listen saints of God, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: For I'm persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, Nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. They might throw stuff at us. They might fling fiery darts at us.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right now, they're throwing stuff against the wall just to see what's going to stick. I don't care what sticks. I don't care what falls off. We serve a never changing God and [00:17:00] nothing's gonna make me stop serving him. Nothing's gonna make me stop loving him. God is God and he's God all by himself. And we have to perish this, the, the, the fear.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Let no man, fear no man, let no man cause you to fear, let no man cause you to lose your persuasion. Pray, you'll become persuaded through prayer.

Rev. Michele Owes: Mm hmm.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: through this situation

Rev. Michele Owes: Mm

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: and pray for those who misuse you. Pray for those who abuse you.

Rev. Michele Owes: Mm

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: need God. They need Jesus Christ, the righteous son of God. I pray for those people.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: I'm sure they'll come to a saving knowledge of God daily. Only God can intervene in some of these situations that we face in life, in our homes, marriages, and with our children. So be strong in the Lord and in the [00:18:00] power of his might. Don't let no man take your peace. Man didn't give it to you, and man can't take it away.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: The world, the old song said, This peace I have, the world didn't give it to me. The world didn't give it, and the world can't take it away. This joy I have, the world didn't give it to me. The world didn't give it and the world can't take it away. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Be encouraged.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Be a witness. Don't be like everybody else who's going through the same thing you're going through. Show them how to do it girl. Show them how to do it man. Go through with joy. Go through with God. You can do this thing. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Rev. Michele Owes: We go through many things in our lives. Before we record the podcast, we have a chance just to throw it all out there and get it all off our hearts and minds. But, [00:19:00] we still go through with Christ Jesus. I mean, we don't want you to think that because you can hear our voices or because you knew our husbands or because you, us in a certain way God has made us exempt from the issues of this world.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Oh yeah.

Rev. Michele Owes: That is so not. So nay, nay, you are wrong. We face the same kind of challenges that everybody else faces, but we are certain that our God will not leave us.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yes. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm.

Rev. Michele Owes: We must check our thinking. I want to say before we draw this to a close. Pray and in prayer, God can show you some things not only about you, but about others that you never knew. And God is [00:20:00] trusting you at this moment to know these things and respond in kind according to his will. Sometimes we like to talk about things, complain about things, or whine about things. Whatever it is we're doing about it. And please stay off the internet trying to destroy people with our comments, thoughts, and words. None of that brings anything good. If we bring our issues before the Lord, and we pray and, let God handle them before we try to tell somebody off or what to pray first. I'm saying that God wants us to cast every care up on him because he cares for us. Not only does he care for us, but he also cares about the other person. And so you know he's going to do the thing right? So we wanna make [00:21:00] sure that we beef up how we pray, what we pray about, know who we're praying to, and understand that we have a God whose love for us never fails. If you've ever failed at anything, if you've ever been disappointed in yourself about how you handle the thing, just think about the fact that you have a God who has never failed. Why would we not choose? To cast all of our cares upon him because he does care for

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mhm.

Rev. Michele Owes: And so as we learn in this, we have to be fully persuaded our own mind that the God that we serve is God. And besides him, there is no other. And once we are fully persuaded that he has a purpose and a plan for our lives, then we want to get busy about getting in a Bible, believing Bible teaching church.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: [00:22:00] Mhm.

Rev. Michele Owes: lives. And when we say Bible believing, Bible teaching, I mean the scriptures are open unto you. get a chance to God's word, hear God's word taught. Jesus is mentioned in the service your Savior. The pastor is not your Savior, nor is he or she your Lord. Jesus is. And so we want you to make sure that you don't forget that part of your Christian walk, because we're not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. I like to think about going to church. And it's a poor parallel, but it's the only one I've got. Like, my car only goes so far without some additional gas, right? I make the stop at the gas station, or I'm in the car praying for God to make the little bit in the car [00:23:00] last until I get where I need to be. But you need a filling station. You need a place. that can fill your heart with the rightly divided word of God. And while you were sitting there, God will minister to your heart as to his purpose, his plans, his will, how to make the decision, what the right answer is for the things that you are perplexed and challenged with. That's how you know you're in the right place. It's not the choir. It's not the children's ministry. It's not the building. It's not even the location. It is whether or not you are getting the rightly divided word of God. You can make decisions and solve problems in your life based on the word of God. And so we want you to know that God has a purpose and a plan- the church.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mhm.

Rev. Michele Owes: He said, upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. He's not [00:24:00] talking about the physical building, but we do assemble to hear the word of God. We assemble to learn the word of God. be rightly divided for us. So that's our encouragement to you as we bring this podcast to a close. Hope you receive something. We hope you know that God is for you. We hope you know that you're not just here because your mom and dad had an opportunity to make you, but God

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Amen.

Rev. Michele Owes: He created you with a purpose and plan.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Amen.

Rev. Michele Owes: All right, Ms. Cherry. End us.

Rev. Michele Owes:

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: final scripture. Verse number 18 says, for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy. To be compared with the glory, which shall be revealed in us. Be strong, be encouraged, be not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. God will use this opportunity of [00:25:00] trial and tests.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: To cause you to be a good witness and to bring others into a saving knowledge of him and his son. Do not be dismayed. God is with us. He is for us. Let no man judge you. Be strong. Keep hope in your heart as long as you have breath.

Rev. Michele Owes: Amen. We love you. We'll see you on our next podcast. Don't forget to register for the retreat July 17th through 20th in H Town. We will be in Houston again. We will be at the Westin Hotel at the Galleria. Make sure you go to teachablewoman.com. Reserve your spot. Again, if you're married, bring your husband. Make this also an enjoyable time for the two of you. Go back to the room and practice some of what you learned. We also teach you how to have fun with your husband. Don't we, Ms. Cherry?

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Oh, yeah.

Rev. Michele Owes: That’s it [00:26:00] for us.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Remember, God bless you. God bless.