The effectiveness of any action is seen not in the action itself but in its outcome. For instance a golfer may execute a perfect swing and hit the ball perfectly but if he is not aiming in the right direction then the outcome undermines the action. A defender in a football match may head the ball with perfect timing but if it hits the back of his teams goal, the outcome undermines the action. In the whole of life its not just about doing things well its about doing the right things. Some people are very efficient but not very effective. If our abilities are not achieving the desired result, then we need to review what we are doing.If you know what God has called you to do, then you should start with the desired result in mind. And not be deterred by the circumstances on route. The First book in the Bible describes the beginning of lifeGenesis is Greek meaning beginnings theHebrew name bere'shith, from the first words “in the beginning” God did not give a detailed scientific breakdown of creation. All we know is that God created, he did so over 6 x 24 hour days, and we see the sequence of his created order, The purpose of the Scripture is for instruction in righteousness. It was not written to teach you geology or biology. It was written to show man's relationship to God and God's requirements for man and what man must do to be saved. The story of the creation was told in Genesis in 282 words, because the beginning is not the end, God gives summary details of peoples lives all through scripture, their highs and lows their beginnings and ends. God records creation in so few words because God has an end in view. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.Col 1:16 (NKJV)Scripture is clear that creation was purposeful not accidental, it was not an end in itself but had an end in view. If all things were created for Him then creation has a purpose, The Last book of the Bible is called The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass;Rev 1:1 (KJV)The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure (thelēma) they are and were created. Rev 4:10-11 (KJV)Gk: thelēma pleasure, Will, Desire, For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will (thelēma) in all wisdom and spiritual understanding That ye might walk (peripateō) worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,(areskeia ) being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Col 1:10 (KJV)Here Paul prays for the believers to be “filled with the knowledge of his will” (thelēma) to be filled with what God wills, (desires gains pleasure from)You see the benefit of being filled with the knowledge of Gods will, “the whole round of the activities of the individual life” are pleasing to God and you, not only that but your life becomes productive. ”Fruitful in every good work” If we are following the teaching that God is unfolding we will remember last weeks teaching about works, the end of time when the books are open, and man kind judged by their works, only those whose name was written in the lambs book of life enter Heaven, and for those their works follow them. Because the works are the product of walking with God. The thought here is demonstrated in Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked (hālak) with God; and he was not, for God took him. God has purpose and is directing His actions to a desired outcome, Enoch walked with God in His purpose, Enoch’s lifestyle demonstrated his relationship with God. Heb (hālak)"to go, walk, behave." Contrast with how the false Prophets mislead people away from walking with or following God. The false prophets or dreamers who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of slavery in the land of Egypt. Since they try to keep you from following(yālak) the LORD your God, you must execute them to remove the evil from among you. Deut 13:5 (NLT) Yalak meaning to follow to go behind, from Halak to walkAnd the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead (Heb. nāḥâ) the way (Heb. Derek), and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night Ex 13:21 (NKJV)Remember the teaching about Derek where we spoke of Moses knowing the ways (Heb: Derek ) In Deuteronomy and Joshua the verb is used of taking possession of the promised land, So walking with God is to know his will, in fact to be filled with the knowledge of His will, which then flows into lifestyle, from which we become fruitful in every good work. And like Enoch we will not die, but God will take us.Those who are lead astray by false teaching are removed from among the people.Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you. Deut 4:3 (KJV)This theme is retained throughout the Bible, the walk of life has to be walking with God in His desired will. Jeremiah speaks of a future Day when Gods people will no longer walk in their own imagination, the word used (Heb. sherirût) in Jeremiah indicates twisted, i.e. firm; obstinacy a condition of mind that was twisted out of shape and hardened in that twisted condition.At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination (sherirût) of their evil heart.Jer 3:16-17 (KJV)In the earlier verses God asks Jeremiah if he has seen what the Chosen people were doing The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot Jer 3:6 (NKJV)We are not talking about just any people we are talking about those who are a Holy Nation belonging to God14 "Return, O backsliding children," says the LORD;"for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.Jer 3:14-15 (NKJV)What a glorious statement we read“I am Married to you” Paul understood the implication of this “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth;” Romans 7:2 (KJV) Every Aspect of Covent relationship is applicable to the Bride. I know Paul is teaching us about a new relationship with God through Christ, but he is not lowering the standard, Faith is not a liberty to sin. We are still in covenant relationship, but now the works flow from the relationship, because we love Him we obey him. Read Hosea to see how the people of God had wandered from that privileged position of Wedded Bliss with God to playing the harlotIn both Testaments the truth is the same, living unrighteous is a life unrestrained and undirected by Gods word.Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Prov 29:18 (KJV) The word perish means throw off restraint, run wild, undisciplined, the word indicates a cutting away from the root, like cutting the hair so that which is cut of, is no longer joined to the root. What is the cause of this? “No Vision “ no prophetic revelation” no unveiling of Gods truth. So the people called by God instead of obeying God and walking in His will “walk after the imagination (sherirût ) of their evil heart.” Everyone doing what is right in his own eyesWhat we think shapes us, either we think what God thinks, or we saturate our thinking process with ideas that exclude God. As Paul says don’t let the world shape you.(Romans 12) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Prov 4:23 (KJV)If you look back to the record of creation when man had directions for His life given to Him by God, Adams ability to fulfil his purpose was based on Obedience and relationship.After the fall we see the shift in mans purpose where he constantly tries to live independent of God, the result is destructive, because man independent of God cannot fulfil Gods intended purpose because he does not walk in Gods ways.The moment Satan planted the lie in mans heart; man had that seed that convinced him he could operate independent of God. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.Gen 3:5 (KJV)And by the time of Noah we see this independent thought had moved man into a total assumed independence of God And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.Gen 6:5 (KJV) yēṣer—imagination Purpose the shape of a thingRoot yaw-tsar' to mould into a form; especially as a potter; We see the human race had become shaped by its thinking.And now mankind in his independence was not following the purpose of God, not walking with God. Walking in the will of God brings a relationship with purpose, Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. John 14:23 (NKJV)Paul writing to the Church in Corinth had to emphasis the importance of dealing with the imagination and false thinking that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, why is it that so few of Gods people have knowledge of God?Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Cor 10:5 (KJV)Imaginations, logismos— computation, reasoned thinking from logizomaito take an inventory, to reckon to account.If our thought life is not giving us increased knowledge of God, if our obedience to Christ is not growing, then maybe the way we are thinking is twisting or shaping us in such a way that w e are becoming hardened against God.To conclude today’s study, by using the insight provided by Isaiah, as we mentioned God called a people to be a Holy people living in covenant relationship with Him. Isaiah presents contrasting reactions to the same situation and identifies the underlying factors that control the reactions.Here in Gods Holy city we meet the people of God one Group shaking with fear, described as sinners and Hypocrites, the other group can live with what is happening because they are walking with God, their lifestyle was in harmony with Gods will. The Hypocrites had previously willingly embraced the self centred lifestyle that had caused suffering for others, willingly accepting all forms of evil that benefited them, in fact they listened out for opportunities to feather their nest at the cost of others, but now Fear came. Those who had walked uprightly before God, I am not talking about the self-important who parade their righteousness as a badge, in fact they are called the Hypocrites. No we are speaking here of those who learn Gods will and walk in it, those Paul describes as Transformed by the renewing of their mind. Who prove by experience the good and acceptable and perfect will of God Romans 12:2 Now just replace the word Zion with Church, (and those listening on the CD this is not replacement theology)14 The sinners in Zion (Church) are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He whodespises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: 16 He will dwell on high; His place of defence will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure. Isaiah 33:14-16 (NKJV)