Series - "Living Life to the Full"
Living with Purpose on Purpose (LTF-04)
Eph. 1:9-12
There is an abundance, these days, of pop-psychologists hawking their self-help seminars on the sidewalks of almost every sphere of life. Gurus of every ilk flood the internet selling their secret formulas and magic juices for a more successful and more fulfilling existence. And there is, of course, no shortage of needy and sometimes very successful people in the market willing to part with their hard earned money to gain the insights that are being peddled.
This is because seeking fulfillment in life is almost a universal phenomenon. And the primary problem stems from the fact that while most everybody knows when they were born, very few know why they were born - and so they are searching for meaning. Your alarm clock could tell you what time to wake up in the morning, but it cannot tell you ‘why’ to wake up in the morning.
Even in a meeting like this, if I had to ask by show of hands how many people believe that God has a purpose for their lives, almost every hand would be raised. Yet if I had to ask how many know their God-given life-purpose, conspicuously few would remain in the air. Most people are living life without knowing what their purpose is. Nevertheless, they yearn to live meaningful lives.
Well this morning as we pick up our series, "Living Life to the Full" I want to talk with you about "Living Life With Purpose, On Purpose." Please open your Bibles with me to the book of Ephesians and the first chapter.
While you are turning there may I suggest that one of satan’s most powerful lies is to tell you that God does not or no longer has a purpose for your life, or that you cannot know that purpose. You are here by chance. Your existence is random. You see, the truth is that until I find my God-given purpose, my life tends to be driven by self-preservation and self-promotion. In other words, I become my agenda. But when I discover God’s purpose for my life I find something that is greater than I am, and for that I am willing to give, spend or live my life. Then, instead of living the frustration and futility of a driven life I am released into the fulfillment and rewards of a called life.
Thomas Carlyle wrote, "A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder - a waif, a nothing, a no man."
Ephesians 1:9-12 - Read - Pray
1. Everything Has Purpose
Everything God ever created He created on purpose, with purpose.
Purpose Precedes Creation. Everything in life begins and ends with purpose.
"Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." Colossians 1:16b (Msg)
So what is your purpose? You purpose, the reason you were created was for the pleasure of God - you were created to bring God happiness.
Let me tell you from the Word of God - and I love the way the Authorized version renders this - you can find it in Revelation 4:11 ". . . Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure, they are and were created."
God decided to create something that was fun, that would give Him pleasure, that would satisfy Him deep inside - and do you know what that was precious believer - that was you? Now somebody shout hallelujah.
Everything has purpose - and your primary purpose is the pleasure of God. You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for His purposes.
God is not wowed by what you can do - He has done better than that.
God is not impressed with what you know or how well educated you are - He already knew that stuff.
God is not staggered by how fast you can run or how much money you can make - been there done that.
God is not taken with how often you can read your Bible or say your prayers - come on.
But if you want to grab God’s attention - if you want to bless His heart - if you want to really get it going - love Him with all you have got. That will do it because that is why you were created. If you want to get into it - recognize that in Him we live, and move, and have our being.
Now will you notice secondly with me this morning . . .
1. Everything Has Purpose
2. Your Purpose Makes You Unique
Your purpose is different to the purpose of anybody else in this room, anybody else on the face of this globe, anybody since the dawn of history.
You are not a divine experiment. Let me tell you what I mean - God did not make you to see what He could possibly do with you when you were born. Isaiah 46:10 tells us this, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’"
Here is what that is saying - before you were created, God had the end in mind - God knew your purpose. God did not start with your creation - He started with a purpose. And He designed you uniquely and specifically for that purpose.
Your existence is evidence that this world needs something that only your life can offer. In other words, your purpose is the uniqueness and the value you that you bring to this world.
When I lay hold of the purpose of God for my life I start to think of my life and value the way God thinks.
Ephesians 1:4 "Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, God had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of His love, to make us whole and holy by His love."
1. Everything Has Purpose
2. Your Purpose Makes You Unique
3. Purpose is the Key to Fulfillment
When you embrace your God given purpose, you unleash your God given potential. Turn God’s purpose into your passion.
There is nothing more satisfying than to know what I am meant to be doing, and to commit myself to do that faithfully. I said to do that faithfully.
You can never be truly satisfied while you are not sure what you are meant to be doing.
Miles Munroe says that the greater tragedy is not death, but life without purpose. The greater tragedy is not the unfortunate and untimely death, as terrible as that is, of a loved one in an accident. It is the millions upon millions who die every year having squandered their potential and their purpose by doing something else.
Life is not simply lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by day, in all the thousands of ways in which men and woman life their lives without purpose.
In everything, purpose is the key to fulfillment!
Do you want to be fulfilled in tragedy? Find purpose!
Do you want to be fulfilled in need? Find purpose!
Do you want to be fulfilled in cancer? Find purpose!
Do you want to be fulfilled in the loss of a loved one? Find purpose!
Don’t squander your troubles and your trials and your tragedies - find God’s purpose.
Why? Because in purpose your pain and God’s provision meet.
1. Everything Has Purpose
2. Your Purpose Makes You Unique
3. Purpose is the Key to Fulfillment
4. God Will Accomplish His Purpose
How many of you know that when the Father in heaven says of the Son, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased," it meant that at that time Jesus was fulfilling His purpose?
When Jesus said, "It is finished," He was speaking about purpose.
John 17:4 "I have brought you glory on Earth by completing the work you have given me to do."
How many of you know God will accomplish His purpose in you?
What about Rom. 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Watch this precious believer - I want to show you something the devil does still not understand. You get this and you will always be one step ahead of the devil. Nothing the devil does can stop the purpose of God - He always has a backup plan.
He had a backup plan in the Garden of Eden.
He had a backup plan when Joseph got sold into slavery.
He had a backup plan when Israel was taken into captivity.
He had a backup plan when Jesus died on a cross.
He had a backup plan when Nero persecuted the Church.
Precious believer - He has a backup plan when you and I get it wrong - He always has and He always will. Now here is the amazing thing - even the mistakes we make and the failures we experience - they too become part of the backup plan.
And why is that? It is because the sovereign God of the universe will fulfill His purpose - and you are that purpose.
Paul knew this when he boldly proclaimed, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began the good work in you shall bring it to completion." (Phil. 1:6) Paul is speaking about purpose.
So stop sweating it - it is OK - He will fulfill His purpose in you and through you. This sovereign God loves you, is on your side and has a wonderful plan for your life - God is for you!
God is never trouble by your past - but He is excited about your future. But you cannot walk in the richness and righteousness of your purpose while you are tied to the pain and failures of your past.
Cut yourself some slack - let it go - forgive yourself - and allow Him to embrace you with His purpose.
1. Everything Has Purpose
2. Your Purpose Makes You Unique
3. Purpose is the Key to Fulfillment
4. God Will Accomplish His Purpose
So where do we go from here?
5. Choose to Live With Purpose, On Purpose
Now watch this - God broke it down really simply for me this week as Michele and I were chatting. You don’t find your purpose - you learn it as you go. Now do not confuse purpose with destiny. Your destiny is what happens at the end of the journey. Your purpose is all about the journey. Your destiny is that you will rule and reign as perfected saints in glory in the presence of the Father.
Your purpose is that you do what you do as a God-child.
A. Affirm Your Identity
The journey of purpose begins with the question, "What was in the mind of the Maker when God created you?"
God had a need to fill when your name came to mind. Great care was taken to choose the individual components of your design. He carefully mixed the right heart motivation and temperament with a unique set of talents and gifts. He allowed life experience to shape your passions, exercise your strengths and channel your steps.
Ephesians 2:10 "For [I am] God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that [I] should walk in them."
Affirm who you are in the eyes of the One who created you on purpose and with purpose. Once you make this shift, you will begin to see how much thought and love went into designing not only life itself, but also your unique place in it
Jeremiah 29:11-12 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
B. Commit to Faithfulness
Fulfilling your purpose is not so much about what you do as it is about how you do it. You do not need to do great things to fulfill your purpose - but do little things in a faithful way.
If you want to fulfill your purpose, whatever it is that you are doing, do it with all your heart and soul and mind. If you are a stay at home mom, give it your best. If you are a teacher - give it your best. If you are on the road - do it with all your heart.
God’s purpose for you is to do what you are doing now with all your heart. And if you do not like what you do, where you live, what you get paid, if you do not like anything about your ‘now,’ be faithful in your ‘now’ and as you fulfill your purpose there, God will grow it for you.
Whatever your hand finds to do - do it as faithfully as you know how. In that you will find purpose and fulfillment.
C. Upgrade to Ministry
if you want to fulfill your purpose, do what you do with a heart for ministry.
Your gifts and talents were given you by God to help you accomplish your purpose.
How do you do it as ministry?
Do whatever it is you do as unto the Lord.
Ask God to show you how to use your gifts and talents.
Minister His supernatural love and grace there.
Joseph of Old Testament fame never built a great ministry or raised the dead, and nor did he preach to a single congregation. But he did what he did with all His heart, he did it as unto the Lord, he used his God-given gifts and talents, and he ministered in the supernatural whether he was a servant in the house, a captive in the prison or working for a pagan government in a foreign land. He did what he did as a ministry.
D. Expand Your Territory
As you are faithful, ask God to expand your territory. As you faithfully minister where you are you will fulfill your purpose by simply doing what you do faithfully - and then God, who ordained that you for good works will grow you from strength to strength, from grace to grace, from glory to glory.
Conclusion
Precious believer, as we close this morning, your purpose is not an accident, and choosing to walk in your purpose is not an accident. It is a choice you make to be faithful now where you are.
Instead of looking for some grand purpose - find His incredible purpose in the ways you do what you are doing right now.
Faith in God’s promise precedes the miracle of God’s provision in your life.
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