“LIVING ON PURPOSE”
LWC July 26, 2009
I’ve teaching on “PURPOSE” on Wednesday nights for some weeks now. It’s something God has impressed on my heart. I know that if we are to live any kind of “Righteous, Successful Christian Lives” we need to understand our “PURPOSE” in life, given by God!
God has a divine “PURPOSE” for each and every single one you here this morning! If you don’t know that “PURPOSE” for your life then you need to find it as quickly as possible!
I look at Juselin and I know that he knows his “PURPOSE” in life. I know my “PURPOSE” in life! I know what this word says about your “PURPOSE” in life because it applies to each and every single on us as well. But there is a specific “PURPOSE” for your life!
William Wallace, the freedom fighter for Ireland, said...
“EVERY MAN DIES BUT NOT EVERY MAN LIVES!”
I believe the same thing applies to Christians as well. Every Christian lives, but, not every Christian LIVES TO THE FULLEST!
FOLK, I WANT AND YOU WANT TO LIVE TO THE FULLEST! IT IS LIVING TO THE “FULLEST” THAT MAKES CHRISTIAN LIVING THE “VIBRANT EXCITING LIFE” THAT IT IS!
IT’S LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE TO THE “FULLEST” THAT CREATES A “PASSION FOR SOULS!” IF YOU CAN’T FIND WITHIN YOU THE POWER TO WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST THEN I HAVE TO QUESTION YOUR “CHRISTIAN LIFE’S FULLNESS!”
I’M NOT SAYING YOU’RE NOT SAVED I’M SAYING I HAVE TO WONDER IF YOU’RE LIVING YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE TO THE “FULLEST” THAT GOD INTENDED FOR YOU TO LIVE!
I’M REALIZING THAT CHURCH GROWTH COMES WHEN PEOPLE START LIVING THEIR CHRISTIAN LIVES TO THE “FULLEST!” IT CREATES A “VIBRANCY & EXCITEMENT” SO CONTAGIOUS PEOPLE WILL COME TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING!
I’m talking about living your life on “PURPOSE” this morning! A “PURPOSE” that is living in the most meaningful manner a human being can, something VIBRANT, EXCITING, UPLIFTING, JET-PROPELLED, MORE THAN JUST AN ORDINARY JUST GET BY EXPERIENCE!
LIVING YOUR LIFE ON “PURPOSE” FOR GOD!
Only you can change that! I know you’re thinking that God does that but you’re wrong! YOU DO THAT! It’s like having a $100.00 and not spending it! If you don’t spend it then it’s worthless! You have the “POWER” to spend that money and not only that “YOU” have the “OBLIGATION” to spend that money!
FOLK, IT IS “YOU” WHO DECIDES WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT YOU “HAVE” OR WHAT IS “AVAILED” TO YOU! IF YOU DON’T THEN GOD WON’T DO IT FOR YOU!
DON’T JUST LIVE YOUR LIFE LIKE IT’S NOTHING IMPORTANT FOR YOU OR FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
GOD HAS PLANS FOR YOU AND YOUR LIFE FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD! THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE WHO ARE WAITING FOR YOU TO SHARE WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU!
GET EXCITED ABOUT WHAT GOD WANTS FOR YOU! GET BUSY WITH GOD’S “PURPOSE” FOR YOUR LIFE!
If there was anybody who ever understood what it was to live on “PURPOSE” it was Paul! Paul had went from a “PERSECUTOR” to a “PROSELYTER!” He started out “PERSECUTING” the church and then found out what his true “PURPOSE” in life was and started “PROSELYTING” from the world to the Kingdom of God!
He lived a life so full of “PURPOSE” that nothing slowed him down! He was an exciting man to be around! Even from the Mamertine Prison he wrote some of his greatest words! He even describes himself as a “MAN OF PURPOSE!”
Paul never said it any clearer than in Philippians 1:21
“FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN!”
Here is a man who, without a doubt, understands his “PURPOSE” in life & revels in that “PURPOSE!” Maybe that’s what’s wrong with some many Christians, maybe down deep inside they’ve a rudimentary, primary understanding but they don’t revel in the “PURPOSE!”
But Paul did! It was his “DESIRE!” It was his “PASSION!” It was his “LIFE!” It was his “BREATH & HEARTBEAT!” That is why he could say what he could say about “LIVING & DYING!”
FOLK, WE NEED, AT THE VERY LEAST, A “TASTE” OF WHAT PAUL HAD ABOUT “PURPOSE” IN LIFE!
Paul lived his life on “PURPOSE”! Things didn’t just come & bang him around causing him to go from one side to the other! HE WAS STEADY BECAUSE HE HAD “PURPOSE” IN HIS LIFE!
Ask yourself this morning! “DO I HAVE REAL PURPOSE IN MY LIFE?” Because if you don’t then you Christian Life will suffer for it! BUT, IF YOU DO THEN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE WILL BE THE MOST INTERESTING, EXCITING, VIBRANT ASPECT OF YOUR EVERY BREATH & BEAT OF YOUR HEART!
“EVERYBODY” PAUL CAME INTO CONTACT WITH WAS “IMPACTED” BECAUSE OF HIS “PURPOSE!”
Remember! It is one thing to “KNOW ACADEMICALLY” that you have “PURPOSE!” It is quite another thing to “LIVE IT!”
The persons who really live are those who know and understand their “PURPOSE” and live out that “PURPOSE” to the fullest!
Every man, woman & child on this planet has a “PURPOSE!” given them by God! But very few ever “FULFILL” that God Given “PURPOSE” so therefore they never really understand the “REAL & TRUE” meaning of their life so they never know the “FULNESS OF THE LIFE GOD INTENDED!”
TO TRULY LIVE FOR CHRIST IS TO TRULY
“LIVE ON PURPOSE!”
Sometimes I wonder if we’ve forgotten our “PURPOSE” in life! If you’re not living your life on “PURPOSE” then you’ve forgotten what it is to live in POWER, VICTORY, JOY, EXCITEMENT!
CHRISTIANITY IS NOT MEANT TO “EXIST!” CHRISTIANITY IS MEANT TO BE LIVED! LIVED WITH EXCITEMENT, VIBRANCY, BOLDNESS & JOY! CHRISTIANITY IS MEANT TO BE THE “FULFILLMENT OF LIFE” IN IT’S TRUEST SENSE!
WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE “JOY OF CHRISTIANITY!” THE JOY OF “PURPOSE!”
Jesus said in John 10:10,
“I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.”
“PURPOSE!” WILL GIVE YOU THAT “ABUNDANT LIFE!”
“PURPOSE!” WILL GIVE YOU THAT “DIRECTION” THAT MAYBE MISSING IN YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK! WE GET SO BUSY FOCUSING ON “SELF” WE FORGET THAT SERVANTHOOD DOES NOT FOCUS ON “SELF!”
LIVE YOUR LIFE ON “PURPOSE!” IN ORDER FOR GOD TO MOVE IN & THROUGH YOU!
How do we do that? It’s a question that is poignant and powerful this morning! God desires you that you “LIVE ON PURPOSE!” I have a few things to say on that this morning to you.
The foundation of “LIVING ON PURPOSE” is in Galatians 2:20 where this “MAN OF PURPOSE” writes so eloquently...
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is not longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
We know that Jesus had a “PURPOSE” in life! Scripture tells us that in John 4:34 when Jesus said...
“My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”
What Jesus was saying is that was his “PURPOSE” ...”... to do the will of Him and to finish His work!” FOLK, YOUR “PURPOSE” IS TO DO THE WILL OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE!
How was it that Paul was able to “LIVE ON PURPOSE!”
He did it by “RENEWING HIS MIND!”
Paul spoke of it in Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWING of your mind...”
Folk, there is something to be said for the “RENEWING OF YOUR MIND!” IF YOU’RE GOING TO “LIVE ON PURPOSE” THEN YOU NEED TO “RENEW” YOU MIND DAILY, ON AN ONGOING BASIS!
Folk, we can’t just live day by day without the renewing of our minds! We must actively “RENEW OUR MINDS!”
We need to continually be doing what Paul said in II Tim. 1:6...
“Therefore I remind you to STIR UP the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of hands.”
“LAY YOUR HANDS ON THIS!” It is done by STUDY IN THE WORD, BY PRAYER, BY REMINDING OURSELVES WHOSE WE ARE!
Every time I get on my knees & pray I’m “RENEWING MY MIND!” I’M RENEWING MYSELF IN CHRIST! I’M RENEWING MY “PURPOSE!”
MY “PURPOSE” IS TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER! WHEN I’M DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER I’M NOT ONLY FULFILLING MY “PURPOSE” BUT I’M FULFILLING MY “DESTINY!”
Everybody from time to time needs to “RENEW” things in their lives. Marriages need “RENEWING” once in a while. It keeps them fresh & alive as well as exciting! The same thing applies to our life as a Christians.
WE NEED TO RENEW OUR MINDS, OUR DIRECTION, OUR PURPOSE! Without “RENEWING” YOUR “PURPOSE” becomes dull and discolored! But with “RENEWING” YOUR “PURPOSE” retains it’s JOY, COLOR, VIBRANCY, BOLDNESS, DIRECTION & LIFE!
Our MINDS need to be “RENEWED & COMMITTED” to the ideals of God in our LIVES & CHURCH! “RENEWING” is to “make anew that which is already established”.
MAKE “NEW” THE LOVE OF CHRIST!
MAKE “NEW” THE IDEALS OF GOD
MAKE “NEW” THE CALLING OF GOD!
MAKE NEW THAT “PURPOSE” OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE AND LIFE ON PURPOSE!
Every single one of you have been called to ministry! Every single one of you has a sermon to preach! Every single one of you has a “PURPOSE!” in life! Grab hold of that “PURPOSE” and let God use you in the way He desires!
Without the “RENEWING” you’ll become conformed to this world and being conformed to this world is death to the Christian Life!
What happens when we “RENEW OUR MINDS?” WE PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD ACCEPTABLE WILL & PERFECT (PURPOSE!) OF GOD!
Paul says in Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWING of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
LIVE YOUR LIFE ON PURPOSE NOT BY ACCIDENT! GOD DIDN’T MEAN FOR YOU TO LIVE ON ACCIDENT! HE MEANT & MEANS FOR YOU TO LIFE YOUR LIFE ON PURPOSE!
