Illus: They remind me of the couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. When the festivities were over, the woman turned to her husband and said,
• "We've been miserable for 50 years
• We've fought every day
• We've disagreed on nearly everything
• And I am convinced that we can't keep going like this. I'm praying that he will take one of us home. AND WHEN GOD ANSWERS MY PRAYER, I'M GOING TO LIVE WITH MY SISTER IN GRAND RAPIDS."
We see many folks who have all that the world has to offer yet they are very sad. WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
In the Book of Esther, we see a beautiful story of a Jewish queen.
• The beautiful queen, Esther, wanted to know why Mordecai was in sackcloth and ashes.
• He said the reason that he was in sackcloth and ashes was because their people were under and awful decree of death.
• Esther said that she did not know and she was sorry to hear about this decree that affected her people.
• She was asked to appear before the King on their behalf.
• But she reminded them that no one could walk in the presence of the King without being summoned. To do so could result in immediate death.
• Mordecai reminded her that even though she was queen, if this decree was carried out, she also might lose her life also.
• Then Mordecai reminded her that most likely God had put her in that position as queen in the Kingdom “…For such a time as this”.
Every one of us is placed here on earth:
• For a certain time
• For a certain job
Most folks are smart enough to know that God created them, but they do not know WHY GOD CREATED THEM. We do have some knowledge of why God created Eve though.
• God was concerned that Adam would always be lost in the garden, because He knew men would never ask for directions.
• God knew that Adam would one day need someone to hand him the TV remote, because men don't want to see what is on TV; they want to see WHAT ELSE is on TV.
• Adam needed someone to blame his troubles on when God caught him hiding in the garden.
• When God finished the creation of Adam he stepped back, scratched his head and said, "I can do better than that."
(Humor: Do you know what time of the day God created Adam? It was a little before Eve!)
God has a specific purpose for creating every one of us.
Illus: Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely, so God asked Adam, "What is wrong with you?"
Adam said he was lonely because he didn't have anyone to talk to.
God said, "I am going to give you a companion and it will be a woman.
Adam said, “What is the purpose of giving me a woman?
God told him the purpose of creating a woman:
• This person will cook for you and wash your clothes.
• She will always agree with every decision you make.
• She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them.
• She will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement.
• She will go about telling everyone what a wonderful fellow you are and she could not live without you.
• She will literally worship the ground you walk on.
• She will never have a headache, and will freely give you love and compassion whenever needed.
Adam asked God, "What would a woman like this cost me?"
God said, "An arm and a leg."
Adam said, "An arm and a leg? What can I get for just a rib?"
And now you know...the rest of the story.
God created each us for a specific purpose.
Some people have never discovered that there’s more to this life than just existing, making a living, retiring and dying. God put every one of us here for a purpose and you will never know the answer to the question, “What’s It All About” until you fulfill that purpose.
Those who recognize they have a purpose in life are SPECIAL PEOPLE!
Illus: Many believe that Ronald Reagan will go down in history as one of the three most successful presidents in the history of this nation. But anyone who has read about this great man knows this, he believed he was put here for a very special reason, and every day of his life he cheerfully went about doing what He thought he was put here to do.
Purpose driven people are a different kind of people.
Illus: In 1968, the Olympics were held in Mexico City. The last runner to finish the marathon was a guy from Tanzania.
During the race, he had broken a leg. He’d stumbled, he’d been hurt badly, he was bruised and bloodied.
The stadium was almost empty and there were only about 7000 people left in it. He came straggling across the finish line. It was 7:00 in the evening, it was already dark. But as he entered to do his last lap and finish the marathon, the crowd rose and gave him a standing ovation.
Later he was asked, “Why didn’t you quit when you were hurt and bruised, bloody, discouraged? Why didn’t you quit?” He gave a classic answer. He said, “My country did not send me 7000 miles around the world to start the race, but to finish it.”
The problem with running this Christian race is that many have gotten sidetracked. Life to them is no more than eating, sleeping, watching television a few hours a day and going to work.
They will die, and very shortly after they die, no one will ever remember they existed because they lived a selfish, wasted life. The devil has cleverly sidetracked them.
Illus: Many are like the fellow that went deer hunting, but when he got in the woods he saw a rabbit and he spent several hours chasing the rabbit.
He went back to deer hunting and he saw a squirrel, and he spent several hours chasing the squirrel.
All day he was busy chasing rabbits and squirrels and when the evening came he had no deer because he was so sidetracked by the squirrels and rabbits.
Some people live their entire life chasing rabbits.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
I. WORSHIP -You were planned for God’s pleasure
II. FELLOWSHIP - You were formed to be part of God’s family
We also see that It is about-
III. DISCIPLESHIP - YOU WERE CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST
2 Cor. 2:14, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
Notice, Paul said He is MANIFESTED in us in EVERY PLACE.
HOW CAN WE LIVE SUCH A LIFE? We can live such a life by FOCUSING IN ON CHRIST EACH DAY OF OUR LIFE!
Have you noticed that we gravitate toward the things we focus in on?
Illus: For example, as you were driving your car, have you ever focused your eyes on something on the side of the road. As you did this, unconsciously you began to gravitate in that direction.
• People have driven into cars doing that
• People have driven into road signs doing that
• People have driven into people doing that
The things we focus on will determine the direction we go. The devil knows that, and he has people focusing in on the things of the world. More and more, people are being drawn to the things of the world.
Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
This is what discipleship is all about, it is setting our affections on Christ and becoming like Him. It is Christians who are focusing in on Christ. The world should be able to look at us and see the similarities between our life and the life of Christ.
Illus: Someone pointed out that there was a similarity between President Nixon and President Clinton.
• Nixon: His biggest fear - the Cold War
• Clinton: His biggest fear - Cold Sores
• Nixon: His Vice President was a Greek
• Clinton: His Vice President was a geek
• Nixon: Couldn't stop Kissinger
• Clinton: Couldn't stop kissing her
• Nixon: Known for campaign slogan "Nixon's The One"
• Clinton: Known for women pointing at him saying, "He's the one!"
One of the reasons God placed you here was to focus in on Christ, and become more and more like him. This is what DISCIPLESHIP is all about.
Today we live in an age when people are interested in changing their appearance to look like someone else.
Illus: We actually have people going to the plastic surgeon with a picture of someone in their hand, saying, “I want to look like this!”
Illus: There is even a television program that they call “Extreme Makeover” (Humor) As I look over this congregation, I see a lot of potential candidates for this program.
If you have seen this program, you know what it is all about. They find someone whose physical appearance is in bad shape, and they give them an “EXTREME MAKEOVER.” When they are done, you can hardly recognize them.
While people are all caught up with the desire to change their PHYSICAL APPEARANCE to look like some Hollywood actor or actress, Christians should be desiring an EXTREME MAKEOVER to look like Christ. The physical is temporary but the spirit is eternal.
Illus: Henry Drummond wrote, “To become Christ-like is the only thing in the whole world worth caring for, the thing before which every ambition of man is folly and all lower achievement vain.”
Our greatest goal in life is to become more like Christ. That’s God’s purpose for us. Once we start becoming like Him, we discover WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT!
IV. MINISTRY - YOU WERE SHAPED FOR GOD’S SERVICE
Eph. 2:10, we read, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Notice, we are CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS. God’s people are supposed to be involved in works of service of all kinds.
Illus: Children seem to think that Mom and Dad are only there to make life comfortable for them.
Kids lay around watching television, and want Mom and Dad:
• To provide them a clean house
• To provide them clothing
• To provide them with food
And they do not contribute anything themselves
Many of the children of God are no different. It never ceases to amaze me that in the church you have Christians:
• That sit on a church pew and expect everyone to tithe and provide them a place to sit
• That sit on a church pew and expect everyone to tithe and provide them with a pastor they can call on twenty-four hours a day
• That sit on a church pew and expect everyone to tithe and provide heat and air conditioning while they worship
• That sit on a church pew and expect everyone to tithe and provide them and their children with Christian literature for Sunday School
I have seen people come to a church dinner empty handed, eat, and leave their dirty plates on the table for someone else to clean. Then they gather all the leftovers they can to take home!
People like this have never discovered that God CREATED THEM UNTO GOOD WORKS.
What can you do in the church to help serve?
• You can bring food when we have dinners.
• Do dishes, clean up, carry out trash, help clean the building
• Plant flowers around the church
• Cut grass and pull weeds out of the flower beds
• Teach a Sunday School class
• Work in VBS
• Sing with a praise team
There are all kinds of things you can do.
Illus: Someone asked John Wanamaker, in 1890, “How do you get time to run a Sunday school with your four thousand scholars, in addition to the business of your stores, your work as Postmaster-General, and other obligations?”
Instantly Mr. Wanamaker replied: “Why, the Sunday school is my business! All other things are just things. Forty-five years ago I decided that God’s promise was sure: ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ ” (Matthew 6:33)
Wanamaker made God’s business his business. Those who have never done this, walk around saying, “WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT”.
V. MISSION - YOU WERE MADE TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT CHRIST
Matt. 28:18-19, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
God has given us a mission in life. IT’S CALLED THE GREAT COMMISSION!
The early church knew what life is all about! Look at Acts 8:4, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
The early Christians preached the Word wherever they went. They had a mission to fulfill and a message to proclaim.
Illus: Max Lucado wrote these words in his new book, IT’S NOT ABOUT ME. He spoke of the Pony Express riders.
• They had one assignment – deliver the message safely and quickly.
• They seized every advantage: the shortest route, the fastest horse, the lightest saddle.
• Those selected were given $125 a month (a good salary in 1860), a Colt revolver, a lightweight rifle, a bright red shirt, blue trousers, and eight hours to cover eighty miles, six days a week. Hard work, but the message had to be delivered!
The apostle Paul was much like the Pony Express rider. Hard worker, long hours, but the message had to be delivered!
Rom. 1:14-16 “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
We, too, have a debt to pay. We must get the message out to others. Many are deadbeats and they are walking around thinking about life, asking, “What’s It All About?”
Conclusion:
Part 1
I. WORSHIP - You were planned for God’s pleasure
II. FELLOWSHIP - You were formed to be part of God’s family
Part 2
III. DISCIPLESHIP - You were created to become like Christ
IV. MINISTRY - You were shaped for God’s service
V. MISSION - You were made to tell others about Christ
