Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ?Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations?
Living with a purpose (What on earth am I here for?)
Rick Warren, the author of the forty days of purpose begins his book saying;
?It?s not about you?.
The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It?s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God.?
Notice what God says to Jeremiah; ?Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations?
Placing God in the center of all you do is the first step in knowing your purpose.
? The Bible says that you were created for God and not the other way around.
? God says if you place Him first He will take care of everything else. (?Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be added on to you?).
? (If you don?t get what you want, it?s a sign that you didn?t seriously want it)
You go to the store and there is a price tag that come?s with anything that you want to buy. But if you don?t want to pay what the store is asking you will more than likely go home empty handed. The same way with the purposes of God. If we are not willing to invest our time and resources, we will miss it all the time because we are to involved in worrying about what we want.
? ?Living without God?s plan for our life is like driving a car without a motor or trying to sail a sail boat without a sail.
There are three questions that will be answered today
1. The first one is a question of Existence. Why am I alive?
(Eph.1:4) says that; ?He chose us in Christ even before the foundations of the world? (the amplified version says that; ?He actually picked us out to Himself as His own).
? The reason for your existence is that God picked you out from millions and millions of people when He could have picked somebody else. You are very important to God.
? He saw something in you that pleased Him and HE picked you to be His son or daughter. Ephesians 4:5 says that; ?He foreordained us or destined us to be adopted as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will?. Everyone that God has created is God?s creation but only those that are in Christ have the privilege of being called His children.
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2. The second question is a question of Significance. Does my life matter?
The fact that you were born tell us that you have something to contribute to this generation.
Proverbs 16:4 says; ?The Lord made everything to contribute to its own end and to His purpose? (amplified version), my life matters because it contributes to God?s ultimate purpose.
? We are part of God?s plan for humanity. There is a purpose for our existence and it?s much larger than what we see here.
? We were created for eternity(2 corint. 5:1) says; ?For we know that if the tent which is our heavenly home is destroyed, we have from God a building, a house not made of hands, eternal in the heavens?.
3. The third question is a question of Intention. What is my purpose?
We will be discussing this topic in our next five weeks as we explore the purpose for us all.
Discovering God?s purpose for your lives gives meaning to your existence and something to look forward to every minute of the day.
In the purpose driven life Rick warren outline five purposes for which every child of God is created. (We will be discussing these for the next six weeks)
1. We were planned for God?s pleasure.
2. You were formed for God?s family
3. You were created to become like Christ
4. We were shaped for serving God.
5. You were made for a mission.
What is purpose?
Success is NOT PURPOSE. Many people in the world are successful and have millions of dollars but they live a miserable life because they have no purpose.
Related words destination, direction; aim, goal, mission, objective, point; ambition, aspiration; proposal, proposition the will of God is His purpose.
? You were designed by God for a specific purpose. Some shorter, some taller, some skinny, some chubby, some have one eye, some have two. No matter what God loves you and will use you the way that you are. You are not a mistake.
? You have talents that came with the package. All have at least one thing that you can do better than anyone else. Use it for God?s purpose.
? There are gifts that God has given to us to be used in the Church for God?s Glory and purpose.
? Your purpose defines who you are.
? Your purpose will drive you. Even when you are low on gas.
? Your purpose will motivate you when you feel like hanging up the gloves.
-Why didn?t Muhammad Aly retire after He fought Forman?. Because His purpose was bigger than George Forman.
-Why didn?t Roberto Duran stop fighting after His defeat to Sugar ray Leonard? Because he was destined to be a fighter and no matter what. That?s all he knew what to do.
Purpose will give you determination to conquer. The ten spies.
-How badly do you want to reach your potential and fulfill your true purpose in life? Are you hungry for Christ? It will take the passion of commitment on your part to keep growing, learning, and going forward.
*The Bible promises in Proverbs 3:6: ?In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success? (Proverbs 3:6, LB
*2 Tim.1: 9-1 says; "God has saved us and called us for a His purpose"
Acts 13:22 "God raised up David to be their king; of him He bore witness and said, I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart, who will do all My will and carry out My purpose " God?s purpose for David was to do His will. As it is with us.
Acts 13: 36 "For David, after he had served God?s will and purpose in his own generation, fell asleep and was buried among his forefathers?. This should be our legacy also.
Purposes of God
Are centered in Christ Eph. 3:11
Are irresistible Is. 14:26, 27
Are unknown to the wise Is. 19:11, 12
Are made known Jer. 50:45
Are irreversible Jer. 4:28
Are planned Is. 23:9
Are fulfilled Rom. 9:11
Are victorious 2 Chr. 32:2?22
