CSI: CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL IDENTITY
“What’s Your Purpose?”
Intro: We started two weeks ago looking at the identity of the Christian. What does it mean for us to have been brought from death to life in Jesus? It was that God loved us so much he wanted to rescue us from ourselves.
Last week we looked at what it meant that we were seated with Christ in the “heavenly realms.” It is to have an eternal focus and an eternal perspective on life. We should not live for only our day to day struggles, but we should live in light of eternity with God.
Today we are going to look at what it means to have a purpose and a reason for living. One of the greatest things that human beings can understand is the fact that God created us for something. Finding meaning and purpose in our existence is what motivates us to continue struggling through the challenges that life brings.
In the movie “Flight of the Phoenix,” a plane of oil field workers has crashed in the Mongolian desert. They are hundreds or thousands of miles from civilization with no hope of making it out. The workers are inspired to want to build a stripped down version of the airplane to try and fly out. The pilot, doesn’t believe it will work and that they will die trying.
One of the crew decides he has had enough and is walking out into the desert. This scene is where the pilot finds him.
Show video of “Flight of the Phoenix”
Every creature needs a reason to continue to survive. We need a purpose and a meaning that will help us put life into perspective. When we believe there are hope and a purpose, it motivates us not to give up.
For what purpose are you living your life?
Today we are going to continue with our look at Ephesians 2 as it pertains to the Christian Spiritual Identity. Let’s begin and read from verse 1.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:1-10 (New International Version)
Verses 1-5 remind us of what God has done through us in Christ by allowing us to be made alive instead of living spiritually dead and separated from him. Verses 6 and 7 show that because we are in Christ, we should have an eternal perspective. Our focus should be on the things of heaven and not the circumstances of the things on earth.
Today we want to focus on verses 8-10 that show us how we come into relationship with God and why.
I. The Work of Purpose
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)
There is a key to this passage that we must understand: we only come to God by grace.
God’s grace gives our lives purpose by helping us live for God.
Grace is “undeserved acceptance and love” received from another.
“Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured.”
Romans 3:23-25 (The Message)
We did not deserve to be forgiven and loved by God, but he chose to do that anyway. He chose to allow us to live in relationship with him through Jesus, even when we did not have a desire to know or follow him.
Our relationship with God is based only on his choice to love us and to forgive us. We could not earn his love and acceptance, we could not be good enough to pay for our own sin, nor could we obey all of the law to make us as holy as God. We only come to know him because of his love for us.
There was a reason that God forgave us and poured out his grace on us. IT was so that we could live our lives according to his design.
II. The Outcome of Purpose
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Since God has given us new life, through Jesus Christ by grace,. We must ask ourselves, what’s the purpose for this life? Our eternal focus is heaven and our eternal perspective helps us to see that there is more to life here than our temporary surroundings, but what is that life meant to be?
Paul says that we are God’s “workmanship.” We know God created us and that God desires something for us, but we really don’t grasp a lot of times how special God made us.
The term workmanship is literally translated poem.
We are Gods work of art. He crafted us, shaped us and designed us for a purpose to live our lives to honor him. And because of that, we are to have a purpose that brings him honor and glory.
The next part of that phrase provides the backdrop for the rest of today. God created us to do good works. He crafted and shaped us and designed us to be doing things that would bring honor and glory to his name.
Scripture tells us that God crafted us from the beginning of time to carry out his plan and his purpose for our lives.
“You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!” Psalm 139:16 (The Living Bible)
God designed us before time and now we are to live out his purpose for our lives.
III. The Areas of Purpose
God created us for a reason. We as a church have been working to help people understand that God has five specific reasons for our lives. They are the eternal purposes of God that scripture lays out. For those of you familiar with it, they are the purposes that Rick Warren laid out in his book “The Purpose Driven Life.” These purposes give us practical ways to live our lives according to Gods plan and to fulfill the design God had in mind for us as his children.
WORSHIP
The first purpose of our lives is to worship God.
Worship is the human response to the presence of God
“Give honor to the Lord, you angels; give honor to the Lord for his glory and strength. Give honor to the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” Psalm 29:1-2 (New Living Translation)
To worship is to honor God with our lives.
We often think of worship as what happens on Sunday morning. But God desires every day and every action of our lives to be dedicated to honoring him.
“So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you—you’re eating to God’s glory, after all, not to please them. As a matter of fact, do everything that way, heartily and freely to God’s glory.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (The Message)
God desires us to live our lives to honor him in everything we do. It is the number one purpose for which we were created.
We all choose to worship something. The very first law that God gave to the Israelites in the Ten Commandments was that we were not to worship any other god.
"You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3 (NIV)
The question must be asked, what are you choosing to worship?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rank your life of worship?
1---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
I am not interested in worship. I am passionate about worship.
FELLOWSHIP
The second purpose that God intended for us was to live in fellowship with other believers.
The word used to describe fellowship in the bible is literally translated “shared house”.
It is the image that our lives are intertwined with the lives of other believers to help us become more and more like Christ.
God desires our lives to rub off on one another to help us accomplish his purpose.
“We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things. We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (God’s Word)
God created us to live in community with other believers.
On a scale of 1-10, how would you describe your involvement in the community of believers?
1-----------------------------------------------------------------------------10
I am completely isolated. I am totally plugged in.
EVANGLISM
God has called us to tell others about how he has changed our lives. It is sharing the message of God’s love with others.
“The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message!” 1 Thessalonians 1:8 (The Message)
When we think of evangelism, we think of telling someone how to have a relationship with Christ. That is part of the puzzle. But the central aspect of evangelism is simply sharing what God has done in your life. It is the part of the equation no one can argue with.
Evangelism is not an event, it is a lifestyle.
God’s purpose for us is to simply share our life with those around us and let Jesus rub off.
Mary Southerland says Christians should be “sandpaper people.”
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you describe your life of evangelism?
1-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
I am terrified to share my faith. I love to share what Jesus has done.
DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship is simply learning to see things in life as God sees them. It is filling our minds with the word of God and growing in our understanding of his desire for us.
A great way to picture discipleship is maturity.
Discipleship is not a class or a small group, but an on-going process.
We are encouraged through scripture to live our lives to understand God’s word more and more.
“People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on the word of God.” Matthew 4:4 (New Living Translation)
“God’s gracious word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need.” Acts 20:32 (The Message)
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you describe your life of discipleship?
1------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
I am not interested in what God says. I am doing my best to learn more.
SERVICE
God designed us to serve. His purpose in our lives is to work to carry out his plan and to help others to see him and his love in us.
"If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.” John 12:26 (The Message)
As we serve men, we serve God by allowing them to see him in our lives. God created us to be servants.
This is the purpose for which God created us.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which god prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you describe your life of service?
1------------------------------------------------------------------------10
I am not giving up my time! Whatever It Takes!!!
Conclusion:
How would you describe yourself in living out God’s purpose for your life? How you live your life is a reflection of how you see yourself as a child of God. God wants you to decide today to follow him and to live for his purposes.
If you have never been forgiven of your sin and do not know how to live a life on purpose, today you can ask Jesus to forgive you and change your life.
Dear Jesus,
Today I ask you to come into my life and forgive my sin. I know that it is not by anything I do but by your grace that I can become your child, so I choose today to receive your forgiveness. Please help me to live a life for your purpose and your honor. Amen.
If you desire to live a life of purpose for Jesus, here is a way to remind yourself daily what your life is all about. It is the Purpose Driven Covenant.
The Purpose Driven Covenant
Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling, and I’m finished with wavering. I’ve made my choice; the verdict is in; and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now!
I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word.
Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living and a home awaiting in heaven, I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.
Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, "we" over "me," character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most, and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.
I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace. I’m Spirit-led, purpose-driven and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race.
I’m a trophy of God’s amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for everyday, and generous with everything that God entrusts to me.
To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say: However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes! Wherever you lead and whatever the cost, I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway. Whatever it takes Lord; whatever it takes! I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I’ll hear you say, "Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!"
"This article is printed from the website www.Pastors.com. Copyright 2005 by Rick Warren. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
