WHAT IS LIFE…
WITHOUT MEANING AND
PURPOSE?
Pastor
Larry Gatlin, USA
THE
WORD “PURPOSE” MEANS;
1. A POINT
2. A PRINCIPLE
3. A Rationale
4. A FUNCTION
5. A USE
6. DRIVE
7. INTENSION
THE
WORD “MEANING” MEANS;
1. A
WAY
2. A METHOD
3. RESPECT
4. TECHNIQUE
5. APPROACH
6. MANNER
7. TACTIC
SO
TO REALLY LIVE OUR LIVES IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE WE MUST APPLY THESE
DEFINITIONS.
MORE
IMPORTANTLY WE MUST APPLY THEM IN LIGHT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
THERE
IS MUCH DISCUSSION TODAY BY MANY BIBLICAL SCHOLARS AND THEOLOGIANS ABOUT HOW TO
LIVE YOUR LIFE AND HOW TO DO IT IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY.
ALL
TOO OFTEN THESE EXPERTS LEAVE OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF HAVING A
MEANINGFUL LIFE FULL OF PURPOSE.
THEY
LEAVE OUT THE SCRIPTURES AND GODS DIRECTIVES FOR OUR LIVES.
WHY?
BECAUSE MAN IS ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND THE WAY ON HIS OWN.
THAT’S
WHY MAN ALWAYS LOOKS AT WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE NORM OR APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, OR
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.
BUT
GOD IS SO FAR BEYOND ALL OF THOSE THAT YOU CAN’T FIND THE REAL TRUTH OR THE
REAL, REALITY, WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING THE CREATOR.
PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE PLANS ACCORDING TO EARTHLY
DESIRES AND DIRECTIVES. MISTAKINGLY THINKING THAT THE NATURAL REALM IS THE REAL
AREA THAT WE LIVE IN.
BUT
THERE IS A REALM THAT IS MORE REAL. IT IS A REALM THAT GOES FAR BEYOND HUMAN
REASONING, LOGIC, AND THE PHILOSOPHIES OF MAN.
IT
IS THE REALM OF THE SPIRIT. EVEN PREACHERS, PHILOSOPHERS, AND MANY LEARNED
PEOPLE NEGLECT THIS AREA.
BUT
I AM CONVINCED THAT IT IS THE MOST REAL REALM THAT WE LIVE IN.
AND IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MEANING AND
PURPOSE IN OUR LIVES WE MUST MAKE A HOLY CONNECTION WITH GOD IN THE SPIRIT.
1. OBVIOUSLY
IT STARTS WITH SALVATION.
2. NEXT
WE MUST BUILD ON SALVATION AND DEVELOP A VITAL LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH FATHER
3. THROUGH
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
4. THERE
HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
a) FIRST
WORK OF GRACE
b) SECOND
WORK OF GRACE
c) THE
TRUTH IS, THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR ALL OF GODS PEOPLE AND WE NEED
IT.
d) I
AM NOT EVEN GOING TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF TONGUES TODAY. I AM JUST GOING TO
SAY, AS PAUL DID, I SPEAK IN TONGUES MORE THAN YOU ALL.
AND
THEY AID IN MY BUILDING AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH FATHER.
A.
PURPOSE AND MEANING WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE
SEPARATE FROM A THRIVING INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH FATHER!
:CONCLUSION:
SO
WHAT GIVES LIFE MEANING AND PURPOSE?
1.
RELATIONSHIP WITH FATHER IN THE SPIRIT.
John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship
Him must worship in spirit and truth." (NKJ)
2. WHICH LEADS US TO WORSHIP. WORSHIP ISN’T JUST THE
SINGING PART OF A CHURCH SERVICE. WORSHIP IS HOW WE RESPOND TO GOD ALL OF THE
TIME.
CERTAINLY
SINGING OUR PRAISE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WORSHIP. BUT IT ISN’T THE SUM TOTAL.
Heb 13:15
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that
is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (NKJ)
a.
OBVIOUSLY OUR WORSHIP MUST INCLUDE TIMES OF
SOAKING OR MEDITATING ON THE GOODNESS OF FATHER.
b.
WORSHIP MUST ALSO INCLUDE GENEROUS HELPINGS OF
THE SCRIPTURES
c.
IT MUST
ALSO HAVE THE ELEMENT OF INTAMATE RELATIONSHIP.
3. AND THIS CAN ONLY BE REACHED BY WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.
Gal 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one
another, envying one another. (NKJ)
4. FELLOWSHIP ISN’T JUST A POTLUCK OR PIE AND COFFEE.
FELLOWSHIP IS SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH SOME ONE YOU LOVE AND DESIRE TO BE
WITH.
I Jn 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we declare
to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is
with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
I John 1:7 But if
we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NKJ)
5. NEXT WE MUST GIVE OURSELVES TO MINISTRY.
WHAT MINISTRY?
A.
INTERESTINGLY
ENOUGH, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT MINISTRIES AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES THE BODY OF
CHRIST SO POWERFUL.
B.
FOR SOME IT MIGHT BE MOWING A LAWN, RAKING LEAVS,
OR SHUVELING SNOW FOR AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO CAN’T DO IT FOR THEMSELVES.
C. MINISTRY
CAN BE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT WE ARE CALLED TO A MINISTRY.
D. PRAYER
IS A MINISTRY
E.
ENTERING INTO WORSHIP WHEN WE COME TOGETHER IS A
MINISTRY.
F.
IF YOU THINK THAT THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE TO ENTER
IN ARE THOSE ON THE PLATFORM, YOUR WRONG.
G. IF
THOSE OF US WHO ARE ON THE PLATFORM THINK THAT THE ONLY TIME THAT WE HAVE TO
ENTER IN IS WHEN WE ARE ON THE PLATFORM, WE’RE IN DEEP TROUBLE.
H.
GOING DOWN TOWN AND HELPING NIKKI IS MINISTRY.
1.TRUTH, MINISTRY TAKE MANY DIFFERENT FORMS. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DEVELOP SUCH AN INTAMACY WITH FATHER THAT WE WILL KNOW WHAT HE HAS FOR US TO DO.
6. WE MAY FIND OUR MINISTRY, BUT WHAT ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP?
Matt 28:19-20
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age." Amen.
(NKJ)
THE CHURCH HAS BEEN GOOD ABOUT TRYING TO WIN THE LOST. But…
Ø
WE HAVEN’T ALWAYS BEEN GOOD ABOUT MAKING
DISCIPLES.
Ø
YOU CAN CALL MENTORING, OR DISCIPLESHIP.
Ø
BUT IT ALL AMOUNTS TO BEING STRONGER AND BETTER
FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.
2.
WE MUST HAVE A HEART TO WIN THE LOST AT ALL
TIMES. EVANGELISM IS A MUST.
DIRECTIVE
FROM FATHER. AND IT IS!!!! SO DON’T QUIT!
WHAT
GIVES OUR LIVES MEANING AND PURPOSE?
Ø
WORSHIP
Ø
FELLOWSHIP
Ø
Reference
Material: “THE
PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE” by Rick Warren
DISCIPLESHIP
Ø
MINISTRY
Ø
EVANGELISM
Pastor
Larry
