C.BOSTIAN UNDERSTANDING YOUR PURPOSE DEC.16, 2001
Hosea 4:6
6 My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that
thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I
will also forget thy children.
Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the
people perish:
but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
GOD HAS DESIGNED ALL OF CREATED LIFE TO SUSTAIN ITSELF BY HAVING AN
INHERENT SENSE OF PURPOSE AND DESTINY. FOR MOST OF CREATION THAT WILL BE
DETERMINED BY THE IMMEDIATE--BY THAT WHICH CAN BE SEEN OR BY THE NATURAL
SENSES. HOWEVER, WHEN GOD CREATED MAN
IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND LIKENESS HE DEPOSITED IN MAN A HIGHER SENSE OF DESTINY AND
PURPOSE THAT CAN ONLY BE SEEN BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE AND THE
RECOGNITION OF THE NATURE OF PURPOSE.
Eccl 3:9-13
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10
I have seen the burden God has laid on men.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set
eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning
to end. 12 I know that there is
nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find
satisfaction in all his toil-- this is the gift of God.
GOD HAS SET AN INNER SENSE OF
ETERNITY IN THE HEART OF MAN THAT IS WAITING TO BE DEVELOPED UPON REGENERATION,
FOR IT IS ONLY WITH OUR SPIRIT THAT WE CAN HAVE A PROPER SENSE OF VISION FOR
ETERNAL THINGS. GOD DESIGNED ALL PEOPLE
TO HAVE A SENSE OF ETERNITY--THERE ARE SOME WHO LAUGH AND JOKE ABOUT HAVING A
GOOD TIME IN HELL, WHEREAS OTHERS HAVE A CERTAIN UNREST ABOUT WHERE AND HOW
THEY WILL SPEND ETERNITY. EVERY BORN
AGAIN CHRISTIAN HAS THE INHERENT HOPE OFHEAVEN IN THEIR HEART. THE QUESTION FOR THE CHRISTIAN IS NOT WHERE
HE WILL SPEND ETERNITY BUT HOW AND WHAT WILL HE BE DOING THROUGH ETERNITY. WHAT WILL HIS STATUS AND FUNCTION BE
THROUGHOUT ETERNITY. THE ANSWER TO
THOSE QUESTIONS ARE WHAT SEPARATE THE NOMINAL CHRISTIAN FROM THE PRODUCTIVE
CHRISTIAN. VISION AND PURPOSE HAS
THE POWER TO PUSH GOD’S PEOPLE FORWARD EVEN IN THE FACE OF DISAPPOINTMENT,
DISILLUSIONMENT, DISCOURAGEMENT AND OPPOSITION.
2 Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but
though our
outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which
is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory; 2 Cor 4:18 While we look not at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2
Cor 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were
dissolved, we have a building
of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Cor 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly
desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 2 Cor 5:3 If
so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
IF WE ARE GOING TO BE
PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE WE MUST HAVE A DEFINITE SENSE OF PURPOSE--WE MUST SEE WHERE
WE ARE GOING AND WHERE GOD IS LEADING US.
IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN OUR VISION MUST BE CORRECTED BECAUSE MOST OF
GOD'S PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM SPIRITUAL MYOPIA AS IS RECORDED IN REV.3:14-18
Rev 3:14-18
14 And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness,
the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art
neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will spue thee out of my mouth. 17
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that
the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
MYOPIA IS A MEDICAL TERM FOR
NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS. PEOPLE WITH MYOPIA CAN ONLY SEE THINGS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THEM
SO THEY NEED CORRECTIVE LENSES TO ASSIST THEM IN SEEING THINGS IN THE
DISTANT. HERE IN THE CHURCH OF THE
LAODICEANS THERE VISION FOR SPIRITUAL THINGS IS WANTING BECAUSE ALL THAT THEY
CAN SEE AND PURSUE IN LIFE IS IN THE REALM OF THE NATURAL SENSES. HERE IN VERSE 18 THEY ARE INSTRUCTED TO
ANOINT THEIR EYES WITH EYESALVE SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THEIR REAL SPIRITUAL
CONDITION: POOR, WRETCHED, BLIND, MISERABLE AND NAKED SO THAT THEY CAN DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.
THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF MYOPIA IS CORRECTED BY GLASSES, THE SPIRITUAL
CONDITION OF MYOPIA IS CORRECTED BY THE WORD OF GOD. IF YOU VISION AND PURPOSE IN LIFE IS NOT FOUNDED ON THE WORD OF
GOD THROW IT OUT AND LET GOD BIRTH A NEW ONE IN YOUR HEART.
THERE IS PROBABLY NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT IN LIFE THAN KNOWING YOUR
PURPOSE. WHY DID GOD MAKE YOU AND WHAT
IS YOUR PURPOSE AND DESTINY IN LIFE.
THEN ONCE YOU KNOW IT YOU MUST ACCEPT THAT DESTINY AND THAT PURPOSE AND
FULFILL IT. I THINK THERE IS IN MANY
PEOPLE A SUBC0NSCIOUS, UNSPOKEN FEAR THAT IF I SUBMIT MY LIFE TO GOD HE WILL
MAKE ME DO WHAT I DON’T WANT TO DO. I
WANT TO CHALLENGE THAT THIS MORNING AND SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT COULD BE
FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. GOD NEVER CALLS
YOU TO DO WHAT HE HAS NOT ALREADY EQUIPPED YOU, DESIGNED YOU AND PURPOSED YOU
TO DO.
Phil 3:12-14
12 I don't mean to say I am perfect. I
haven't learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when
I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. 13
No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my
energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to
what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize
for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for
us.
PAUL IS FOCUSSING ALL OF HIS ENERGIES, NOT ON GOING TO HEAVEN CAUSE
HE’S ALREADY GOING THERE, BUT TO PRESS ON TO DISCOVERY WHY GOD MADE HIM, WHY
GOD SAVED HIM AND APPREHENDED HIM SO THAT HE CAN FULFILL THAT PURPOSE AND
DESTINY. I WANT TO BEGIN TO GIVE YOU
THIS MORNING , 7 KEYS TO DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE AND CALLING. THEY ARE KEYS THAT ARE BUILT INTO BY DESIGN,
BY NATURE, BY GIFITEDNESS AND BY ABILITY.
GOD ALWAYS GOES AHEAD AND PROVIDES FOR HIS PURPOSE.
1.
KEY #1 TO
DISCOVERING YOUR CALLING AND PURPOSE: GOD PURPOSE PRECEEDES YOUR CREATION. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOU PRECEEDED HIS CREATION OF YOU. BEFORE HE MADE YOU HE HAD A PLAN AND PURPOSE
FOR YOU.
Jer 1:4-10
4 The Lord said to me, 5 "I knew you
before you were formed within your mother's womb; before you were born I
sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world." 6 "O
Lord God," I said, "I can't do that! I'm far too young! I'm only a
youth!" 7 "Don't say that," he replied, "for you will go
wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. 8 And don't be afraid of
the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through." 9 Then
he touched my mouth and said, "See, I have put my words in your mouth! 10
Today your work begins, to warn the nations and the kingdoms of the world. In
accord with my words spoken through your mouth I will tear down some and
destroy them, and plant others, nurture them, and make them strong and
great."
THERE IS NOT A PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT DOES NOT HAVE A GOD ORDAINED PURPOSE HARD WIRED INTO YOUR
MAINFRAME BY THE CREATOR BEFORE YOU EVER GOT HERE. It doesn’t matter how you
got here or WHETHER YOUR PARENTS WANTED A GIRL OR A BOY. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER YOU WERE CONCEIVED
BY PRE-MARITAL SEX IN THE BACKSEAT OF A FORD BY TWO HOT BLOODED PEOPLE WHO DID
NOT MAKE A COMMITMENT TO MARRIAGE. YOU
CAN BE IN THE TRAUMA OF GOING THROUGH A FAMILY AND BEING UNWANTED AND GOD STILL
HAS A PRE-DEFINED PURPOSE FOR CREATING YOU.
HE WAS THERE BEFORE YOU EXISTED AND DESIGNED YOU FROM YOUR MOTHER’S WOMB
TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE AND DESTINY FOR YOUR LIFE. NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT’S GOOD NEWS! NOW ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TO GIVE YOUR LIFE
TO GOD AND SURRENDER YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO
HIM AND HE WILL WORK IN YOU TO BRING THAT PURPOSE TO FULFILLMENT.
Matt 16:24-26
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any
man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose
his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul?
Phil 2:13
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to
will and to do of his good pleasure.
God designed you before he ever created you SO
YOU ARE NEVER A MISSFIT OR A MISTAKE.
YOU WERE PURPOSED BEFORE YOU WERE MADE AND BEFORE YOU ARRIVED. THAT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS A FOUNDATION TO
DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE AND DESTINY IN CHRIST.
Eccles. 10:7 says, “I have seen servants upon
horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth”.
This scripture says that many are not in
the place they are supposed to be. The servant has taken over the horses of
the princes and they are walking like servants. To destine is to determine
something beforehand. Destiny is what God has preordained for your future, what
He determined that you are coming to earth to do. It is the inner purpose for
your life. It is the real reason for breathing. It is a condition Fore-
ordained by God for you.
In this scripture, we see the one that has
been preordained as a prince but he walks like a servant. Destiny is the life
God has preordained. GOD’S
PURPOSE PRECEEDES YOUR CREATION. SO
PURPOSE is the plan and programme of God for your life. It is what one is
really meant for. It is what you have been called to be and to do. It is why
you were born, the expectations of heaven for your life. It is what is written
in heavenly records concerning you. It is what God has in mind, the original
intention of God, before He created you.
2 Tim 2:19-21
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let
every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a
great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood
and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore
purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and
meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
You have a choice TO BECOME WHAT GOD DESIGNED
YOU TO BE AND TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS LIFE AND THAT WHICH IS TO COME. YOU CAN BECOME A VESSEL OF HONOR WHO CAN
BRING GLORY AND HONOR TO GOD BY FINISHING THE WORK WHICH HE HAS PREDETERMINED
YOU TO DO ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE WHICH HE PURPOSED IN
CHRIST. IF YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BE IN
CHRIST AND TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF WITH HIS CALLING UPON YOUR LIFE THEN HE WILL
WORK IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND DO ACCORDING HIS GOOD PLEASURE. YOUR CHOICE IS SIMPLE, YES LORD, NOW WHAT DO
YOU WANT ME TO DO CAUSE WE COULDN’T COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN FOR OUR LIFE
THAN WHAT GOD COULD AND WE’D BE FOOLISH TO THINK WE COULD. I MUST SAY YES LORD TO YOUR WILL LORD. I
MUST SAY YES LORD TO THE WAY YOU CREATED ME AND DESIGNED ME. THAT’S NOT ALWAYS AS EASY AS IT SEEMS
BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ACCEPTED AND BLEND IN WITH THE CROWD. THERE ARE NO TWO OF US THAT ARE IDENTICAL OR
ELSE ONE OF US WOULDN’T BE NECESSARY.
WE ARE UNIQUE AND DESIGNED WITH A SPECIFIC FUNCTION AND PURPOSE. GOD’S
PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE PRECEDED OUR CREATION.
2. HERE’S THE SECOND
KEY TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR PURPOSE: YOUR PRUPOSE DETERMINES YOUR DESIGN, YOUR PRUPOSE
DETERMINES YOUR DESIGN. WHAT I’M GOING
TO USE SOMETHING FOR DETERMINES HOW I MAKE IT OR DESIGN IT. WHEN WE FIRST SAW A STEALTH FIGHTER IT
LOOKED STARANGE. IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE A
CONTEMPORARY AIRPLANE LIKE WERE ALL USE TO SEEING. IT HAD RIGHT ANGLES AND TRIANGULAR SHAPE, LOW SILLOETTE AND BLACK
RADAR ASORBING PAINT. AND THE REASON IT
IS STRANGE IS ITS PURPOSE. ITS PURPOSE
IS TO AVOID RADAR DETECTION DETERMINED ITS DESIGN. WHEN BRITTISH AIR AND AIR FRANCE TEAMED UP TO BUILD THE WORLD’S
FIRST SUPERSONIC PASSENGER PLANE CALLED THE CONCORD ITS PURPOSE WAS
PREDETERMINED BEFORE ITS DESIGN. IT CAN
TAKE YOU FROM NEW YORK TO LONDON ENGLAND IN 3 HRS 15 MINUTES. A FLIGHT THAT NORMALLY TAKE 6 1/2
HOURS. IT TRAVELS AT 60, 000 FEET AT
1435 MILES AN HOUR OR TWICE THE SPEED OF SOUND OR 25 MILES A MINUTE GET DOWN
SOMEBODY CAUSE NO HIGHWAY PATROL CAN CATCH YOU. WE DON’T HAVE A JET FIGHTER IN OUR INVENTORY THAT CAN STAY WITH
IT FOR MORE THAN 3 MINUTES AND IT CRUISES AT MACH 2. IT’S A PHENOMINAL ARICRAFT: VERY THIN AND SLENDER AND VERY THIN
WINGS WITH A SIX PACK OF ENGINES ON EACH WING AND ITS MADE NARROW AND
THIN. YOU CAN’T TAKE YOUR MOTHER AND
YOUR FAMILY AND 14 BAGES OF LUGGAGE CAUSE ITS MADE SMALL AND THIN TO GO HIGH
AND FAST. ITS PURPOSE DETERMINED ITS
DESIGN. STOP ARGUING WITH THE MIRROR.
STOP ARGUING WITH OTHERS EXPECTATIONS ABOUT YOU. YOUR DESIGN IS PERFECT FOR THE PURPOSE GOD MADE YOU.
I HOLD IN MY HAND A TABLE SPOON. ITS GREAT FOR SOUP. YOU WANT MORE TO YOUR MOUTH SO ITS RATHER
LARGE. THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER SPOON
WHICH IS SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT. HERE’S
A TABLESPOON BUT HERE IS AN ICECREAM SCOOP.
NOW EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS THAT YOU CAN’T STICK A TABLESPOON INTO A
FROZEN BUCKET OF ICECREAM AND SCOOP IT RIGHT AWAY CAUSE THE SPOON WILL CRUMBLE
UNDER THE PRESSURE TO SCOOP OUT THE ICECREAM.
NO, YOU NEED AN ICECREAM SCOOP WHICH IS THICKER AND HEAVIER AND WAS
DESIGNED TO TAKE MORE PRESSURE THAN A TABLESPOON TO SCOOP OUT THAT ICECREAM. SO, ITS PURPOSE DETERMINED ITS DESIGN.
NOW, I HOPE YOU CAN SEE BY THIS WHY WE ARE ALL
DIFFERENT. WE ALL DO NOT HAVE THE SAME
PURPOSE SO WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME DESIGN.
IN FACT THE SCRIPTURES TELLS US ABOUT THE GREAT DIVERSITIES THAT MAKE
THE BODY OF CHRIST COMPLETE AND FUNCTIONAL IN:
1 Cor 12:4-12
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the
same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh
all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to
profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to
another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the
same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another
the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits;
to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every
man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and
all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
NOT ONLY ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN THE GIFTS OF INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS BUT
THERE ARE ALSO DIFFERENCES IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE MINISTRY OF THE BODY OF
CHRIST. THE CHURCH IS CONSTANTLY
CHANGING AND EVOLVING TO MEET THE CHALLENGES AND DEMANDS OF REACHING THE
UNCHURCHED AND THE UNBELIEVER. WHILE
SOME CHURCHES HAVE OPTED TO JUST BABYSIT HIGH MAITENANCE, LOW IMPACT, RECYCLED
CHRISTIANS WHONEVER TAKEA RISK AND NEVER TRY SOMETHING NEW. LET’S NOT BE AFRAID TO STOP DOING SOMETHING
THAT HAS NO RESULTS AND TRY SOMETHING NEW.
STOP BEATING A DEAD HORSE AND DISCOVER THAT YOUR DESIGN MIGHT NOT BE
WHAT’S BRINGING LITTLE OR NO RESULTS WHEN A CHANGE IS IN NEED EVEN THOUGH
NOBODY ELSE MAY BE DOING IT THAT WAY.
SO IF WE ARE TRYING TO REACH A CERTAIN PEOPLE GROUP WE MAY HAVE TO
CHANGE WHAT WE ARE DOING AND DESIGN A SERVICE THAT CAN MEET THEIR NEEDS. WHY?
BECAUSE YOUR DESIGN PRECEDES YOUR PURPOSE. YOU WALK INTO A 100 YEAR OLD CHURCH AND YOU COME INTO A DESIGN
AND A PURPOSE THAT IS LONG GONE.
SO REMEMBER THAT PURPOSE DETERMINES DESIGN AND STOP ARGUING WITH THE
CREATOR WHO DESIGNED YOU. IF GOD WANTED
YOU TO BE A BOY YOU WOULD HAVE HAD ONE SO GET YOUR DRAG COSTUME OFF. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. GOD GAVE YOU THE RIGHT PLUMBING AND THE
RIGHT CHEMISTRY BECAUSE HE MADE YOU RIGHT.
NOW SOMEBODY ELSE TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE WRONG: THEY LIED. THE MANUFACTURER IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN
TELL YOU WHY SOMETHING WAS MADE AND HOW TO USE IT IN THE RIGHT MANNER TO GET
THE MAXIMUM EFFECT FROM IT. THAT’S WHAT
GOD DOES WHEN WE SURRENDER OUR LIFE TO HIS DESIGN AND PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE. ITS ALWAYS THE ENEMY WHO WANTS TO USE PEOPLE
AND HURT AND CONFUSION IN YOUR LIFE TO
CORRUPT THE PURPOSE THAT GOD MADE YOU FOR. SO REMEMBER, YOUR DESIGN DETERMINES
YOUR PURPOSE.
3.
YOUR PURPOSE
PREDICTS YOUR POTENTIAL. YOUR
PURPOSE PREDICTS YOUR POTENTIAL AND ITS NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. POTENTIAL DOES NOT PREDICT YOUR
PURPOSE. IT’S YOUR PURPOSE THAT
DETERMINES HOW MUCH POTENTIAL YOU HAVE.
YOU HAVE TO SEE THAT POTENTIAL IS OVER-RATED. JUST BECAUSE A BALLET TEACHER SYAS YOUR DAUGHTER HAS POTNETIAL AND SHE HASN’T HIT HER MARK
AFTER 2 YEARS SOMETHING IS WRONG. A LOT
OF PEOPLE TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE POTENTIAL TO TRY AND SUCKER YOU OUT OF MORE
MONEY, MORE LESSONS AND MORE EQUIPMENT TO IMRPOVE YOUR GOLF GAME BECAUSE YOU
HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL AND YOUR SON COULD BE
THE NEXT TIGER WOODS. IF A KID
IS GOOD AT SOMETHING THEY KEEP GETTING BETTER AS THEY PRACTICE.
Eph 4:7
7 But unto every one of us is given grace
according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Living) 7 However, Christ has
given each of us special abilities-- whatever he wants us to have out of his
rich storehouse of gifts.
I KNOW A LOT OF CHRISTIANS THAT ARE LOADED WITH POTENTIAL BUT NEVER DO
ANYTHING FOR THE KINGDOM. I GOT A
PACKAGE OF NEW BATTRIES IN MY DESK THAT ARE LOADED WITH POTENTIAL AND FULL OF
POWER BUT THEY WILL NEVER DO ANYTHING UNTIL THEY’RE PLUGGED INTO THEIR
PURPOSE. I HAVE TO PUT THEM INTO A
FLASHLIGHT, A RADIO, A GUITAR TUNER OR
INTO THE PURPOSE THEY WERE MADE IN
ORDER FOR IT TO RELEASE THAT POTENTIAL. SO ITS NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. POTENTIAL BY ITSELF IS WORTHLESS, YOU’VE GOT
TO PLUG YOUR LIFE INTO THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH GOD MADE YOU BEFORE THAT POTENTIAL
CAN BE RELEASED FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Phil 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the
mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
WHAT PAUL IS SAYING HERE IS THAT HE HAS NOT YET EXPERIENCED THE PURPOSE
FOR WHICH GOD SAVED HIM AND MADE HIM BUT HE IS PRESSING ON TO DISCOVER GOD’S
PURPOSE FOR MAKING HIM, FOR DESIGNING HIM AND FOR CALLING HIM INTO THE
MINISTRY. WE CAN EXPERIENCE A LITTLE
SUCCESS AND STOP OR WE CAN KEEP ON KEEPING ON UNTIL THE RESERVE OF OUR
POTENTIAL HAS BEEN SPENT ON FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE. THE PRESS HERE IN THE GREEK IS DESCRIBING A
RUNNER WHO IS STRINING TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE FIRST. EVERY MUSCLE, NERVE AND TENDON IS STRAINING
TOWARDS THE DISCOVERY OF PURPOSE. THAT
MEANS THAT A LAZY PERSON, VOID OF FAITH, CAN NEVER LEAVE THE ABORTION OF
POTENTIAL BECAUSE THEY DO NOT EAGERLY, PASSIONATELY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY PRESS
ON.
Prov 29:18
18 Where there is no vision, the people
perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT NEVER USING THEIR POTENTIALK
BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DISCIPLINE PROBLEM.
THEY JUST CAN’T SEEM TO GET MOTIVATED TO GET UP IN THE MORNING. OR THEY JUST CAN’T GET TO BED EARLIER ENOUGH
OR THEY JUST CAN’T STOP EATING AND GAINING WEIGHT. MIGHT I SUGGEST TO YOU THAT YOUR DON’T HAVE A DISCIPLINE PROBLEM
YOU HAVE A VISION PROBLEM. DISCIPLINE
IS NEVER THE OBJECTIVE. DISCILINE IS A
BY PRODUCT OF A VISION, A DREAM OR A DESTINY.
WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE YOU HAVE THEN PRODUCED THE WILLINGNESS
TO PAY THE PRICE TO GET IT AND THAT PRICE IS CALLE DISCIPLINE. I WANT TO BE THINNER, I WANT TO BE MORE
EFFECTIVE IN MY WITNESS I WANT TO BE MORE RELATIVE AND EFFRECTIVE AS A CHURCH. THAT VISION OR THAT DESTINY WILL PRODUCE A
DISCPLINE TO ACHIEVE IT BECAUSE I SEE IT AND I WANT IT. BUT GOD SAYS IN PROV.29:18 THAT WERE THERE
IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE CAST OF RESTRAINT AND REJECT THE DISCIPLINE THAT IS A
NECESSARY PRE-REQUISTE TO AHEIVING THEIR GOAL AND PURPOSE. DISCIPLINE THAT DOESN’T COME OUT OF A VISION
AND DESTINY RESULTS IN LEGALISM AND BONDAGE.
JUST PUTTING OUT A BUNCH OF RULES DOESN’T HELP ANYBODY. YOU HAVE TO ENVISION MY ON WHY THIS IS
BENEFICIAL TO MY FUTURE. NOW IF YOU CAN
MAKE THAT CONVINICING ENOUGH THEN I’LL BE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE TO HAVE
IT. SO YOUR PURPOSE PREDICTS YOUR
POTENTIAL.
4.
GOD’S PURPOSE
IS ALWAYS NESTLED IN YOUR NATURE. GOD’S
PURPOSE IS ALWAYS TUCKED NEATLY OR NESTLED IN YOUR NATURE. WEBSTER DEFINES NATURE AS THE PARTICULAR
COMBINATION OF QUALITIES BELONGING TO A PERSONA BY BIRTH, BY ORIGIN OR BY
CONSTRUCTION. SO GOD’S CALLING AND
PURPOSE IS NESTLED IN YOU AND IT COMES NATURALLY OUT OF YOU. WHEN I TALK ABOUT YOUR PRUPOSE BEING NESTLED
IN YOUR NATURE I’M REFERRING TO WHAT YOU DO NATURALLY. BIRDS ARE NOT ONLY DESIGNED TO FLY THEY LOVE
TO FLY. FISH WERE DISIGNED TO SWIM IN WATER AND THEY LOVE TO SWIM. WHEN WE TRY SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND
WE’RE PRETTY GOOD AT IT WE’LL SAY TO THAT PERSON, ‘WHY THEY TOOK TO THAT LIKE
A DUCK TO WATER.’ WHAT WERE SAYING IS THAT THAT PERSON HAD A
SECOND NATURE TO DO THAT PARTICULAR THING.
HAVE YOU EVER TRIED SOMETHING AND IT WASN’T NATURAL TO YOU SO YOU KEEP
PRACTICING IT AND IT STILL ISN’T NATURAL TOO YOU? THE REASON IS BECAUSE ITS NOT IN YOUR NATURE TO DO IT AND IT’S
NOT IN GOD’S AGENDA FOR YOU SO DROP IT LIKE A LEAD PIPE. WHEN YOU ARE REALEASED INTO THE ENVIORNMENT
THAT GOD HAS DESIGNED YOU FOR YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE ITS IN YOUR NATURE
TO DO IT. SOME OF YOU HAVE A JOB NOT A
LIFE. YOU’RE NOT LIVING A DREAM YOUR
LIVING A NIGHTMARE CAUSE YOU HATE WHAT YOU DO.
WHEN YOU’RE IN THAT STATE YOU’RE NOT ANY GOOD TO AN EMPLOYER AND YOU’RE
NOT GOOD TO YOURSELF. YOU’RE GOING TO
HAVE TROUBLE BEING PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND CONSTANTLY STRUGGLE TO BE
EXCELLENT AT WHAT YOU DO. I WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT GOD DIDN’T MAKE IT THAT WAY BUT WE JUST BUCKLED UNDER THE PRESSURE TO
MAKE A LIVING ANY OLE WAY WE COULD.
MAYBE, JUST MAYBE YOU’RE NOT DOING WHAT GOD DESIGNED AND PURPOSED FOR
YOU TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE. YOU NEVER
HAVE TO TELL A MAN TO GET EXCITED ABOUT WHAT HE DOES BECAUSE HE LOVES TO DO IT
AND BECAUSE IT JUST COMES OUT OFM HIM NATURALLY AND GOD WILL ALWAYS LEAD YOU
THAT WAY. RELIGION MAY PUT YOU INTO
SOMETHING YOU’RE NOT DESIGNED TO DO OR HAVE A PASSION TO DO BUT GOD WILL NEVER
LEAD YOU IN THAT DIREXCTION. SO, WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO PUSH PEOPLE TO DO
MORE THAN WHAT THEY ARE NATURALLY GIFTED AND DESIGNED TO DO OR WE’LL PUT THEM
INTO HIGH STRESS AND BONDAGE.
NOW I DON’T HAVE TO COAX AND BRIBE LEAH TO COME TO CHURCH EARLY TO
PRACTICE BEFORE A WORSHIP SERVICE BECAUSE SHE LOVES TO PLAY THE PIANO AND TO
SING. SHE COMES IN JUST ABOUT EVERY
MORNING AND STARTS PLAYING SOMETHING SHE’S WRITTEN OR PLAYED BEFORE THAT HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORSHIP SERVICE.
WHY? BECAUSE IT’S IN HER NATURE
TO DO IT. DOES SHE HAVE TO DO IT CAUSE
SHE’S A PASTOR’S DAUGHTER. NO! SHE DOES IT CAUSE SHE LIKE TO DO IT AND
BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO DO IT. YOU SEE,
ITS NESTLED IN HER NATURE. LISTEN,
GOD’S NOT GONNA MAKE YOU DO SOMETHING YOU HATE TO DO. GOD’S NOT GOING TO PUT YOU INTO SOMETHING THAT YOU DON’T HAVE A
PASSION TO DO. THE NATURE OF A PERSON
IS A POWERFUL CLUE TO THEIR CALLING AND PURPOSE IN LIFE. GOD WIRES US ALL DIFFERENTLY BUT NESTELD IN
OUR NATURE IS A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, DESTINY AND CALLING.
MARSHA SENITAR WROTE A BOOK ENTITLED, ‘DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND THE MONEY
WILL FOLLOW.’ THIS IS A SECULAR BOOK
BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE A PRINCIPLE HERE.
THE WORLD IS SOMETIMES SMARTER THAN A BELIEVER.
Luke 16:8
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward,
because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their
generation wiser than the children of light.
THIS WOMAN WRTOE THIS BOOK NOT EVEN KNOWING THAT IT WAS A BIBLICAL
PRINCIPLE. THAT GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE IS NESTLED IN YOUR NATURE ABD
BECAUSE OF THAT YOU HAVE A PASSION TO SUCEED AND YOU BECOME SUCCESSFUL AT WHAT
YOU DO. THE AVERAGE CHRISTIAN BELIEVE
THAT IF YOU DO WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU’LL BE
MISERABLE. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER
FROM THE TRUTH. SOME OF YOU ARE STUCK
IN THAT OLD RELIGIOUS TRHINKING THAT IF YOU GET SAVED AND COMMIT YOUR LIFE TO
CHRIST THAT HE’LL SEND YOU TO AFGANASTAN TO BE A MISSIONARY AND ITS JUST NOT
TRUE. NOW, HE’LL SEND YOU TO AFGANISTAN
IF YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO OVER THERE AND YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL AND YOU LIKE
ROUGHING IT. ROUGHING IT FOR ME IS WHEN
THE TOLIET STOPS WORKING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER QUITS. SO WHAT AM I TRYING TO DO THIS MORNING? I’M STRYING TO SET YOU FREE TO GIVE YOU
LIBERETY TOUNDERSTAND THAT GOD’S GETTING A BAD RAP ON THIS THING AND THAT YOU
SHOULDN’T BE AFRAID OF DEVELOPING A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP TO HIM FOR FEAR OF WHAT
HE’LL ASK YOU TO DO. GOD WILL NEVER
MAKE YOU DO WHAT HE HASN’T WIRED YOU TO DO.
YOUR PRUPOSE IS NESTLED IN YOUR NATURE.
DAVE PELLS WANTED TO BE A PGA GOLF PRO BUT WHEN HE REALIZED JUST HOW
GOOD THE TOURING PRO WAS IT DAWNED ON HIM THAT HE’D NEVER BE THE NEXT TIGER
WOODS OR JACK NICHOLAS. SO I’M NOT
GOING TO MAKE A LIVING BY BEING A GOLF PRO CAUSE THE AVERAGE PRO IS BETER THAN
ME. BUT BECAUSE HE LOVED GOLF AND IT
WAS HIS LIFE PASSION HE STUDIED GOLF PROS.
FOLLOWED THEM ON TOUR AND STUDIED EVERY SHOT THEY TOOK, WHAT CLUB THEY
USED FOR CERTAIN SHOTS AND HOW ACCURATE THEY WERE. THEN HE BEGAN TO COMPILE HUNDS OF THOUSANDS OF STATISTICS. THEN PRETTY SOON SOME OF THE PROS WHO ALWAYS
SAW THIS GUY FOLLOWING HIM ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS DOING. WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THEY BEGAN TO ASK FOR
INFORMATION. PELL SHOWED THEM WHERE
THEY WERE LOSING GROUND AND WHY THEY WEREN’T MAKING MORE MONEY ON THE
TOUR. THE PROS TOOK THAT INFORMATION
ABOUT THEMSELVES AND BEGAN TO IMRPOVEAND THEY BEGAN WRITING LARGE CHECKS TO
PELLS. PRETTY SOON HE PUBLISHED A BOOK
CALLED DAVE PELLS SHORT GAME BIBLE FOR $30.00.
HE HAS ANOTHER ONE CALLED DAVE PELLS PUTTING BIBLE FOR $30.00. BUT FOR YOU GOLF WHEN YOU WIFE ASKES YOU WHAT YOU ARE DOING YOU
CAN SAY I’M READING MY BIBLE. THE POINT
IS THAT HE LOVED GOLF AND WHILE HE COULDN’T MAKE MONEY AS A TOURING PRO HE
STAYED IN THE FIELD OF GOLF UNTIL HE DISCOVED HIS PURPOSE. SOME OF YOU NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE FIELD OF
PASSION THAT YOU HAVE AND DIVERSIFY THE OPPORTUNITIES GIVEN TO YOU TO BE
SUCESSFUL IN AN AREA RELATED TO WHAT YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR. SO GOD’S PURPOSE IS NESTLED IN THAT AREA OF
LIFE THAT COMES NATURALLY TO YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR. THE REALM PROS THAT MAKE IT EASY AT WHAT
THEY DO DON’T KNOW WHY OR HOW THEY DO IT.
SOMEONE ONCE ASKED MICHAEL JORDAN WHY HE WAS GOING UP FOR A LAYUP AND
SPUN AROUND AND SHOT THE BALL WITH HIS LEFT HAND IN AN INCREDIBLE MOTION OF
ATHLETICSIM. HE SAID HE DIN’T KNOW HOW
HE DID BUT IT JUST HAPPENED. IT JUST
CAME NATURALLY TO HIM. FOR ANOTHER TO
ATTEMPT THAT SAME MOVE WOULD PROBALY BE VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE. WHY?
CAUSE ITS NOT IN THEIR NATURE TO DO IT.
HOW CAN SOMEONE WHO IS UNPREPARED LOOK SO GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO? CAUSE ITS IN THEIR NATURE AND GIFTING TO DO
IT. GOD MADE THEM THAT WAY AND THEY
JUST DO IT. SO GOD’S PURPOSE IS
NESTLED IN YOUR PURPOSE.
NEXT WEEK WE’LL BE HAVING OUR
CHRISTMAS SERVICE. THE YOUTH WILL BE
PERFROMING A SKIT AND 4-5 CHRISTMAS SONGS FOLLOWED BY MY CHRISTMAS MESSAGE AND
THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK WE’LL LOOK AT THE NEXT 3 WAYS YOU CAN DISCOVER YOUR
PURPOSE AND CALLING.
