C. BOSTIAN 7
KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING JAN. 20, 2002
YOUR PURPOSE PT.2
Ps 139:13-17
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of
my body and knit them together in my mother's womb. 14 Thank you for making me
so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is
marvelous-- and how well I know it. 15 You were there while I was being formed
in utter seclusion! 16 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! 17 How
precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I
can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I
waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!
This morning I’d like to talk about living a
life of purpose. Everybody ends up somewhere in life. God has placed you here for a purpose. You were put on this earth
with gifts, talents, and relationships that are waiting to be exploited to
fulfill God’s purpose for you. But the sad reality is, most people do not live
a life of
purpose.
A man started a hobby of writing to famous
philosophers. scientists and authors asking them, “What is the purpose of
life?” The responses he got back were depressing at best. Isaac Asimov wrote
back, “As far as I can see there is no purpose to life.” Karl Jung, the
Austrian psychiatrist, wrote, “I don’t know what the meaning or the purpose of
life is but it looks like as if there were something meant by it.” Arthur
Clark, who wrote 2001, said, “I’m afraid I have no concrete ideas of the
purpose of life.” Albert Ellis, the psychiatrist who invented RET therapy said,
“As far as I can tell, life has no special or intrinsic meaning or purpose.”
Thomas Nagle, “I’m afraid the meaning of life still eludes me.” With a sense of
resignation, author Joseph Heller wrote, “I have no answers to the meaning of
life and I no longer want to search for any.” THE FACT IS THAT Most people do
not live a life of purpose.
Welch poet David Whyte wrote: “I don’t want to have written on my tombstone,
when finally people struggle through the weeds, pull back the moss, and read
the inscription there: ‘He made his car payments.’” You were designed for more
than that. God has a purpose for your life. And until you discover his purpose
– and follow through – there will BE AN EMPTINESS AND A hole
in
your soul.
Eph 1:7-12
7 In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein
he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto
us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath
purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he
might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven,
and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an
inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the
praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
2 Tim 1:9
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and
grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Acts 11:23
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace
of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would
cleave unto the Lord.
Rom 8:28-30
28 And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called,
them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER REMAINS, GOD HAS CREATED YOU WITH AND FOR A
SPECIFIC PURPOSE. THESE VERSES ARE
PROOF THAT GOD HAS A DESTINY AND PURPOSE FOR YOU LIFE THAT CAN ONLY BE REALIZED
BY A LIFE OF SURRENDER TO CHRIST AND A PURSUIT OF GOD. YOUR PURPOSE CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE GOD
WHO CREATED YOU AND DESIGNED YOU. IT IS
INCUMBANT UPON US TO FIND, FOLLOW AND FULFILL GOD’S PRE-ORDAINED PURPOSE FOR
OUR LIVES. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS I
HAVE BEGUN TO GIVE YOU 7 KEAYS TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR PURPOSE. LET’S QUICKLY REVIEW THE FIRST THREE AND
MOVE ON FROM THERE THIS MORNING.
1. KEY #1 TO DISCOVERING YOUR CALLING AND PURPOSE: GOD PURPOSE
PRECEEDES YOUR CREATION. GOD WAS THERE WHEN YOU WERE BEING FORMED IN
YOUR MOTHER’S WOMB AND HAD A SPECIFIC PURPOSE IN MIND WHEN HE CREATED YOU. SO GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOU WAS NOT AN
AFTER-THOUGHT BUT A FORE-THOUGHT.
2. HERE’S THE SECOND KEY TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR
PURPOSE: YOUR PRUPOSE DETERMINES YOUR DESIGN, 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. GOD DESIGNED YOU IN A UNIQUE WAY SO THAT YOU
COULD FULFILL HIS PURPOSE, WORK, FUNCTION AND MINISTRY. YOUR DESIGN WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS
AND THAT’S OK BECAUSE IT IS A GOD ORDAINED FEATURE FOR YOUR LIFE.
3. YOUR PURPOSE PREDICTS YOUR POTENTIAL AND ITS NOT THE OTHER WAY
AROUND. IT’S NOT UNTIL YOU ARE PLUGGED INTO YOUR
PURPOSE THAT POTENTIAL WILL BE RELEASED TO FULFILL IT. BATTRIES ARE FULL OF POTENTIAL BUT THAT
POTENTIAL IS NOT UTILIZED UNTIL THEY ARE PUT INTO A FLASHLIGHT OR SOME OTHER
DEVICE. SO YOUR POTENTIAL CANNOT BE
RELEASED UNTIL YOU ARE PLUGGED INTO YOUR PURPOSE.
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 LIKES 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
NATURE. SO, HERE’S 4 KEYS TO
UNDERSTANDING YOUR PURPOSE:
5. YOUR CALLING COINCIDES WITH
YOUR GIFTS AND ABILITIES. YOUR PURPOSE,
YOUR CALLING COINCIDES WITH YOU GIFTS AND ABILITIES. OWLS CAN SEE AT NIGHT. WHY? BECAUSE GOD CREATED THEM THAT WAY, THEY
ARE NOCTURNAL AND THEY FEED AT NIGHT.
WOODPECKERS CAN’T SEE AT NIGHT BUT THEY HAVE STRONG BEEKS. WHY?
BECAUSE THEIR GIFTS AND ABILITIES ALLOW THEM TO BREAK THROUGH THE BARK
OF A TREE TO FEED ON INSECTS. GOD HAS
GIVEN EVERYONE OF US SPECIAL GIFTS, TALENTS AND ABILITIES THAT ARE KEYS TO
UNDERSTANDING OUR PURPOSE.
Rom 12:4-7
4 Just as there are many parts to our bodies,
so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of
us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to
each other, and each needs all the others.
6 God has given each of us the ability to do
certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, then
prophesy whenever you can-- as often as your faith is strong enough to receive
a message from God. 7 If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well.
If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.
Eph 4:7-8
7 However, Christ has given each of us
special abilities-- whatever he wants us to have out of his rich storehouse of
gifts. 8 The psalmist tells about this, for he says that when Christ returned
triumphantly to heaven after his resurrection and victory over Satan, he gave
generous gifts to men.
IN THE MOVIE, “CHARIOTS OF FIRE” A SCOTSMAN BY THE NAME OF ERIC LITTLE RECOGNIZED THAT HE HAD A CALL TO
BE A MISSIONARY TO CHINA BUT THAT HE COULD ALSO RUN VERY FAST. NOW, ERIC’S SISTER JENNY HAS BEEN BEGGING
HIM TO GOD TO CHINA TO RUN THE MISSION POST WITH HER AND TO FULFILL GOD’S CALL
UPON HIS LIFE. HE KNOW’S HE’S GOING TO
GO BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS TUGGING AT HIS HEART AND CALLING IN A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION. IN 1924
HE ENTERED THE OLYMPICS AS A WORLD CLASS RUNNER.
HERE’S WHAT ERIC TOLD HIS SISTER: “I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS MADE ME FOR A
PURPOSE, FOR CHINA BUT HE ALSO MADE ME FAST AND WHEN I RUN I FEEL HIS
PLEASURE. TO GIVE IT UP WOULD BE TO
HOLD HIM IN CONTEMPT. YOU WERE RIGHT,
ITS NOT JUST FUN, TO WIN IS TO HONOR HIM.”
ERIC NOT ONLY HAD THE GIFTING TO BE A MISSIONARY HE ALSO HAD THE GIFT OF
RUNNING FAST. HE SAID, NOT TO USE THIS
GIFT WOULD BE TO HOLD GOD IN CONTEMPT AND TO WINM IS TO HONOR HIM. WHEN WE USE THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US
IN THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE WE HONOR HIM.
John 17:1-5
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these
things he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Reveal
the glory of your Son so that he can give the glory back to you. 2 For you have
given him authority over every man and woman in all the earth. He gives eternal
life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal
life-- by knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to
earth! 4 I brought honor to you here on
earth by doing everything you told me to. 5 And now, Father, reveal my glory as
I stand in your presence, the glory we shared before the world began..
WHEN I DO WHAT I’VE BEEN GIFTED TO DO I NOT ONLY FEEL GOOD AVBOUT
MYSELF I ALSO HONOR GOD IS THE PROCESS.
THERE ARE MANY PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES THAT TRY TO CROSSOVER OUT OF THEIR
GIFTING INTO THE MINISTRY ONCE THEY ARE SAVED. FOR SOME OF THEM THIS IS LEGITIMATE BUT FOR MANY THEY SHOULD REMAIN
IN THE FIELD OF THEIR GIFTING. IF YOU
SEVEN FEET TALL AND CORDINATED AND ATHLETIC GOD’S PROBABLY CALLED YOU INTO A
CAREER OF BASKETBALL. IF YOU ENJOY
SPEAKING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND YOU’RE GOOD AT IT AND HAVE A PASSION FOR THE
LOST THEN YOU’RE PROBABLY CALLED INTO SOME KIND OF MINISTRY.
WHEN WE UTILIZE THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS DEPOSITED IN OUR LIVES WE CAN
SET A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AND BRING HONOR AND GLORY TO GOD. YOU HAVE ALSO CREATED A PLATFROM OF
EXCELLENCE BY WHICH YOU CAN INFLUENCE OTHERS TO CHRIST. SO YOUR GIFTS COINCIDE WITH YOUR PURPOSE.
6. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS PURPOSE, NOT YOUR PLANS. GOD
PROVIDES FOR HIS PURPOSE, NOT YOUR PLANS.
MANY PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT GOD HAS NEVER CALLED THEM TO AND ASKING HIM
TO PAY THE BILLS. BUT RESOURCES FOLLOW
YOUR ASSIGNMENT NOT YOUR DIRECTION. IF
I’M NOT DOING WHAT HE DESIGNED ME TO DO THERE IS NO PROMISE OF PROVISION FOR
IT. BUT WHEN YOU FIND WHAT GOD DESIGNED
YOU TO DO THERE WILL BE FRUIT BEARING AND PROVISION FROM GOD TO FULFILL IT AND
YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. RESOURCES
FOLLOW YOUR PURPOSE, NOT YOU DENOMINATION OR YOUR PET DOCTRINES OR YOUR STYLE
OF DRESS. GOD’S RESOURCES FOLLOW YOUR
DESIGN AND PURPOSE. WHERE GOD GUIDES HE
PROVIDES.
Prov 18:16
A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
WHEN GOD PUTS HIS GIFT IN YOU AND YOU ANSWER THAT CALL YOU MUST SERVE
GOD IN THAT AREA OF YOUR GIFTING. YOU
DON’T HAVE TO PROMOTE YOURSELF OR YOUR MINISTRY, YOU GIFT WILL MAKE ROOM FOR
YOU AND PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE IT AND ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION WILL COME TO YOU
AS A RESULT OF THAT. LEARN TO SERVE
WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED, NO BUSINESS CARDS, PHONE CALLS OR RESUMES OR TRUMPETS
ANNOUNCING YOUR ARRIVALS, JUST SERVE.
NEVER SAY, I’M NEW AT CHURCH AND I WANT TO SING SPECIALS. THAT’S NOT GOOD, WHY DON’T YOU VOLUNTEER TO
CLEAN THE CHURCH OR WORK WITH THE YOUTH FIRST.
DAVID WAS CALLED TO BE THE KING OVER ISRAEL BUT HE FIRST SERVED HIS
FATHER FOR YEARS AS A SHEPHERD BOY AND HE WAS FAITHFUL AND GOOD AT IT. AND GOD RECOGNIZED THAT IN HIS FAITHFULNESS
TO SERVE IN SMALL THINGS THAT HE HAD THE CHARACTER TO BECOME ONE OF ISRAEL’S
GREATEST KINGS. WHY? BECAUSE HE WAS WILL IN TO SERVE.
Ps 75:5-8
5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not
with a stiff neck. 6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the
west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and
setteth up another. 8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine
is red; it is
LEARN TO SERVE GOD IN WHATEVER VOCATION HE HAS DESIGNED YOU FOR AND HE
WILL BRING YOU PROMOTION. YOU DON’T
HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF UP TO THE TOP BECAUSE IF YOU GET THERE BEFORE YOU ARE
READY YOU WILL STRUGGLE BUT WHEN GOD PROMOTES YOU IT WILL BE A BREEZE. WHY?
BECAUSE HIS GIFT WILL MAKE ROOM FOR YOU TO FLOW IN THE ANOINTING. DOM YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED AN ANOINTING TO
DO WHATEVER GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO WHETHER IT’S A MECHANIC, A HOMEMAKER OR A
PASTOR.
Prov 22:29
29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.
NOW MOST PEOPLE GET IT WRONG: I
WANT TO MEET IMPORTANT PEOPLE BUT GOD SAYS YOU BE DILIGENT WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED
IN BUSINESS AND THEN GOD WILL SEE TO IT THAT YOU STAND BEFORE IMPORTANT PEOPLE. GLEN CAMBELL STARTED HIS MUSIC CAREE BY
BEING A BACKUP VOICE TO OTHER ARTISTS.
HE THEN STARTED WRITING MUSIC WHICH OTHER ARTISTS SANG. EVENTUALLY, THORUGH DILIGENT WORK HE BECAME
A STAR OF HIS OWN. DO WHAT GOD HAS PUT
IN YOU AND EVENTUALLY YOU’LL FIND GOD’S PROMOTION.
7. LEARN TO SOAR WITH YOUR STRENGTHS AND MANAGE YOUR WEAKNESSES. NOW
THIS IS A BRAND NEW PARIDIGMN BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT JUST THE
OPPOSITE. WE ARE TAUGHT THAT IF YOU ARE
NOT GOOD A MATH BUT YOU ARE GOOD AT WRITING THAT YOU SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME
WORKING ON YOUR MATH WHEN IN REALITY YOU SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME DOING WHAT
YOU’RE GOOD AT. JAPAN’S 1980
TABLETENNIS OR PINGPONG TEAM WAS BAD AT
USING THERE BACKHAND BUT WERE ETREMELY GOOD AT USING THEIR FOREHAND SHOT. THE COACH TOLD THEM TO SPEND MOST OF THEIR
TIME WORKING ON THEIR FOREHAND SHOT. AS
A RESULT, NOBODY COULD BEET THEM AND THE WON THE 1980 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL FOR
TABLETENNIS. WHY? BECAUSE THEY WERE
SOARING WITH THEIR STRENGTHS AND MANAGING THEIR WEAKNESSES. SO WHEN WE TRAIN OUR CHILDREN WE SHOULD
DIRECT THEM IN THE AREA OF THEIR STRENGTHS, NOT THEIR WEAKNESSES. YOU SEE, WE
GENERALLY GOT IT ALL WRONG WE TELL OUR CHILDREN TO WORK HARDER AT WHAT THEY ARE
BAD AT OR WHAT THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO DO.
WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS ENCORUAGING THEM TO PURSUE WHAT THEY ARE GOOD
AT BECAUSE THAT IS A CLUE OR A KEY TO UNDERSTANING THEIR PURPOSE.
Rom 12:6-10
6 God has given each of us the ability to do
certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, then
prophesy whenever you can-- as often as your faith is strong enough to receive
a message from God. 7 If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well.
If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.
8 If you are a preacher, see to it that your
sermons are strong and helpful. If God has given you money, be generous in helping
others with it. If God has given you administrative ability and put you in
charge of the work of others, take the responsibility seriously. Those who
offer comfort to the sorrowing should do so with Christian cheer. 9 Don't just
pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on
the side of the good. 10 Love each other with brotherly affection and take
delight in honoring each other.
LISTEN, IF YOU CAN’T HANDLE MONEY VERY WELL AND YOUR WIFE OR HUSBAND
HAS A GIFT OF ADMINISTRATION OR IS A TRAINED ACCOUNTANT, LET HER OR HIM MANAGE
YOUR MONEY. WHAT ARE WE DOING? WE’RE LETTING HER OR HIM MANAGE YOUR
WEAKNESS. THE KEY IS TO FIND WHAT YOU
LOVE TO DO AND DO MORE OF IT BUT LEARN TO MANAGE YOUR WEAKNESS. IF YOU ARE IN A CHURCH OR IN A BUSINESS
LEARN TO DELEGATE TO OTHERS THE AREAS WHERE YOU ARE WEAK BUT CONTINUE TO SOAR
WITH YOUR STRENGTHS. IF YOU ARE
HORRIBLE AT TALKING TO PEOPLE THEN YOU DEFINITELY DON’T WANT TO WORK IN THE HUMAN
RESOURCE DEPARTMENT. IF, HOWEVER YOU
ARE GOOD AT ADMINISTRATION AND YOU LOVE IT AND HAVE A PASSION TO DO IT THEN
PURSUE THAT AND DELEGATE YOUR WEAKNESS TO OTHERS WHO HAVE A PASSION FOR DOING
WHAT YOU’RE NOT GOOD AT. IS THAT OK? DOESN’T THAT MAKE MORE SENSE THAN WORKING
HARDER AT WHAT YOU WERE NOT DESIGNED TO DO THAN PURSUING WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT
AND IS YOUR GOD GIVEN PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE.
SO LETS SOAR WITH OUR STRENGTHS AND MANAGE OUR WEAKNESSES. SO THE LAST KEY TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR
PURPOSE IS TO FIND WHAT YOU ENJOY TO DO, WHAT YOU HAVE A PASSION TO DO AND THAT
YOUR GOOD AT BECAUSE THAT IS A KEY TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR PURPOSE.
MARK TWAIN TELLS A STORY OF A MAN WHO SPENT HIS ENTIRE LIFE SEARCHING
FOR THE WORLD’S GREATEST GENERAL BUT HE NEVER FOUND HIM. FINALLY THE MAN DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN AND
WAS GREETED BY ST. PETER. THE MAN SAID
TO PETER, I AM LOOKING FOR THE WORLDS GREATEST GENERAL. WELL, PETER SAID, COME WITH ME...AND IN A
FEW MINUTES ST. PETER POINTED OUT THE MAN AND SAID, “THERE HE IS, THE WORLD’S
GREATEST GENERAL.” THE MAN SAID BACK TO
PETER, YOU MUST BE MISTAKEN; THAT MAN WAS A BLACKSMITH IN MY HOMETOWN. OH THAT’S TRUE SAID PETER BUT IF HE HAD BEEN
A GENERAL HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE WORLD’S GREATEST GENERAL.
I WONDER WHAT “COULD HAVE BEEN,” WILL BE WRITTEN OVER SOME OF US BECAUSE
WE HAD FEAR, WE STAYED COMFORTABLE, WE DIDN’T FOLLOW THE PASSION, THE NATURE,
THE GIFITING AND PURPOSE FOR WHICH GOD DESIGNED US FOR. I WONDER WHO COULD HAVE BUILT THE GREATEST
CHURCH? I WONDER WHO COULD HAVE BUILT
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS? I WONDER
WHO COULD HAVE COME UP WITH MORE CREATIVE THINGS? AND HERE’S THE THING THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THAT GIFT AND ABILITY
BUT WON’T USE IT WILL NEVER ACHIEVE THE SUCCESS THAT GOD HAS DESTINED FOR THEIR
LIVES. DON’T LIVE A LIFE, LIVE A DREAM,
LIVE A PASSION AND LIVE A DESTINY THAT IS PRE-ORDAINED BY GOD FOR YOUR
LIFE. FIND WHAT YOU HAVE A PASSION TO
DO AND ARE GOOD AT AND DO THAT AND YOU WILL FEEL HIS PLEASURE IN YOUR LIFE.
LET’S DETERMINE TO LIVE LIFE WITH PURPOSE AND NOT JUST BUMP AND GRIND
ALONG THROUGH LIFE TAKING WHATEVER COMES AND SETTLING FOR MEDIOCRACY. LET’S CHOOSE TO LIVE A LIFE OF PURPOSE IN
THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE THAT WILL BRING HONOR AND GLORY TO GOD.
1.
KEY #1 TO DISCOVERING
YOUR CALLING AND PURPOSE: GOD PURPOSE PRECEEDES YOUR CREATION.
2. HERE’S THE SECOND KEY TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR
PURPOSE: YOUR PRUPOSE DETERMINES YOUR DESIGN, YOUR PRUPOSE DETERMINES YOUR
DESIGN.
3.
YOUR PURPOSE PREDICTS YOUR POTENTIAL AND ITS NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
4.
GOD’S PURPOSE IS ALWAYS NESTLED IN YOUR NATURE. GOD’S PURPOSE IS ALWAYS TUCKED NEATLY OR NESTLED IN YOUR
NATURE.
5.
YOUR CALLING COINCIDES WITH YOUR GIFTS AND ABILITIES.
6. GOD PROVIDES FOR HIS
PURPOSE, NOT YOUR PLANS.
7. LEARN TO SOAR WITH YOUR
STRENGTHS AND MANAGE YOUR
WEAKNESSES.
