THEME: CHOOSE TO SERVE THE LORD. JOSHUA 24:15
TOPIC: OUR ULTIMATE PURPOSE 2 TIM. 1:9; EPH.1:11;1 SAM. 17:26
INTRODUCTORY REMARK
Everyone who has
been created and designed by God has a unique purpose and calling that has been
placed within him or her by God. It is something that is latent within each of
us – a vision that reflects our passion and uniqueness. Our part is to discover
what that is (Jeremiah 1:5)
We may not all be
prophets to the nations, but the fact remains that through the foreknowledge of
God (He is all knowing) and as a result He has therefore called us, shaped us
and even molded us according to His divine purpose for our lives.
Ephesians 2:10
says “For
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”.
Ephesians
1:11 says “in Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined
according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel
of His will”.
The Illustration of Young David - 1 Samuel
17:20-26.
The story of David
and Goliath is a beautiful illustration of someone who was able to forcibly lay
hold of his destiny when he got a glimpse of God’s perspective and purpose at a
defining moment in his life.
1 Samuel
17:26: Then David spoke to the men who
stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this
Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised
Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
As a result of
seeing God’s perspective and purpose, his heart is filled with faith as he
begins to forcibly take action. This was
a defining moment in David’s life. If he
fails to respond correctly here he would miss a great opportunity in laying
hold of his destiny.
HOW TO DEVELOP OUR PURPOSE IN HIM
Build your personal Calling statement: Your personal
calling statement is a tool that helps you live a purposed and intentional life
of influence by providing a constant yardstick by which you can measure your
behavior and your plans (Ephesians 2:10).
The point
is that there are defining moments in our lives where God allows us to see
things from His perspective concerning our lives. It is at these moments that we are called to
come into agreement with His purpose and calling by committing ourselves
wholeheartedly to what He desires us to do. When we do this, we are forcibly laying hold
of the destiny that God has marked out for each of us.
Matthew
11:12: “And from the days of John the
Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take
it by force”.
Questions to Ask: Where do
I start? In this regard you need to ask yourself where to start:
a.
Biblical purpose i. e. reason for your
existence
b.
Life values: What has God wired you to do
in life and influence others?
c.
Vision: What is it that God wants to
accomplish through your life, as you live out your purpose?
Biblical purpose: Living a
life of destiny and purpose with kingdom influence begins with a sure
foundation. A study of the scriptures helps reveal our reason for existence as
individuals.
a. Reason
for existence: A being statement
b. Reflect
the act of God i.e. Kingdoms perspective
c.
State those things that are not
negotiable.
Examples:
1. Joshua: “As
for me and my house we will serve the Lord”
2. Apostle
Paul: Philippians 3: 10-11: “I want to know Christ and
power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming like
Him in His death and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead”.
Values: Values are those underlying
assumptions, those core convictions that shape our actions and decisions. They
are usually borne out of the lessons we learned and then forged into our deep
consciousness through times of difficulty and testing.
Values
are basically formed in two ways:
1. Doing
----- skills, work, ministry
2. Being
------Character, relationship with Jesus/Human.
Vision: Vision is ability to see God`s
preferable future. Vision is the heartbeat of the personal mission statement.
God designs it, we discover it. Please note that Vision ignite passion.
The Illustration of Young Man called
Joseph – Gen. 37:5-9
THE PROCESS OF DISCOVERING AND CAPTURING YOUR PURPOSE.
Where do we
start? It begins with Us.
Mark 3:13-14: “And He went up on the mountain and
called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. {14} Then He
appointed twelve, that they might be
with Him and that He might send them out to preach”,
What is the
Key? God is already at work in your life!
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them”.
How does it
work? The process of Discovery!
Philippians 1:6: “being
confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”
a.
Clarifying
your PAST
b.
Discovering
the FUTURE
c.
Pursuing
your CALLING
What is the
result? Hope leads to Courage!
Joshua 1:9 "Have
I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be
dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Our Unique Journey
Jeremiah 29:11: “For I
know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and
not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”.
The real test of a
man is not when he plays the role he wants for himself, but when he plays the
role destiny has for him. (Vaclav Havel, President, Czech Republic)
CONCLUSION
Our call to“choose to serve the Lord” is not a call to reinvent ourselves but to align
ourselves with God`s purpose. However, this alignment requires absolute
surrender to His will and purpose for our lives. God is always at work longing
for you to lock up to His purpose in order to give you peace and the desire
rest. 
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