Living Life On Purpose Part 4

Posted by Paula White - Sun, November 01, 2009 at 06:43 PM

Click here to download the sermon notes for “Living Life on Purpose Part 4”.

“There are 2 great days in a person’s life – the day we are born and the day we discover why.” William Barclay – Scottish Theologian

Jeremiah 29: 11-14 11 I know what I’m doing; I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 12 When you call on Me, I’ll listen. 13 When you come looking for Me, you’ll find Me. 14 Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else – I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed. God’s decree!
Decree = decision, determination

God has a plan, that plan is ALWAYS working and you are part of His plan.

Proverb 16:4 Message declares “God made everything with a place and a purpose.”

God’s original intention is His final decision.

From the beginning of time, God designed the world to be a wonderful, fulfilling, prosperous place for His children:
a. Who would enjoy the benefits of a covenant with Him.
b. Those benefits are found in His Word.

He reveals Himself in and through His Word.

His Word is our path to all goodness and blessing in Him.

John 1:1-4 (NIV) 1 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Him, ALL things were made, without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life and that life was the light of men.

V14 …the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us!

Life is in God => God is in His Word

You cannot separate God from His Word == They are One

Psalm 33:4 reveals = For the Word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect, the Word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 119:89 Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

Therefore, to discover and live a life of purpose and fulfillment, I must connect, navigate and direct my life by the Word of God.

Psalmist declared in Psalm 119:105 => Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

What you know => Determines HOW you live

When you know that God loves you with a deep, everlasting love…and desires ONLY the BEST for you =>
a) “An Abundant Life” through Christ (John 10:10)
b) He believes in you
c) He is always mindful (or) thinking about you (Psalm 115:12)
d) He watches over you (Psalm 121: 5-8)
e) He has a distinct, purposeful plan for your life

You cease struggling and begin to discover and define a life of significance => one that is secure and satisfying! = A LIFE ON PURPOSE

According to Psychologist (Edward Diener– University of Illinois):
One of the vital ingredients for happiness is – “Having a meaning in life and having goals embedded in your long-term values that you are working for…but also that you find enjoyable.”

“He who has the why to live for can bear almost any how.” Nietzsche

God has a life of purpose for you.

Ephesians 1:11-12 Message 11 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we a re living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living. 12: Part of the overall purpose. He is working out in everything and everyone.

So the big question, “What is your purpose and how do you discover it?”

Contrary to popular belief, your purpose is not simply your job or profession. =
It’s not what you do! It’s much BIGGER than that.

Your life purpose => defines your most meaningful direction in life.

It’s your Supreme reason for “Being”

It reflects your principles and what you value most in life.

It’s an overarching intention to do what’s meaningful to you in life => It’s your “Being” fitting into form.

A person who knows their purpose has a guide for their thoughts and behavior, regardless of circumstances.

When you identify your purpose, you can integrate it into your everyday life… through your job, business, relationships, and community.

Your daily life will be a living reflection of your life purpose and you will be an image-bearer of God.

Romans 8:28-30 Amplified 28 We are assured and know that [God being a Partner in their labor} all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness] that He might become the Firstborn among many brethren. 30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called and those He called, He also justified [acquitted, made righteous…

You are “CALLED” by God

As a child of God => you should bring a sense of purpose wherever you go and to whatever you do…
a) Recognizing the “call” you are answering as an image-bearer of God in the earth.
b) YOU HAVE PURPOSE!

Purpose (etymology) =From French word: Porpos => aim, intention, to put forth, to put or place or by design.

A design is to create, execute, fashion, or construct according to plan.

I love how Romans 9:10-11 (Message) makes this so clear to us (that God had a design or purpose to our life):

Romans 9:10-11 Message 9 And that’s not the only time. To Rebecca, also, a promise was made that took priority over genetics, when she became pregnant by our one-of-a-kind ancestor Isaac and her babies were still innocent in the womb, incapable of good or bad, she received a special assurance from God. What God did in this case made it perfectly plain that Hid purpose is NOT a hit-or-miss thing, dependant on what we do or don’t do; but a sure thing determined by His decision, flowing steadily from His initiative.

Tom O’Connor said:
“Your distress about life might mean that you have been living for the wrong reason, NOT that you have no reason for living.”

When you live in purpose => you produce…which means you make progress.

You have a “flow” in your life => there’s expansion

Science has proven => everything in life is ENERGY.

Everything you say, think or do, everything you are around => it all expands you or contracts you (it’s making you BIG or LITTLE).

When you are expanded, you are feeling:
➢ Happiness
➢ Love
➢ Optimism
➢ Acceptance
➢ Vitality
➢ And connected

This is a result of being connected to your purpose and living each moment inspired (in-spirit).

So the question is “where or how do I start? How do I love inspired by purpose?”

1) Purpose is found and functions at its fullest potential in the presence of God.
a. Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
b. When you are connected with God => One with Him thru His Son Jesus Christ, you can declare as the Psalmist did in Psalm 119:169 Message.
c. Psalm 119:169 Message Let me cry come right into your presence, God. Provide me with the insight that comes only from Your Word.

2) Find your passion –
a. Step out of your busy life and ask yourself:
i. What do I love to do?
ii. What do I care about the most?
iii. What truly matters to me?
b. The answers are your passions => they are like a bread crumb trail leading you to your purpose.
c. Passion – the intense emotion compelling action and a strong devotion to some object or someone.
i. The energy of your soul.
ii. Your energy comes from your passion.
iii. Why would you waste away in passivity instead of living with passion?
d. The path to fulfillment is making the things that matter most to you a priority in your life.
e. You must start making choices every day in favor of what you most care about => it is there, your soul will sing!

When you do this = choose over and over to do the things that matter to you – it leads you to express your unique purpose in ALL areas….creating your “BEST LIFE” IE => drawing more of what you uniquely desire in life.

3) Be led by Inspired Action.
a. When you are clear about your passions, you ignite purpose…which shows you WHAT to do in each moment…IE
b. You know what you want to do in life…but you may not know “HOW”
c. Inspiration will lead you to the “How”
d. When you are inspired, MOVE WITH IT!
e. You may not see the entire journey but you will know the next step.
f. Example: It’s like driving at night => the road is only lit by headlights 200 feet in front of you. You can’t see your destination….just the lit portion that leads you to stay on the road until arriving where you are going.
g. Inspiration => is your “lighting”
h. Know that God will lead you by His Spirit!
i. Romans 8:14 Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
j. Just like in Deuteronomy 1:30 Message “God, your God, is leading this way; He is fighting for you.”
k. Each day, “Ask God”:
i. What He would have you do
ii. Where He would have you go.

When you are led by His Spirit:
4) You will discover you are part of something bigger than yourself.
a. There is a Cause God has designed for you to be a contributor to.
b. When you discover what matters to you, your everyday actions can serve others and the world in large and small ways.
c. When you serve a purpose larger than yourself => it brings more meaning and joy to your life.
d. It is then that your life answers the question => “Can one person make a difference?”
e. Me -> inner city boys and girls really to heal myself turned into worldwide ministry.
f. Mother Teresa = called herself “God’s pencil”
g. She felt God wrote His story thru her and people like her.

Living Life On Purpose Part 4

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