Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails
~ Proverbs 19:21
For David…served the purpose of God in his own generation
~ Acts 13:36
Most people struggle with 3 basic issues in life
1. Identity - Who am I?
2. Importance - Do I matter?
3. Impact - What is my place in life?
The answer to these questions are found in God's 5 purposes for you
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them - John 13:17
Ø The blessing actually comes in doing the purposes
Ø You should develop a life purpose statement so that you don't get distracted
WHAT IS A LIFE PURPOSE STATEMENT?
Ø Summarizes God's purpose for your life
§ In your own words you affirm your commitment to God's five purposes in your life
Ø Points the direction of your life
§ Writing purposes down will force you to think specifically about the path of your life
Ø It defines "success" for you
§ States what you believe is important
§ Clarifies your values
Ø Clarifies your roles
§ You'll have different roles at different stages in life, but your purpose will never change
Ø It expresses your shape
Here are 5 questions to consider as your prepare your statement
LIFE'S 5 GREAT QUESTIONS
1. What will be the center of my life?
i. Who are you going to live for?
ii. What are you going to build your life around?
iii. You can center your life around your career, family, a sport or hobby, money, having fun, etc & these are all good things but they don’t belong at the center of your life
1) None is strong enough to hold you together when life starts breaking apart
2) Whatever is at the center of your life is your god.
iv. How do you know when Christ is the center of your life?
1) You worship instead of worry
a) Worry is the warning light that God has been shoved to the sideline
2. What will be the character of my life?
i. What kind of person will you be?
1) Make a list of character qualities you want to work on & develop in your life
a) You might want to begin with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) or the Beatitudes (Matt 5:3-12)
b) 2 Peter 1:5
2) Don’t get discouraged & give up when you stumble.
a) It takes a lifetime to build Christlike character
b) 1 Tim. 4:16b
3. What will be the contribution of my life?
4. What will be the communication of my life?
i. This is the question of your mission to unbelievers
5. What will be the community of my life?
i. How will you demonstrate your commitment to other believers & connection to the family of God
As you answer these questions, include any scriptures that speak to YOU about each of these purposes
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU
○ David served God's purpose in his generation - Acts 13:36
§ This phrase is the ultimate definition of a life well lived
□ You do the eternal & timeless (God's purpose) in a contemporary & timely way (in your generation).
§ That's what the purpose-driven life is all about
□ Neither past nor future generations can serve God's purpose in this generation. Only we can
¨ Like Esther, God created you "for such a time as this" - Esther 4:14
Point to Ponder: Living with purpose is the only way to really live.
Verse to Remember: Acts 13:36
Question to Consider: When will I take the time to write down my answers to life's five great questions? When will I put my purposes on paper?
Day 39. Balancing Your Life (The Purpose Driven Life)
Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do
~ Eph. 5:15
Don't let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance
~ 2 Peter 3:17
Blessed are the balanced; they shall outlast everyone
Your life is a pentathlon of 5 purposes, which you must keep in balance
1. "Love God with all your heart"
2. "Love your neighbor as yourself"
3. "Go & make disciples"
4. "baptize them into…"
5. "teach them to do all things"
We all tend to overemphasis the purposes we feel most passionate about & neglect the others
§ If you're serious about staying on track you'll need to develop these habits
§ Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group
□ Proverbs 27:17
§ Give yourself a regular spiritual check up
□ 2 Corinthians 13:5
□ For your spiritual health you need to regularly check the 5 vital signs of worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry & mission
¨ Lamentations 3:40
§ Write down your progress in a journal
□ Not a diary of events, but a record of the life lessons you don’t want to forget
¨ Hebrews 2:1
□ Writing helps clarify what God is doing in your life
¨ Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through your fingertips - Dawson Trotman
□ Don't just write down the pleasant things. Record your doubts, fears, & struggles with God
¨ Our greatest lessons come out of pain
§ Pass on what you know to others
□ Proverbs 11:24
□ 2 Tim. 2:2b
Point to Ponder: Blessed are the balanced
Verse to Remember: Ephesians 5:15
Question to Consider: Which of the 4 activities will I begin in order to stay on track and balance God's five purposes for my life?
~ Eph. 5:15
Don't let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance
~ 2 Peter 3:17
Blessed are the balanced; they shall outlast everyone
Your life is a pentathlon of 5 purposes, which you must keep in balance
1. "Love God with all your heart"
2. "Love your neighbor as yourself"
3. "Go & make disciples"
4. "baptize them into…"
5. "teach them to do all things"
We all tend to overemphasis the purposes we feel most passionate about & neglect the others
§ If you're serious about staying on track you'll need to develop these habits
§ Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small group
□ Proverbs 27:17
§ Give yourself a regular spiritual check up
□ 2 Corinthians 13:5
□ For your spiritual health you need to regularly check the 5 vital signs of worship, fellowship, growth in character, ministry & mission
¨ Lamentations 3:40
§ Write down your progress in a journal
□ Not a diary of events, but a record of the life lessons you don’t want to forget
¨ Hebrews 2:1
□ Writing helps clarify what God is doing in your life
¨ Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through your fingertips - Dawson Trotman
□ Don't just write down the pleasant things. Record your doubts, fears, & struggles with God
¨ Our greatest lessons come out of pain
§ Pass on what you know to others
□ Proverbs 11:24
□ 2 Tim. 2:2b
Point to Ponder: Blessed are the balanced
Verse to Remember: Ephesians 5:15
Question to Consider: Which of the 4 activities will I begin in order to stay on track and balance God's five purposes for my life?
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Day 38. Becoming a World Class Christian (The Purpose Driven Life)
Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind
~ Psalm 67:2
You can either be a world-class Christian or a worldly Christian
v Worldly Christians
§ Look to God primarily for personal fulfillment
§ Saved, but self centered
§ Prayers focus on their own needs, blessings, & happiness
§ Want to use God for their purposes instead of being used for HIS
v World-Class Christians
§ Know they're saved to serve & made for a mission
§ Eager to receive a personal assignment & excited to be used by God
§ ONLY fully alive people on the planet
§ Their joy, confidence, & enthusiasm are contagious because they know they're making a difference
HOW TO THINK LIKE A WORLD CLASS CHRISTIAN
v Shift from self-centered thinking to other centered thinking
§ 1 Corinthians 14:20
□ Children only think of themselves, grown-ups think of others
□ Philippians 2:4
§ Ask Holy Spirit to help you think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them
□ Your goal is to find out where others are in their spiritual journey & do whatever will bring them a step closer to Christ.
¨ 1 Corinthians 10:33
v Shift from local thinking to global thinking
§ Pray for specific countries
□ Psalm 2:8
□ Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world
¨ People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they're defenseless against our prayers
¨ What should you pray for?
◊ Opportunities to witness - Colossian 4:3, Romans 1:10
◊ Courage to speak up - Ephesians 6:19
◊ For those who will believe - John 17:20
◊ The rapid spread of the message - 2 Thessalonians 3:1
◊ More workers - Matt 9:38
◊ Missionaries & everyone involved in the global harvest
► 2 Corinthians 1:11
§ Read & watch the news with "Great Commission eyes"
□ With change & conflict, you can be sure that God will use it to bring people to HIM
§ Go on a short-term mission project to another country
v Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking
§ This will keep you from majoring in minor issues & helps you to distinguish between what's urgent & what's ultimate
□ 2 Corinthians 4:18
§ So much of what we waste our energy on won't matter even a year from now, much less for eternity
□ DON'T TRADE YOUR LIFE FOR TEMPORARY THINGS
¨ Luke 9:62
¨ 1 Corinthians 7:31
□ What are you allowing to stand in the way of your mission?
¨ Whatever it is let it go!
◊ Hebrews 12:1
◊ Matt 6:20-21
v Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your commission
§ Jeremiah 1:7-8
§ You might believe you need a special "call" or a supernatural feeling BUT God has already stated his call repeatedly
Mark 8:35
Point to Ponder: The Great Commission is my commission
Verse to Remember: Psalm 67:2
Question to Consider: What steps can I take to prepare to go on a short-term missions experience in the next year?
~ Psalm 67:2
You can either be a world-class Christian or a worldly Christian
v Worldly Christians
§ Look to God primarily for personal fulfillment
§ Saved, but self centered
§ Prayers focus on their own needs, blessings, & happiness
§ Want to use God for their purposes instead of being used for HIS
v World-Class Christians
§ Know they're saved to serve & made for a mission
§ Eager to receive a personal assignment & excited to be used by God
§ ONLY fully alive people on the planet
§ Their joy, confidence, & enthusiasm are contagious because they know they're making a difference
HOW TO THINK LIKE A WORLD CLASS CHRISTIAN
v Shift from self-centered thinking to other centered thinking
§ 1 Corinthians 14:20
□ Children only think of themselves, grown-ups think of others
□ Philippians 2:4
§ Ask Holy Spirit to help you think of the spiritual need of unbelievers whenever you talk to them
□ Your goal is to find out where others are in their spiritual journey & do whatever will bring them a step closer to Christ.
¨ 1 Corinthians 10:33
v Shift from local thinking to global thinking
§ Pray for specific countries
□ Psalm 2:8
□ Prayer is the most important tool for your mission in the world
¨ People may refuse our love or reject our message, but they're defenseless against our prayers
¨ What should you pray for?
◊ Opportunities to witness - Colossian 4:3, Romans 1:10
◊ Courage to speak up - Ephesians 6:19
◊ For those who will believe - John 17:20
◊ The rapid spread of the message - 2 Thessalonians 3:1
◊ More workers - Matt 9:38
◊ Missionaries & everyone involved in the global harvest
► 2 Corinthians 1:11
§ Read & watch the news with "Great Commission eyes"
□ With change & conflict, you can be sure that God will use it to bring people to HIM
§ Go on a short-term mission project to another country
v Shift from "here and now" thinking to eternal thinking
§ This will keep you from majoring in minor issues & helps you to distinguish between what's urgent & what's ultimate
□ 2 Corinthians 4:18
§ So much of what we waste our energy on won't matter even a year from now, much less for eternity
□ DON'T TRADE YOUR LIFE FOR TEMPORARY THINGS
¨ Luke 9:62
¨ 1 Corinthians 7:31
□ What are you allowing to stand in the way of your mission?
¨ Whatever it is let it go!
◊ Hebrews 12:1
◊ Matt 6:20-21
v Shift from thinking of excuses to thinking of creative ways to fulfill your commission
§ Jeremiah 1:7-8
§ You might believe you need a special "call" or a supernatural feeling BUT God has already stated his call repeatedly
Mark 8:35
Point to Ponder: The Great Commission is my commission
Verse to Remember: Psalm 67:2
Question to Consider: What steps can I take to prepare to go on a short-term missions experience in the next year?