Foundations 3

Foundation Series

Part 3

“Living on Purpose”

Matt 7:24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

This is our third week on the subject of FOUNDATIONS.

So far we’ve looked at how Jesus, and the principles and values He taught, are to be the foundation we build our lives on...

Now today I want to talk about PURPOSE...

Walking in PURPOSE is a key component of a rock foundation that will stand the storms of life...

PURPOSE answers 2 crucial questions—Why am I here? and What does God want me to do?

The wrong answer to those 2 questions will eventually lead to a crisis.

_____________

Basketball legend Charles Barkley once said in a television interview that the purpose of his life—his reason to exist—was to win an NBA title.

There’s some problems with his thinking...

He’s looking for personal glory.

His purpose is not big enough to last a lifetime.

He can’t control the outcome—He never did win a championship ring.

What Charles Barkley had was a fleshly ambition, not a divine purpose, and there’s a difference.

LISTEN: True success is fulfilling your purpose, not your ambition.

The Bible says this about ambition:

“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:14-16).

“Disorder and every evil practice” are found alongside selfish ambition because of the way ambitious people scratch and claw their way to their dreams rather than letting God place them there.

________________

AMBITION has a horizontal outlook—it’s all about you and what you want.

PURPOSE has a vertical UP-look...It’s all about Him and what He has called me to do.

NOW...There’s nothing wrong with ambition, unless you place your ambition above God’s purpose...then it becomes an idol.

This kind of Selfish ambition is flesh-driven, originates from personal ego, can even open the door to demonic activity, and sows division and trouble.

_______________

PURPOSE is completely different!

Purpose originates with God, not man.

Purpose is all about God’s glory, not ours.

A foundation built on AMBITION is one of those “sand foundations” Jesus talked about that will fail you in the end.

But building on God’s PURPOSE is the rock foundation Jesus spoke of.

______________

Now, I mentioned a moment ago that if you wrongly answer the 2 questions, “Why am I here?” and “What does God want me to do?” it would lead to a crisis.

The crisis comes when what you thought your ambitions would deliver don’t come through in the end...

Solomon wrote vividly about the disappointment and disillusionment that comes from chasing your own ambitions instead of God’s purpose...

In a very dark time in his life, this “wisest of men” pushed God out, chased his own ambitions, and he recorded in the Bible what he reaped:

“...nothing is worthwhile; everything is futile. For what does a man get for all his hard work?” (1:2-3)

“...everything is unutterably weary and tiresome. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied; no matter how much we hear, we are not content” (1:11).

During this time of drifting, Solomon says he tried everything the world had to offer:

2:3-9 “I decided to try the road of drink...I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world...Next I changed my course again and followed the path of folly...Anything I wanted I took and did not restrain myself from any joy. But as I looked at everything I had tried, it was all so useless, a chasing of the wind, and there was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.”

This is the harvest he reaped after chasing selfish ambition over divine purpose!

_______________

Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself (including selfish ambition), and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23).

As Christians we are called to crucify anything that stands in opposition to God’s purpose for us, including selfish ambition.

Now, you might be thinking, “Jeff, I want to walk in God’s purpose, but how can I know what it is?”

Glad you asked!

Jesus gives us the answer...First, He taught us how to view ourselves. We’re to:

Live as a called person

Do you think that way? Do you see yourself as a called person?

Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16).

So first, Jesus says we’re “chosen.”

CHOSEN means “a highly deliberate choice with a definite outcome in mind.”

And in the same sentence He also said we’re APPOINTED, which means “To be set or placed in a particular location.”

So every believer is chosen and appointed by Him to a particular station in life with a definite outcome in mind!

It doesn’t matter where you are or what you do—you may be a plumber or lawyer, doctor or trash collector, blue collar or white collar, rich or poor, educated or not, it doesn’t matter.

He’s not talking here about your VOCATION, He’s talking about His purpose for you in your LOCATION—WHEREVER you are in life!

When you go to work, you go as a called person.

When you go bowling on a Friday night, you go as a called person.

When you go on vacation to the beach, you go as a called person!

When you sit home watching the baseball game, you do it as a called person.

Jesus said, “See yourself as a CALLED person!

We’re not called on Sunday and not on Monday!

I’m a called person on divine assignment 24/7, no matter where I am!

______________

Now, you’re probably asking, “If I’m called for a purpose, what is the purpose?”

Jesus said that the purpose ALL BELIEVERS are called to is:

II. To bear fruit

“I have chosen you...That you should go and bring forth fruit that remains...”

This is the great purpose for which all Christians are chosen!

Now, There are two kinds of fruitfulness—WITHIN and WITHOUT.

We all know about the WITHIN kind of fruit:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).

But also fruit WITHOUT—by reaching others with the good news of Jesus.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and hide it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16).

He’s saying, we’re not called to be UNDERCOVER Christians.

We’re called to lift the cover and let Him shine!

This is part of the Rock Foundation we’re to build on—living out your calling as salt and light, openly sharing what He has done for you!

ILLUS: Tim—LET HIM OUT!

Look for a simple handle:

Ask, Is there anything I can pray with you about?

Or, do you go to church anywhere?

Part of the Rock Foundation Jesus taught us to build our lives on is to 1. live as a called person, and 2. to shun undercover Christianity and shine!