230607 BITES: The Reason We Exist

Q1: What is the purpose of man? A1:The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever (1 Cor 10:31/Ps 73.25-26)

(2) Leading Question: What is the most complex machine you can think of? Ask for examples________________

(1) Development: When we see intricate, complex machines with lots of wires and chips we know that they have purpose and they have a maker. One of the easiest ways to find out a machine’s purpose is to ask its maker… Instead of guessing we just need to find the person that built the machine and ask them.

(2) Connection: So let’s think about the most complex machine that we can think about… what do we think about people? They have eyes that see long distances in color, they have the ability to talk, to reason, to sing. They have hands that can do surgery, make music... So what is the purpose of people? Why were they made? Who made them? Unless we ask our maker we may never know.

(2) Extension: Isn’t it sad when a machine is not used correctly? When I use a microwave as a soccer ball it wont do what it was designed for will it and it wont make a very good soccer ball either. If I try to fly a tractor or use it as a submarine that wont work very well will it? No, of course not. The same with people, our Maker must have had some purpose for us, some reason for making us and unless we find out our purpose and do it we will never be truly happy.

(2) Explain: Tonight we are answering the question, “What is the purpose of people?” We are going to answer the “why” we exist. Its the most important one that we can answer so are you ready to hear the answer? Before I answer this is how we are going to do this. We are going to answer the question and then we are going to explain what we mean so that it makes sense. So you are going to hear the answer and then we are going to make it simple to hold onto.

(1) Answer: The purpose of people is to glorify their Maker and enjoy Him forever. REPEAT. Huh? What does it mean to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? Has anyone heard those words, ‘glorify,’ ‘enjoy’ and ‘forever?’ What do they mean?

(10) Definitions:

What does ‘forever’ mean? If we are to glorify God, He is our Maker, If we are to glorify Him forever - how long is forever? Is it until next year? Is it until we get old? Does it last after we die? How long? How long were we made to glorify God? So we were made to give glory to God every day all day until there is no more time, there is no expiration date, this is to continue for hundreds and thousands of years, millions and billions of millennia Wow! That’s a long time!

Philippians 4.20 says, “Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Q: What is the purpose of man? A: The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever

What does enjoy mean? Enjoyment involves pleasure, proper pleasure, enjoyment is a state of being more than a feeling. Joy is a choice and a result of God changing us. Joy involves gladness, pleasure and a peaceful contentment. Further the understanding. We were made to give God glory forever - time without end - and to be glad in Him, to enjoy Him. Did you know that is what You were made for? That is your purpose! Joy and pleasure in God forever!

Ultimate joy is from God Psalm 37.4 “Delight yourself in Yahweh; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Galatians 5.22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

This state is created in us by God working in those whom He has saved. God makes it possible for us to enjoy Him.

Q: What is the purpose of man? A: The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever

What does glorify mean? To glorify is to give honor, or respect to. It is to make big. To recognize someone’s value or weightiness. We were made to honor God, to value Him, to enjoy Him and not just for a day or two but for forever. That is truly amazing!

Psalm 86.12 says, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.”

Q: What is the purpose of man? A: The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever

(5) Marvel: God made us at the beginning of history, male and female, so that we could enjoy Him forever and honor Him. Honor Him for His character, His goodness, His holiness, His light and life! That is why were were made. Have you ever heard that before? Q: What is the purpose of man? A: The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever

Gen 1.26-27 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, so that they will have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

1 Cor 10.31 “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

So let’s do it!

Rejoice in the Lord always! Number 745

Psalm 73.25-26 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart fail, But God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.”

Definitions:

What is purpose? Aiming at a target to hit it at the center in the bulls eye. Purpose is Goal, reason, ultimate destination, aim, goal, objective

What is glory? Weightiness, heft, significance, wealth, something valuable

Any glory we have is from God Psalm 8.5 “Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You crown him with glory and majesty!”

What is enjoy? Proper pleasure Enjoyment is a state of being more than a feeling Joy is a choice and a result of God changing us

Ultimate joy is from God Psalm 37.4 “Delight yourself in Yahweh; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

What is forever? Forever is time without end ∞ Does forever end? Outside the construct of time instead of a river or a rain drop think an ocean instead of atmosphere think space

John 11.25-27 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world.””

Thought provoking questions

Why do people exist? We exist because God made us Gen 1.26-27 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, so that they will have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

What did He make us for? To relate, dominate and create relationship - communion with God and each other | dominion - working to control and subdue the earth | to reflect God’s attributes - His Holiness

How can we glorify God and enjoy Him as we were designed to?

This is what we are going to talk about next week!!! We need to know how to do this thing that is so important!

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Next Week

230614 Q. What instructions has God given to direct us how we may glorify him? A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (Eph. 2:20; 2 Tim. 3:16) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him (1 Jn. 1:3).

2 Tim 3.16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,”

1 Jn 1.3 “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”