Called On Purpose For Purpose

INTRO

One of the greatest questions a Christ-follower should be asking is “What is God’s will for my life?”

Historically, the Church of Scotland at the Westminster Assembly in 1647 developed the Westminster Shorter Catechism which at the very beginning states, “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”

Charlie Hall, a more recent Christian song writer penned the lyrics in his song “One Thing” states, “All of life comes down to just one thing and that’s to know you Oh Jesus and to make You known.”

Kevin DeYoung, in his 2014 book entitled “Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will” states, “So the end of the matter is this: Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else you like, with whomever you like, wherever you like, and you’ll be walking in the will of God.”

While much has been written and stated about God’s will for you, but most Christians in our context live each day just to get to the next.

We get in our routines, we get consumed in our jobs, we get wrapped up in our schedules, we get distracted in our media and social media, we set goals and plans for vacations and breaks, and outside of that we just live one day at a time.

But is that what Jesus was wanting for your life when He died on the cross and called you out by name to be His and to be in relationship with Him?

Is the life you live right now, what God has willed and planned for you?

I believe that Jesus has a purpose and calling for each one of us who are surrendered to follow Him.

As we explore today’s passage, I believe we will see 3 principles to finding our calling, discovering our purpose, and executing our mission that Jesus is calling each one of us to fulfill.

Acts 12:24–13:12 ESV

24 But the word of God increased and multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. 1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

1) Find Your Calling by Focusing on the Lord. (v.24-13:3)

From the Text...

I believe that Paul and Barnabas were in the region during the hard events we looked at last week. From the text, I think it is reasonable to assume Paul and Barnabas were in the city during intense persecution of the church leaders, brought encouragement with their gifts and offerings from the Antioch believers, and possibly even were in the house of Mary when Peter was released from prison.

As they returned from Jerusalem to Antioch, they brought with them John Mark, son of Mary whose home the believers were gathered and praying for Peter upon his release.

Antioch had grown in its influence and in its leadership (they had their own prophets and teachers, no longer dependent on the Apostles or Jerusalem leadership to provide direction and teaching for them).

As the church was worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit placed a calling upon the church and upon Barnabas and Saul (Paul).

After fasting and praying they ordained and commissioned two of their own prophets and teachers and sent them off.

...To our Context

If we want to find God’s calling for our lives and for our church we need to make sure we are focused on the Lord.

Worship is recognizing the glory and majesty of God and expressing these truths in our lives. (More than just singing, though songs are certainly a part)

Fasting is directing our attention away from the demands of this world and placing it on the dependence and mercies of God.

It’s not about food, though food is certainly a demand in this world.

Fasting doesn’t change God, it changes us.

It should exploit our dependence on the world and drive our commitment to depend on Him.

As we intentionally make focusing on the Lord a built in discipline into our lives, we will be able to discern God’s calling upon our lives.

Romans 12:2 “2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

If we want to find our calling, we must intentionally and daily focus on the Lord and shift away from the distractions of the noise of this world.

2) Discover Your Purpose by Depending on the Spirit. (v. 13:4-5)

From the Text...

As Barnabas and Saul (Paul) left Antioch, they went to where the Holy Spirit was sending them.

They could have gone many different directions but they didn’t. They sensed that the Holy Spirit was directing them to the port city of Seleucia and then to set sail to Cyprus.

Barnabas had a natural affinity to Cyprus (Acts 4:36). He was a native from there.

When they arrived to where the Spirit led them, they proclaimed the Word of God.

…To our Context

Sometimes we think that being called by God and being led by the Holy Spirit is going to take us to a far away land, into the unknown possibilities of places we’ve never been to a people we’ve never heard of.

While this may be true for some, for most, God placed you in a specific context for a specific reason.

As the Holy Spirit led Barnabas and Saul (Paul), He first took them to a place that undoubtedly was upon the heart of Barnabas…his own homeland.

Following the leading of the Holy Spirit doesn’t automatically mean you’re going on a mission trip to a foreign land, but it does mean you are going to be on mission for God…most likely in the place you are already familiar with.

As you live each day intentionally focusing on the Lord you will be led to depend on the Holy Spirit for direction.

As you depend on the Holy Spirit, He is going to place you right where he wants you. You’ll likely discover, He already has you there.

For all Jesus-followers, your purpose is not to be a teacher, a maintenance man, a stay at home mom, a secretary, an administrator, a mailman, a banker, a retiree, etc.; your purpose is to be a Christ-exalting Christian who teaches, a Christian who does maintenance, a Christian who raises their family in truth, a Christian who is a secretary, a Christian who is an administrator, a Christian who delivers mail, a Christian who works at the bank, a Christians who is retired from a profession but not from the Kingdom, etc. Your purpose is not to be identified with your job or your context. Your purpose is to be defined by Christ and to live in Him within your context.

Someone may be called and led by the Spirit to be a vocational missionary or minister. If you’re sensing that is your calling and purpose, please come talk to me.

The greatest calling not matter your context is to proclaim the Word of God.

3) Execute Your Mission by Exalting Jesus and Truth. (v. 13:6-12)

From the Text...

As they proclaimed the word, the came across one who sought to distort and distract from truth.

At the leading of the Holy Spirit, they confronted the distractor.

They called out his falsehood and let the Spirit manifest his spiritual blindness into physical blindness.

The Proconsul believed once he saw the occurance and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

…To our Context

As we exalt Jesus we will face those who want to distract from the truth.

We need to always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us. (1 Peter 3:15)

We don’t have to engage every distracting argument, but we must when the Spirit of God leads us to.

The goal in engaging falsehoods is not to win an argument but to let the Spirit of God put Jesus on display that people who are blind to the truth, might see the truth.

Sometimes, as we engage, the purpose is not for the one whom we engage, but the those who may be listening.

As we focus on our calling and depend on the Spirit, we must always exalt Jesus and truth, especially as our world is getting exhausted with the lies.

CLOSING

Many Christians want to know what God has planned for them. While we have this inner yearning and eagerness to know, we are also distracted by the world around us. It’s important for us to make necessary changes in our lives and in our minds (Rom. 12:2) so that we may find our calling, discover our purpose, and execute our mission.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR CALLING AND PURPOSE?

WHAT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE ARE A DISTRACTION THAT POTENTIALLY KEEP YOU FROM REALIZING YOUR CALLING AND PURPOSE?

IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT AS YOU LIVE EACH DAY?

DO YOU REGULARLY EXALT JESUS AND TRUTH FOR OTHERS TO SEE AND HEAR OR DO YOU KEEP IT TO YOURSELF?