What Is Your Purpose, and Whats the Difference?

John 1:19-34

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Intro: Have you ever been asked what your going to do after high school. When you will take a step closer to being a grown up? I’ve asked several of you this question. Most teens have one of two answers. I’m gonna go to fill in the blank college, or I’m gonna work this job for awhile… As a teen I often thought about this question. I lacked clear direction like allot of kids. I would ask my dad, “maybe I should do this job” He would always have the same answer, “Well have you prayed about it”? At the time it was one of the most irritating answers, because it wasn’t an answer. From my perspective at the time it wasn’t helpful. Heres the thing your purpose in life, and the job you work are two separate things. While its true that each of you are blessed with certain abilities that make you prone to be better at certain types of things more so than others. There isn't one specific job you are supposed to do in your life. In truth you will probably work several different jobs, and thats ok. You may fail in life at different times, and thats also ok. Failure is part of life, just like having success is part of life. How you learn from those experiences is what is important. Saying this finding your spiritual purpose is far more important. That, is something Jesus is very interested in helping you find. Finding your spiritual passion has far more significance than working the perfect job. Better questions you should ask yourselves might be, one who is Jesus to you? Two, what difference is Jesus to You? And three are we obedient to that purpose?

Transition - I like many other church kids got saved at five years old. My relationship with Jesus has changed numerous times. I don’t know that it would be fair to say that my faith in Jesus has gotten better. As children always have a better stronger faith in the saving knowledge of Jesus than most adults. It has become more refined though. I can define who Jesus is to me. Why He is important. Can you?

Who is Jesus To You? Vs 19-25 - Notice how John the Baptist never talks about himself. He had defined his purpose, and had a single minded all consuming focus in his life. Serving God the Father, and proclaiming the coming of the Messiah was life. Nothing else remotely compared or even satisfied his desire of a good life. You may be sitting here, and can say or remember when you decided to put faith in Jesus. And so while He is most certainly your savior. Is that all He is to you? You need to decide who Jesus is to you in your life. Have you pledged your obedience in life to Him as your King? As the Captain and Commander of your life? Most Americans don’t really understand what it means to serve a King. A Captain and Commander though… Yea I got that! To take orders from one person in charge of everything. That sees the entire operation. That has developed the mission, and understands every part of the operation. Yea I got that. A hard question for every Christian to ask regularly would be, am I obedient to my purpose. Jesus told us to do very few things. Love God, love your neighbor as your self. And go into all the world and preach the gospel. Thats not a command from Jesus to pastors! If you belong to Jesus, if he stamped your sin account paid. Your life isn’t your own. When was the last time you shared your testimony with someone? I’ve said it before your testimony is powerful! Its powerful because its part of Jesus’ biography. Notice how the Pharisees come and ask John the Baptist who is he is. They were asking if John was one of the Old Testament prophets people were saying he might be. How does John respond, look at verse VS 23. Essentially John was saying never mind any perceived importance that people see in me. I’m not important! I’m not the one you should be looking for. For there is one that is coming, that is greater than me!

Transition - So the question is what difference has being a christian made in your life? If the worst thing imaginable happened to you today. Fill that blank in. Would Jesus still have all of your heart? Would people describe you as single minded person? Someone that doesn’t quite fit into society. If Jesus has left His mark on your heart your life will be different from people that don’t belong to the King. So has Jesus made a difference in your life?

What Difference is Jesus to You? Vs 26-31 - Heres the thing… If you take orders from Jesus as king. Well then you will live a life somewhat similar to Jesus. You wont be crucified most likely. You’ll probably be criticized as intolerant though. People will call you close minded, and unloving. Many of these things are the same things Jesus was criticized for being. I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to father except through me?!? That statement Jesus made is excludes everyone else that doesn’t follow him. The world will most certainly say that is far to closed minded. The world will say that you are a bad Christian because we call sin for what it is. That you are an unloving person, because we refuse to accept the lies of Satan. Being a follower of Jesus means you are required to make hard choices. To live a life defined by abstinence. To be clear, the definition of abstinence is the deliberate practice of refraining from indulging in a desire, appetite, or habit. If you haven’t placed faith in Jesus, and He isn’t your King. There is no reason to refrain from any desire or habit. If you don’t define your life in who you are in Jesus and thereby being entirely different than the world. You will be exactly like the world eventually. Unless you are intentional in your pursuit of Jesus you will be entirely unlike Jesus.

Transition - And so saying that Christians are to be purposefully like Jesus. That it’s an intentional act of obedience. If you have decided who Jesus is in your life. Then a difference will show in your life. The difference is obedience. I said it the last Wednesday we met. The difference in a christian, and Satan is obedience. Both know there is a God. Both know Jesus is King, and know should be worshipped. Yet obedience is the thing that separates the two.

Are You Obedient To That Purpose? Vs 32-34 - So the question is if you know your purpose are you choosing to be obedient to the one that has given you that purpose? John the Baptist understood and knew his purpose wasn’t to get a good job, and live a safe good life. It was to live a life of obedience. A life defined by sacrifice. Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest in Matthew 11:11. The greatest what though? This is important, pay attention. Jesus is saying John the Baptist is the greatest prophet! Daniel, Isaiah, Elijah the one taken up into heaven by a chariot of fire! They all take second seat to John. Thats wild to think about!! Why?!? Why is John the Baptist considered in the eyes of Jesus to be greatest propehe? Heres why, his obedience. What do people say about you when you aren’t around? What does Jesus say about you to the Father in heaven? You ever consider that? Does Jesus say that He loves spending time with you? That you are a loved and obedient child. Or would He rather spew you out like Revelation 3:15-16 references? Obedience to Jesus will never involve compromises in morality or character. It will never make allowances for sin. We are either obedient to the King, or we aren’t.

Conclusion - Jesus doesn’t expect perfection. He does desire our pursuit of Him though. John the Baptist is probably the best documented person we have in the Bible that chose to have a single focus, and pursuit of a life lived in faith. A life that has decided who Jesus is, and how Jesus will fit in their life. If He will be a side quest or the main story and adventure. If he is the main story, well then Jesus will be the definition and difference in every one around you. And while if you do have a single minded focus it will feel very natural and obvious to be obedient to his purpose in your life. Almost unthinkable to choose any other life. A life lived in obedience to Jesus is hard at times. Yet its the only one that really means anything. Its the only one Jesus will talk positively regarding you to the Father.

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