Pursuing Your Purpose

Luke 2:41–52 KJV 1900

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Story Tell the Passage

Luke 2:49 KJV 1900

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

Luke 2:49

Understand Your Purpose

Luke

Understand Your Purpose

Luke 2:41–42 KJV 1900

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Understand Your Purpose

What is your purpose and where does it come from?

Without God, life has no purpose. Everything ends in death.

So if God does not exist, that means that man and the universe exist to no purpose—since the end of everything is death—and that they came to be for no purpose, since they are only blind products of chance. In short, life is utterly without reason.

Do you understand the gravity of the alternatives before us? For if God exists, then there is hope for man. But if God does not exist, then all we are left with is despair. Do you understand why the question of God's existence is so vital to man? As one writer has aptly put it, "If God is dead, then man is dead, too." - William Lane Craig

For the believer, our purpose comes from God.

Our Purpose is to have a loving relationship with God and therein reflect His glory.

The details of that relationship and its outworking will be different for every believer.

Do you have purpose? Does your life reflect that?

Pursue Your Purpose

Neglecting to discover your purpose is tragic.

Luke 2:49 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

Luke

Pursue Your Purpose

Pursue Your Purpose

It’s not enough to know your purpose - you have to do something about it.

Live intentionally.

A new Nielsen Company audience report reveals that adults in the United States devoted about 10 hours and 39 minutes each day to consuming media during the first quarter of this year (2016).

About 81% of adults in the United States have smartphones, according to the report, which are used about one hour and 39 minutes daily on average to consume media.

The average adult in the United States spends about 4½ hours a day watching shows and movies.

The average adult in the United States spends about 4½ hours a day watching shows and movies.

On any given day, teens in the United States spend about nine hours using media for their enjoyment.

Let's just put nine hours in context for a second. That's more time than teens typically spend sleeping, and more time than they spend with their parents and teachers. And the nine hours does not include time spent using media at school or for their homework.

"If people are spending over 50 hours a week with media for entertainment purposes, then there's really no time left for any of the other things we value."

Psalm 90 KJV 1900

A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; And sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: In the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; In the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, And by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O Lord, how long? And let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, And the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, And thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

The will of God is a daily matter. ()

Psalm 90:12 KJV 1900

So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Trust that God will meet you and guide you as you pursue His purpose for your life.

Trust that God will meet you and guide you as you pursue His purpose for your life. ()

Philippians 2:13 KJV 1900

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Imagine knowing what God made you for and never getting around to it.

Imagine knowing what God made you for and never getting around to it.

Commit to Your Purpose

If pursuing your purpose is hard, then finishing with purpose is harder.

People and circumstances will challenge your purpose.

Not everyone will understand or agree with you. You don’t have to please them. You have to please God.

When you fail or become distracted, start again.

It’s okay to fail. It’s not okay to quit.

You are at your retirement party, or the last birthday party before you pass. Your loved ones and friends get up to say a word about you. “I will never forget when Mr. / Mrs. so & so taught me .....” “When they showed me....” “When they demonstrated....” What do you want them to say? Are you living a life of purpose now that will lead to that day and the things being said about you that you desire to hear?

Next Steps

Next Steps

Get alone and pray to God to reveal your purpose.

Write down your purpose. (Do you journal?)

List what does a person does daily who lives for that purpose.

Pick one of those things, and start doing it tomorrow.