Reaching Forward With Purpose

The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged their "lives, fortunes, and sacred honor". By defying the British Crown, they committed treason, risking everything to establish the United States. Many suffered profoundly, losing their wealth, properties, and even their families.

Specific hardships and sacrifices endured by the founding fathers include:

Death and Imprisonment: Nine signers died from wounds or hardships during the Revolutionary War. Five were captured and imprisoned by the British as traitors, often enduring torture. [1]

Destruction of Property: At least a dozen signers had their homes looted and burned. British forces swept through the colonies, seizing land and sweeping merchant ships from the sea. [1, 2, 3]

Loss of Family: Some signers were separated from their families or targeted by British soldiers. Wives were imprisoned or mistreated, and several signers lost sons in battle or saw them taken prisoner. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Financial Ruin: Many delegates were wealthy but sacrificed their prosperity to fund the Continental Army and state militias. Others were so fiercely pursued by the British that they were forced into hiding, ultimately dying in poverty. [1, 2]

As we ponder and celebrate the liberation we gained in the year 1776 when the document, “The Declaration of Independence” was adopted by the Continental Congress and all 56 signatures scribed on that document by August 2nd, you need to understand that there was a guiding principal that motivated them as well should motivate us: Nothing of lasting importance is accomplished without faith and intentional hard work.

Quote: “When you live for a strong purpose, then hard work isn't an option. It's a necessity." —Steve Pavlina

Quote: They believed true results outweigh rhetoric. As Benjamin Franklin famously noted, "Well done is better than well said."

My desire today is for the “working out” of your faith to be renewed in your heart.

Why is this important?

It is important due to the fact that our good works is the only way by which a Believer can glorify God!

So, that very statement brings us all to ask this question, “Am I really glorifying God with my life?”

Let us explore this thought today: As a Believer, the best part of you is within and has been given to you for the ultimate purpose of glorifying God.

1) The Greatest Part Of You Is Created Within By God

Verses 8-9

We must ask the question, “What did it take to be given such greatness?

A. Jesus lived to advance the purpose of the Father

All genuine believers in Jesus Christ truly love the work He has accomplished for them. As you notice, Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus about the amazing work of God’s grace through the bodily sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The FIRST benefit of Jesus’ work on the cross is to provide the means by which anyone can be made right with the Father (Read and explain verses 4-9).

Paul strongly warns against any moralistic effort when it comes to obtaining eternal life and security of that future hope of final redemption when life is over.

Q — If I were to ask you, “What would you consider to be the greatest part of you?” what would you say?

Would your answer be centered on the trophies you’ve won, the promotions you’ve received, or the money you’ve earned?

Maybe some of you who are in your earlier years of picking out your college or career would say, “The best part of my life will be when I achieve me dream career or job and make a lot of money to have the car, home, etc. that I have always dreamed about.

Maybe some of you who are in your later years would say, “Whenever I max out my retirement and can live on a sandy beach or mountain cabin for the rest of my life,” would be the best part of my life.

Maybe some of you ladies would say, “Whenever I can have a child of my own,” would be the best part of my life.”

Or, would it be the fact God has placed inside you a completely new created inner person who is freed from sin and freed to accomplish the will of God?

It is one thing for an unbeliever to think that living their life fulfilling the will of the flesh is the greatest accomplishment, but it is a completely different thing for a believer in Christ to succumb to the same paradigm.

Allow the Apostle Paul to remind you of the greatest freedom you’ve been given only through the accomplishment of Jesus’ work on the cross:

Dead in trespasses and sins! Alive together with Christ

Sons of disobedience! Raised up with Christ

Children of wrath! Seated with Christ

Children of wrath! Recipients of generous mercy

Children of wrath! Recipients of great love

Children of wrath! Recipients of rich grace

Children of wrath! Recipients of God’s kindness

Children of wrath! Trophies of God’s grace

John 17:1–4 “1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

John 19:30 “30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

This point was zealously believed by the Apostle Paul:

He spoke of a time when his paradigm was in alignment with secular society.

Philippians 3:3–9 “3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

2) The Greatest Part Of You Is Purposed By God

Verse 10

Paul now directs our attention to the value and weight of “works.”

Work originated with God. Without God there would be nothing at work. If you are a believer in Christ, you are a product of the work of God’s amazing grace brought to you through the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

There is an important truth you cant miss about how God works: God’s work operates from a foundation of eternal purpose. That foundation is redemption.

Quote: Sin worked against us and God worked for us, but the great work of conversion is but the beginning. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 19.

Paul presents a dual purpose for EVERY PERSON who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

A. First, the greatest part of you is purposed to mature into the image of Christ

“Workmanship” = God’s creation project

2 Cor. 5:17 “17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Illustration: Nothing is born fully matured. Everyone is not only physically born but also spiritually born in infancy.

God’s purpose is to continue shaping you until you are like Christ.

Romans 8:29 “29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Conformed = like-natured adjs. — similar in representative essence or nature to something else.

Image = likeness n. — similarity in appearance, character, or nature between persons or things.

How does God actually work “in us?”

Philippians 2:13 “13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Example: How is it you decide to be a light for Jesus when you are surrounded by darkness? ANS — He gives you the Will to follow through.

Hebrews 13:20-21 “20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

“make you perfect” = to prepare v. — to make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, or other purpose.

You are a human BEING before a human DOER!

The Holy Spirit is leading you every day to resources that will gradually prepare you for His future purposes.

You don’t have to know what they are....just that they come from Him!!!

This workmanship is not only individual in nature. It leads to preparing His church for future purposes.

There is always a “walk” and a “work” He is preparing you for.

There are for sure 3 things the Spirit will use to prepare you:

His Words — 1 Thess. 2:13 “13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

Prayer — Ephesians 3:20-21 “20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Suffering — 1 Peter 4:11-14 “11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”

The Bible is full of examples of this processes:

God had to work in Moses for 40 years before He could work through him.

Joseph experienced suffering for 13 years before God put him on the throne.

The Apostle Paul spent 3 years in Arabia after converting before beginning his ministry.

B. Second, the greatest part of you is purposed to move in alignment with God’s will

This seems to be a foreign way for people to live today.

What are the common excuses or barriers?:

“I am not gifted, talented, wealthy enough, or have enough time to be fully committed to His plan.”

Quote: “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone” — John Calvin

We are not saved by faith plus works, but rather a faith that works. (spend time studying James 2)

Paul mentions a couple of things about the kind of works that we are to perform for God’s glory:

a) First, these works are GOOD.

How can any work from our hands be declared good from God? ANS — God dwells within us and He is good; The Spirit produces these good works through you.

It is not because you are good, but rather the one who dwells in you is good.

This is why Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 “21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

This leads us to glorify God in all that we do as we follow Him—the credit goes to God.

2 Cor. 9:8 “8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Colossians 1:10 “10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

b) Second, these good works are prepared works

As the world has a prepared path for the unbeliever, God has a prepared path for the believer.

Q — When was the last time you prayed, “Lord, lead me to Your will for my life that I may shower you with the glory you deserve”?

Paul is not talking about some kind of impersonal fate that controls you like a puppet.

Paul is describing a loving Heavenly Father who desires the very best for His children.

Let me just tell you, putting Johnny or Sussie in ever club, sport, etc, is NOT in God’s will for them!

The reason you hardly see father and son, mother and daughter, serving along side one another in gospel ministry is because they are scattered around doing everything else of much lesser value than that of Kingdom work!

It wasn’t ordained that you do everything you want to do, but it was ordained that you work our all the goodness God is leading you to do!

Psalm 33:11 “11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace,” who said, I am not what I ought to be—ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be—I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be—soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” (Christian Spectator, 186)

Conclusion

Believer

Unbeliever

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