Pursuing Our Purpose
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Intro
Intro
Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Life’s Purpose
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; and
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
Seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Attributed to Francis of Assisi
Everyone in this room has a purpose. There may be some difference in opinion about the purposes of our lives. But we all have them. Some have purpose to be great students, great athletes, great parents, loving spouses, successful in business, etc. But what if OUR purposes do not line up with God’s? How can we Pursue Our Purpose and God’s? What exactly is God’s purpose for our lives? We are purposed with being instruments of God. Let us examine God’s word this morning in context.
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
lk 24 44-
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
lk 24 44-
36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
We pick up here having these 11 apostles and several other disciples having gone through a tumultuous weekend. Jesus, their master, their hoped for savior, had been killed brutally on the cross. It was three days later and the promise to rise had yet to happen. But here in this room they are in the process of being told by Cleopas and his companion, after travelling 7 miles, about how Jesus had appeared to them and came into their house! Jesus opened their eyes to see that He was still alive. Now he will do more with them showing them this and their PURPOSE.
Jesus Lives! V 36-43
Jesus Lives! V 36-43
36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
Jesus APPEARS in the room. WITHOUT using the door! He is alive but yet different. He calms their fears.
V39-40 He assures them that he IS the same Jesus.
41-43 He eats to show that he is HE. Perhaps to show His humanity.
I Am Who They Said I Was V 44-45
I Am Who They Said I Was V 44-45
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
Jesus must first explain that he is who he has been explaining to them this whole time. And what he taught them had to be fulfilled. Explain what it means for something to be fulfilled. twas an expectation of Christ according to the scriptures written in their time. These Scriptures consisted of the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Things written in these books about the Christ/Savior/Messiah had to happen in order for the Christ/Savior/Messiah to be identified as being Genuine.
Fulfilled= to be satisfied ⇔ be full v. — to be or become satisfied concerning the requirements or expectations of (a contract or promise); understood as if being or becoming completely full.
What scripture could Jesus have shown them in the books of Moses about himself (Torah- 1st 5 books of the Bible)?
Moses' Books Torah
* Jesus is the prophet like Moses-
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, 16 according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’
17 “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’
What scripture could he have shown them from the prophets about himself?
Prophets
Prophets
* Virgin Birth-
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
* Suffering Messiah
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
*
*
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
What scripture could he have shown the in the Psalms about himself?
Psalms
Psalms
* Roman soldiers divide Jesus' clothes and cast lots for his tunic
14 I am poured out like water,
And all My bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.
* My soul did not stay in Sheol
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
V45- Jesus revisited this with them for the purposes of Opening their minds. Define the word. He needed them to understand that he was more than a teacher, a prophet, or a supposed military leader! He did not come to start a civil war or to just have a brief influence on society! He IS the Messiah/Savior/Christ! If you want to line your purpose up with God’s purpose for you then you must first OPEN your mind to who Jesus is! What his purpose was! You and everyone you know is in NEED of a savior! So why were the closest 11 people to him sitting a room together? They had done many great things with Jesus. In this moment he showed them something profound. Your purpose isn’t about what you have DONE but rather what you are ACTIVELY DOING!
Opened their minds= to make perceive ⇔ open v. — to make a body part perceive, conceived of as opening the body part, for example, the eyes or ears.
“Your purpose is not about what you have DONE but rather what you are actively DOING!” ~Bro. C.W. Stephens~
The Command V 46-47
The Command V 46-47
46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
V46 Jesus presents for their hearing the Gospel. The death, burial, and resurrection.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Jesus had to go through what he went through for our SALVATION
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
Here Paul outlines what the Gospel is.
εὐαγγέλιον- gospel of Jesus n. — good news concerning the now present instantiation of Jesus’ divine dominion and way of salvation by His death and resurrection.
V47
repentance ⇔ reconsideration n. — a change of self (heart and mind) that abandons former dispositions and results in a new self, new behavior, and regret over former behavior and dispositions.
What does repentance mean?
forgiveness (absolution) n. — a formal release from an obligation or debt; especially understood of the debt of sin.
What does forgiveness mean in this passage?
15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.
l
All nations
All nations
All nations
1 Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
“…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
to be blessed (favor) v. — to have divine favor invoked or enacted upon.
Because of what Jesus had done in the fulfillment of the OT scriptures this prophecy was now about to be realized. Every group/nation/race of people were now going to have he favor of God. Everyone is hear/KNOW that they have access to repentance and forgiveness!How does your purpose in life aid in all people finding favor with God? How can we be blessed by God?
How does your purpose in life aid in all people finding favor with God?
Spread The Message V 48-49
Spread The Message V 48-49
48 And you are witnesses of these things.
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Define witness
witness n. — someone who sees an event and reports what happened.
The events in that took place in the mid 90’s in the case of O.J. Simpson and the death of his ex-wife were tragic. The man many believe were guilty of the murder was acquitted because the glove found on the scene did not fit. Had there been a witness there to see the events unfold, like a nosy neighbor, then there would be no doubt to his innocence or guilt. There was no one around who SAW the murders take place and therefore there was no one to REPORT what had happened. Jesus tells them in this instance that there is no doubt to who I am or what my purposes are because they SAW. Jesus wants them to REPORT!
V49 Jesus tells them that he is sending something to them promised by the father.
29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
God promises to send His Spirit one day to his servants through Joel.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
On the day of Pentecost this came to fruition. But they recieved their Holy Spirit with a purpose and so do you.
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
acts 2
How do we receive he Holy Spirit today?
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
What does the Holy Spirit do for us?
13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;
to be sealed securely (abstract) v. — to be or become designated and made secure as a sign of authentication or ownership.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Every Christian filled with the Holy Spirit has the responsibility of leading MORE to Christ. They have the responsibility to show others what God would have them to do. If you have the seal of the Holy Spirit, marked as belonging to God you should help others to belong to him too.