Why am I here
Why am I here?
Good evening I hope you are doing as well as I am but anytime I get to preach Gods word It can’t get any better.
Tonight we will be reading from The book of Jeremiah 1:4-10 so while your are looking for that in your bible I want to tell you a true story.
Not to long ago I was sitting in church listening to the pastor when the little boy next to me was starting to get a little fidgety, you know like the normal 5 year old does in a church service. I believe it was his 1st time in a worship service. Then the little boy’s eye caught a big plaque off to the left of the pastor. I watched him study that shinny object for a while, when he finally turned and asked his mom several times what the shinny thin was on the wall. Out of desperation, she hoped that if she answered him he would be quite. She said son that is the names of all the brave men and women who died in the service. Well the little boy sat in silence for a pretty good while with a terrified look on his face. Then he finally looked at his mom and asked “ Mom which service did they die in the morning or the evening service?”
That little boy didn’t get it did he kind of like us.
By know I hope you have found Jeremiah, If you will read alone with me as I read the word of God In ch 1 v 4-10.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Alas, Lord God!
Behold, I do not know how to speak,
Because I am a youth.”
7 But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,
And all that I command you, you shall speak.
8 “Do not be afraid of them,
For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.
9 Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To pluck up and to break down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.”
Let’s us pray
That’s a powerful verse of scripture.
When we read that Jeremiah was talking with God, I get this feeling that this young man was having a divine encounter with God.
It seems talking with God was a part of Jeremiah’s life.
Historical background; See Jeremiah was born the son of a priest, in the city of Anathoth, A city set aside for priestly families. It was a short distance from Jerusalem were they did their priestly duties as required, and Jeremiah would have worked his way into the priestly office in due time But God had other plans.
But this evening I want to answer 3 questions I’m sure Jeremiah asked and I know are the 3 most asked questions in the world today.
What do you think they are?
The 1stquestion and title of this sermon is.
1. WHY AM I HERE??????????????
As we explore the why, I intend to answer
The 2nd question:
2. WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?
After answering the 1st 2 questions we will examine
the 3rd biggest question:
3. WHAT DOES GOD HAVE PLANNED FOR ME?
Now I know if you are anything like me you have asked 1 if not all of those questions. And this world spends billions of dollars trying to answer these questions. Well you are in luck tonight we are going to answer these for free tonight.
So I hope you are ready to find the answers to life’s biggest mysteries such as:
1. Why am I here????????
V5 says
“ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
(pov)(This scripture here points out that each of us are considered human beings even in the womb, God formed Jeremiah same as God formed us.)
Formed : fashioned, shaped, as a potter forms His lumps of clay.
God formed us.
God knows the use of every man and women before He makes them.( He has made us all for Himself)
God has designed us all for a mission. He will call us when we are ready.
God formed us for a purpose but we must choose to follow his path or the path of the world.
If we follow the world we will never know the full spiritually lead life God has intended for us.
But if we chose to follow Him, We must take on the Great Commission:
Matthew 28 18-20
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We were made to be a living testimony by telling the world about Jesus. Let me ask you this, what job do you take more seriously, your task at work or the work you were created for? Our Lord and Savoir has work He wants you to join Him in. As you sit there in your sit ask yourself, are you willing to join Him
Your Savoir loves you and wants to direct your lives in a path for which He created you for.
So now we know why we are here let us answer
2. WHAT’S MY PURPOSE?
V5 God says: I Knew you before you were born, I set you apart.
God knew us before we were born.
I believe each of us had a intimate relationship with God before we were born. And one day we will take up were we left off.
The word knew in the Hebrew covers a much larger meaning but when we use it, it means the closest relationship possible.
It speaks of God’s intimate awareness of each of us before he even sends us out for His purpose and His will.
But 1st before we even find out what God’s purpose is we must 1st make a choice.
A couple of years ago a book came out that shook the Christian community and even the world, called the Purpose Driven Life. I bet most of us read that book. We spent millions on that book just to find out what our purpose is. Did you know we spend more money and time reading books about the Bible than we do reading the bible.
The Bible says we were set apart for His purpose
Colossians 1:16
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
REPEAT
As we just read it’s not about you.( focusing on yourself will never reveal our life’s purpose)
Rick Warren says in the Purpose Driven life.
“The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions.
If you want to know your purpose on this planet, you must 1st begin with God.”
You were made by God and for God---- and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
God will show you more about Himself and your purpose as you accept His invitation into His service.
Personal story:
When I was growing up God gave me a talent of always being in front of a crowd, at age 16 I was a singer in a rock band, then about 5 years later I went into professional wrestling where I learned I had a gift of talking on the microphone. I learned that, that gift would earn me a lot of money over my career. But what I didn’t realize at the time was God was getting me ready for the ministry. A lot of people get nervous talking in front of large crowds especially if you stutter like I do. But God took all the excuses out of the way up front. So do I believe God formed me and knew me before I was born?
Absolutely, with out a doubt because everything I have done in my life has lead me up to this point. And I bet each one of you can look back on your lives, what talent has God given you to serve Him with? I know when I was sitting out there I knew there was something I wanted to do for Him but I didn’t know what?
I did know that I always had the desire to preach but as a stutter I knew that would never happen.
But have you taken that step. I mean the step out of your comfort zone to do Gods will.
So now that we have answered Why and what we come to the biggest question:
2. What does God have planned for me?
V5 SAYS
I APPOINTED YOU AS A PROPHET TO THE NATIONS.
Appointed-verb- to give or be given, deliver or bestow, grant, designate--- To name officially
How official would you want it, When God says it?
God has appointed you and me just like He has appointed so many others in the bible.
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph,
Moses, Aaron, Eleazar, David, Joshua, Gideon etc.
I can go on and on.
In fact Gods telling Jeremiah that he appointed him was to comfort him. He felt totally inadequate for the task. Like us today.
The fact is I do not know what God has planned for me But I do know I will never find out until I find out why I’m here, and what my purpose is, You do not have to spend tons of money on finding out these thing, you just need to turn to God for the answer.
Acts 20:24
But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
We were made for a mission.
Only God knows what lies ahead. But I do know we should know why we are here.
God has formed us and made us for his purpose.
Ask yourself these question/ what’s your answer?
1. Are you working towards His purpose or your own?
2.God is calling us to reach out to a lost world and help him bring a spiritual awakening to this world. Are answering His call?
Author and Pastor Rick Warren says in His book “ you are not an accident. Even before the universe was created God had you in mind and he planned you for His purpose”
V10 says
10 “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To pluck up and to break down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.”
God has given you a job, will you accept it? will you let go of the world and let God show you the life He intended for you to live.
Take that step. Today as the choir sings you come today and give God what is rightfully His.
YOU!!!!!!!!!!