God's Purpose - God's Power
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John W. Gardner, founding chairman of Common Cause, said it's a rare and high privilege to help people understand the difference they can make -- not only in their own lives, but also in the lives of others, simply by giving of themselves.
Gardner tells of a cheerful old man who asked the same question of just about every new acquaintance he fell into conversation with: "What have you done that you believe in and you are proud of?"
He never asked conventional questions such as "What do you do for a living?" It was always, "What have you done that you believe in and are proud of?"
It was an unsettling question for people who had built their self-esteem on their wealth or their family name or their exalted job title.
Not that the old man was a fierce interrogator. He was delighted by a woman who answered, "I'm doing a good job raising three children;" and by a cabinetmaker who said, "I believe in good workmanship and practice it;" and by a woman who said, "I started a bookstore and it's the best bookstore for miles around."
"I don't really care how they answer," said the old man. "I just want to put the thought into their minds.
"They should live their lives in such a way that they can have a good answer. Not a good answer for me, but for themselves. That's what' s important."
This man had alot of insight into the power that comes with knowing and striving toward a purpose that is greater than we are.
I would like to pose this same question to you - but with a little bit of a twist…because our purpose is so much greater than us.....
“What have you done that would promote the Gospel and that Christ would place his stamp of “Well Done” upon it?”
When we present the Gospel - it is normally regarding salvation.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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:
As important as our salvation is - I Believe it is only a part of the blessing we receive through the Gospel.
Through the Gospel - We received Christ and his forgiveness - and we look forward to the reward of heaven - eternal life promised to us through the good news of Jesus Christ.
But how does this effect me today. How does the Gospel change the way I parent. How does it change the way I do business. How does it effect the way I do Life on a daily basis.
I love you Vision statement this year - Purpose = Power. When we know our purpose it can give us the power to pursue that purpose.
I am going to give you a Purpose Statement tonight. One that you can use to transform the way you do life. And through it find the power that you need to succeed in God’s calling of your life....
Here it is...
My Purpose is Glorify God by Living a Life Powered by His Grace
You can apply this to your Business
The Purpose of My business is to bring Glory to God as it exists to exhibit the Power of his Grace
You can apply this to your Children
The Purpose of My Parenting is to bring Glory to God as I raise my Children in the Power of his Grace
You can apply this to your Marraige
The Purpose of My Marriage is to bring Glory to God as I Love my wife in the Power of His Grace.
Paul tells us in that our purpose is to bring God Glory
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
And He tells us in that our Power is found in the Gospel.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
It is in the Death of Jesus Christ that ours sins are atoned for and forgiveness is offered, But it is in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that we now live -
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Notice what Paul is saying - It is in the Cross of Christ that the old man died - But it is in the resurrection of Christ that I life right now, today because of the power of His Grace.
Christians Live a Miraculous Life Because we live in the power of Christ Resurrection.
If you will let me - I would like to help us take this purpose - Glorifying God and Living in His Grace - and flesh it out. What does it look like for me to live out this purpose and find the Power of the Gospel?
It Changes Your Identity
It Changes Your Identity
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 cor 13:
2. It Changes Your Focus
2. It Changes Your Focus
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
3. It Changes Your Purpose
3. It Changes Your Purpose
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2 Cor
Your life is so much bigger than right here right now. We define ourselves based on many temporal things - I’m A Pilot, I’m A Mechanic, I’m A Parent, I’m A Husband, I’m A Business Leader
Living a Gospel Centered life changes this. We realize first that I am a Child of God, bought with his precious blood, called to serve him with me life. Everything else is at best, secondary.
A Gospel-Centered life is less concerned about what they can accomplish than they are about what God can accomplish through them,
In our
There is power when we find our purpose - and when we find our purpose in Christ and pursue his will and direction we will find the limitless power of the God of the universe is there to assist and work out his perfect will for us.