Living On Purpose

Intro:

How do you define a disciple? A follower of Jesus. Ok. So what characteristics do you look for in a disciple? That’s what this whole series has been about. A disciple:

Passionately Pursues Jesus

Loves Other People Extraordinarily

Has a Servants Heart

Is Submitted to the Authority of God’s Word

Is Sensitive and Submitted to the Holy Spirit

Is Evangelistically Bold

Lives Morally Pure

Is Just and Generous

Is Engaged in Biblical Community.

Today will conclude the Disciple series. We’ve been on a journey, a fruitful journey. We are going to be challenged today. Turn to Ephesians 5:15-17.

Let's pray. Pray to have the mind of Christ. Pray that our minds would be renewed. Pray that our hearts would receive God’’s Word.

Recently we made changes here at Parkside. The Activity Center didn’t have internet, it relied on the internet of the other buildings. If you are a person that needs wifi it was kind of frustrating in the Activity Center because if you journeyed too far to one end of the building you didn’t have wifi. The answer to solving the problem of poor wifi reception was simple. All I had to do was run a Cat 5 cable from the Kids center to the A/C. Sounds simple enough. Not quite. Inside a Cat 5 cable are 8 wires. All these wires have to be properly inserted into the connector. Long story short I did not properly insert them. So I had to cut the connector off and start over, only this time I used a diagram. Once it was re-wired properly it functioned properly, and walah we have internet in the A/C center.

As humans we have been improperly wired because of sin. Because of sin we looked to the culture, society, friends, family, and our own thinking for purpose, instead of God our creator. In almost every testimony we can hear of folks being improperly wired. For me, I sought my purpose in relationships and substances. I was looking to and in the wrong places. Once I devoted myself to Jesus, then I was re-wired and began to function properly.

Can you relate? Can you think of a time where your own thinking, maybe because of your childhood, or maybe because of your choice of friends, or even a job you took, where you functioned improperly? Sure, we all can. Every person here can think of a time or many times, right, where we’ve functioned improperly. Maybe if you were honest today you would say Pastor I’m functioning improperly now.

Honestly when we function improperly we look foolish, and most people really don’t like to look foolish.

Ephesians 5:15–17 NLT

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Paul isn’t being hard to understand here. Paul is simply saying if we understand what God’s purpose is for our lives, how we are to function, then we avoid living like fools.

Many people fail to even ask “Lord, why have you put me on earth? Why have you rescued me? What do you want me to do with my life?”

Or maybe we asked those questions years ago but....

Mark 4:19 NIV

but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Myles Monroe Quote

“The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life....life that fails to fulfill its purpose and potential.”

Young people today and even when each of us was young struggle with purpose. Failing to ask the questions I just mentioned. They fail and some of us failed when we were young to consider what God’s purpose was for our lives. And years later we look back almost with regret that we didn’t seek the Lord sooner about our purpose.

5 Levels of Purpose

Let’s take a look at 5 levels of purpose. Maybe you can relate.

We do what we hate. This first level is survival. This is functioning improperly. Doing something we weren’t created to do and if we’re honest we know we are functioning improperly. People in this category are miserable, no one anyone invites to parties or even wants to be around.

We do what we do. This level is our comfort zone. We are functioning ok, we are competent at what we are doing, but not being challenged to grow. Not much direction either. People in this category will say things like: You do you, and I will do me. Just do what you do. Again very comfortable but deep down knows this is not the greatest life they could be living.

We do what we love. This level Life is Good!! For folks that don’t know Jesus, they believe this is the best life they will ever experience. They are being challenged but they are extremely competent and welcome challenges. They are people that are looked up to and generally great people to be around.

We do what God loves. People in this level know Jesus. This is the transition from a believer to a disciple. Their hearts are in tune with God’s heart, they really want to participate in His purposes. But this transition, this change comes at a cost, because people in this level must let go of what they love. The transition from level 3 to level 4 was best illustrated in the account of the rich young ruler. Matthew 19:16-22.

Matthew 19:16–22 NIV

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

5. We love to do what God loves. From the outside this level looks like the previous one, but our inner motivations change. We become more than God’s servants, we become His friends and partners. We want to please Him above all else. As we begin to live in this level , we are more in touch with God’s heart, and we tap into God’s power, and He uses us in ways we never dreamed possible. This what happened to the timid, fearful disciples when they gave themselves fully to the purposes of God. He used them to change the world.

God’s Purpose For Our Lives

Ephesians 5:15–17 NLT

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

How do we avoid living like fools? How do we understand what the Lord wants us to do?

We must determine:

What’s God calling in your life? Some people hear the word calling and immediately think of roles of a pastor, evangelist, or missionary and then say thats not me I’m not called to that. God calls people to be Gas station employees, grocery store workers, janitors, police officers, and restaurant workers etc. God’s calling isn’t as much about job, position, or title, it’s about who He created you to be and whats on the inside. We determine God’s calling on our lives by living in everyday relationship with Jesus.

What’s Your Burden? As you live in everyday relationship with Jesus, you will notice you have burdens. One of the sure signs a believer transitioning to a disciple is what keeps them awake at night. When people begin to make this transition often they will have a burden for their family and friends. Some have burdens for people in other parts of the world that don’t know Jesus. Some have a burden to serve in the church they attend. Some have a burden to evangelize the place they work at. Some have a burden to pray for people, government, and issues affecting the society they live in. Some burdens will change, some will last a lifetime. The key is the everyday relationship with Jesus.

What’s the cost we have to pay? Simple. Everything. Following Jesus, being a disciple, and living out God’s purpose in your life will cost you everything and then some. When we are living out God’s purpose for our life will have to live a life surrendered to Him. That purpose will require us to depend on Him because we won’t be able to do it on our own. Being a disciple isn’t easy, it’s not for the faint of heart. Being a disciple and living out God’s purpose for your life comes out of the relationship you have with Jesus. We are motivated to develop that relationship due to our awareness of His love, grace, and mercy that He has for us. Each of us will face the decision of paying the cost. I can tell you that when you make that decision that it will be the best decision you will ever make. And it will change your life.

Conclusion

I want to challenge you today. Maybe today you realized your living in a level that doesn’t end in you living the best possible life you could. Maybe you’re in level 1 Your doing what you hate. You can transition to level 5, You love to do what God loves, by making the commitment to have an everyday relationship with Jesus and surrendering to Him right here, right now in this moment. If that’s you I want to pray and agree with you right now. Pray. Maybe today you realized that it’s time to pursue God’s purpose for you life I want to pray with you. Pray.

So here we are, concluding the Disciple Series. Are you ready to be a disciple? Are you ready to make disciples? It won’t be dull that’s for sure.

So here’s the challenge: Would you ask God today to help you cultivate these qualities in your life. Pray. Jesus would you help us to cultivate these qualities in our lives.

Passionately Pursues Jesus

Loves Other People Extraordinarily

Has a Servants Heart

Is Submitted to the Authority of God’s Word

Is Sensitive and Submitted to the Holy Spirit

Is Evangelistically Bold

Lives Morally Pure

Is Just and Generous

Is Engaged in Biblical Community.

Lives on Purpose

Jesus would you also help us to partner with you in cultivating disciples.