Principles of Purpose (Part 1)

Context

Thank you all for being here tonight! I am so excited to start our Sunday night services back, and I am very excited for what we are going to be looking at as well. We are going to be talking on the topic of Purpose.

There is so much that can be said about our Purpose. In some sense, we can say that we already know what our purpose is. Jesus spoke on several different occasions to the purpose of the Church, and as we go through this season, we will probably look at each and every one of those passages.

But with that being said, purpose can be a tricky thing. Just because we understand the overlying purpose of the Church, does not necessarily mean that we fully understand our individual purpose. What is my purpose? That is what we want to find out. Don’t you want to find out what your individual purpose is?

Sometimes in life, we are blessed to come across those individuals who simply understand their purpose, and because they know what their purpose is, they are happy. They know exactly why God put them here, and because of that, they walk in purpose every single day. When we understand exactly what it is that God designed us for, only then can we truly begin to live out our lives in true happiness and walk in purpose.

The tricky thing about this, is how we coin purpose. Some will say that this type of study is completely useless. They will say that Jesus clearly stated what our purpose was in The Great Commission. Therefore, why do we need to have sermons like this. Though I agree that the purpose of the Church was given within the Great Commission, I think that each person’s individual purpose will be different in how they fulfill the Great Commission.

Proverbs 20:5 ESV

5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Deep down inside each one of us, God has implanted a divine purpose. It is only when we begin to tap into that purpose, that we truly begin to live fruitful lives for God.

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

The flip side of this is, there is no trick to figuring out what that purpose is. There is no fast pass, no cutting line, or no magical antidote that can be taken or implemented to reveal your divine purpose in Christ. The truth is, there is only Biblical principles to follow, and as we follow those principles, we begin to understand why we are here. It takes time. It takes work. It takes effort. It takes sacrifice. If we are willing to exalt Jesus Christ as the Lord of our lives, and put in the time, work, and effort necessary, He will reveal His purpose in our lives.

Tonight, we are going to begin this series on purpose by looking at Romans 12:1-2.

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Content

Understanding Of What God Has Done

“Which is your reasonable service.”

In other words, what I am asking you to do is a small price to pay in return for what God has done for you.

God created man perfect and placed him in a perfect place. Man messed it up and got kicked out, but God provided a means of existence regardless.

God provided a promised land, but Israel refused to go in.

God provided manna from heaven and Israel complained.

God provided freedom from bondage, and Israel focused on themselves instead of the God that delivered them.

God provided His law and Israel wouldn’t keep it.

God provided His Son as a sacrifice for sin, and He was rejected.

Jesus died anyway for a people who did not believe in Him.

Lastly, God sent His Holy Spirit to this world to dwell in the hearts of men. He is there to lead and guide, to convict and encourage, to provide and bless.

Though man has turned away from God since his existence, God has continuously provided a means of recovery and regeneration. God has done everything to secure His people in eternity.

In spite of our sin, God gave the ultimate sacrifice.

God has done it all.

Understanding Of What God Deserves

“That you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,”

Because of everything that God has done, He deserves so much!!!

He deserves our sacrifice.

He deserves our sanctification.

He deserves our submission.

Understanding Of What We Must Do

“do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,”

We must not give in to this world.

We must be transformed.

We must have our minds renewed.

Commitment

Paul was able to pen these words, because he had first lived them out in his life. Paul knew more than most what God’s mercy looked like in his life. God changed him from a murderer to a missionary. He fully grasped the understanding of what God deserved from him because of the mercy that had been passed over him. He new firsthand what it looked like to sacrifice everything for the cause of Christ.

As we choose God, like Paul did, we begin to understand the good and perfect and acceptable will of God.

Who is ready to choose? Who is ready to walk in purpose?