The Purposes of Purpose
May 3, 2009
The Purposes of Purpose
John 12.44-50 (English Standard Version)
44 And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.
45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.
46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment--what to say and what to speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."
I. A Purpose of Purpose Is To Establish Authority (Know From Whence It Comes)
A. Jesus knew exactly where his authority came from.
1. Jesus served God – He seeked to do the will of the Father.
2. Who do you serve?
a. Preachers serve Jesus through the Word
b. Preachers serve people through learning/teaching the Word
c. We often try to serve ourselves
1) I want to…a) be rich
b) win the lottery
c) do a certain job; hobbies (illustration)
d) determine how I spend my money
3. We must learn to submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit
John Whitfield 1741 – not because of his preaching but because people
submitted to the Spirit
WE DO NOT OWN THE AUTHORITY
TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS (parents to children)
II. A Purpose of Purpose is to Establish Boundaries (Know Your Role)
A. Jesus knew exactly what his purpose was
1. Jesus knew his purpose was to save the world and He knew that
everyone has the potential to be saved.
2. Jesus knew his purpose was NOT to judge the world at this time
Note that Jesus is the Word and the Word will judge at the last day
3. Our role is not to judge ourselves – We are never deserving!
a. good enough to be saved
b. lost after we’re saved
c. good enough to be saved again
B. What is your role?
1. Seek your role from your relationship with Christ.
2. Seek your role from the guidance of the Holy Spirit
3. Understand that you might not fully understand your role as
well as Jesus understood His.
III. A Purpose of Purpose is to Establish Implementation (Perform Your Role)
A. Jesus implemented his purpose without reservation or hesitation
1. Jesus wasn’t always happy about his circumstances (v. 27)
2. Paul faced many adversities.
3. Jesus taught Peter that his purpose was not to be a bodyguard.
B. Are you implementing your purpose?
1. Your entry may be triumphant, but it may not last.
2. If you are implementing your purpose you can rest assured that
God assumes full responsibility for your well-being and provisions.
Don’t ever feel ill-equipped to do your service to the Lord. He’s not
going to call you into a work and then let you starve to death. He’s not
going to call you into a purpose and not give you the means to prepare
for it. We may have to put forth effort in the preparation. D A B – If
I knew I had three years to minister, I’d take two years to prepare.