LIFE AND PURPOSE IN CHRIST
(Power of Purpose)
God has a PURPOSE for everything He does. Our lives are part of God’s PURPOSE. From the beginning of time we were in the mind of God. He is working in, for and through us to finish what He PURPOSED in the beginning. The Apostle Paul is a great example of God at work; who is God, where is God, what is God doing and where is God going? Paul was someone who had a desire to follow and fulfill His PURPOSE. Paul was a man who completed his course and fulfilled God’s PURPOSE.
Definition of the word PURPOSE: The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; goal, aim. A result effect that is intended or desired; intention. Determination; resolution.
TEXT: Acts 26:12-20
The five questions asked by all of mankind are only answered in the gospel.
A. Who made me?
B. Who is God?
C. Why am I here?
D. Personal destiny?
E. What after this life?
God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:4
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”
Romans 8: 28-29
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
- He chose us
- We chose Him
- We became the chosen
He wrote our names in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world.
Luke 10:17-20 (See Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalms 139:13-16)
“Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name’.
And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven’.”
The disciples were not “born again” or “regenerated” at this time, yet Jesus said their names were written down in heaven.
They were “born again” when Jesus breathed on them.
“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.” (St. John 20:22)
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
(Genesis 2:7)
God breathed into Adam and he came alive as a living soul. Jesus the resurrected Christ breathed on the disciples and they became alive unto Him evermore. God purposed for them to be “born again” or “regenerated” and the church was birthed.
“For he dwells with you, and shall be in you.” (St. John 14:17b)
“And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.”
(1 Corinthians 15:45-46, see Ezekiel 37:9)
The Greek word for “breathed” (emphusae) is the same verb used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) in Genesis and also
the Gospel of John. God breathed on them!
The disciples’ names were not only written down before they were “born again” or “regenerated” but now they were a “new creation” fulfilling God’s purpose in them. God’s purposes are eternal in principle. The Bible teaches us God made provision for all of mankind to be saved. When we reject and do not receive God’s sacrifice of Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross, and we die, our names are blotted out of God’s book. We know because the Word of God tells us, “those who’s names are not found written in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire.” Through Jesus Christ the door was opened to God’s eternal purposes for the disciples and the rest of mankind. Every man who receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can know the PURPOSE for their life. The answers to the five innate questions asked are found in the Gospel. The Gospel being, “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” What Jesus did on the cross is the answer to all of man’s questions. The cross is where we exchange our life for His. In His life are all the purposes of God made manifest. (See Ephesians 3:1-13)
Other scriptural references:
Exodus 32:32-33
Psalms 69:28
Psalms 139:15-16
Daniel 12:1
Revelation 3:5; 20:12,15; 22:19
While God is a God of principle, He works by purpose.
Acts 26:16
“I have appeared to you for this PURPOSE.”
1. To make you a minister
2. To make you a witness of the things you have seen and what I will
reveal to you.
3. To deliver you
4. To send you to the Gentiles
5. To open people’s eyes to the truth
6. To turn them from darkness to light
7. To preach forgiveness from sin.
8. To preach a promised inheritance to those set apart in Christ by faith.
PURPOSE gave Paul authority.
PURPOSE motivated Paul to remain faithful to the call of God.
PURPOSE fed the faith of Paul.
PURPOSE enthused Paul’s spirit.
PURPOSE enlarged hope and expectation in Paul’s mission.
PURPOSE empowered Paul’s will to persevere.
PURPOSE is to your life what fire is to water.
PURPOSE is the pick and shovel to remove mountains in your life.
PURPOSE keeps your life from being empty and void.
PURPOSE fulfills mandate from God.
PURPOSE gives force to your character.
PURPOSE IS REVEALED IN GOD’S PLAN AND CONFIRMED:
- In science
- In history
- In creation
- In philosophy
- In theology
- In our lives
To know God is to understand His PURPOSE for your life.
To know God is to worship Him.
To know God is to know what He is saying.
To know God is to know He is inspiring what to say.
To know God is to know where God is at work.
To know God is to know what He is doing.
To know God is to know where He is going.
To know God is to desire to follow Him.
PURPOSE is where you are with God, and PURPOSE will take you home to Him.
ANSWER TO QUESTIONS: (five innate questions in every person)
A. God made you for a PURPOSE.
B. God is your creator and Father.
C. God chose you to be born here at this time.
D. God’s destiny for you is to be conformed to the image of God’s Son.
E. God’s hereafter is immortal and eternal life in His family throughout the ages.
The Lord had a plan for Paul. He has a plan for you as well. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit poured into the life of the believer will bring them into God’s plan for their life.
Jesus died on the cross to provide the way to God’s eternal PURPOSES.
Jesus died on the cross to provide the means to fulfill God’s PURPOSES.
Jesus is the door into God’s PURPOSES .
JESUS and the resurrection assure us God’s plan will be fulfilled.
Philippians 1:6; 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 3:5 |
