LIVING ON AND IN PURPOSE
PART II: The Right Timing
John 21:7-15
I. INTRODUCTION
II. WHAT PURPOSE IS NOT
A. Your Purpose is Not Dependent on You Magically Making the Perfect Decisions.
- Jeremiah
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.
B. Your Purpose is Not Dependent On Your Perfection
C. Your Purpose is Not About You
Romans 11:36
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
- Moses
Exodus 3:9-12
9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.
Exodus 3:13-14
13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.
D. How Do We Make Sure We are in Position?
III. WHAT KEEPS US OUT OF THE POSITION OF PURPOSE?
A. BASIC NEEDS
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Physiological needs (water and food)
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Safety need (security)
- Cares of the World
- Luke 8:14
- The thorn-filled soil will hear!
a. They all hear,
i. They all take notes,
ii. They all got their bible under their arms these jokers here.
iii. It’s not a problem of hearing, it’s not a problem of exposure, it’s not a problem of understanding.
iv. People know what’s right!
v. They have heard. Vs 14 They go out. Listen: they leave with the intention of applying it to their hearts
i. They go out and say Man that was a great message today I’m going to go out and do it
1. Go out means to have every intention to do what Ive heard
2. Go with motive desire and plan. Truly are planning to implement
- But there is a problem. The seed gets choked
1. Seed growing in their life gets choked
2. Choked: Greek means to suffocate, smother, seek to kill
3. Word is choked out by 3 things
a. Cares
b. Riches
c. Pleasures
- Here are the things that prohibit and prevent you and I from changing into the man or woman of God that we have been created to be
3. There are things that are important to us they make us feel and believe that we can’t make it without them
2. The Word is Choked By
a. Cares: This Means life is filled with anxieties because your life is distracted in a multitude of directions
i. Beware of the I Have To Stronghold: You have something going on in every place and every direction that keeps you so busy:
1. I have to go to work
2. I have to take care of kids
3. I have to go to this meeting
4. I have to go to this gathering
5. I have to meet with this person
6. 1000 things that bog down your life where you don’t have time for the word, don’t have time for prayer, don’t have time for service, time to obey God because the word of God has been choked out
ii. Stuff that really doesn’t matter
1. Luke 21:34 warns that the cares of your heart will weigh you down
2. I know we have to work, you have to help the kids, take care of parents, and things you have to handle
3. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your cares on Him bc He cares for You
B. PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS
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Esteem Needs and (feelings of accomplishment and prestige)
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Belonging
C. SELF-FULFILLMENT NEEDS
- Self-actualism (achieving one’s full potential including creative activities)
2 Peter 3:8-9
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.