THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

A PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE

(CHB 05-18-03PM)

TEXT:  Col. 1:9-20

INTRO:

                A business man invited his boss to dinner.  When he arrived, the boss was pot-bellied, brash-speaking, arrogant and ill-mannered.  The business man’s son (12-yrs old), observed the “boss” with great intent.

                At dinner, the little boy asked, “Sir, did you go to college and learn your business.”

                The “boss” answered, “No son, I’m a SELF-MADE man!”

                The little boy asked, “Well, why did you make yourself that way?”

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                Tonight, I want to share something with you that is very important in this “hurry up” world.  Many people have searched and searched for the meaning and purpose in life to no avail.  And partly that is because they start at the wrong place.  They ask questions like, “What do I want to be?, What are MY goals?, What dreams do I have for MY future?”

                Friends, I want to show you that success in this life depends on LOSING SELF-FOCUS!!  It depends on finding a PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE.

*******TEXT*******

                Author Rick Warren, writer of  “A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE,” said that one day he was in the mountains.  He became lost, and asked someone directions to a specific campsite.  The man laughed and said, “You can’t get there from here,,,

you have to go to other side of the mountain first!”

                Most folk start out on the WRONG SIDE of the mountain!  You see, the Bible says, “To be carnally minded is DEATH, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6) 

                We need to go to the OTHER SIDE of the mountain!   We need to go to GOD’S side of the mountain in order to find the PURPOSE and MEANING of life!

                BEING SUCCESSFUL AND FULFILLING YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE are NOT THE SAME ISSUE!

               

                Many folk lead harem-scarem, helter-skelter, lives because their FOCUS is not in the right place.

I.              MISCONCEPTION OF GOD

                1. Look at our text -- vss 9-10

                    Everything we do oughta have GOD at the CENTER!!!

                     Jesus said, “Whosoever shall SAVE his life…..” (Matt. 16:25)

                2. You were CREATED by God and created FOR God.

                Until you see life THAT way -- it will NEVER make real sense!

                3. Some folk try to use God for their own self-actualization.

                    We are created FIND self-actualization in SURRENDER to Christ!

                4. One can never realize full joy in life by SPECULATION.

                    The only REAL way to enjoy life is by REVELATION!

                    Let GOD, the CREATOR, tell you how to live life.

Eph 1:3 tell us that we are created to be IN CHRIST!!!

“ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

Life NEVER has full meaning OUTSIDE of Christ!!

II.            GOD’S PLAN IS PRECISE

                1. God planned a universe that is PRECISE ---gravity.   ((See Is. 45:18))

                    Circular motion & gravitational forces define places of planets in the universe.

                    Takes 364 7/8 days to elliptically circle the sun.  Earth axis 23 ½ degree tilt.

                    Earth also rotating once each 24 hours.

                2. LONG before time began, God created YOU!!   You are PRECISE!!

                    Doesn’t matter HOW you got here!   There are no illegitimate children in God’s               universe!  There are only illegitimate PARENTS!!!

                    There are no accidents in human creation!!

                3. YOU have a PURPOSE in this world!!   A GODLY purpose!!

Rom 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

THEN -- you will have a PURPOSE-DRIVEN life.

III.           FIVE BENEFITS OF A PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE

                1. It gives MEANING to your life.

                                A. The greatest tragedy is NOT death….but life w/out purpose!

                                B.  Jer. 29:11

                                C.  Eph. 3:20

                                D.  Perhaps you’re trying to do TOO MUCH.

                                      Trying to please too many people.  Impossible to do all people want of you.

                                E.  You can only find MEANING in pleasing God FIRST ((Is. 26:3))

                2. It gives FOCUS to your life.

                                A.  You become EFFECTIVE by being SELECTIVE!

                                B. Eph. 5:17

                                C. Paul expressed it for his OWN life ((Ppns 3:13))

                3. It gives MOTIVATION to your life.

                                A.  Purpose produces PASSION.  ((W/out it life is HUMDRUM))

                                B.  You weren’t created to be remembered by people ---

                                      You were created to serve God and prepare for eternity.

                                C.  A meaningless life will sap your energy, and rob your joy!

                                D.  “Call unto me & I will show you….”  (Jer. 33:3)

                4. It PREPARES you for ETERNITY!

                                A.  Most folk spend a lifetime trying to leave a legacy.

                                      The most important part of your epitaph is the DASH!!

                                B. All earthly achievements are eventually surpassed, broken.

                ((James Dobson wanted to be the best tennis champion in his school.  He won the championship            trophy.  Years later, someone found it in the trash when they remodeled the school.))

                                Living for earthly legacy is a SHORT-SIGHTED GOAL!!

                                Build an ETERNAL Legacy --- live for CHRIST!!!

CONCLUSION:

                TEXT -- vss 10-17

               

                One day we will all stand before God for an ultimate judgment.  That judgment will determine where we live for ETERNITY!

                God has only two questions to ask of our lives at that judgment day.

                1) “What did you do with Jesus Christ?”

                2) “What did you do with the life, talents and skills I gave you?”

 

INVITATION:

                Start your life new and fresh tonight!

                Start it in the RIGHT PLACE!   Start it with Christ!

                Have you given your life to Him?

                Is He the central focus of all that you do?

                Are you planning your life around Christ, or are you planning Christ around your life?

                Jesus paid the ultimate price for you to have peace and forgiveness with God.

                He calls you now to surrender your life to Him.

 

                You can live “strengthened with His might.”

                You can live “according to His glorious power.”

                You can live with “patience, longsuffering and joyfulness.”

                And most of all……

                You can live FOREVER in the presence and power of Christ Himself!

 

                Come tonight!

 

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

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