Introduction
A) THE WiDE-ANGLE View OF GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10)
i) WE ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP
ii) CREATED …TO DO GOOD WORKS
iii) PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO
iv) CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS
WHY?
- “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live.” (Ephesians 2:1)
- “Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath..” (Ephesians 2:3)…
We are part of the problem.
- “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Rescued, to become part of the solution.
B) THE CLOSE-UP View OF GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE
GOD CALLS YOU INTO HIS FAMILY
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith” (Ephesians 2:8)
To become part of God’s family, pray saying:
- Sorry for rejecting God.
- Thank-you for loving me and sending Jesus to die in my place.
iii. Please, forgive me, and give me a new start in life.
God’s GENERAL Purposes for your life
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:18-19)
This is about ______________________
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1John 3:16-17)
This is about ______________________
- “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
This is about ______________________
“make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Peter 1:5-8)
This is about ______________________
Where do I need to grow?
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God’s CONDITIONAL Purposes for your life
There are many of these, for example:
- “The husband should fulfil his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.” (1Cor.7:3)
God’s SPECIFIC Purposes for your life
God sometimes calls people to a specific role or place or opportunity. This is
the __________ not the rule.
- “[God] determines the times set for [people] and the exact places where they should live.” (Acts 17:26)
God has already sent you as a missionary to the _______________
__________ right now!
If you think God is speaking to you:
- Test it against the bible
- Share it with Christian friends
- Share it with Church leaders.
“Well done my good servant…because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.” (Luke 19:17)
If God has a specific purpose for your life it is probably because you’ve proven trustworthy with the GENERAL and CONDITIONAL purposes God has for your life.
When it comes to God’s purposes for your life, are you a
_________________ or a _______________?
________________________________________
I want to know more:
- To read: DeYoung, Kevin, Just Do Something
- To read: Tony Payne and Peter Jensen, Guidance and the Voice of God
- To listen: John Piper, The Goodness of God and the guidance of sinners: desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/the-goodness-of-god-and-the-guidance-of-sinners
- To read online: The Assurance of God’s Guidance, http://bible.org/seriespage/assurance-god%E2%80%99s-guidance
- The Guidance Maze, article, Christianity Magazine, June 2012