NOTES ON PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE

CONFERENCE HELD ON SATURDAY 3 MAY 2003

AT MORNINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS: DANNY DANIELS AND CARL MOELLER

INTRODUCTION

Each of our lives should be purpose driven.

Most asked question: Why am I here? What is my purpose, meaning of life?

It’s not about you. You got to look to God. You cannot be truly successful in life unless you know your purpose in life.

Col 1:16 – For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him.

You were made by God for God. God made you for His purposes. God never created anything without a purpose.

How do you discover God’s purpose?

There are 2 ways: Speculation – without God

Revelation – Go to God’s Word and ask God “what on earth have you put

me on earth for?”

Firstly, we discover our life’s purpose in Christ.

Secondly, Purpose of life fits into God’s purpose for life. We live on the other side of God’s tapestry. God created the planet for us not us for the planet. You are not an accident. You are planned and loved by God.

a.. Life is a test, a trust and a temporary assignment. God has tested our faith, character. Everyday God tests our faith, love and obedience. One day He is going to ask us “what have you done with what I gave you?”

Life is preparation for eternity, it is transitory (1 Pet 1/17) (Rom 11/36)

b.. How can we fulfill God’s purposes and bring glory to God? If we fulfill God’s purposes on earth we will share in His glory and honour in eternity. We got to have meaning in life. Life without meaning is purposeless. There are 5 purposes that God created us for:

PURPOSE 1: I WAS FORMED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE (Rev 4/11)

To bring pleasure to God is worship

We worship God whenever we Love Him supremely

Trust Him completely (Heb 11/6)

Obey Him wholeheartedly (Ps 1/2)

Surrender to Him absolutely (Rom 12/1)

Worship Is a lifestyle

Rate yourself on a lifestyle of Worship 1-2-3-4-5 (1 needs work, 5 well developed)

PURPOSE 2 : I WAS FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY (Eph 1/5)

What is God’s family on earth? It is the CHURCH

There is a place that God has for you in the Body of Christ. Remember it is not about you or a building, it’s about Jesus.

The Church is

a.. a fellowship of the forgiven b.. the force of the faithful (Matt 16/18)

The Bride being faithfully protected

The Church is also

a.. a hospital for sinners b.. a safety zone – a recycling center c.. a house of prayer Jesus Christ is in the Church in a way that He is nowhere else (1 Tim 3/16).

Fellowship is sharing life together in the Body of Jesus Christ – being committed to each other:

1.. Authencity – being real and getting honest (no masks)

2.. Mercy – (there are 58 “one-anothers” in the New Testament)

3.. Unity – God loves unity. In the early Church there was diversity, yet they came together in one accord – Unity by oneness in purpose

Read

Rev 2/1-7 We find the letter to the Ephesians was deep teaching. The church at Ephesus had great pastors – Paul, Timothy and John. Yet later the Church at Ephesus was found to have lost its first love. Jesus said (in Rev) if they did not repent He will remove their candlestick. Today Ephesus has become a muslim world.

Rate yourself on Fellowship 1-2-3-4-5 (1 needs work, 5 well developed)

PURPOSE 3 : I WAS CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST (DISCILESHIP)

(Rom 8/29)(Family resemblance)

What is Christ like? The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22 & 23) typifies the character of Christ.

God is far more concerned who we are than what we do. More interested in being than doing. He is far more interested in our character than in our career.

There is not one situation in our life that God is not concerned to use it to make you like Christ. Jesus learned obedience through suffering.

II Cor 3/18. Release more of the Holy Spirit in our life. We need to let the power of the Holy Spirit flow through our lives, then we will bear fruit. Christ-likeness is not producing by imitation but by habitation.

How does God make us like Jesus? The Holy Spirit uses

a.. Truth to produce Christ-like character. b.. People to produce Christ-like character. He uses EGR (Extra Grace Required) people to shape (sand paper) us. He uses Godlike characters to mold us. c.. Circumstances to produce Christ-like character. Take our entire problems to Christ (II Cor 4/17, James 1/ 2&3). God develops the Fruit of the Spirit in our life by allowing us to experience circumstances where we want to do the opposite – to experience resistance. This process is called Discipleship. We are all His disciples.

Expect 4 kinds of problems in life:

1.. Trials are designed by God to draw us closer to Him and to build our character. 2.. Temptations are designed by the devil to draw us away from God and to destroy our character. 3.. Trespasses are hurts carried by the sins of others. God is calling us to rise above the hurt and let the Holy Spirit heal us. 4.. Troubles – different problems require different responses

a If it is a trial from God, we need to relax and trust God in it. b If the temptation is from satan, we should resist c If the trespass against us is caused by another, we need to release it through forgiveness d If the trouble is our own fault, then we should repent There are no short cuts to maturity. It takes time (Phil 1/6). This is a ‘done deal’. God will produce the character of Christ in us.

It takes a moment to become a Christian

It takes a life time to become Christ-like (Eph 4/13)

Rate yourself on Christ-like (Discipleship) 1-2-3-4-5 (1 needs work, 5 well developed)

PURPOSE 4 : I WAS SHAPED TO SERVE GOD (1 Pet 4/10)

There is an unemployment problem and a deployment need in the Church.

How many “effectives” are there in the congregation? An “effective” is somebody effectively serving in the Church.

Our prayer should be “God make me useable” not “God use me”.

a.. Spiritual Gifts – discover, develop and display in ministry to the Body b.. Heart – What turns us on? Our passion c.. Abilities d.. Personality – unique to us e.. Experience – our different experiences Using my SHAPE to serve others is called Ministry

Developing a Servant’s Heart. In the Kingdom of God greatness is measured by servant hood.

My servant-heart reveals my maturity.

Characteristics of real servant:

a.. Real servants maintain a low profile (living for the audience of One)

b.. Real servants do not worry what other servants are doing How many “effectives” do we really have in our Church?

Rate yourself on having a Servant Heart 1-2-3-4-5 (1 needs work, 5 well developed)

PURPOSE 5 : I WAS MADE FOR A MISSION (MISSION-POSSIBLE) (John 17/18)

Every person needs a mission in the world, a ministry in the Church.

Fulfilling my mission is called Evangelism.

God has entrusted you with a mission to your family, community and workplace.

Ask God to give you Jesus-eyes before you go down the street to evangelize.

Why is my mission so important?

a.. It is commanded by Jesus – the great commission (we are Jesus Christ in flesh to those around us. b.. It is the greatest thing we could do for anyone c.. It ultimately gives our life deep meaning and purpose d.. God’s timetable for history’s conclusion is connected to completion of the commission we have been given. Think like a world-class Christian – shift from temporal to eternal thinking (II Cor 4/18)

Focus our life on eternity – “mission possible” – that is going on forever. Do not trade your life for the temporary, invest it for eternity.

What are you allowing to stay in the way of your mission on earth?

What is keeping you from being a world class Christian?

Rate yourself on how well you are completing your mission of Evangelism

1-2-3-4-5 (1 needs work, 5 well developed)

Will you live for God’s Purposes in your life?

Will the

a.. Centre of your life be Worship b.. Community of your life be Fellowship c.. Character of your life be Discipleship d.. Contribution of your life be Ministry e.. Communication of your life be Mission (These excellent notes were compiled by one of our church-members. Rowland.)