LIVING LIFE ON PURPOSE – Rev. D. Johns – July 17 2011
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. – Ephesians 5:15-17 New Living Translation
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. – Psalm 90:12 King James Version
Teach us to use wisely all the time we have. – Psalm 90:12 Contemporary English Version
So now Israel, what do you think GOD expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve GOD, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of GOD that I'm commanding you today—live a good life. Deuteronomy 10:12,13 The Message
Life is not to be wasted. Do not stumble or drift through life. Do not squander the short time you do have. Live according to your divine design.
A good example of one who lived his life on purpose is the Apostle Paul:
• Saul = a one-man terror obsessed with obliterating Christians; Paul = handpicked by Jesus to serve & witness so that outsiders will choose God & begin to really live. It is a purpose he cannot walk away from! – Acts 26:9-20 The Message
• He keeps his bearings related to his conversion and call = to lead people to God – as though he was in a race (training, running hard, no sloppy living, alert, in top condition, no napping) – 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 The Message
40 Days of Purpose June 12 2011 part #1 MADE FOR MISSION
Isaiah 6:1-8
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
What is necessary before mission takes place?
• Vision of God’s holiness & majesty (verses 1-4)
• Awareness of inadequacy due to personal & corporate sin (verse 5)
• Experience & understanding of forgiveness (verse 6,7)
• Hearing the call of God & saying ‘yes’ (verse 8)
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
• Mission is part of our new identity in Christ (verse 17)
• Forgiveness & reconciliation are not only a prerequisite for the job of missionary, but also the essence of the mission itself
• Key image of “ambassador”
Questions:
1. To what call to mission are you most likely to give a ‘yes’ response?
prayer warrior; Sunday School helper; pastoral, nursing home & hospital visitor; foreign mission work; music ministry; feeding the poor; reaching out to single moms; community food bank; ______________
2. Can you capture a vision of what our church will look like if even more of our people say ‘yes’ to mission?
3. What words/images best describe the character & role of ambassador?
40 DAYS OF PURPOSE part #2 FORMED FOR FAMILY
Rev. D. Johns
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. – Ephesians 2:19-22 New Living Translation
Members of God’s family … joined together in him … where God lives by his Spirit
Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life … The Bible clearly affirms the following:
• We are called to belong, not just believe
• We were created for community, fashioned for fellowship, formed for family
• Our personal faith is not intended to be private
• None of us can fulfill God’s purposes by ourselves
The rule/role of _______ Romans 12:9 + The rule/role of _______ Romans 12:18
Note:
1. Hebrews 10:24,25 “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.” New International Version
2. Romans 14:19 “Let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony and the growth of our fellowship together.” Phillips Translation
Conclusion: I have a responsibility – It is my purpose – to …
• Embrace diversity (Romans 12:3-8), Promote peace, Protect unity, Produce good deeds (Romans 12:9-21), Pray for God’s strengthening power (Ephesians 3:14-21)
“NAME CALLING” – Rev. Doug Johns
Part #3 June 26 CONFORMING TO CHRIST: SAINTS, SANCTIFICATION, DISCIPLESHIP
Romans 1:1-8 New International Version (NIV)
1. Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
2. the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures
3. regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David,
4. and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
5. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.
6. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
8. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
• Names can be derogatory & damage or names can designate & develop. Purpose flows from identity.
• Are you able to hear God calling you?
• What is your divine design? What has God called you? Why has God called you?
• What kind of reputation do you want, does your church want?
Key Words:
servant, call, set apart, obedience, faith, belong, loved, saints, reported
“Purpose keeps it fresh. And when we are filled with purpose, we tap into an endless supply of energy.” – Jon Gordon
40 Days of Purpose
part #4
Matthew 20:20-28
1 Peter 4:7-11
Rev. D. Johns
The enemies of service:
- dreams of grandeur ... desire for the seats of honour
- kingdom confusion ... don't forget the cup of suffering
- cultural confusion ... status by ruling
The example of service:
The son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life a ransom for many.
note: everyone is divinely designed with a purpose in mind: gifted/graced so as to serve by God's strength for God's glory
from THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE
... not saved by service but saved for service ... healed to help ... blessed to bless ... maturity for ministry ... S.H.A.P.E. (Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 139:13,14 ... spiritual gifts + heart + abilities + personality + experience)
Sunday July 10 2011
Rev. D. Johns
40 days of Purpose part #5 PLANNED FOR PRAISE
• Careless worship vs. Careful worship
Compare Malachi 1:6-14 with Revelation 5:1-14 and John 4:23,24
• Words of Worship from Revelation 5:12-14 (worthy, power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory, praise, amen) & from Isaiah 6, Revelation 4, Psalm 99 (holy)
What causes careless worship?
How can we avoid the ‘wrong roads’ of worship?
How can I cultivate careful worship in my life?
Why should God’s praise be a priority for all of us?
