What’s your purpose in life? What I mean is that if you were to write down what you thought your purpose in life was, what would you say?
Richard Leider said “The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose”.
Washington Irving said “Great minds have purposes, little minds have wishes”.
George Bernard Shaw said “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” That’s pretty cynical & scary.
The search for purpose in life has puzzled people since the beginning of time. But as Christians what does the Lord have to say about our purpose? As disciples of Jesus Christ, what is our purpose?
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Phil. 2:12-13 continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
The reason that purpose in life has puzzled so many for so long us is that too many have started at the wrong starting point.
Think about it, when people are asked about the purpose of their life they typically ask self-centered questions like; what do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my dreams, my goals, and my ambitions?
As a result the market is flooded with every kind of self-help book, Christian or otherwise trying to answer the question.
They say things like:
Consider your dreams, clarify your values, set your goals, figure out what you’re good at, go for it and believe you can achieve. I did a search on the Internet and one sight guaranteed, “How to discover your life’s purpose in about 20 minutes.” Sign me up!
Now these recommendations can help and they can lead to success. But being successful and fulfilling your purpose in life are not the same thing. You can reach your goals, you can achieve your objectives; you can accomplish your aim and still miss your purpose.
In fact, you may own it all and have nothing to show for it. You may be extremely successful and yet exceptionally miserable. You may have reached the top of your ladder of success only to find that your ladder is against the wrong wall.
As we start this new fall season of discipleship I want us all to ask the Lord, what is your purpose for me. In short, what lies at the very heart of who and what I am we as a child of God, a man, a woman made in the very image of God and a person who has come into a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe and the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ?
Folks, I believe that fundamental problem has crept into American Christianity and it goes something like this. “Lord, I want to do what I want, be what I want, have what I want, and I want You to bless it.” We use cute and clever clichés like “What would Jesus do” when what we really mean is “Lord , I want what I want, now bless it”
This approach starts at the back-end rather than upfront. So instead of asking, “What would Jesus do”, how about adopting a purpose statement that asks, “What did Jesus do?” and more succinctly “What does Jesus want me to do?”
I want us to start this new season on this note because it is fundamentally important to understand that as a disciple of Jesus Christ, we cannot understand God’s purpose for our life by starting with a focus on ourselves. You see, we exist only because God wills that we exist. We were made by God and for God and until we know that deep inside, life will never make sense. ’For it is in him that we live and move and have our being.’ Acts 17:28
It is only in a relationship with Jesus that we can discover who we are, what we are, why we are and what is the meaning, the significance, and purpose of our life.
Sure, you may have success and you may have accomplishments in life, but without a relationship with Jesus your life will lack meaning and purpose. Why is that? Because your life it is based on what you want to do, instead of what God wants to do in you.
I want you to pay particular close attention to our passage this morning. God had sent a messenger, John the Baptist, a precursor of Jesus to tell the people they were heading in a wrong direction. He told them that their self-reliance and their self-sufficiency were keeping them from God. He told them that they were ignoring God in their life and though many of them seemed to be doing all the right things, good things, religious things, they were missing out on God’s purpose for their lives. John told them that they needed to turn away from this independent lifestyle with God and come under His direction and leadership. He told them that they were lost and getting more lost with each and every day. He told them they needed to start over, to come clean so they could get clean. He was telling them that they needed to stop trying to fit God into their life and their lifestyle and start fitting their lifestyle and life into God’s. Listen to what Luke says:
29 All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 but the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. Luke 7:29-30
Now let me try to explain to you wants going on here. God had sent John the Baptist to prepare people to come into a relationship with Him in Jesus Christ. So John went out baptizing people. The Bible tells us He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
’Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him. Luke 3:3-4
Now this baptism of repentance was key to prepare them for God’s purpose in their lives. Now why is that? It’s significant because it comes down motive, attitude, commitment and ultimately, purpose.
Baptism is associated with death to our old way of life. It is outward symbol of an inward change of heart. Rom. 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. So baptism symbolizes death. But baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins symbolized that I am not only dying to myself, but that I’m also turning away from my old ways. Eph. 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
When we acknowledge that God’s way is right in our life this is called repentance, it’s a mental shift which literally means to change one’s mind. You repent when you change the way you think by adopting how God thinks about you and the things you do. You begin to take on God’s perspective and outlook on life.
You see, the Pharisees and the experts in the law, the religious types were unwilling to do this. They wanted God in their life, but on their terms. They wanted to dictate to God how they wanted Him to live and move and have His being. They were unwilling to turn away from what they wanted to follow and what the Lord wanted, and that my friends is the difference between being just a church-goer and being a disciple.
The church today has done a great disservice. We have said, come to church, accept Jesus, and continue to live as you have been living. But that’s not what Jesus said! He said go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matt 28:19-20
As a result, we don’t see people’s lives sizably different before and after they give their lives to Christ. Why is that?
Because we have “down played” this baptism that John refers to and Paul says so well in Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
Now this death of self, this repentance, this crucifixion with Christ is not some sour, dour, grim, self-effacing, I’m just a lowly no good follower of Jesus. It’s all about coming under God’s authority, His direction, His leadership and purpose for our lives. It’s not about fitting God into who I am and what I want, but following Jesus into who and what He wants me to be.
Two weeks ago, we saw a Roman military officer called a centurion say to Jesus, “I come under your authority. All you have to do is say the word and it is done”. Do you remember what Jesus’ response was to that? Jesus said "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Luke 7:9
I hear people all the time say “I need more faith” as if faith was a commodity to acquire. This great faith that Jesus said this centurion had was simply a matter of who was in charge. This fella simply said, “Lord, you direct and I’ll follow”.
Throughout the Bible we see this important truth told again and again: The Holy Spirit releases His power the moment you acknowledge that God’s way is right and you repent. In other words, Jesus is in charge of your life. God’s is calling the shots and you have relinquished what you want to what He says to do. That was the difference between the disciples and the Pharisees, because the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. Luke 7:30 In other words, they would not repent and they rejected coming under His authority and His purpose for their life.
Now as disciples of Jesus Christ which we desire all of you to grow in, there are two key areas we need to come to grips with regard to letting go of (repentance) and taking hold of (God’s purpose)
1. We must be committed to coming under God’s authority.
Many religious church going people today are like Pharisees and experts in the law, they reject God’s purpose for their lives. They let God in just enough to comfort and help them, but not enough to cause them to change.
God’s ultimate purpose for our lives is not comfort, but character development. He wants us to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. Now becoming like Christ does not mean losing our personality or becoming a mindless clone. God created each of us all uniquely and He doesn’t want to destroy that. Christlikeness is all about transforming our character. Throughout the New Testament we see the kind of character that God wants to produce in us. And every time we forget that character is one of God’s major purposes for our lives we will become frustrated by our circumstances. You’ll say things like, why is this happening to me or why am I having such a difficult time, or this isn’t fair!” It is the Holy Spirit’s job to produce Christ likeness in you 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:18
We cannot produce the character of Jesus on our own. That’s what these religious leaders tried to do. New Year’s resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough, it requires coming under His authority and direction and that requires repentance that God’s way is right and I no longer will reject His purposes for my life. And this is not something you have to muster up because it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Phil. 2:13
Throughout the Bible we see this important truth illustrated again and again. The Holy Spirit releases His power the moment we take a step of faith. When Joshua was faced with an impassible barrier, the floodwaters of the Jordon, he did what God told Him to do by stepping into the rushing current in obedience and faith.
Now how does this happen everyday for us? It happens through the choices we make. We choose to do the right thing in the situation. We listen to what God says to do and how to do it and we acknowledge that God’s way is right and we purpose to do it. It’s all about cooperating with God through the Holy Spirit, agreeing that His way is right and then stepping out and beginning to do it. As we do, God will begin to part our waters.
Now remember, our purpose is to turn away from what we want and to God’s purpose for us in Christ. Now there are many things in God’s Word that He desires for us to grow in, but permit me to give you 3 things that apply to all of us all the time.
1. Take out the trash
Ephesians 4:22 Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! If you have things or activities or behaviors attitudes that are detrimental and contrary to God’s will, start to get rid of them, they are nothing but trouble.
2. Start changing the way you think. We must begin to let go of some old routines and begin to develop some new habits and intentionally change the way we think. Romans 12:2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. There’s His purpose!
3. “Put on” the character of Christ. Eph. 4:23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
In Christ you are given a new life, the old life is dead and you now have a brand new chance, take hold of it. You are now a child of God, so grab it.
Now all of this takes a measure of relinquishment, of repenting, not wanting to do it your way and doing it God’s way. It really comes down to “Who’s the boss!”
2. We must be committed to following God’s direction.
God uses His Word, people and circumstances to mold us. All three are indispensable for character development. God’s Word provides the truth we need to grow, God’s people provide the support we need to grow and circumstances provide the environment we need to grow in.
God wants us to grow us. His goal is for us to be mature and to develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ. Sadly, many Christians grow older but never grow up; they are stuck in a perpetual infancy. But the reality is that they never intended to grow up. WHY? because (like) the Pharisees and experts in the law (they) rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not (repented).
Growth is not automatic. It takes intentionality. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow. You must desire, decide and make an effort to grow. Discipleship is all about the process of becoming like Jesus and that always begins with a decision to commitment.
Now in order to have this character transformation, we need to know who and what we are aiming for. Jesus said, The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. John 6:63 When the Lord speaks things to us things happen. The Bible is far more than a doctrinal guidebook. God’s Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, gives strength, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses the mind, renews the soul, opens the mind, gives life to the spirit and guarantees our future forever! It is spiritual nourishment and you must have it to fulfill your purpose. But in order for it to accomplish its purpose and to transform your life, you must be willing to accept its authority in your life and this is where difference between just being a church-goer and a disciple comes into play. If you desire to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Bible must become your authoritative standard for living. It must become the compass you rely on for direction. It must be your counsel in making decisions, your code of conduct for living and your benchmark for evaluating life. It must become your first and last word. If you are acting in a certain way that is contrary or contradictory to God’s Word, you must be willing to repent and come under its authority. You may not like it or even fully agree with it, but that’s not the point. Either God’s Word is authoritative in your life or it’s not.
Many of our troubles come because we pick and choose and base our choices on unreliable authorities: culture (everyone is doing it); tradition (we’ve always done it); reason (it seemed logical), or emotion (it just felt right). What we need is a standard that is solid and true, God’s Word. So the question you must deal with is the role of Scripture in your life, is it your authority?
Ask yourself, when God’s says to do something, will I trust God’s Word and do it whether or not it makes sense or I feel like doing it.
It is not enough however to just believe the Bible, you must be transformed by its truth and you will never get a handle on God’s purpose for your life if you don’t become a disciple and apply His truth to your life and your circumstances. It’s just not going to happen!
In the months ahead as we go through the Gospel of Luke, God is going to teach us things and show us things that we are going to need to repent of and to grow in. And the question for each of us is whether we will reject or will we repent. Will we apply or will we deny. Each of us has a golden opportunity, so let’s use it.
