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DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE 2

Posted in Church, Equip the Saints, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 25, 2018| Leave a Comment »

DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE – WEEK 4  25/3/18 10AM

 

INTELLIGENT DESIGN IS EVERYWHERE

STORY – Imagine walking along and finding a mobile phone lying on the ground – did it form from years of weather acting on a piece of rock?

Ephesians 1:1-11 AMPC

1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), by the divine will (the purpose and the choice of God) to the saints (the consecrated, set-apart ones) at Ephesus who are also faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus:

2 May grace (God’s unmerited favor) and spiritual peace [which means peace with God and harmony, unity, and undisturbedness] be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!

4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.

5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [[b]because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—

6 [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,

8 Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence),

9 Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him,

10 [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth.

11 In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will,

WHAT ARE YOU DESIGNED FOR?

The whole purpose of God’s calling in your life is that you would know Him, represent Him and serve Him.

Saved from what? – Do you have a revelation of what you’re saved from?

What if I saved your life? Could you walk away and forget me?

Going to a meeting on Sundays and getting on with the rest of your life….. is that engaging with His purpose for your life?

STORY – coming to Melbourne – asked to go… but to what? Prophecy… you shall reach the ten tribes.

What you are designed for is different to all others. Think bigger than just being a steward on Sundays or being a door greeter at church. Your purpose is all about how God wants to change this world through your life.

EXAMPLE – people within the church who have discovered their purpose

WHAT ARE YOU DESIGNED FOR?

ONE THING TO KNOW – FOR YOU TO KNOW WHAT IS GOD’S CALL AND MISSION FOR YOUR LIFE.

THE PATHWAY AT INFINITY CHURCH…

KNOW GOD, FIND FREEDOM, DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Everybody needs God, to know Him is essential, amazing and life changing. Know Him takes a lifetime but the first steps are Salvation, water baptism and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Once you meet Jesus, your next step is finding freedom. Freedom from effects of living in this sin soaked fallen world. Breaking free from the power of sin, from the bondages of fear, anger, insecurity, sexual uncleanness, unforgiveness, low self-image etc. etc.

Now your next step is to discover your purpose…. Think bigger than singing in the music team or being a Christian at work.

DESIGN IS ABOUT PURPOSE. You are created and called to BE – be like Jesus wherever you go. AND You are called to DO – do something specific that God designed you for that no one else is called to do.

Romans 8:28 AMPC

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labour] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

 Ephesians 5:15 AMPC

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),

 2 Thess 1:11 AMPC

With this in view we constantly pray for you, that our God may deem and count you worthy of [your] calling and [His] every gracious purpose of goodness, and with power may complete in [your] every particular work of faith (faith which is that [a]leaning of the whole human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness).

WHAT ARE YOU DESIGNED FOR?

Many of you have discovered your purpose already and you are already making a difference. Making a difference happens when you are part of the dream team – that is serving Jesus in the ways He has designed you for – both within the church and within your vocation and life. Being in the dream team means you’re getting coached or mentored to empower you for fulfillment and achievement.

If you’re not sure what your purpose is, I will help you discover your purpose. At the training block on April 10,17,24,May 1, you can engage with the journey of discovery. I will share with you about God’s plan for us as a team in Infinity Church and how to discover where you fit in that plan. Discovering your gifts and abilities is the key to serving Jesus for in ways that bring fulfillment and life to you and the Kingdom of God. I will help you discover your calling and how to serve Jesus and join the dream team to outwork God’s purpose in your life.

ONE THING TO DO – WRITE DOWN GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE. IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THAT, COME ALONG TO THE DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE CLASS AT THE FIRST TRAINING BLOCK.

 

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DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE

Posted in DNA of this church, Preaching messages, tagged , , , , , , on March 11, 2018| Leave a Comment »

March – week 2 – 11 March  10AM – Craig –

DO YOU KNOW GOD?

STORY – the moment I believed….

Know God – what was it like for you?

Listen to these stories of first contact….

Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Philosopher, Theologian

The tempest in my breast hurried me out into [the] garden, where no one might interrupt the fiery struggle in which I was engaged with myself, knowing what evil thing I was, but not knowing what good thing I was so shortly to become.

I flung myself down under a fig tree and gave free course to my tears. I cried to Thee: “And Thou, O Lord, how long? Wilt Thou be angry forever? Oh, remember not against us our former iniquities.”

Suddenly I heard the voice of a boy or a girl coming from the neighboring house, chanting over and over again, “Pick it up, read it; pick it up, read it.” Damming the torrent of my tears, I got to my feet, for I could not but think that this was a divine command to open the Bible and read the first passage I should light upon.

So I snatched it up, opened it, and in silence read the paragraph on which my eyes first fell: “Not in rioting and drunkenness, nor in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Instantly, as the sentence ended, there was infused in my heart something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of doubt vanished away.

John Bunyan (1628-88) Writer, Preacher, “Pilgrim”

One morning [as] I was again at prayer and trembling under the fear that no word of God could help me, that piece of a sentence darted in upon me, “My grace is sufficient.” By these words I was sustained, yet not without exceeding conflicts. Therefore, I did still pray to God, that He would come in with His Scripture more fully on my heart.

One day, as I was passing into the field, fearing lest yet all was not right, suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul, “Thy righteousness is in heaven,” and I saw with the eyes of my soul Jesus Christ at God’s right hand; there, I say, as my righteousness. So that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, “the same yesterday, today and forever.” Now went I also home rejoicing.

John Wesley (1703-91) English Cleric and Theologian

My father pressed me to enter into holy orders. I began to set in earnest upon a new life. I set apart an hour or two a day for religious retirement. I watched against all sin, whether in word or deed. I began to aim at, and pray for, inward holiness. Being ignorant of the righteousness of Christ, which, by a living faith in Him, bringeth salvation “to everyone that believeth,” I sought to establish my own righteousness. I was now properly “under the law.” Every day I was constrained to cry out, “What I do, I allow not: for what I would, I do not; but what I hate, that I do.”

[On May 24, 1738] in the evening, I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the epistle to the Romans. While he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

Saint Paul (A.D. 5-67) Apostle and New Test Writer

As I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Then I asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied.

“What shall I do, Lord?” I asked.

“Get up,” the Lord said, “and go to Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.”

We have a pathway in this church…

KNOWING GOD, FINDING FREEDOM, DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Why a pathway? – because becoming a Christian is not an event but a journey. It is called discipleship.

From the moment you believe, no, from the moment you are open to discover…. Till you reach heaven you are continuously learning.

WHY TERMS FOR CONNECT AND WHY BLOCK TRAINING?

MINISTRY TEAM – met last year, how can we lead our church better? Last year was a year of decline in this church, we needed to do a better job of reaching people and keeping people.  Critical for finances to hold strong – we did it! – Now we must reach next gen – January Generations.

Also we must train and develop our dream team – that’s you! Our connect groups were doing a great job of pastoral care and discipleship but not meeting the training need to develop people – so training blocks – groups meet for 8 weeks then 4 weeks of training.

KNOWING GOD – WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

FINDING FREEDOM – LAST MONTH’S THEME

THE NEXT STEP IS DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE.

Just as God spoke to Saul/Paul and said, “you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.” There is a purpose for every life surrendered to Jesus.

IMAGO DEI

Basic foundation: Each of us is made in the image of God. This is a fundamental truth that underpins all our belief systems. It’s referred to by the Latin term Imago Dei which simply means Image of God.

Genesis 1:26-28 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

26 God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth.

27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.

28 And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.

 

Unpacking this can be life changing. It includes discovering who we are as spiritual beings and how we relate to God now that we are redeemed and in relationship with the Father. It also includes the purpose of man which is to have dominion. Man is created to rule and reign under Christ, in honour to one another and in complete victory over sin and death. We all are created with gifts abilities and callings to fit into one grand symphony of purpose that God has designed. It begins with the gospel and (never) ends in eternity serving and living with God.

Key aspects of discover your purpose.

  1. The church is the most significant organisation on earth
  2. God has a purpose for you in mind when He created you – even in your mother’s womb.
  3. Living out your purpose is the best way to enjoy God and live a fulfilling and rewarding life.
  4. Being saved means being redeemed or bought back from sin and brokenness for a purpose, our life is not our own and what He has done for us means we desire with all our hearts to yield.
  5. No one can do what you do. You are needed and wanted in this church. Your gift and ability is an essential part of the whole.
  6. Don’t wait until you become perfect or healed or “better” before you start serving. As you go on your way you will be healed.
  7. Don’t let fear stop you. Realise that you can serve anywhere and change to something else later if you need to, if it doesn’t work for you.

 

One thing to do – discover your purpose – many of you have already discovered your purpose – and as a result you are serving in a role or task in this church. Others of you need to let us help you discover your purpose. So… attend the training nights April 10,17,24,May 1. What it means to be a member, Gift survey, leadership skills and joining the dream team.

 

 

 

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