WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?
YOU WERE PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE
Can you imagine the joy of a young couple expecting their first child?
I remember the excitement of picking out a name for my son. It gave my
wife and me great joy to prepare the baby\’s room. We were so excited to
go pick out baby clothes. I looked forward to his first words, his first steps,
his first day at school.
Perhaps in the same way, God the Father, God The Son, and, God the Holy
Spirit set around the throne and planned the birth of mankind. A place to
live had to be prepared; the earth and the universe. Food and clothing
were in the plan. The length of man’s life was in the plan.
Ephesians 1:4-7
In love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One He loves.
BEFORE CREATION GOD HAD A PURPOSE FOR YOU
Before anything was anything God had a plan, a purpose, and a mission for you
and me.
The cross of Jesus was not an afterthought, it was planned for God\’s pleasure. God
knew if He put a man in His creation with the ability to make decisions, He would sin. He
would have to adopt us out of a world of sin into His righteousness.
A woman will endure the pain of childbirth for the joy of the child. Jesus endured the
the pain of the cross for us.
It gave the Father joy to send His Son to the cross for you and me.
Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let me suggest that God planned mankind for the many pleasures He would enjoy,
knowing fully the grief man would cause Him. We have a multi-fold purpose for our
existence.
THREE THINGS CONSTANT IN THE BIBILE
Other than His pleasure, what was behind God\’s desire to create life
Throughout the Bible, three things are constant about life.
1. LIFE IS A TEST
Noah was commanded to build the Ark on dry land for a hundred years
for a test. He and his family started a new generation of mankind,
Abraham was commanded by God to take his son Isaac to the mountain and
sacrifice him for a test. He became the father of faith,
Daniel was placed in the lion’s den for a test. Refused to bow to an
earthly king.
David was tested after being chosen to be the replacement for King Saul
He was a man after God’s heart
At the start of Jesus\’ ministry on earth, immediately after His baptism
He was led to the desert for a test.
Life is a test to see if we are faithful to God.
There will be a time of testing for every believer.
2. LIFE IS A TRUST
God is not satisfied with you just knowing Him. He wants you to
trust Him. There is an untold number of rewards for your trust in
the Lord.
Psalms 40:4
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust,
who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods?
Trusting a man is like playing the lottery. You never know what you going to get.
One thing you can be sure of is you will eventually be disappointed.
Psalms 125:1-2
125 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
When you learn to trust the Lord, you will know that circumstances come and circumstances go. You will know that God is in the middle working things out. He is always in control.
3. LIFE IS TEMPORARY
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
God has given us an average life of 70 to 80 years. God allows some to live longer, but the
average is around seventy years. Every time I have looked in the
obituary column of the newspaper at the number of death it has been around 70 years.
Psalms 90:10
The days of our years are threescore years and ten, and if because of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
What is 100 years compared to eternity, but a few days?
2 Corinthians 5:1
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven.
The earth is not anyone\’s home. We all just passing through. For the believer, we work for
heaven. For the nonbeliever eternity is hell.
John 17:3-4
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
THE LORD\’S PRAYER, INCITE INTO HIS PLEASURE
The Lord\’s prayer gives us some incite for what pleasures the Lord.
Matthew 6:9-13
V:9\”\’Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
I believe it gives God pleasure when we call Him Father.
When we take time to know Him and to reverence Him.
He commanded us to have no other gods before Him. We have earthly fathers
full of sin, but we only have one Holy Father.
V:10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
I believe it gives the Father pleasure when we recognize that
heaven is our eternal home. When we look forward to the promise
of a home prepared for us by Jesus, gives the Father pleasure.
Like the prodigal son, It gave the Father pleasure to see his son
coming home.
When we recognize that life is not about us but about His will
being done is a pleasure to the Father.
V:11 Give us today our daily bread.
Trusting the Lord to take care of us today gives Him pleasure.
We can only live one day at a time. We can only eat for one day.
When our minds are focused on the blessing of today, and we are content, I believe
the Father gets pleasure.
V:12 Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
When we recognize that it is only through the atoning blood of
Jesus that our sins are forgiven, the Father is pleased. When
we repent and turn from our sins the Father gets pleasure
Luke 15:10
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.\”
Our love and tolerance of others to forgive the wrongs done to us
gives the Father pleasure.
V:13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.\’
I believe when we trust the Lord to protect us it gives Him
pleasure.
Psalms 5:11-6:1
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
12 For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
IN SUMMARY, HOW DO WE PLEASURE GOD?
PLEASURE GOD BY DOING THE RIGHT THINGS
Job 22:3-4
3 What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?
What would he gain if your ways were blameless?
PLEASURE GOD BY SPEAKING THE TRUTH
Proverbs 16:13-14
Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
PLEASURE GOD WITH YOUR TESTIMONY
Daniel 4:2-3
2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
PLEASURE GOD WITH YOUR DESIRE TO PLEASE HIM
2 Corinthians 5:9
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
PLEASURE GOD WITH YOUR SERVICE
Colossians 1:10-11
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
PLEASURE GOD WITH YOUR OBEDIENCE
Matthew 9:13
13 But go and learn what this means: \’I desire mercy, not sacrifice.\’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.\”
PLEASURE GOD WITH YOUR LOVE
Mark 12:30-31
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.\’ 31 The second is this: \’Love your neighbor as yourself.\’
YOUR NUMBER ONE PURPOSE IN THIS LIFE IS TO PLEASE GOD.
Since life is a test, a trust and temporary, why not spend your time
pleasing the one who provides an eternal home?
CLASS QUESTIONS
WHAT AREAS IN YOUR LIFE DO YOU THINK PLEASE GOD?
WHAT CAN YOU DO BETTER TO PLEASE GOD?
