Do you know that there is a unique purpose over your life?
Yet unfortunately, many people don’t acknowledge the destiny God has called them into, leaving room for the enemy to trap them in confusion and doubt as they question why they are on this earth. This detrimental thinking can often lead to a long road of discouragement.
I want to share with you that God created you for a specific purpose at this particular time, and it is far from a mistake on God’s end; however, if we are not careful, we actually can do harm as we are walking out His plan for our lives.
Word of Caution: Abusing Your Purpose
Do you know that you can be successful and still be unhappy?
Anytime this dichotomy of success and happiness flow in different directions, it can stunt our mindset in partnering with the Kingdom of Heaven.
Myles Munroe defines purpose as “knowing and understanding what you were born to accomplish.” Or, in other words, is each created thing living out or performing out of its full potential?
I am reminded of this when I walk down the aisle of our worship center and witness people sitting incorrectly in our foldable theater seats. I have seen them sitting on the armrests and the top of the folded chairs, and each time I encourage them to use the chairs how they were designed to be used. Otherwise, they can inflict harm to themselves or damage our seating.
Do you know what it is called when you use something in a way it was not designed to be used? That’s right, abuse.
When we are careless with people and resources, it borders on being abusive. Furthermore, many of you abuse yourselves because you aren’t living how God designed you to live.
Set Apart and On Display
Romans 8:28 says that God works everything together for our good, according to His purpose.
The Greek word for purpose in this passage (protithémi) can be translated as sacred, set apart, and, more tangibly, showbread.
When the Old Testament priests entered the temple, they would take twelve loaves of showbread and stack them on one another in six rows. Right before each weekly Sabbath, they would replace the twelve stale loaves with twelve fresh loaves to be put on display. This showbread is a physical symbol of what it means to be sacred and set apart.
Similarly, God has given us a purpose which He has called us to display to the world.
He is faithful to take your life, as messed up as it may be, and do something miraculous, of which those around you will take notice and give glory to God.
Some of you don’t see it now because your circumstances are going through the fire, but God wants to reveal His power in you. He is ready and willing to make a change in you that will cause people to look at your life and be amazed at where you were and where you are today! (That’s the power of the testimony!)
What is God’s Purpose Over My Life?
We know that God has a purpose for each of us, but what does that look like in our lives?
Let’s look at four distinct ways God calls us to His will.
I.We Are Called to His Purpose (Romans 8:28)
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28, NKJV
Did you know God is inviting us into our calling and divine appointments?
But sometimes, we miss this invitation because we tend to focus more on our external circumstances than the Kingdom task at hand.
You may feel like your life doesn’t add up to much, and you’re on a dead-end street, but be encouraged! God is calling you to a specific assignment by way of your current life’s situations.
Some of you are asking God for a new job when you should be praying about your destiny.
Many of you are asking for a better financial situation when you should seek how to be a good steward of what you have now.
And at times, we beg God to fix a rocky relationship when we should be praying for strength to pursue (and endure) reconciliation, mercy, and forgiveness.
Instead of praying for new external changes, what if we stood in agreement about our purpose?
You may ask, “But, pastor, what is my purpose?” And to that, I reply that it is whatever God calls you to do on earth as it is in heaven.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ, you have a purpose!
II.We Are Predestined According to His Purpose (Romans 8:29)
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Romans 8:29, NKJV
Do you know there is nothing in our lives that catches God by surprise?
He foreknew what you would struggle with in your life.
He knew you would be a thief.
He knew you would be a drug addict.
He knew you would have an abortion.
He already knew you and that you would make mistakes and give into sin!
I love to witness God’s people pray. But it really bothers me when people pray as if God doesn’t see things. They intercede with things like, “Lord, sister Robinson is in the hospital,” as if this is new information. God’s response is not, “What? How long has she been there? What’s wrong with her?” He knows every hair on our head, every word before we speak it, and every circumstance before it even happens!
And this attribute of God is consistent with what you are walking in today.
You see, He already foreknew who your parents would be, where you would live, and what career path you would be on. But God’s knowing is only half of it! He predestined these things in your life, in the very order they happened, so that you could be just who He desires you to be.
And what is so amazing is that He knew how broken you and I would be, yet He chose us anyway!
The Image of Jesus
But it doesn’t stop there; He has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Ask yourself: are my trials worth it if, in the end, it allows me to walk like Jesus and reflect His face in all that I do?
Maybe you’ve gone through life struggling with why your father was non-existent or your mom was addicted to drugs. Perhaps you are wondering why you’ve been unemployed for the last year or why you can’t seem to find a spouse. Listen, God predestined you to go through every circumstance so that when you reach the end of the struggle, you will look like Jesus!
III.We Are Created to Demonstrate His Power (Romans 9:17)
“For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.’ “
Romans 9:17, NKJV
Romans 9:17 looks back at Pharoah, the ruler of Egypt at the time the Israelites were held in the bondage of slavery. When Moses asked Pharoah to release the Israelites, he wouldn’t let them go, so God spoke to the king, declaring that His power would be revealed through him and his disobedience. (Exodus 9:16)
However, Pharoah became hard-hearted, so God showed Himself mighty through many plagues, ultimately leading to the Israelites’ release. And, if God could show His power through hard-hearted Pharoah, what might He do through you who love Him?
If God can use a prideful ruler to reveal His power, surely He can use you!
Are you ready for God to show Himself mighty and powerful in your life?
IV. We Are Called Regardless of Our Failures (2 Timothy 1:8-11)
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,”
2 Timothy 1:8-9, NKJV
Before I was born, and before my name was spoken anywhere on the planet, God already saw I would miss the mark and sin; yet, He still reserved grace for me!
And He did the same for you.
Brothers and sisters, you were created with a divine calling predestined for you before the creation of the world. Even though God knew we would mess things up, He secured our portion through His Son, Jesus Christ. And in His strength and power, we can partner with Him for the good of the Kingdom.
Will you step into the purpose God has for you?