HOW TO DISCOVER MY PURPOSE: PART 2

FIND YOURSELF - How Do We Find Ourselves?

We find ourselves when we discover our purpose.

God loves you and He has a purpose for your life!

Jeremiah 29:11,“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(NIV)

A great resource to help you discover your purpose would be the I AM book – When I encounter the Great I AM that’s when I discover who I am. 

In the book there are 31 I AM Declarations, but here are the first three:

I am fearfully and wonderfully made by a Holy God. (Ps. 139:14; Is. 17:7)

I am God’s masterpiece. (Eph. 2:10)

I am made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 9:6; Col. 1:27)

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus

You are God’s Masterpiece! You were hand crafted by God.

You are not an accident.

You are not a mistake.

God had a plan for you before you were even born.

Questions to Help Us Find Our Purpose:

• What are my Spiritual Gifts?

• What am I Passionate about?

Passion – The great energizer.

• What are my Abilities?

Just because you are passionate about something doesn’t mean that you are good at it.

For example, some people who audition on American Idol need a friend to tell them the truth about their voice before they go on national television. Just because they're passionate about singing doesn't mean they're good at it!

• What is my Personality?
  • Here is a link to take the free personality test. 
• What are my Spiritual Gifts?
  • Here is a link to take a free Spiritual Gifts test.

• What are my Experiences?

When you find your purpose, you will...

• Be fulfilled
• Be energized by it
• God will give you opportunities to use it
• You will have capacity to continue to develop it. You will get better at it.

LOSE YOURSELF

How Do We Lose Ourselves?

Give your purpose to something BIGGER than you.

36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Success vs Significance

• Success is when I add value to myself.
• Significance is when I add value to others.

When you are successful, you get a trophy.

When you live a life of significance, you put treasures in heaven.

God has called us to live a life of significance!

When I wrestled in school, standing on the podium with a championship medal feels good.

I was able to take my passion for wrestling and be a volunteer wrestling coach. There I was able to impact some amazing young men and see God save them and call them to serve him. One of those guys was named Ed. 

Ed was a freshman when I first met him while working out with the Rustburg High School wrestling team. Ed placed in the Virginia State Wrestling Championships, but what was the most powerful was that he served for many years as a missionary in a country that is 99% muslim. Risking his life at times.

Success is a medal. Significance is impacting others

Career vs. Calling

• When you are bigger than your purpose, you have a career.
• When your purpose is bigger than you, you have a calling.

Your calling gives you the strength to persevere.

Your calling reminds you of who is in control

I found my calling when I surrendered to God’s call on my life when I was 18 years old. I didn’t know if I would be on staff at a church, a coach or run a Christian camp. I just knew I wanted to serve God with everything I had the rest of my life. It was an all in moment.

There have been a few times that I have gotten discouraged and there’s one thing that has kept me going. That I was called!

When you are called, you can’t quit.

When you are called, you keep moving forward.

When you are called, you can’t get distracted.

In 1980 a young man from Rwanda was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face certain death. He refused to renounce Christ, and he was killed on the spot. The night before he had written the following commitment which was found in his room:

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made-

I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.

I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”

Let's live with that kind of passion for Christ and urgency!