WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?

(WHAT IS MY PURPOSE IN LIFE?)

New Vocabulary: (from Dictionary.com)Devoted - to appropriate by or as if by a vow;

set apart or dedicate by a solemn or formal act; consecrate: She devoted her life to God.

Stump - the part of a plant and especially a tree remaining attached to the root after the trunk is cut Flourishing - growing vigorously; thriving; prosperous: a flourishing little business. Blessed - divinely or supremely favored; fortunate: to

be blessed with a strong, healthy body; blessed with an ability to find friends.

Trust - to have confidence; hope: Things work out if one only trusts.

Hope - the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best: to give up hope.

Confidence - full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing: We have every confidence in their ability to succeed.

Riverbank - the slopes bordering a river.

Roots -

Deep - extending far down from the top or surface: a deep well; a deep valley.

Bothered – (from the word ‘bother’) - to give trouble to; annoy; worry: His baby sister bothered him for candy.

Drought - a period of dry weather, especially a long one that is injurious to crops.Leaves–(plural of ‘leaf’)– one of the expanded, usually green organs borne

by the stem of a plant.

Proverbs 11:28 (MSG)28 A  life  devoted  to  things  is  a  dead  life,  a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.

Jeremiah 17:7-8(NLT)7 “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD    and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,    with roots that reach deep into the water.Such trees are not bothered by the heat    or worried by long months of drought.Their leaves stay green,    and they never stop producing fruit.

HOW TO KNOW OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE“16 for  through Him God created everything

in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see — such as  thrones,  kingdoms,  rulers,  and authorities  in  the  unseen  world.  Everything was created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16, NLT)

16  ماوات إذ به خلقت جميع األشياء: ما في السوما على األرض، ما يرى وما ال يرى، أعروشا كانت أم سيادات أم رئاسات أم سلطات. كل

.ما في الكون قد خلق به وألجله

なぜなら， 万物は 御子にあって 造られたからです． 天にあるもの， 地にあるもの， 見えるもの， また 見えないもの， 王座も 主權も 支配も 權威も， すべて 御子によって 造られたのです． 万物は， 御子によって 造られ， 御子のために 造られたのです．

“Unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless.”- Bertrand Russell, atheist

TO KNOW YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO START FIRST WITH GOD

Why? – Because everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him (Colossians 1:16, MSG)

You were born by His purpose and for His purpose

Life is about letting God use you for His own purpose, not using Him for your own purpose.

We can never find our purpose in life if we start in – ourselves.

It  is  God  who  directs  the  lives  of  His creatures:  everyone’s life is in his power.” (Job 12:10)

You  exist  only  because  God  wills  that  you exist.  

You were made by God and  for God – and until  you  understand  that,  life  will  never make sense.

Every other path leads to a dead end.

Some people go to Self Help Books for help in looking for their purposes in life.  Like: 

Aim high, Set some goals, Be disciplined, Believe and you can achieve, Never give up, Figure out what you are good at, Clarify your values, Involve others, Empowerment

In  some  ways  these  can  help  you  achieve your personal goals in life.  But reaching out your  personal  goals  and  becoming  very successful  by  the world’s  standard  and  still miss  the  purposes  for  which  God  created you.

WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS IN DISCOVERING OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE:1. Speculation

  What most people do but without assurance

2. Revelation What God says His purposes for our Life through the Bible

Ephesians 1:11-12 (NIV)11 In  him  we  were  also  chosen,  having  been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything  in conformity with the purpose of his will,  12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:11-12 (MSG)11-12 It’s  in  Christ  that  we  find  out  who  we  are  and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ  and  got  our  hopes  up,  he  had  his  eye  on  us, had  designs  on  us  for  glorious  living,  part  of  the overall  purpose  he  is working  out  in  everything  and everyone.

EPHESIANS 1:11-12 GIVES US THREE (3) INSIGHTS INTO YOUR PURPOSE:1. You  discover  your  identity  and  purpose  though  a 

relationship with JESUS CHRIST.2. God  was  thinking  of  you  long  before  you  ever 

thought  about  Him.    His  purpose  for  your  life predates  your  conception.    He  planned  it  before you existed, without your input! You may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many other  parts  of  your  life  but you don’t get to choose your purpose.

3. The  purpose  for  your  life  fits  into  a much  larger, cosmic  purpose  that  God  has  designed  for eternity.

FIVE PURPOSES OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFEPURPOSE # 1 – YOU WERE

PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASUREPURPOSE # 2 – YOU WERE FORMED

FOR GOD’S FAMILYPURPOSE # 3 - YOU WERE

CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRISTPURPOSE # 4 – YOU WERE SHAPED

FOR SERVING GODPURPOSE # 5 – YOU WERE MADE

FOR A MISSION