October/15/ 2017
N-Not allowing room for God
U-Underestimating what He has done for you
- Jeremiah 10:12
But the Lord made the earth by His power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens.
M-Missing His calling on your life
- Romans 8:28-
And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
B-Blinded by Sin
- 2 Corinthians 4:4
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.
October/08/ 2017
Why?
Part 4
Why am I Here?
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 “I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives. 4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. 10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. 11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was MEANINGLESS, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
How do I know why I am here?
1. Start at the beginning.
Colossians 1:16 (MSG) “We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.”
Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
2 Corinthians 10:13 (LB) “Our goal is to measure up to God’s plan for us.”
Ephesians 1:11 (MSG) “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.”
2. See the ending
3. Stay focused on eternity.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) “He has planted eternity in the human heart.”
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (NIV) “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Romans 8:28 (NIV) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
So what are Gods purposes for me?
Ephesians 1:16-18 “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
1. I pray that you would know God:
Ephesians 1:17 (MSG) “I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers…”
2. I pray that you would find freedom:
James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
3. I Pray that you would discover your purpose:
Ephesians 2:10 “We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which He prepared in advance for us to do.”
4. I pray that you would make a difference:
Acts 1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes you on you and you will be my witnesses…”
