The Priority of Purpose

We all have priorities in our lives. If we didn’t, sometimes our lives would likely become chaotic, scattered, and difficult to navigate.

God has placed us here for a purpose. Now is the time to know what it is. Now is the time to act on it.

It was a “business as usual” prayer meeting night in a little suburban church. The church seated 500; 475 made the decision to stay at home that night.

Twenty-five faithful souls were present. The organist cranked out the hymn with all the gusto she could muster. The little group sputtered heartlessly as thy sang “Day Is Dying in the West.”

Sad to say, that is not all that was dying there. Many churches are dead, and the worst part is, they don’t even know it. Why?

Many, many reasons. There was a time when the church was filled with people because people understood the purpose of gathering together for worship and prayer.

Today, people stay away from the church in droves. Ninety-nine percent of Americans will not be in church on Sunday night, and it is not much better on Sunday mornings.

And Wednesday for Bible Study – why, that’s family time. We must spend that time with family doing something enjoyable and worth our time. We cannot be expected to be there when there is so much else important in our lives.

While the people will turn out by thousands to see a ball game, hear a concert, or see a movie, few of them will darken the church door. Why?

One reason is the absence of vision.

Many churches or congregations have no life because they have no hope. No hope because....no expectancy. No expectancy ....no vision. No vision because the leadership has not instilled it.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).

Vision, like expectancy, always hopes for something better, expects it, and believes it will happen.

 “Can do” is vision’s theme. “The Impossible Dream” is its theme song. Its motto is, “The difficult we’ll do right now, the impossible may take a little while longer.”

God has placed us here for a purpose. Now is the time to know what it is.

Now is the time to act on it.

Now is the time if we expect faith to become sight and dreams to become reality.

God’s purpose must be our purpose. Our priority is to fulfill that purpose.

Answering three questions will show us how to determine our priorities in fulfilling God’s purpose for us:

I. WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US?

A. To know His general purpose for the world (Ephesians 3:8-12). READ

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

B. To understand His specific purpose for us.

C. To act according to our understanding of His purpose.

As we grow as Christians, we should be more aware of the impact of our attitude on life.

Attitude is more important than facts, the past, education, money, circumstances, failures, successes, what other people think, or say, or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past— we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is change our attitude—I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it.

II. WHAT IS THE BEST RETURN FOR OUR EFFORTS?

A. What I do best. — Paul discovered his best was his ministry for Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:17).

“The church that denies its strengths, denies God’s gifts. The church that claims its strengths, claims God’s gifts.”

B. What no one else can do. — No one could be Paul but Paul; no one can be you but you.

C. What counts for eternity? CHURCH

Newsweek magazine reported on what it called the new wave of mountain men known as "hard men." For them climbing mountains and scaling sheer rock faces is a way of life. In many cases, climbing is a part of their whole commitment to life. And their ultimate experience is called free soloing: climbing with no equipment and no safety ropes.

John Baker is considered by many to be the best of the hard men. He has free soloed some of the most difficult rock faces in the United States with no safety rope and no climbing equipment of any kind. His skill has not come easily. It has been acquired through commitment, dedication, and training. His wife says she cannot believe his dedication. When John is not climbing, he is often found in his California home hanging by his fingertips to strengthen his arms and hands.

Where are the hard men and women for Jesus? Where are those who will bring all their energies to bear for the sake of Christ?

III. WHAT GIVES US THE GREATEST FEELING OF REWARD?

A. What gives us the greatest joy.

B. What keeps us motivated?

C. When our greatest joy is serving our Lord – and when our service to Him keeps us motivated – we are doing - What brings glory to Jesus.

ILLUS: When Cortez landed at Vera Cruz in 1519 to begin his conquest of Mexico with small force of 700 men, he purposely set fire to his fleet of 11 ships. His men on the shore watched their only means of retreat sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. With no means of retreat, there was only one direction to move, forward into the Mexican interior to meet whatever might come their way.

The lesson here is this: In paying the price for being Christ’s disciple, we too must purposefully destroy all avenues of retreat. Resolve that whatever the price for being His follower, we will have to pay it.

In the Christian life there is no room for retreat. 

Following Christ is always a forward movement. There should be no thought of retreating.

But sadly, many do retreat – they turn back to what they remember as the “easy life” – no responsibilities to a Higher Being; no difficult rules to follow; I want to live my life so that I have happiness doing things my way.

If we want to realize and understand the Greatest Feeling of Reward we need only to go back to Paul’s teaching to the church in Philippi – Philippians 2:12-16  READ

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

Look at the phrases Paul uses there:

12 - Work out                        that is ... effective progress

12 - Reverent humility         that is ... fear and trembling

14 – Calm co-operation       that is ... without murmuring

15 – Manifest purity   that is ... blameless

15-16 – Consecrated evangelism           that is ... shine as lights, holding forth the Word

We might say those phrases - in Paul’s writing - are a pattern or road map to follow for Christian living.

And, just as there is a road map we are to follow as Christians, God has provided a map – an avenue to follow His Son throughout our lives.

That road map requires that we realize and exercise the Priority of our Purpose – our purpose is to live our lives in Christ.

Hear the Word of God which tells us that His Son Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sin.

Believe the Word of God and that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

Confess that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

Repent of our sins.

Submit to baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Then, begin your walk through the rest of your life serving Jesus Christ as Lord of your life.