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Discovering Purpose

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Like most people in Minneapolis I am a transplants

When I first moved here I kept getting lost

I can’t tell you how many times I went the wrong way at that God forsaken Hennepin and Lyndale intersection…

Frustration

Turning around

Trying again

Getting lost

Locals just tell you to go past this or that, that “YOU CAN’T MISS IT”

It may seem obvious to them, but to me… completely different story.

I missed it, time and time again. I kept getting lost.

What is the worst you have ever been lost?

Sometimes we move through life thinking that we CAN’T MISS IT

That we will know IT when IT comes along

We go to school, university, first and 2nd jobs just waiting for IT

I’m talking about Passions, Dream, Vision, Purpose

You know, all those things that everyone else has figured out.

It feels like everyone else knows what they are doing with their life, everyone else has a plan, but you… but me…

Those words, passions, visions, dreams… They make me sick…

They probably make you sick too

People talk about them like they have everything figured out

That’s it’s easy for them

Meanwhile you’re wondering if there is a real purpose to this thing called life.

How does talking about passion, vision, dreams and purpose make you feel? Why?

There’s an old story about a pilot who came over the intercom and said, “Good news, ladies and gentlemen: We’ve got a very strong tailwind and are making excellent time. The bad news is that our navigation equipment has gone down, so we have no idea where we are.”

Maybe that is you today, you feel like you are making great time on the road to nowhere…

It’s fun to think about the grandiose dreams of what you wanted to be when you were a kid

I actually have a friend that always wanted to be a firefighter, and now he is

Unfortunately most of us are not so determined or lucky

What did you/do you want to be when you grew up?

Maybe this morning you feel lost

Maybe you feel like you already ruined your opportunity

Maybe you are doing what you always thought you wanted to do, but your not happy or fulfilled

I have been in all of these places at one time or another

We always have the opportunity of turning back

We always have the opportunity of getting on the right track

Our source of direction is far greater than the people who say, “You can’t miss it”

I believe there is a source that can tell us what life is really about

Let’s take a moment and look at the life of one of the most significant new testament figures Paul the apostle:

Who Paul was before Christ:

  • Paul was a Roman citizen by birth
  • Of a devout Jewish family
  • He was extremely well educated
    • The town he grew up in Tarsus was world renown for its universities at the time
    • It’s clear in his writings that he had a heavy knowledge of Stoic philosophy
  • In [Phil. 3:5] he describes himself as “of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee”
  • Before he had an encounter with Jesus he was known as Saul of Tarsus who was:
    • One of Christianity’s most zealous enemies

Then he had this interaction with Jesus that radically changed his life, so much so that he changed his name

This was a HUGE change in his life

We can read about Sauls/Pauls conversion:

Acts 9:1-19 New International Version (NIV)

Saul’s Conversion

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

I think Paul had it pretty easy

I know he was blind for a couple days, but at least his purpose was clear from that day on

We can see Paul’s passion for his purpose as he writes Philippians:

Philippians 3:7-9The Message (MSG)

7-9 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

Before Paul’s encounter his credentials would have impressed the most devoted Jew

But he considered all of that “dog dung,” to use his word, compared to his relationship with Christ

Paul was more than happy to throw away all he had attained in order to know Christ

What is something you would be willing to give your life for?

This is not to say that our purpose eliminates all other concerns.

Bills must still be paid

Food and shelter do not miraculously fall from the sky

It is even legitimate for us to desire success in business and career aspirations

However it seems that in todays world work has become our new religion

Too often our purpose gets wrapped up in our occupation

The place where we worship and give our time and energy is our workplace

As our commitment to family, community and faith shrink, we begin to look to our careers to provide us with meaning, identity and esteem

Compared with knowing Christ, my activities from 8 to 5 Monday through Friday don’t matter very much

In the end, what will matter is whether or not we know him. Not just know OF HIM, but really KNOW HIM

Maybe our purpose has nothing to do with what we do for a living

Maybe our purpose is really about living authentically and discovering who we really are

Our society has reduced success to a list of boxes to be checked:

  1. graduate from school
  2. partner up
  3. have kids
  4. settle into a well-defined career path
  5. hang on until retirement checks can be collected

Is that really it?

This well-worn path pushes people in the direction of conformity, not purpose

Most people, even the well meaning, opt instead to fit us into a slot that makes more sense for them

To gain their approval, we willingly slide into the slot

To maintain the approval, we learn to chronically deny who we are

We’re so busy avoiding self-induced fears of not being [fill in the blank] enough–

smart enough

creative enough

pretty enough

The list goes on and on

The truth is that God doesn’t care near as much about what you do as much as he cares about who you are

He doesn’t want to be another task on your list

A day on your calendar

An afterthought in your busy life

He wants to know you and to be known by you

This relationship should change us, just like it radically changed Saul into Paul

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This purpose is bigger than ourselves

Paul helps outline our purpose as a Church:

Romans 12:4-8:

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

 

What is one of the most physically demanding things you have ever done?

Last year I climbed my very first 14er

A 14er is a mountain taller than 14,000 feet.

Here are some thoughts I discovered while on one of the most physically difficult journeys of my life:

Everyone moves at their own pace

Pace is vital.

When we started climbing I tried to keep up with people who have climbed their whole lives.

Huge mistake!

After the first 100 yards I was already dying and could not catch my breath. I had to take a break, regroup and start again, at a slower pace.

Don’t be discouraged if you’re not moving as fast as others. God has a specific plan and journey designed specifically for you. Move at the pace you were created to.

Enjoy the view on the way

Never be too focused on trying to get to the top that you forget to enjoy the journey.

Taking breaks on the way allowed me to enjoy the view, be re-energized and prepared me to take my next steps

As you begin to walk in your God given purpose, He will start to do some great things around you and through you.

Enjoy the little wins on the way to the big vision.

It’s ok to take a break

Not only is it ok, but often times it is necessary.

It would have been impossible for me to climb the mountain without taking any breaks.

My rule was as soon as I could feel my heartbeat in my ears and arms it was time to take a break.

Sometimes it was after 10 feet of climbing, other times it was after 100 feet.

Fulfilling your purpose will be difficult.

Make sure you rest or you won’t be prepared to take the next steps.

Vision should never come at the cost of your family or important relationship.

The air feels thinner at the top

Oxygen is a vital resource for your body, and there is not much of it at 14,000 feet…

In the same way you may not have all the resources and support you think you need to live your purpose.

Resources will follow vision, start moving in the right direction and allow God to provide.

Encouragement from those ahead of you is huge

I could not have completed the climb if it was not for a friend named Shawn Reini.

He could have been up and down the mountain in the time it took me to get half way up, but instead of rushing ahead he came along side me and coached me on.

You need a coach.

No matter what God has called you to do in life, you need wisdom, advice and encouragement from those who are ahead of you.

There is a path for a reason

When we started I thought I would be adventurous and climb on the big rock on the side of the trail.

That didn’t last very long before I found myself trying desperately to catch my breath.

I used way too much energy trying to go outside the path.

Trust the path, it’s there for a reason. It will make the difficult journey easier.

Never go at it alone

I am convinced that if I didn’t have an encouraging team climbing with me there is no way I would have made it to the top. They reminded me that it’s ok to slow down, its ok to rest, remember to drink water and stop for the occasional snack.

The moment you feel like you can do it alone is when you should re-evaluate.

If you can do it yourself you’re probably not dreaming big enough.

A real team should push you to go further and dream bigger.

You can make it!

There was plenty of time for self-doubt on the side of that mountain.

Would I make it?

Was it really worth the effort?

Why can’t I breath!?

Find your pace and keep moving forward. Keep your eyes fixed on where you are headed and sooner or later you will get there.

You can’t stay at the top

What an amazing view and feeling of accomplishment.

It was so nice to sit down and just enjoy the view for a bit.

However, on most 14ers, experienced climbers will tell you that you don’t want to stay on the summit after noon.

This is because of pop up storms and lightning strikes.

Once we got to the top we could see clouds beginning to move in, a storm was coming.

The top is a great place to get to, but a terrible place to stay.

There are other people coming up behind you that you need to share the summit with.

There are people at the bottom of the mountain that need your help getting to the top.

There is a different mountain for you to climb, and you need to start preparing for it.

What is your next mountain?

How can you help someone this week climb their mountain?

Follow Up Questions:

Why is purpose hard to know? Is it possible to really know?

What things keep you awake at night? What can’t you stop thinking about?

How do you discover what God is calling you to?

What is stopping you from doing what you feel called to do?

How can you help others discover purpose in their life?


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