Your Life Journey and Your Purpose

 

~~ Watch the Video ~~

Outline:

• Introduction
• Finding Your Purpose in Life Series
• Paul’s Background
• Paul’s Call to Serve Jesus
• Sent to the Gentiles
• A closed door might be direction
• Your Journey is Your Authority

 

Scriptures:

• Ephesians 2:10
• Acts 9: 1-5
• Acts 9:11-16
• Acts 11:20-22
• Romans 1:16
• Acts 11:25-26
• Acts 13:1-3
• Acts 13:43-47
• Galatians 1:15-17
• 2 Timothy 4:6-8
• 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

Introduction

Ephesians 2:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

God has created us to do good works

• God has already set aside the works that we are supposed to do

All Christians have a dual destiny in God.

1. We have a general calling
2. There is a unique calling on your life

Gen calling

1. To Love God
2. Love your neighbor
3. Make disciples
4. Be conformed to the image of Christ – sanctification

Often times you will find your unique calling by seeking the general calling

Two parts of your uniqueness.

1. Unique design
2. Unique journey.

You are uniqueness

• Unique design
• Unique frustrations (agitation)
• Natural abilities
• Acquired skills
• Spiritual gifts
• Personality
• Passions

We have covered all of these areas of your unique design in previous lessons

Today we are going to begin looking at your unique journey.

“you are always living out some biblical story whether you believe in the Bible or not. It is up to you to figure out which one.“

– Jordan Peterson

The Bible has different patterns that we can see situations in our lives in. We’re going to look at different biblical stories in the hope that you can look back at your life and get some revelations about our life experiences.

On your journey you want to notice:

• Patterns.
• Occurrences
• Experiences.
• Events.
• Situations that you’re subjected to

Today we will study Paul’s journey to get some insights into our experiences and our purpose

Finding Your Purpose in Life Series

The two greatest days in your life are:

1. the day you were born
2. the day you figure out why you were born

– – Mark twain

The Bible tells us that everything was created by God, the Designer, for a reason

If you want to find your purpose… You have to start with God

Your calling is the purpose that God created you for

• It's the end goal of your assignment on earth
• It is how you serve his purposes in the world

A Christian’s Callings

Christians have

1. General callings
2. A Unique calling

General Christian Assignments

All Christians are called to:

1. To Love God
2. Love your neighbor
3. Make disciples
4. Be conformed to the image of Christ – sanctification

Unique Calling

You were given unique

• Natural ability
• Acquired skills
• Spiritual Gifts
• Personality
• Desires and preferences
• Life experiences

All of this makes uniquely qualified to serve others, and to glorify God

Don’t compare your calling to others

In this series we will discover:

• What a purpose is
• Why it matters
• What makes you unique
• How your life experiences have prepared you for your calling
• Methods to uncover your purpose
• How to overcome the barriers preventing you from pursuing your purpose

Throughout this next year, I will walk alongside you and help guide you to finding your purpose

Paul’s Background

Paul was from Tarsus … modern day Turkey

Paul was the son of  a tent maker who was a Pharisee

Paul studied under Gamaleo, the top pharisee teachers at the time

Pharisees were

• Middle class
• Liberal

They were considered the “non-legalistic” group

• Did it interpret all the laws literally
• Could worship outside the temple… Therefore didn’t have to be elite
• Progressive theology
• resurrection of the dead

The Sanhedrin was the highest council in Judaism.

• Comprised of all the Jewish sects (denominations)
• 10 Pharisees were selected to be on the council
• Paul was chosen to be in the Sanhedrin council in Jerusalem

Paul Was the Top Dog

Sanhedrin was the supreme

• religious
• legal
• political authority

Like being all:

• Supreme court justice
• cardinal in the Catholic church
• Ivy League Academic
• High-level Government Advisor

Paul probably thought that he had found his calling

• He had the Sanhedrin on his vision board
• He assumed he was in God’s will

He had achieved the dream that God put in his heart

He thought he was doing the work of God

You

We can have our heart set on goals that God didn’t bless

Or we can see something as the final goal that God sees as a stepping stone

• But not the ultimate goal

Some of us assumed we made it when we

• Got that spouse
• Got that dream job
• Got that dream car
• Moved into that neighborhood

Just to realize that we still aren’t happy

You climbed the ladder of success just to realize it’s leaning against the wrong wall

You need to keep listening to the Holy Spirit’s leading

Paul’s Call to Serve Jesus

Paul learned about the Christians who he called the Nazarene’s.

• They were low class  fisherman

Paul and the Sanhedrin ordered that they not proclaim Jesus as the Jewish Messiah

They capture Steven and had an emergency meeting with him

• They didn’t like what he said
• Paul and the Sanhedrin murdered Steven

Acts 9: 1-5

1Now [a]Saul, still breathing [b]threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to [c]the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

Ananias

Acts 9:11-16

11 And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.”

This is where God reveals Paul’s calling

• Paul may have not been informed of it at this moment

Paul was called to

• The Gentiles
• Kings
• Israelites / Jews

In the Bible, the order of things is usually important. The most important thing is usually listed first.

• Noticed that God listed the Gentiles first

You

Has God made your calling clear to you?

Sent to the Gentiles

Peter had a vision of the unclean animals

• “Rise Peter slay and eat”
• God reveals His plan for saving the Gentiles

Christians had fled Jerusalem because of the killing of Steven

• They began to spread the gospel in other areas

Acts 11:20-22

20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the [p]Greeks as well, preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22The [q]news about them [r]reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off [s]to Antioch.

• The church in Jerusalem was the main Christian authoritative body
• The “men of Cyprus” began witnessing to the Gentiles

Barnabas was sent as an apostle to the Jews and Gentiles by the church in Jerusalem

Barnabas was an apostle (aside)

Acts 14:14

14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their [k]robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

• Notice the order - Barnabas then Paul

Your Passion Might Lead You Away From Your Purpose

Paul was a Pharisee

• He had spent his entire career  focusing on the Jews
• He carried that into his Christian calling

His heart was for the Jews

Paul Chose to Save the Jews First

Romans 1:16

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

• Noticed that Paul list the Jews first

Acts 11:25-26

25 And he [Barnabus] left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers of people; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

• Barnabas likely got Paul because he had lived in Antioch previously
• Paul decided to focus on saving the Jews

* Notice that Barnubus took Paul…not vice versa as we often hear

• We often consider Barnabas Paul’s sidekick.
• It was actually the opposite
• Early on, Barnabas was Paul‘s mentor

Every single time Paul entered a new international city throughout the Book of Acts, he followed the exact same operational playbook:

1. He would arrive in a pagan, Gentile city.
2. He would bypass the pagan markets and head straight to the local Jewish synagogue first.
3. He would preach to the Jews, using the Hebrew Scriptures to prove Jesus was the Messiah.
4. Only after the local Jewish leadership rejected the message would he turn his attention to the local Gentile population.

Paul’s passion for the Jews was keeping him from ministering to the Gentiles

Lesson

Sometimes following our passion can prevent us from pursuing our purpose

• It may get us partially there
• It may take us off course

Although God can get us to the right destination no matter which route we take

Jonah

Jonah had passion

• He hated the Ninevites

This passion became a barrier for him to fulfill God‘s calling on his life

Our passions can keep us from fulfilling our calling

You

Has there ever been a time in your life where you heard God tell you to do something but you didn’t have a desire to do it?

• You saw all the signs that this was the wrong person,
• but your passion for the person made to overlook the red flags
• God was calling you to leave a job,
• but you liked the money and security
• God keeps telling you to join a certain ministry,
• but you don’t like the people in it or it doesn’t give you the status or visibility that you want
• God is calling you to help someone,
• but you haven’t been able to let go of what they did

Your passion can interfere with God’s calling

A closed door might be direction

Purpose  May not follow your passion

How did Paul know it was time to focus on the Gentiles?

• When the Jews rejected him

Acts 13:1-3

1Now there were prophets and teachers at Antioch, in the church that was there: Barnabas, Simeon* who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene [Africa], Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were [a]serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set Barnabas and Saul apart for Me for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, when they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

• Paul and Barnabase were sent as apostles to the Gentiles

* some scholars assume this was Simon of Cyrene (who carried Jesus’ cross)

Acts 13:43-47

43 Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and urging them to continue in the grace of God. 44 The next Sabbath nearly all the city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. 46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I HAVE APPOINTED YOU AS A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’”

• Paul (and Barnabas) decided to focus on the Gentiles
• Paul already knew that he was called to save the Gentiles

“Oh now you wanna go talk to the gentiles”

Sometimes a closed door is direction

https://youtube.com/shorts/j0Brrbj3AFQ

You

When the path that your heart desires gets blocked…that might not be satan

• When your prayers don’t get answered
• When the doors don’t open up
• When the opportunities never arrive

… that might be God’s direction

When things don’t follow the plan you mapped out

• When The opportunity never develops
• When you don’t find that perfect spouse
• When the company never responds to your job application

It might be God directing to a different path

Purpose is a journey

“A purpose is what is left when all of your plans have finished“

People find out what God had planned for them more when things are against them than when they’re for them

You need to give your best when circumstances are going bad

“Don’t let any crisis/failure go to waste”

That’s why following the leadership of the Holy Spirit is important.

Paul versus Saul (aside)

Why the Name Change?

Acts 13:9

Then Saul, (who also [is called] Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

A common misconception is that God changed his name from Saul to Paul at his conversion (like Abram to Abraham). However, the Bible never says that. Instead, he always had both names:

• Saul: His Hebrew name, used primarily while he was operating within the Jewish community and Jerusalem.

• Paul: His Roman/Greek name (Paulus), which was standard for a Roman citizen born in a Greek-speaking city like Tarsus.

Acts 13 marks the moment Paul begins his first major missionary journey into the Gentile (non-Jewish) Greco-Roman world. He started using his Roman name permanently because it was much more natural and relatable to the people he was trying to reach.

God determines whether or not you succeed… Not the world

Galatians 1:15-17

15 But when He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

When Paul became an apostle, he didn’t go to the apostles to

• Get training
• Tell them the great news

The students don’t determine the grading scale.

• So the maker must determine your score

No matter the anointing, that God places on your life, it will always fall to the level of approval you are looking for from people

people want to blend

They want to be a better version of something that existed

God didn’t call you to be a better version of something… He called us to be the best version of you

Church Traditions

When Paul got clarity on his calling, he didn’t go to the church to get:

• Approval
• Confirmation
• Advice
• Strategy
• Traditions / Process

Your calling is not bound by church tradition

Only God Determines if You’re Successful

Purpose doesn’t imply material success

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxztMPGLu5S8vseZAfvgZHyBUWcFDjksbF?si=G4W84ZZxmZIV4Wzd

Worldly Pursuits

2 Timothy 4:6-8

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Fight the good fight

When you were told to “fight the good fight” this implies that there are other fights going on that are not good

We chase some things in the name of Christianity that aren’t of Jesus

You can get into fights that Jesus:

• Didn’t die for
• Didn’t bleed for
• Is it coming back for

We label things as “righteous anger” and claim we’re fighting for Christian values.  It’s really just

• Hate
• Self righteousness
• Worldly pursuits

Is your “Christian” passion gaining disciples?

Your Journey is Your Authority

2 Corinthians 11:23-28

23Are they servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, [h]beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. 26I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; 27I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and [i]exposure. 28Apart from such [j]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

Paul doesn’t boast about his miracles

Paul uses the hardships he went through as proof of his authority

Paul’s journey is enough to prove that he has the right to represent Christ

You

Your path confirms your authority.  

Sarah can speak to someone who is barren with impact and authority because she was there

Embrace your journey…

Jesus is a merciful, high priest, not just because he is full of mercy… But because he was tempted at every point as well

Your Journey confirms your authority.

The purpose God has for your life may and will frustrate your plans

Sometimes we call it frustration and disappointment, but it is purpose exacting the power and authority  pushing and turning you in the right direction

Instructor: Michael Leadon

References

Time to Step Into Your Purpose

Myron Golden

How to live with purpose

Dan Lian | Go, Journey Church FL

Finding your unique design and purpose

Pastor Ayo, Ajani

The complete story of Paul: the apostle to the Gentiles

Bible unbound.

The complete story of Paul: the apostle to the Gentiles

Bible unbound.

Extra

Paul Called to the Gentiles

Acts 22:17

17“It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, 18and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ 19And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. 20And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’ 21And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Psalm 90:12 (NASB20)

So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.