The Glory In God's Purpose

As I was thinking about this — this, this thought just kept coming to my mind: God's purpose. And I feel like there's so much Glory that is in God's purpose, when we take the time to fully understand. And what I'd like to do, for just a few minutes this morning, is to maybe do a deeper dive into God's purpose for our lives. Because I believe that we have a lot more depth in us than we often realize ourselves. In our more introspective moments, I feel like a lot of us are finding ourselves in a place where we ask the question: why? And why — why am I going through this? Why, why do I have this health issue? Why is my relationship struggling? Why is this, this going on? So in thinking about that, and in the wonder that goes behind the question of why, I feel like we have the reason that comes to us — usually R off the bat is: well, well, God's doing something for us, even though we can't see it. What's, what's the motivating factor behind it? And for me, it's, it's love. I feel like love is there, even though often times we misunderstand God's love. And if you'll give me a minute to maybe just unpack it, I feel like you'll see the compelling reason is that, in what has happened to us — and what I mean is the fall that took place in the garden — you know, God created us. We're his design. It was his blueprint. But sin came in and contaminated us. And so his idea was tainted. It seemed as though maybe sin sabotaged his perfect work. And it appeared that now we're ruined, and we're ugly, and we're misshapen and repulsive. That we're just some kind of mutated version of what he intended to be, by what he placed in the garden. But the word of God tells us differently. You know, Romans 5 and8 says: but God demonstrates his own love towards us, and that while we were yet sinners, he died for us. How powerful is that?

So I want to pray for this message today, and then we'll dive into it, least a little bit. God, I pray that for the next few minutes, that your anointed would rest upon us. God, that we could receive your anointed word. That we could apply it into our lives. Lord, that we could, we could fulfill your purpose in our life, and see the glory that is there. In Jesus name we pray. And amen. Amen.

Again, I want to read that scripture to you again. Romans 5:8: but God demonstrated his own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This, this seems to go contrary to, again, our human logic. And what I mean by that: human reasoning counters that we're unlovable. That we are crew. That we are some kind of a malignant model of our prototype that he had placed in the garden. In fact, the very word sin — if you go to the Greek word that is translated there, harmanto is the word, which means literally missing the Mark, or to air. That because of sin, now we have missed the mark. How could God perfect his love in imperfect people, the ones who have missed the Mark? I mean, that's what at least comes to my mind, when I think about what I have done. But the key to this conundrum, for you and I to remember, that God did not love us for what we were, but he loves us for what we can become. I'm going to say that again, because it's really important: God did not love us for what we were, but he loved us for what we can become. And this brings our relationship with him to what I feel like is a limitless future. Because John 1:12 says: but as many as received him, to them — listen — he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in him and in his name. That word right is another one that I feel like is important to understand its translation. That Greek word exusia, from which we also get the word Authority. For me, it is showing that God has now enabled us to get back to something that the enemy, that Satan, stole from us. Our relationship was stolen. More importantly, our sunship, our daughter ship, if that's even a word, was taken from us. But as he's restoring that back, it gets even better. Because John 10:10 says: the thief does not come except to steal, to kill, to destroy. But I have come that they might have life. Hallelujah. But he doesn't stop there. He says: and that they may have it more abundantly. We get life with him. But not just life. We have an abundant life that God wants for us, his desire. That's his plan. That's — as I started this message — it's the glory of God's purpose. That's my title for the sermon today, is understanding that he wants to restore us back, not just to our former status. But God makes our relationship with him far stronger than it was before the fall. How powerful this is, to really understand the depth of God's love, and the strength of his commitment, to make this human Divine Dynamic — this human Divine relationship — secure.

But when we understand the glory of God's purpose — I don't know how you can process any other way than to just simply be overwhelmed with the quality, the relationship, that God desires for us. That old hymn that has been saying for a long, long time: every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. And that's the way it's supposed to be. It's not just a simple: I have a relationship with God. But every day that I walk with him, that relationship has more value. It has more meaning. It has more purpose to my life. That's the glory of God's purpose. This Dynamic of this living relationship, that is on an Ever Rising trajectory, that he designed, designed for me, that he designed for you — regardless of how we view it — exceeds itself every single day. The glory of God's purpose is seen in our relationship. Or maybe a better way to say that — and if you've been here with me for any time, you know I'm a big believer in the discipleship, or the sanctification process — to me, I feel like if we're going to understand the glory of God's purpose, it starts with discipleship. That God may have loved us as he found us, but he loves us too much to leave us there. It's not just that he discovered us. It's not just that he found us. But he found us in a, in a shape that was not his intended purpose or plan. But he doesn't leave us there. It's not that just: hey, I'm here to help. But I'll, I'll come down to where you are. I'll reach the moment that you're in right now. And what I see when I read through scriptures is, as we come in, and we apostolics, we call the developing relationship, or the Salvation process — we use the term New Birth — that we Are Spiritual newborns. But a baby that doesn't grow has problems. Peter talked about this in 1 Peter 2 and two: as newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word. Why? That you may grow thereby. If a baby doesn't grow, something's wrong with it. In fact, there is no greater growth Span in your life than that first year of your life. If you, if you take how you go from the moment you're born, until you reach your first birthday — how much you grow in weight, how much you grow in size and stature — if you, if you take that number, there's no other time in your life that you grow more than that first year. And if a baby doesn't grow, for whatever the reason — it could be, it could be, you know, some kind of a syndrome, or a failure to thrive, or a growth hormone deficiency, and there's a lot of things that, that would prevent that — but that's not the way it was intended to be. We — you and I were designed, we were created, for unrestrained growth. I'm going to say that again: we were created for un, restrained growth. You know, history shows us that there was a time in ancient China, when women were subjected to this horrify — this, this, this terrible tradition of what they called foot binding. And they thought that it was a beautiful thing for women to have small, petite little feet. And if you had large feet as a woman, that was something that was ugly. So when they were small children, they would bind their feet together. And what it caused is, was a malformation of the foot. It itus, cus them to have the inability to walk, and to do anything. And even though they may have looked beautiful, they couldn't function correctly. And I'm afraid that's what happens often times, in our relationship, when we, when we don't continue to progress and grow in all that God has for us. When we just say to ourselves: well, I've repented, or I got a relationship with God, or I've read the Bible. It's, it's more than just having that experience in your life. It's something that you should continually do, do every day: growing in God. This continual growth in our faith, this continual growth in our character and in our knowledge of Jesus Christ, is this expected transformation. Or maybe another word we could use: this expected metamorphosis that God has for us.

The Apostle Peter says this in 2 Peter 1, verse number five: but also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to your virtue knowledge. To your knowledge self-control. To your self-control perseverance. To your perseverance godliness. To Godliness brotherly kindness. And to brotherly kindness love. Did you notice the progression? It didn't come on you all of a sudden. It was something that, as you continue to walk with God, and grow in God, and grow in your faith, and grow in your character, and grow in your knowledge, these things continually Bloom and Bud, and process inside of your life. Paul sums it up to me with this wonderful verse, and say, second Corinthians 3:18: but we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord — listen to his words — are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord. See, the glory of God's purpose is seen in our relationship. It's seen in — and I'm going to use a different word here — it's seen in our partnership with God. It's this part, partnership with him. And it, to me, it's placed in the very center of the book of Ephesus, as Paul was writing to the church there. He says this in chapter 2, verse number four: but God, who is rich in Mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses — listen, listen to him here — here's where it comes into play: made us alive together with Christ. By Grace you have been saved. And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus. We, we're there with him, together with Jesus. To me, this, it's this outstanding imagery of this relationship that we have, have with him. That we have inherited. It's, it's ours for the taking. But God, he — it's, it's not an appeal for you and I to be prideful about this, or to be vain. It's not, it's not appealing to those things. He was positioning us — now listen to me close — he's doing this partnership, he's, he's, he's bringing us in this relationship, for this reason: for an assignment. You and I were created for a purpose, something higher and greater than just ourselves. To me, one of the most astounding aspects of our relationship with God is that he would want to partner with us. I mean, I mean, who am I, that the creator of the universe would want to do anything with me? That, that my life would have some kind of valuable aspect, or our Point, our place, inside his kingdom. It, it's one thing that he loved us. It's one thing that he wants to care for you and I. But to bring us on board, to work with him — I don't know about you, but when I really stop and process that, it's, it's, it's somewhat mindboggling. It's a little bit staggering to comprehend that. And yet, that was precisely his plan. Mark 16 and 20: and they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord — look at those term there — working with them, and confirming the word through the accompanying signs, amen. That phrase, working with them, again is another Greek phrase. It's another translation. And when you look at that, it's talking about this unique relationship that God has, that goes to the very heart and purpose and meaning for our lives. We may even say that God works in, inside of our life. That the very thing he's wanting to do, he envelops into the works of men. That God's works are enveloped into our lives. To me, I feel like we have a classic example of this in the book of Acts 12, verse number 5: Peter therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. Peter was in prison. But even though he was there, and he was separated from the body, the church was still praying. And to me, this is an exciting account of angels and prison bars and sleeping guards. And it's clear that God was delivering Peter from prison. But the delivery came as a result of prayer, that the church had, had put up. God will not complete his work unilaterally. His desire is to work with you and I. That's why he created us, in his workmanship, that he wants to do. That he has empowered us — and maybe a better way to say that would be, he has empowered the church — to wage spiritual warfare. I love this quote from Ian bounds, the great prayer Warrior. He says: without God, man cannot. Without man, God will not. Here's a reality — I don't know if you ever thought about this, but this is, this is the truth — that every time you hear of an answered prayer, we should be reminded of someone that took their time to pray seriously. That somebody took their Measure of Faith, and they acted on it. The greatest incentive in my mind, to engage in prevailing prayer, is that we have been recruited by God. His desire is to partner with us, to do exploits for his name sake. How amazing is that? He didn't, he didn't, he didn't partner with an angel. He partners with you. He partners with me, to do great things for his name's sake.

The glory of God's purpose, ladies and gentlemen — it's seen in the mission. The mission that he has for you and I. So what is that mission? What is, what is your mission? Or maybe, maybe we'll be more specific and say — or maybe more Broad and say — what is the mission of the church? To me, that, that simple question is exploding into all these different views, because we all have our own ideas about it. But what is the word of God say about it? More specifically, I think we should speak — we should stick to the words of Jesus. He says in Luke 19:10: for the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. He said in Acts 1 and8: but you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samaria, until the ends of the earth. To me, he was laying out his mission, his plan, and his purpose for his church, for you and I. Because we make up the body of Christ. Evangelism Remains the primary mission of the church. Evangelism is what it means to be the church. 2 Corinthians 5 and8 says: now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the min, Ministry — listen to these words again — of reconciliation. That is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then — here's, here's our part — we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you, on Christ's behalf, to be reconciled to God. We — you and I — our calling, our purpose, our plan, the glory of our purpose for creation, is so that you and I can be ambassadors. That's how we are being the church. We're his representative here. When I go to look at a definition for Ambassador — if I go to Websters, it says: an ambassador is a minister of the highest rank, employed by one Prince or state, at the court of another, to manage the concerns of his own Prince or state, and representing the dignity and the power of His sovereign. How awesome is that, that he calls us to the ministry of reconciliation? That you and I are to be his ambassadors. Does, does that, does that really settle into your mind, and understand the weight and the purpose that you and I have? That he has called us to reconciliation. That I'm to be an ambassador for the kingdom. That, that our great God thinks enough of you and I, that regardless of our mistakes, akes, and our failures and our shortcomings, he overlooks those things. Yes, he loves us. But more than just loving us, more than just accepting us as we were, when we come to him, but he says: I have something greater for you. I have a, I have a greater purpose, a greater calling for you. I want to use you to grow my kingdom. How amazing is our God. How amazing is that, to understand our purpose and our plan. The most powerful tool of evangelism is for you and I to be a witness for Jesus Christ. For you and I to do our part. Again, to me, it kind of goes without saying, that understand the mission — the central nature is about a relationship. Our relationship with him, and our relationship with each other. Without relationship — listen to me, this is an important piece, and I'm getting close to the end — but without relationship, the mission of the church miscarries. Without relationship, the mission of the church Miss carries. What I mean by that: we, if we go to Colossians 2:10, it says we are complete in him, who is the head of principalities and powers. That you and I, living out this example of being the church, everywhere we go — that is the glory of God's purpose. That is — and it's seen in our destiny. It seen in our calling, to be that Ambassador.

So where is all this headed? As I'm getting ready to bring this to a close today, the ultimate question we need to ask ourselves is: where, where's all this going? My plan, my purpose, what God has for me. That the glory of God's purpose for my life — see, we cannot know everything. But we can know enough, and be assured of an eternal future with him. That's what I glean when I read this book. I don't know it all. But when I study this out, that he has a plan and a purpose for my life here. And the plan and purpose for my life here is what's ultim, ultimately going to take me there. Ephesians 5:27: that he might present her — that's the church — to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. That is the beauty of the relationship he desires to have with you and I. Being in a relationship with our God, our creator, the one who made the universe — to me, when I think about this, it bubbles up with all the possibilities that can't even really be, Be Imagined. All of the glory is in our destiny. And it unfolds to us as this coefficient of a holy relationship with Jesus Christ. The relationship that we have, under this New Covenant that Jesus Christ established when he came, is the trajectory that literally has no end point. And my last verse for you is simply this, in Revelations 22 and 12. It says: and behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give everyone according to his work. I am Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are those who do his Commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. I don't know, know about you, but I'm looking forward to that day. I'm looking forward to that day, that I get to enter into that City. That I get to be there with my Lord and Savior. But for now, I'm here. For now, you're here. And to me, to fully unfold the glory of the purpose of God — the glory of his purpose specifically for your life — is to understand that he has called me to the ministry of reconciliation. What does that mean? He is wanting you and I to reconcile all the lost, all the hurt, all the Brokenness. Not that we can save them, but we can point them to him. That we can talk about what he has done in our life. Our testimony is powerful. And I'm looking forward to today, because God's purpose for you and I is to be there — is for you and I to be in heaven with him, and for you and I to bring as many people, to bring as many broken people, to the kingdom of God. So let's go be the church. That is the glory of God's purpose: is for you and I to be the church, every day.

Will you pray with me? God, I love you so much. I'm so thankful for the truth that is in your word. I'm so thankful to God, that you, that you desire to work with us. That you have a plan and a purpose, in spite of our failures and shortcomings. In spite of what sin has done to try to keep us from you. God, you have a plan. And part of that plan is to use each and every one of us, in the ministry of reconciliation. That each and every one of us are to be your ambassadors, to the world around us. To the relationships that we have at work, and at school, and at home, around our family, and around our friends. God, that, that you have a, have an expected end for us, in heaven with you. And our job is to bring as many people with us as we can. God, be with us today. Be with us during this inclement weather time. I pray that we stay warm and safe, until we meet again. In Jesus name we pray, and amen.