4th Lesson — June 29, 2022
KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE
Background Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1; Habakkuk 2:1; Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 8:28; 2 Timothy 1:9
Devotional Reading: Acts 9:1-16
Central Verses
“Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
2 Timothy 1:9, KJV
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”
2 Timothy 1:9, NIV
Key Terms
Heavenly Encounter — A coming into the vicinity of or meeting a celestial divine body appearing or occurring in the sky.
Pricks — Pointed instruments or weapon: sharp projecting organs or parts.
Navigate — To steer a course through a medium: to make one’s way over or through.
Introduction
God has a purpose and a plan for every human in the world. Many people live and die, never knowing God’s purpose for them. They never learn their purpose for many different reasons, even though God makes Himself available to every human. He told His children to acknowledge Him, and He would let them know the purpose or the path He has planned for them. Some people are afraid of failure, others are stubborn and disobedient, while others want to have their way. The Word of the Lord tells the believer there is a way that seems right unto man, but the end of that way is death. It should be the desire of every man to know what God requires of him and to know his purpose. But So many want to devise their way in life, not wanting help from anyone.
Each believer needs to know that “no man is an island unto himself, and no man stands alone.” People need other people as they navigate through this life. God does not want you here not excelling, not exceeding, not progressing, merely existing. He has placed dreams and visions inside of you, but you are the one who must make them realities.
Discussion
A man’s purpose gives him something to look forward to in life, for it lets him know his reason for being here on earth. Jesus, the Son of God, needed to understand why He was here. So, He said for this purpose or reason I was born into this world that He might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). God planted a part of Himself in every human, for man was made in God’s likeness and His image. God has given each person gifts, specific skills, interests, and life experiences to live out his purpose, but it is up to each individual to find and live out that purpose. Sometimes because of the many struggles that a man has, he begins to feel that he has no purpose. But he needs to Know that many of his fights are because purpose is trying to find its way out. Those struggles can ignite one’s purpose if guided correctly. Man’s purpose is more significant than his struggles.
The pain and struggles that a man may be having are trying to birth purpose in his life. The losses, the grief, the hurts can put a person in a place of hopelessness and cause them to lose time trying to recover. Just Know that God can bring a person through whatever as the person allows the healing, comforting, strengthening power to restore him everywhere he hurts. It often takes all of these forces to push a person to a place where he can discover that he has real potential in areas that he never dreamed there was any purpose.
No one is here on earth by accident. Each person has been assigned to a specific purpose here on earth, and God has equipped him to fulfill it. However, sometimes people get side-swiped by life and are left feeling that they have nothing. God wants the believer to seek Him and allow Him to awaken the passion for his purpose in ways that he never imagined. The believer must not allow his spirit to become doubtful when it seems that his purpose has become elusive, and he can’t seem to get ahold of anything that relates to his purpose. He must keep searching and pushing for his place in life.
Saul was a very purpose-driven person, and he thought he was on the right track for his purpose. He was well educated, well connected, and was busy doing what he felt was his purpose. But on the Damascus Road, going to persecute all that was calling on the name of Jesus, he had planned to bring men and women bound to Jerusalem. But he had a heavenly encounter on that road when he saw the light from heaven and heard a voice, asking him why was he persecuting Him. He recognized that it was a voice coming from heaven, so he asked, “Who art thy Lord?”
The Lord said. "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Saul began to tremble and asked Him, “What will thou have me to do?" Saul immediately asked him what my purpose was? He wanted to know because he thought what he was doing was purposeful. Sometimes people are doing what they believe is their purpose, but they need to do as Saul did, ask the Father, what do you want me to do?
Conclusion
Jesus said in Matthew 7:7, “seek, and ye shall find.” The Lord told him where to go for the answer, and he obeyed Him. When he got into the city and went to Straight Street, he met the man God had waiting on him. The man Ananias was told by the Lord what Saul’s purpose was. Sometimes believers must be prepared to receive his directions from the Lord from others, the Pastor, the Evangelist, the Prophet, or whoever God directs. In this case, God told Ananias to tell Saul that he was a chosen vessel unto God, and he was to bear God’s name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and before the Children of Israel. That God would use him, but he would suffer for His sake.
Believers must never forget that they don’t belong to themself but that they are God’s workmen created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Their purpose is directed by God.
Questions
1. Why is a man’s purpose so important?
2. How can a person find his purpose?
3. How did Saul find his purpose?
Essential Thought
God’s Purpose For A Believer Always Supersedes
The Believer’s Thoughts For Himself
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