“Aligned By Purpose”
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 02/15/26 (3rd Sunday Message)
hashtags:
#guidinglight #pastorjim
#Faith #heart
#believer #surrender
#love #showinglove
#loveofGod #loveofChrist
#repentance #serving
#forgiveness #Godworks
#savedtoserve #overflow
#protector #Expectation
#worry #Favor
#deliverance #listeningears
#Godspeaks #blessings
#servingGod #heartafterGod
#treasure #complaining #God’speace
{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
{Message start:}
We are continuing our series “Aligned.”
We want to understand what the Lord’s goals are for us.
and we also want to make sure we are aligned with that.
We are discussing our purpose.
and making sure those who we’re aligned with are helping TOWARDS that goal.
Message Title:
Aligned By Purpose
We are going to define “align” as this.
Aligned
To Bring One’s Life, Heart, Actions, And Direction Into Agreement With The Lord’s Purpose
Scripture talks about us becoming in alignment.
Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Don’t think like you currently do…
learn to think the way the Lord wants you to.
Last week we talked about his purpose for you.
Aligned:
You Were Created With Intention!
You were not a mistake…
You were created with a plan and design!
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
The Lord has plans for us.
and those plans are for our future.
He already has plans for our future! PLANS to give a hope and future.
But are we making sure we’re following HIS plan or ours? How do we know if we’re doing it?
The bible tells us what our purpose is designed to do.
1 Peter 2:9 (NCV)
9 But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
You were chosen for a reason. that reason…
that design…is to tell others about the acts of God!
Aligned:
Your Purpose Is Designed To Give The Glory To God!
He told us we were created for his glory not our own. But typically we make plans for our future.
we work trying to accomplish those goals.
Aligned:
Are You Walking According To The Lord’s Design Or Our Own?
Let’s talk more about being aligned. Being aligned isn’t just how WE operate.
It’s also making sure the people we are connected to are aligned to us. and WE are aligned to His purpose.
In the very beginning:
Genesis 2:15
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
He created Adam.
he gave Adam a job.
The Lord then talks about Adam.
Genesis 2:18
18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
To help Adam with what?
Remember your purpose is something that will give him glory.
There are others you can work with that will help you do it!
Aligned:
There Are People The Lord Has That Will Help You In Your Purpose!
He also says it’s not good to be alone.
It’s not good to be alone walking in purpose.
not when there are others who are there to help you!
And you are STRONGER with them!
Ecclesiastes 4:9
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
We can operate in purpose alone… but two are better…
while two are good.
A cord of THREE strands is not easily broken! This shows there is power in numbers!
Aligned:
What Happens When You Have The Right People With You?
We see that there is strength in numbers.
Being aligned with the right people can be helpful in a lot of ways. Let’s look at some examples:
Examples of Godly Alignments:
Aligned:
Exodus 3:10
10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
The Lord told Moses that he heard the cry of his people. he is sending Moses to bring them out.
We already know from previous study that the Lord said he was going to do the work.
Moses was to lead them out.
Moses doesn’t want to do this and asks questions… he goes back and forth.
The Lord tells him countless times he will be with him…tries to convince him. for a whole chapter!
Exodus 4:13-16
13 But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” 14 Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.
The Lord has now offered Aaron to help.
Aaron would be the spokesperson for Moses’
The Lord will help Moses and Aaron so they can help each other.
Aaron would help ease the concern Moses had. Aaron would help where Moses felt weak.
Aligned:
Having The Right Support Can Strengthen Your Calling!
Aaron wasn’t perfect…
but he was what Moses needed when he needed it.
He was the person who would speak when Moses couldn’t.
But he would ALSO be the person who would help support him in battle.
in a later battle with the Amalekites, as long as Moses held his hands up… Israel would be winning.
when Moses’ hands grew tired…he had Aaron and Hur.
Aligned:
Being Aligned With The Right People Means You Have Support When You Need It!
They are there to help with your calling! Let’s look at another:
Aligned:
Elijah was a powerful prophet who appeared in 1 Kings 17.
He spoke to King Ahab and told him
there would be no more rain except at his word. there are multiple miracles he performs.
in fact he is one of the few people who never died. the Lord takes him later to heaven in a whirlwind.
Elijah is led to Elisha in 1 Kings 19
Elisha leaves everything and goes with him until 2 Kings.
In 2 Kings 2 - Elijah is about to be taken to heaven in a whirlwind Elijah tries to separate from Elisha so the Lord can take him.
Elisha refuses to leave him.
Both men make it to the Jordan river and Elijah strikes it with his cloak. the water separates so they can both pass.
Then Elijah finally says to him…what can I do for you before the Lord takes me?
2 Kings 2:9
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.”
Elisha had something he wanted.
He wanted DOUBLE the anointing Elijah had. not for fame or glory…
but twice the power and purpose!
Elisha was bold to ask for this.
I want TWO times what was on you!
Aligned:
Being Aligned With The Right People Gives You The Permission To Ask For More Than Was Intended!
Elisha was asked at least twice by Elijah to let him go on alone. Elisha refused.
but STAYING connected to the right person gave him the ability to even ask this!
So what happens?
2 Kings 2:11
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Elisha was able to see Elijah taken. that’s what Elijah said right?
so what happens?
2 Kings 2:13-15
13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked.
When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
He now has the anointing that Elijah had.
he is able to hit the Jordan and part the water. he is also seen by other prophets…
and THEY see what happened also.
Aligned:
Being Aligned With The Right People Gives Room For Elevation!
Greater than his original potential… but he received more…
because he asked for more.
Also…it was recorded that Elijah performed 8 miracles… and Elisha performed 16.
exactly double.
Aligned:
We learn in Acts about a man named Paul - who was originally named Saul. He was someone who hated Christians.
He tells his story in Acts 26:4
Acts 26:4
4 “The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem.
Paul says when he was known as Saul…ALL the Jews knew him.
Acts 26:9-11
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
He did all he could to opposed Christ.
He put many believers in prison and voted for them to be killed. He would go from place to place to try and have them arrested.
But he tells his story that one day he was going to Damascus.
a bright light blinded him and knocked him to the ground. he heard a voice asking why he is doing this?
Saul asked who is this.
The voice responds that he is Jesus…the one you are persecuting.
The Lord then tells him that Saul will become a servant
he will be responsible for teaching others about God and his love to get them to turn from their ways and receive forgiveness.
So Saul changes his name to Paul
and he starts now serving the Lord.
He does go teaching many places…
but many people know who he is…and don’t fully trust him.
“you can go by a different name but we know who you are…”
Acts 9:26-28
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
Due to things in Paul’s past… it hindered his ministry.
It makes sense! Paul did some very bad things to believers.
the greek work for “tried” means tried repeatedly…but no.
We see that in times of today.
where the Church might not want someone to be there… because of their past.
let the wrong person show up in your average church…
Paul wasn’t accepted.
But he became friends and aligned to a man named Barnabas. and THAT man who WAS trusted…opens the door for him.
Aligned:
Some People Don’t Just Walk With You, They Will Stand With You When You Need It Most!
Sometimes you need an advocate. someone to make the connection.
It might be because of your past…maybe not.
Maybe you had a reputation before…
or some of these people who don’t wanna work with you… knew you like before.
people might look down on you because you don’t “LOOK” like you should.
But if you have the RIGHT people in your group… they can open doors with the people you need!
Aligned:
Remember “provision” means the act of “providing.”
2 Kings 4 tells the story of a widow who comes to Elisha (the double portion man) She says her husband has died (who was the money maker)
and now a creditor is coming to take her sons as his slaves.
Elisha asks her what does she have in the house? she says nothing but a little oil.
2 Kings 4:3-7
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5 She left him and
afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
Elisha tells her to pour oil in the jars…when it fills, get another. when they ran out of jars.
he says go and sell this and pay your debts. you and your sons can live on what is left.
Not only are her debts paid…but do you know what it means to LIVE off what is left? she can retire on this miracle alone!
All because she aligned herself with the man of God during her crisis!
Aligned:
Where You Go In A Crisis Can Determine What You Receive In That Crisis!
Are you aligned with the right people?
Being aligned with the right people can open doors for you!
Aligned:
No Matter The Situation, Your Situation Can Change If You Are Aligned With The Right People!
Why does this work?
Why is it important to be aligned with the right people? how does this help your purpose/design/vision?
Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
The bible says as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. The bible uses the word “iron.”
Iron is a type of metal.
But the bible doesn’t just say ‘metal.”
It specifically says “iron.”
A specific metal is sharpened by the same metal.
It doesn’t say as copper sharpens iron. It says iron and iron.
They have to be like metals.
this also means that people can sharpen each other…. if they’re “similar” to each other.
Are they built the same?
Do they have the same goals?
Are they going the same direction?
Aligned:
You Need People “Like You” In Your Lives To Sharpen You!
Too many times we’re trying to sharpen ourselves with people who are NOT like us. We have people around…but they aren’t like us.
They aren’t purposed like we are. They aren’t going the direction we are.
{recap}
Today we’ve talked about being aligned by purpose. Being aligned with people on the purpose path with you. THIS is what that means.
Being aligned with the right people can help you.
As iron sharpens iron…
we sharpen one another. Like metals sharpen like metals.
when you mix the metals it goes from being sharpened to being used.
Even The Sharpest Scissors Begin To Dull If They Cut Enough Paper!
So who you are aligned to is either sharpening you… or dulling you….
You have to decide.
Next week:
What Happens When You Don’t Have People Of Iron But People Of Paper…
