“The Path To Purpose!”
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 02/09/25 (2nd Sunday Message)
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{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
It’s Super Bowl Sunday!
Many of us are getting ready for the big game.
We probably already know what parties we’re going to. For those who are planning.
we have the room/place reserved. we know what food we want to have.
we know the drinks we’re going to provide.
we have the people we’re inviting.
we have the people we AREN’T invited.
and we HOPE the people coming don’t bring people with them.
If any of those things fall through. the plans will be affected.
Maybe even canceled.
But for those who are having a party.
like our Men’s Ministry Fellowship… there are plans for that party.
We ALL expect everything to go as planned.
We expect the game to be streamed as planned.
we expect our tvs/screens to work as like they should.
Can you imagine turning the tv on for the game and the channel is black? Or the tv isn’t working?
Why is that a problem?
We can’t control the network…but we need it to work for the game. And the tv is supposed to show the game.
we need it to work.
that’s what it was designed for.
What about if you’re coming to the church for the game? and the car decides it wants to act up.
It’s a problem…
because the car is DESIGNED to take you somewhere.
We need things to operate as intended! It’s part of the plan!
We make plans for many things. big events and small ones.
We try and anticipate the things that could happen THIS week.
We plan for vacations. We plan for emergencies.
We try and have a plan in many areas. for those plans to work everything has to do it’s part.
because when things don’t work as intended… the plans can be ruined.
But it’s not just our nature to plan and design things. Our Lord does it as well.
He makes plans for us.
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.
You have a God who has plans for you. a God who has thoughts for you.
But just like the plans we make…
The Lord needs us to do OUR part to make the plans work.
The Plans The Lord Makes For Me Requires Me To Do My Part!
This is why we need to be focused more on our purpose. What are the things we are supposed to be doing?
Many of us spend time watching others walk in their purpose. and see pieces of the Lord’s plan for their lives.
and wonder when it’s our turn.
This leads us to our title:
Message Title:
“The Path To Purpose!”
This may be your 1st or 1000th time hearing about this. But the Lord didn’t just have plans designed for you.
he created something in you to MAKE those plans possible.
If you are alive today.
it’s not by accident.
if you are listening right now… it’s for a reason!
You have a design!
You have a purpose.
The Lord Doesn’t Create Anything Without A Purpose
This is proven in scripture.
Genesis 1 talks about the creation of everything.
The Lord is going to detail what the Earth looks like.
He says “Let there be Light” and there was light
but light didn’t exist without a purpose. and to this day…light still has a purpose.
we are STILL finding uses for light.
our eyes use and process the light to see things we can’t see as well in the dark.
it can kill microorganisms
- you can put things in the sun to help sterilize them
sleep patterns, vitamin D, overall happiness
helps plants in multiple ways If he had a purpose for light.
he has a purpose for you.
There is nothing created without a purpose. This includes us.
Some of us may ask the question:
Why Am I Here?
What’s the point?
Colossians 1:16
16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Things created by him and for him. We were created by God…
And we have a purpose!
So let’s talk about this path.
The Path To Purpose:
We were created by God.
What we do is supposed to be FOR him.
We were created by him FOR him.
The Lord designed a purpose for us that would ultimately bring him glory.
Isaiah 43:6(b)-7
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
We Are Here For The Lord’s Glory, Not Our Own
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The Lord created us for him.
He told us that we would do good works.
We do many things…
but our purpose will ALWAYS point people back to him.
If The Lord Isn’t Getting The Glory, It’s Not Our Purpose
Our purpose has always been here.
Jeremiah 1:4
4 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Before we were formed… We were known…
The Lord knows us.
He knew everything about us. what we would do. what we won’t do.
what we would struggle with. what we would succeed with.
yet he still chose us.
So before we were born.
we already had a special purpose waiting on us.
Psalm 139:15-16
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
You Were Born For Your Purpose! It Was Hand Picked For You!
And this purpose will give glory to our Lord.
Matthew 5:16
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
if it’s not bringing glory to God…it’s not our purpose.
You might be good at it.
But it has to point people back to the father.
The Path To Purpose:
Jeremiah was chosen to be a prophet. David was chosen to be a king and a leader.
his son Solomon was chosen to be the next king and a leader.
Abraham was chosen to be patriarch and a leader. Moses was chosen to be a leader.
Joseph was chosen to be a leader.
Many of these people were different types of leaders. But they weren’t the same leader.
there were many differences in what the Lord did with them. It’s the same thing with our purpose as well.
It may look similar to others…but yours is different.
Our Life Experiences Make Our Purpose Unique To Us
Sometimes we may wonder why we’ve gone through things in life.
Joseph: (Genesis 37) Family Drama
Almost Killed By His Own Sold In Slavery
Lied On
Put In Prison
Left Prison To Be Elevated To Second In The Land
But we also know that every time Joseph was tried… he was faithful.
So when he became 2nd in command…
he had all his life experiences with him.
You might have a purpose similar to someone else… but YOU are NOT them!
No One Is Greater Than The Other, But God Didn’t Call Two People To Do The Exact Same Thing!
Don’t try to compare your purpose to others.
The path the Lord takes you can be different from others. therefore,
Don’t judge your success/failure based on what you see others do.
So how do we find what our purpose is?
How Do I Find My Purpose:
Pray about your purpose.
The Lord designed it for you and isn’t trying to hide it. Ask the Lord for clarity on what he designed for you.
Pray About Your Purpose And Write Down Everything You Hear
We write it down so we can check it later to make sure we heard right.
AFTER you’ve checked with the Lord. let’s check yourself.
Ask yourself questions:
What Am I Passionate About?
Helping?
Listening?
Encouraging
Praying For Others? Sharing The Word of God?
What Am I Good At Doing?
Do you have a special gift? Talent?
music? crafts? creating?
Ability?
Are you good with being patient with people? Are you able to analyze a situation with wisdom? Are you able to think through things?
Are you able to see what the Lord could be doing? do you find your prayers answered?
Write down all these things.
We will work to further find what the Lord designed for us.
What is the path to purpose?
It’s the journey we’re going to take to make sure we’re doing our part. If we want to be part of God’s prosperous plans.
We have to operate as intended. Remember:
The Path To Purpose:
And how do we start to find it?
-
Check With The Lord
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Check With Yourself
