“Purpose Post” – Week 5

This post is part of the Every Nation London “40 Days of purpose” series adventure…

If our 40 days of purpose adventure was a 400m track race, we’d now be coming around the final bend heading into the home straight…can you hear the crowds of heaven roaring as you press into your purpose? Maybe not quite, but nevertheless I believe heaven gets excited when any one of us gets that Apostle Paul attitude who says: “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back”. – Philippians 3:12-14 (The Message)

 This weeks Purpose is: “You are S.H.A.P.E.D. for Service”:   

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to (Get rich? Be fulfilled? Gain God’s approval? Score borownie points with God? Impress others? –  NO!) to serve others” -  1 Peter 4:10  This purpose moves us into the “what-am-I-on-earth-to-DO” phase.  Do you still remember the key scripture verse of the introduction session? It was from Ephesians 2:10 and says that “We are His workmanship, created to do good works in Christ, which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in.”    

God has some “good works” for you to do, and He has uniquely S.H.A.P.E.D. you for these.  Like an individual piece of a giant puzzle, your uniqueness is a creation fact: there is no-one S.H.A.P.E.D. like you, and no piece in a puzzle is more important that another. However it’s up to you to believe it and to use the unique gifts for serving God by serving others.  I would define a “good work” as anything that you do “in His name” for His benefit and for the benefit of others.  

Are you currently serving anywhere in a regular and committed way? If not, why not start somewhere, and be willing to start small. Start serving on a church team or in a ministry which best fits (not necessarily perfectly) how you are S.H.A.P.E.D.   Serving others is a purpose of your life, and when you activate your talents/gifts/abilities/resources to serve others you will find a massive dose of fulfilment coming your way – because you are fulfilling Gods purpose!  

 Remember, when you make you “ordinary” available to God, He can do the extra-ordinary with it… have a look here at what can be done with two hands and an old overhead projector (remember those?!)….  

“Purpose Post” – Week 4

If you are on the “40 days of Purpose” adventure with us, you will have passed the half way mark now.  You may be behind or ahead, but most importantly, make sure that you don’t just go through the book, but let the truth in the book go through you!

 This week’s purpose is entitled “You were created to become like Christ.”

There are definitely a lot of people who would not readily accept this as a “purpose” for their lives. There are so many other heroes and images to “become like.”  The question you and I need to answer is: Do I personally really accept this as a “purpose”? Am I committed to “Christ-likeness”?   Is Jesus the real hero I long to imitate, or is there another “image of this world” (Romans 12:2) or hero that I worship?   

 The early church was very committed to this purpose. In Acts chapter 11:26 we read that the Apostle Paul and Barnabus came to a place called Antioch and “…for a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” 

Notice: They did not call themselves “Christians,” but those who observed their lives called them “Christians.”  How our world needs more of us to be called “Christians”! What a transformation there would be in our families, workplaces, neighbourhoods, campuses, schools – if more of us disciples would be called “Christians” because of the way we lived, loved, forgave, served, reacted, and showed the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Remember: Let this attitude (approach, outlook, position, manner, stance, feelings, mind-set, thoughts) be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)

 Let’s face it – we’ve got some changing to do!  My prayer this week is that we will become more and more “like Christ”- Not through sheer willpower, but through a heart surrender to God who “works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”  (Philippians 2: 13)  

Its true: I may not be what I should be or could be, but I sure thank God that I’m not what I used to be!

For a reality check on emptiness/falseness of “the image of this world” check out this one minute Dove Advert on YouTube here.

On a 40 Days of Purpose adventure with you…

“Purpose Post” – Week 3

This week we are about one third of the way into our “40 days of purpose” adventure. This weeks purpose is about living for the purpose of “Family “& “Fellowship” :

Love one another. Love your neighbour. Love your enemies. Love each other. Love your wife. Become one.   

One of our purposes we have every day is to be a “lover” – not just a “casual” lover, but a committed lover.  Not just how and when we want and how it suits us, but consistently and sacrificially and creatively. When our lives get out of sync with Gods purposes we become “lusters” rather than the lovers we were created to be. A lovers lives to give, even at the expense of self, while a luster lives to get, even at the expense of others.

“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23,24 in The Message Translation)

It’s so easy to talk about love and say “I love you.” But our loving can get stale so quickly.  So this week as you read about the “Formed for Family” purpose, think of ways to be “inventive” in your love. When last have you given “an unexpected gift at an unexpected time?”

To be inspired about what can happen when one person steps out of their comfort zone and gets a little “inventive” – check out this FREE HUGS story here  – now already watched by millions of people…

Let’s write our own love stories… this will show the world that we are His disciples – John 13:34)

What’s your love story?

Purpose Post extra…

In Psalm 16v11 David says: “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Further he encourages us to “worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!” (1 Chronicles 16:29) 

What do these phrases mean to you: “Worship,” “Gods presence,” “the path of life,” “the beauty of holiness”?

Here’s what I suggest: Get alone and comfortable, and open this YouTube link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS596VsNEOE). Turn up the volume, put the picture on full screen view, and let this 6 minute story and the song give you a glimpse of your heavenly Fathers view of you, the joy you bring Him, and the pleasure you can experience when you let Him take over your life…

Then take some time to look over the lyrics of the song by the band “Mercy Me” – imagine when you stand in your heavenly fathers presence….(I dare you to at least sing it in the shower!)

“I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side…
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me! I can only imagine. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ‘Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

 I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!
I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!

As you read this week’s chapters:

• þ       Allow God to show you the path of life, and commit yourself to stay on it…
• þ      Tell God that you want to be a worshipper whose life brings Him pleasure…
• þ      Meditate on the scripture references expecting to get a glimpse of understanding of what David meant by “the beauty of holiness”… 

On a 40 Day purpose quest with you

“Purpose Post” – week 2

This weeks “40 days of purpose” focus is about the quest for pleasure, and specifically living our lives for Gods pleasure, and about us finding our greatest pleasure in Gods presence, expressed in a lifestyle of worship.

Eric Liddell, English Olympic Athlete and subject of the well-known movie “Chariots of Fire,” said: “When I run, I feel Gods pleasure.”

Not everyone loves running, but I do. In fact, I had a personal “pursuit of pleasure” this morning as I woke up in a beach hotel in Singapore (here for a conference). Shortly after waking up I received an unexpected phone call from my wife Ali in London. Pleasure. Then I decided to go for a run on the beach. Pleasure. I felt so alive and close to God as I enjoyed the run on beautiful white sand. My pleasure, and I really felt Gods pleasure in that moment too.  Then it happened, like it often does in life – I took a detour and ended up getting a bit lost. Pleasure began to fade. I ended up ion the opposite end of the Island, and pleasure seemed (and was) miles away! Well over an hour later I was back at the hotel. No pleasure, just pain. Tired. Thirsty. Sore. I started out filled with pleasure, but somewhere along the way I took a detour and ended up in pain…

Are you on a path that is filled with Gods pleasure, or have you taken a detour too?

 In Psalm 16v11 David says: “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Further he encourages us to “worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!” (1 Chronicles 16:29) 

As you read this week’s chapters:

• þ       Allow God to show you the path of life, and commit yourself to stay on it…
• þ      Tell God that you want to be a worshipper whose life brings Him pleasure…
• þ      Meditate on the scripture references expecting to get a glimpse of understanding of what David meant by “the beauty of holiness”… 

On a 40 Day purpose quest with you…

In Singapore…

I am in Singapore for 5 days this week at the Every Nation “International Policy Council” meetings with we look at the “global values & perspectives” of this ministry, as well as attending part of the Asian Pastors Equipping Conference.  Its a privilege to be a part of this team and to hang out with great people doing a great work in this region for a great God…Back in London this weekend to and preaching on the Purpose of being “Formed for Family.” Really pumped for this…