DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE: (Finding your place in Life)

In December 2001, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons issued a report suggesting that many Americans are making plastic surgery one of their New Years resolutions. New Year resolutions are a traditional part of life. Look at some of the most popular ones that people will be making this year. What is your resolution for 2010? The strange thing about these resolutions is that it takes more than a “January 1st” on the calendar to bring about a real change; it takes determination; self control and perseverance even when we don’t feel like it; then with the help of God by the end of the year we can see the desired change.

Have you ever wondered what on earth you are here for? Rick Warren the author of “The purpose driven Life” notes, “The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you where placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.”

I believe each of us is born for God’s purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 “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 apostle Paul discovered his purpose on the road to Damascus. I have discovered my purpose in life in 1982. A friend of mine sent me a New Year greeting which said, “May God put a Rush in your life to Know Him more this year.” I think it is a worthy resolution to make in 2010 that we would know God more this year.

I. KNOWING CHRIST
We are living in an age in which we pay high price to gain Knowledge. Plato the famous Greek Philosopher once said “Knowledge is the food of the soul” Many philosophers today concede that Greek philosophy has shaped the entire Western thought since its inception. As Alfred Whitehead once noted, with some exaggeration, "Western philosophy is just a series of footnotes to Plato."[1] Greek thought is focused on the role of reason and inquiry. Isn’t that true that we place so much emphasis on “reason and inquiry”?

In ancient time’s silver was a precious commodity people would do anything to posses silver. In Proverbs 2:3-5 “and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.”

Where did this quest for knowledge begin? It goes back to the garden of Eden when eve saw the fruit this is how she reasoned, “Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.” Even today Satan appeals to our curiosity to know everything. We spend millions of dollars on “research”. There is nothing wrong in education, and acquiring knowledge but the question we must ask is what kind of knowledge? Knowing in itself is not enough but knowing the right thing is life giving.

Paul was dealing with a group of Gnostics who believed; “A person attains salvation by learning secret knowledge of their spiritual essence: a divine spark of light or spirit. They then have the opportunity to escape from the prison of their bodies at death.” The Gnostics saw Christ as the revealer or a liberator rather than a Savior or Judge” While certain Greeks were saying Knowledge is the way to salvation certain Jews were emphasizing circumcision is the only way of salvation.

Paul wrote in Philippians 3: 10-11 “I want to Know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” In order to Know Christ Paul was willing to give up everything. Phil 3:7-9 “Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”

Nothing in the world can even come close to the value of knowing Christ. It is far more worth than winning a million dollars in a lottery. Nothing can be compared with the thrill and joy you find when you know Christ. It is beyond all our imaginations and human understanding. Knowing Christ is eternal life. (John 17:3) Throughout the centuries many believers have tried to live out the words of Paul when they sought after Christ more than anything. Fanny Crosby one of the most famous American Hymn writers wrote more than 9000 Hymns. One of her Hymns was “Take the whole world but give me Jesus” We don’t sing these Hymns these days; they are not appealing to carnal Christians. Instead some may sing; Give me the world and take Jesus” or some others may sing “Give me the world and Jesus.”

You can not have both the world and Jesus at the same time.

For Paul and many saints who have gone before us Knowing Christ was everything. They considered everything else as rubbish when it comes to gaining Christ. What is that you need to give up in 2010 so that you may know Christ and the power of His resurrection? Knowing Christ is everything because knowing Christ is Salvation and it is eternal life.

II. LIVING FOR CHRIST
In any church there could be three categories of people. Firstly, there are those who sincerely attend Church; show up at every church event; but have never been born again or made Christ the Lord of their life. Secondly, there are those who have accepted Christ but have become stagnated in their growth, they may go through motions but other things take precedence in their life, they are sleeping Christians. Thirdly, there are those who are steadily growing in their faith, they are Kingdom minded and truly seek to live for God and bear fruit for Him. In which category do you belong?

If you have never accepted Christ or have back slidden there is hope for you. I don’t worry about those who are steadily growing in the LORD. But I fear for those sleeping Christians. One way knowing Christ is everything but it is not then end in itself. Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus and encouraged them to discover God’s purpose in life. Ephesians 5:14-17 "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.” This text reminds us that we are to wake up from our sleep, we are to be wise and not to be foolish and miss God’s will. We are to redeem our time. We have to discover our purpose.

I often hear New the England Christians are called “the Frozen Chosen” this is not something new; D.L Moody one of America’s great evangelist observed in his Boston campaign in 1877. I quote “Christianity has been on the defensive long enough, especially here in New England. The time has come for us to open a war of aggression. Remember during the War of the Rebellion some of the generals kept their armies on the defensive until they got frustrated. I guess a good many Christians here in New England have just got into their cushioned pews and gone to sleep.”

Unquote, nothing much has changed since then, by and large we are still in a frozen state. My prayer is that in 2010 God would send His Holy Spirit fire among us to thaw our frozen hearts so that we will rise up from our slumber and discover His purpose for our lives and for our Church.

Paul reminded the Corinthian believers of their responsibility. He did not want them to be idle and do nothing about their faith. II Corinthians 5:14-15 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

If you are a born again Christian you are not to live for yourself but for Christ who died for your sins. If Christ emptied himself; gave up everything including His very life so that you and I could live then what right do we have to hold on to things in life? If we are indeed the followers of Christ then we are called to follow in his foot steps. I know it is easier said than done. Nevertheless can we make a resolution not to seek our own selfish interests instead we seek to please Him. Paul said; “For Christ’s love compels us” The word to compel means “drivingly forceful; irresistible” In other words Paul was driven by Christ’s forceful and irresistible love. The media and the advertisements are compelling. In order to persuade customers or clients compelling ad writers keep two things in mind: 1. knowing their product 2. Knowing their audience. In business terms Paul knew his product, knew his audience and also knew how to sell his product convincingly. He was convinced without a doubt that Christ died and rose again for all people, therefore all people can be saved.

Paul also knew that if any one is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come. If you are a believer in Christ today you are to ask for yourself how far am I living according to the new nature Christ has given me? Or am I letting my old nature dominate and make me a slave all over again? If you are in Christ indeed you are a new creation which means you are not meant to go on living a sinful life.

Paul wanted the believers to know their purpose, one metaphor he used was “you are Christ’s ambassadors” The word ambassador means: an official envoy; the resident representative of his or her own government in a foreign country, an authorized representative or messenger. The government vests it’s authority in the ambassador. In the same way God has committed his message to us and Christ has sent us into the world with his authority.

What is his message that God has committed to us? Through Christ you and I can be reconciled back to God. We tend to have a wrong concept of ministry. We think ministry is only for those who had been to a seminary or a bible college, for pastors and evangelists. No! To every child of God he has given a ministry of reconciliation. You and I are to go out and bring people back to God. You can do that at your school; work place; at the soccer field; market place and every where.

Knowing Christ is eternal life. Do you know Christ as your personal savior today? Knowing Christ is not the end in itself. After knowing, comes making Him known. We are called to reach out to our generation with the gospel. Only by surrendering your life to Christ; you can discover your purpose in life. Have you found your purpose? If you have not yet given your life to Jesus it is never too late; you can do it today. All you need to do is to confess that you have sinned; believe that Christ has died for your sins; ask Jesus to forgive your sins and then come into your heart and to enable you to live for him for the rest of your life. May be you have been a Christian all your life; but you need some fire in your walk with God. Ask God to forgive you for being lukewarm. Rededicate your life afresh. Ask him to fill you with his Holy Spirit to keep your flame burning for Christ.

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you in 2010 with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Hebrews 13:20-21 Amen.