Pressing Toward Our Divine Purpose in Christ

 

Summary

In Philippians 3, Paul speaks of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, emphasizing that all worldly gains are insignificant compared to the righteousness found through faith in Him. This passage encourages us to press on toward the heavenly goal, reminding us that our ultimate purpose is to know Christ and participate in His resurrection. As we enter the new year, we are called to pray for those embarking on mission trips, recognizing the eternal impact of their service. This aligns with our church's initiative, "Aim Higher, Dream Bigger," which focuses on building stronger individuals, communities, and the kingdom of God.

God has uniquely created each of us with distinct talents and purposes. Just as no two fingerprints are alike, our identities and callings are uniquely designed by God. We are reminded of the parable of the faithful servant, where Jesus teaches that to whom much is given, much is required. This means we are responsible for using our time, talents, and resources for God's glory. We are made for more than our past failures or worldly ambitions; we are made for a divine purpose.

Understanding God's will involves recognizing His providential, prescriptive, and personal will. His providential will encompasses His sovereign plans, while His prescriptive will is revealed through Scripture. To discern His personal will for our lives, we must first submit to His providential and prescriptive will. This requires surrendering our ambitions and trusting in God's wisdom and guidance. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while we plan our course, the Lord determines our steps.

Trusting God with all our heart, leaning not on our understanding, and acknowledging Him in all our ways are key to aligning with His will. This journey begins with accepting Christ as Savior and continues with daily surrender to His lordship. As we grow in sanctification, we become more like Christ, living out our unique calling and purpose. We are made for more, and by embracing this truth, we can live abundantly and fulfill the divine calling God has placed on our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. Pressing Toward the Goal: Our ultimate purpose is to know Christ and participate in His resurrection. This requires us to press on, leaving behind past failures and striving toward the heavenly goal. Our identity and worth are found in Christ alone, not in worldly achievements. [22:14]

2. Unique Creation and Calling: Just as no two fingerprints are alike, God has uniquely created each of us with distinct talents and purposes. We are made for more than our past failures or worldly ambitions; we are made for a divine purpose. [32:35]

3. Understanding God's Will: God's will is divided into His providential, prescriptive, and personal will. To discern His personal will, we must first submit to His providential and prescriptive will, which requires surrendering our ambitions and trusting in God's wisdom. [43:43]

4. Trusting in God's Guidance: Trusting God with all our heart, leaning not on our understanding, and acknowledging Him in all our ways are key to aligning with His will. This journey begins with accepting Christ as Savior and continues with daily surrender to His lordship. [54:57]

5. Living Out Our Divine Purpose: We are made for more, and by embracing this truth, we can live abundantly and fulfill the divine calling God has placed on our lives. This involves daily surrender and growing in sanctification to become more like Christ. [01:00:45]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [22:14] - Pressing Toward the Goal
- [23:24] - Prayer for Mission Trips
- [32:35] - Unique Creation and Calling
- [34:49] - Made for More
- [36:37] - Formed for God's Family
- [38:09] - Created for a Mission
- [39:41] - Abundant Life in Christ
- [40:46] - God's Masterpiece
- [42:14] - The Struggle of Will
- [43:43] - Understanding God's Will
- [46:22] - Providential and Prescriptive Will
- [48:01] - Personal Will and Surrender
- [50:42] - Aligning with God's Will
- [54:57] - Trusting in God's Guidance
- [01:00:45] - Living Out Our Divine Purpose
- [01:02:24] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Philippians 3:7-14
2. Luke 12:35-38
3. Proverbs 16:9

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Observation Questions:

1. In Philippians 3, what does Paul consider as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ? How does this perspective influence his actions? [22:14]

2. According to the sermon, what are some unique traits that God has given each of us, and how do they relate to our identity and purpose? [32:35]

3. What does the parable of the faithful servant in Luke 12 teach about responsibility and the use of our talents? [34:49]

4. How does Proverbs 16:9 illustrate the relationship between human plans and God's guidance? [42:14]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Paul's view of worldly gains in Philippians 3 challenge common societal values about success and achievement? [22:14]

2. The sermon mentions that God has uniquely created each of us with distinct talents and purposes. How might this understanding affect the way individuals view their own lives and contributions? [32:35]

3. In what ways does the parable of the faithful servant emphasize the importance of using our God-given resources for His glory? How might this apply to modern-day believers? [34:49]

4. How can believers discern God's personal will for their lives according to the sermon, and what role does surrender play in this process? [43:43]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any "worldly gains" you are holding onto that might be hindering your relationship with Christ? How can you begin to let go of these to focus more on knowing Him? [22:14]

2. Consider the unique talents and purposes God has given you. How can you use these gifts to serve others and glorify God in your daily life? [32:35]

3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of praying for those on mission trips. How can you actively support mission work, whether through prayer, financial support, or participation? [23:24]

4. Think about a time when your plans did not align with God's guidance. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you better align your plans with God's will in the future? [42:14]

5. The sermon discusses the struggle between God's will and personal ambition. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with this tension. What steps can you take to surrender your ambitions to God? [43:43]

6. How can you cultivate a daily practice of trusting God with all your heart and acknowledging Him in all your ways? What specific actions can you take this week to strengthen this practice? [54:57]

7. Reflect on the idea that you are "made for more." What changes can you make in your life to embrace this truth and live out the divine calling God has placed on you? [01:00:45]

Devotional

Day 1: Pressing Onward to Know Christ
In Philippians 3, Paul emphasizes the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, urging believers to press on toward the heavenly goal. This involves leaving behind past failures and worldly achievements, recognizing that our true identity and worth are found in Christ alone. As we strive to know Him more deeply, we participate in His resurrection and align our lives with His eternal purpose. This journey requires perseverance and a focus on the ultimate prize, which is a deeper relationship with Jesus. [22:14]

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19, ESV)

Reflection: What past failure or worldly ambition do you need to leave behind to focus more fully on knowing Christ today?


Day 2: Embracing Our Unique Divine Calling
Each person is uniquely created by God with distinct talents and purposes, much like no two fingerprints are alike. We are called to rise above our past failures and worldly ambitions, recognizing that we are made for a divine purpose. This involves understanding that our identity is not defined by our past but by the calling God has placed on our lives. Embracing this truth allows us to live out our unique calling and contribute to the building of God's kingdom. [32:35]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What unique talent or passion has God given you, and how can you use it to serve others and glorify Him today?


Day 3: Discerning God's Will for Our Lives
Understanding God's will involves recognizing His providential, prescriptive, and personal will. His providential will encompasses His sovereign plans, while His prescriptive will is revealed through Scripture. To discern His personal will for our lives, we must first submit to His providential and prescriptive will, surrendering our ambitions and trusting in God's wisdom. This process requires humility and a willingness to align our desires with God's greater plan. [43:43]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules." (Psalm 119:105-106, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to surrender your own ambitions to better align with God's will today?


Day 4: Trusting in God's Guidance
Trusting God with all our heart, leaning not on our understanding, and acknowledging Him in all our ways are key to aligning with His will. This journey begins with accepting Christ as Savior and continues with daily surrender to His lordship. As we grow in sanctification, we become more like Christ, living out our unique calling and purpose. Trusting in God's guidance requires faith and a commitment to follow His lead, even when the path is unclear. [54:57]

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." (Psalm 37:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's guidance, and how can you take a step of faith to trust Him more fully today?


Day 5: Living Abundantly in Our Divine Purpose
We are made for more, and by embracing this truth, we can live abundantly and fulfill the divine calling God has placed on our lives. This involves daily surrender and growing in sanctification to become more like Christ. As we align our lives with God's purpose, we experience the fullness of life that He intends for us. Living out our divine purpose requires intentionality and a commitment to pursue God's kingdom above all else. [01:00:45]

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally pursue living out your divine purpose today, and what steps can you take to experience the abundant life God has for you?

Quotes

"In Philippians 3, he says, But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." [00:21:08] (31 seconds)


"I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining forward to that which is ahead, I press on. Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has called me heavenward. That's our goal. Amen." [00:21:59] (26 seconds)


"To whom much is given, much is required. To whom much is given, much is required. This phrase means that God is going to hold each and every one of us responsible for what we've done with what we have. Understand that? God is going to hold you, God's going to hold me responsible with what we've done with what we have. And that includes things like our time, our talents, our abilities, our personalities, our wealth. Are we using that for the glory of God to benefit others? To take care of those things that we need to take care of? See, I think this idea, Jesus was telling his disciples and us, we all were made for more." [00:34:03] (46 seconds)


"That is, we were all created with God's purposes in mind. He created us for relationship, and he created us with responsibility. And he has blessed all of us with unique talents, abilities, interests, aptitudes, and opportunities that are unique to us. So that through our lives, we might glory. We might glorify God as he's called and he's willed. One commentator said it this way. To be made for more means that God has created each of us uniquely and for a purpose." [00:34:49] (30 seconds)


"Listen to this verse in Proverbs 16. Nine. In his heart. A man plans his course. But the Lord. Determines his steps. In his heart. A man plans his course. But the Lord determines his step. I think this. This verse right here shows us a significant problem that we all face. Most of us have this problem. Because while God has a plan for our. Lives. Our human will. And our human plans. Too often get in the way." [00:42:14] (32 seconds)


"God's will requires my surrender, not my ambition. And so while we may have big plans for our lives, God has a better plan, leaving us with a significant decision that we experience day in, day out. In fact, this decision occurs hundreds of times during a day. Do I want God's will or do I want my will? God's will, my will. That's the struggle we all face." [00:43:43] (31 seconds)


"There are three aspects to God's will. You have his providential will, you have his prescriptive will, and you have his personal will. Everybody say providential. Everybody say prescriptive. Everybody say personal. Now, every one of us in this room, we want to know God's personal will, but you'll never know God's personal will until you understand his providential and prescriptive will. So let's jump into those very quickly. The providential will includes those things which God has done abundantly." [00:44:26] (28 seconds)


"God in his foreknowledge saw that man would fall, and then he, of his own sovereign choice, provided a single solution to the problem of sin, and that was him coming in the flesh, incarcerating himself in flesh to live a sinless life, to die on a cross, to be buried, and the third day raised from the dead, because it is the only mechanism, it's the only means by which any of us can be forgiven, and God did that of his own sovereign choice." [00:45:40] (31 seconds)


"In your hands, you hold the infallible and errant breath of God given to you. In your hands, you hold the infallible and errant breath of God given to you. In your hands, you hold the infallible and errant breath of God given to you. So that we might know who God is. We might know good from evil. We might know right from wrong. We might be able to distinguish what's of God, what's not of God, but all this has been given to us to help us to see God's progressive plan of revelation so that we can know the one true God in relationship." [00:46:22] (31 seconds)


"Because once you receive him as your Savior, now you have to make the decision day in, day out whether or not you're going to allow him to be your Lord. Are you going to allow him to be the boss? Are you going to allow him to be your master? And this is something that you'll do the rest of your life, but... going through what's called the process of sanctification where every day a little more of you dies and a little more of him lives inside of you." [00:57:04] (26 seconds)


"Pretty incredible to think about. Psalm 139 explains this. For you created me in my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully and uniquely made. Now, what does this mean? It means God took great care in designing each one of us, giving every one of us unique physical identity, but also a unique calling and purpose. And just like a fingerprint, there's no one else in the world who is exactly like you or has your calling." [01:00:45] (35 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?