Striving Towards God's Unique Purpose for Our Lives

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God has a unique purpose for each of our lives. Drawing from Philippians 3, we delved into the concept of striving towards the divine calling that God has placed upon us. It's essential to recognize that our existence is not accidental; God has intentionally chosen us for a specific purpose. This realization should encourage us to strive diligently, knowing that our lives are part of a greater divine plan.

We also discussed the importance of focus in our spiritual journey. Striving requires us to look forward and not dwell on past failures or successes. Proverbs 4:25-27 emphasizes the need for a focused path, urging us to keep our eyes on the goal and avoid distractions. This focus is crucial because disruption often follows intention. When we set our minds on a goal, we should expect challenges and not see them as reasons to give up but as opportunities to grow.

Moreover, we touched on the reality that striving is inherently difficult. It demands effort, discipline, and perseverance. The journey to fulfilling God's purpose is fraught with challenges, but these are not meant to deter us. Instead, they serve as spiritual warfare to test our resolve or as spiritual development to refine us. We must embrace the struggle, understanding that it is part of the process of becoming who God intends us to be.

Finally, we acknowledged the significance of physical fitness in our spiritual journey. Our bodies are vessels through which we fulfill our divine assignments. Therefore, maintaining physical health is not optional but essential for executing God's plans effectively. Just as the church is a body with Christ as the head, our physical well-being is crucial for carrying out the visions and ideas God places in our hearts.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Purpose and Choice: God has a specific plan for each of us, and our existence is intentional. Despite any feelings of rejection or inadequacy, we are chosen by God, which should inspire us to strive towards fulfilling His purpose. [02:31]

- Focus and Forward Movement: Striving requires us to focus on the future and not be hindered by past experiences. Proverbs 4:25-27 teaches us to keep our eyes on the goal, marking a straight path and avoiding distractions. This focus is essential for spiritual growth and achieving our divine calling. [09:44]

- Expecting Disruption: Challenges and disruptions are a natural part of pursuing our goals. They are not signs to quit but opportunities for growth. We must remain committed to our intentions, understanding that difficulties are part of the journey. [12:10]

- The Hardship of Striving: Striving is inherently difficult and requires perseverance. The journey to fulfilling God's purpose involves unexpected challenges, but these are meant to strengthen us and develop our character. [16:32]

- Physical Fitness and Spiritual Purpose: Our physical health is crucial for fulfilling our divine assignments. Just as the church is a body with Christ as the head, our physical well-being is essential for executing God's plans effectively. [27:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:31] - God's Purpose and Choice
- [05:21] - Overcoming Rejection
- [09:44] - Focus and Forward Movement
- [12:10] - Expecting Disruption
- [16:32] - The Hardship of Striving
- [19:23] - Temptation as a Distraction
- [22:03] - The Cycle of Temptation
- [25:06] - Joseph's Journey
- [27:52] - Physical Fitness and Spiritual Purpose
- [30:19] - The Importance of Discipline
- [33:14] - Accepting God's Proposal
- [35:41] - Returning to God
- [37:52] - Prayer and Commitment
- [40:00] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Philippians 3:12-13
2. Proverbs 4:25-27
3. Ephesians 2:10

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Observation Questions:

1. In Philippians 3:12-13, what does Paul express about his current state and his goal? How does this relate to the concept of striving mentioned in the sermon? [02:31]

2. According to Proverbs 4:25-27, what are the instructions given for maintaining focus? How does this passage emphasize the importance of focus in our spiritual journey? [09:44]

3. Ephesians 2:10 describes believers as God's masterpiece. How does this verse support the idea that our existence and purpose are intentional? [05:21]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the challenges and disruptions that can occur when striving towards a goal? [12:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the understanding that God has a specific purpose for each person impact one's motivation to strive towards their goals? [02:31]

2. In what ways can past experiences, whether failures or successes, hinder one's ability to focus on future goals, as discussed in the sermon? [09:44]

3. The sermon mentions that striving is inherently difficult and requires perseverance. How can recognizing this reality change one's approach to challenges? [16:32]

4. How does the sermon connect physical fitness to spiritual purpose, and why is maintaining physical health considered essential for fulfilling God's plans? [27:52]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt chosen by God for a specific purpose. How did that realization affect your actions and decisions? [05:21]

2. Identify a past experience that you find yourself dwelling on. How can you shift your focus to the future and the goals God has set for you? [09:44]

3. What are some common distractions in your life that prevent you from maintaining focus on your spiritual journey? How can you address these distractions this week? [12:10]

4. Consider a recent challenge you faced while striving towards a goal. How did you respond, and what could you do differently next time to embrace the struggle as an opportunity for growth? [16:32]

5. How can you incorporate physical fitness into your routine as a way to honor God and prepare yourself for fulfilling His purpose? What specific steps will you take this week? [27:52]

6. Think about a time when you felt tempted to give up on a goal. What strategies can you implement to remain committed and overcome such temptations in the future? [19:23]

7. How can you remind yourself daily of God's intentional choice and purpose for your life, especially during moments of doubt or rejection? [05:21]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing God's Unique Purpose for You
God has a specific plan for each of us, and our existence is intentional. Despite any feelings of rejection or inadequacy, we are chosen by God, which should inspire us to strive towards fulfilling His purpose. Understanding that our lives are not accidental but part of a divine plan can transform how we view our daily actions and decisions. This realization encourages us to live with intention and purpose, knowing that we are part of something greater than ourselves. [02:31]

"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 specific talents or passions do you believe God has given you to fulfill His purpose? How can you begin to use them more intentionally today?


Day 2: Maintaining Focus on Your Spiritual Journey
Striving requires us to focus on the future and not be hindered by past experiences. Proverbs 4:25-27 teaches us to keep our eyes on the goal, marking a straight path and avoiding distractions. This focus is essential for spiritual growth and achieving our divine calling. By keeping our eyes on the goal, we can navigate through life's distractions and remain steadfast in our spiritual journey. [09:44]

"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure." (Proverbs 4:25-26, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions are currently hindering your spiritual focus? How can you realign your priorities to keep your eyes on your spiritual goals?


Day 3: Embracing Challenges as Opportunities for Growth
Challenges and disruptions are a natural part of pursuing our goals. They are not signs to quit but opportunities for growth. We must remain committed to our intentions, understanding that difficulties are part of the journey. Embracing these challenges with a positive mindset allows us to grow spiritually and develop resilience. [12:10]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How can you view it as an opportunity for spiritual growth rather than a setback?


Day 4: Persevering Through the Hardship of Striving
Striving is inherently difficult and requires perseverance. The journey to fulfilling God's purpose involves unexpected challenges, but these are meant to strengthen us and develop our character. By persevering through hardships, we become more aligned with God's intentions for our lives and grow in spiritual maturity. [16:32]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to persevere despite difficulties? How can you rely on God's strength to help you endure?


Day 5: The Importance of Physical Fitness in Spiritual Purpose
Our physical health is crucial for fulfilling our divine assignments. Just as the church is a body with Christ as the head, our physical well-being is essential for executing God's plans effectively. Taking care of our bodies enables us to serve God and others more effectively, aligning our physical health with our spiritual purpose. [27:52]

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own." (1 Corinthians 6:19, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to improve your physical health as part of your spiritual journey? How can this enhance your ability to fulfill God's purpose for your life?

Quotes


I want to focus on first of all those two words Christ's purpose and then he chose me. Christ's purpose and he chose me. The first observation I'd like to make is that God has a plan for your life. I hope that encourages you to strive. It is his purpose. Christ had a purpose for you. You're not an accident. You're not a mistake. [00:02:22] (26 seconds)


You were not dropped at God's doorstep and he was stuck with you. He had a plan. He actually chose you and I'm going to come to that in a moment but first thing I want you to understand he has a plan for your life. That thing that we talked about last week that is uniquely yours, it is your one thing, it is the thing you were designed and born and created to do, that thing wasn't your idea. [00:03:07] (20 seconds)


And out of all those people in the world, God says, I chose you. You wouldn't be hearing this message right now if you weren't chosen. God said, her, her, him. Right? I got a plan for her and him. Like, that is exceptional. Think about that. Throw that up against everybody that didn't choose you. [00:05:13] (22 seconds)


The next time you cry and upset about those who rejected you and people that didn't think you were good enough and somebody that divorced you or quit you or broke up with you or somebody that didn't pick you or the team that cut you, what you tried out for. Think about the time when you didn't get picked on the playground and nobody wanted you on their team or you didn't have a prom date in high school. [00:05:34] (23 seconds)


Let me show you this in, I think, let me go to the Old Testament book of Proverbs, and I want to read a passage that really highlights this importance of focus. Proverbs 4, 25, 26, and 27, it reads like this. Look straight ahead. That's focus. Fix your eyes on what lies before you. That's focus. And it is a requirement if you're going to strive. [00:11:11] (27 seconds)


Wow that thing is loaded right there let's break it down now last week we talked about he says discipline means you do what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it how you're supposed to do it every single time and the reason why he says you got to do what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it how you're supposed to do it every single time is because this point disruption always follows intention. [00:13:19] (29 seconds)


And the reason why that disruption comes is is because one of the things that Satan is looking for, Satan is looking for your tap out point. Satan just wants to know at what point will she quit? At what point will he resign? How hard does it have to get for him or her to say enough of this, I ain't taking no more? [00:14:19] (26 seconds)


So that means I'm committed to this. I'm expecting problems. I'm expecting difficulty. I'm expecting it to be hard. Here's, in fact, I'm gonna give you my last point right now. I'm gonna walk through both of these together because striving is hard. Striving really is hard. See, some people don't understand. See, when you first got on the pathway to your goal, you weren't expecting the difficulty that you faced. [00:15:27] (25 seconds)


And people, you can tell people that don't expect, they don't expect things to be hard. because when they ask people who are where they want to be in life, they always ask them stuff like, this is how you can know a person don't really know what striving is about. They always ask you something like, so what's your secret? So when somebody asks you what's your secret, you know what they're looking for? A shortcut. [00:16:12] (21 seconds)


Now, let me say this one thing because it's, you know, it's kind of an understood thing, but I don't know if it's understood about everything. Your physical fitness, our physical fitness and wellness is critical to us successfully striving for our goals. Even if physical fitness is not your one thing, like you do it for a living, you do it and help other people do it, even if it's not your thing professionally or your niche, you still have to be physically fit because God needs your body to get your purpose done. [00:26:43] (38 seconds)


So even when the head is talking to the body, if the body is sick, it can't execute what the head is saying. The same is true in your life personally. You may have amazing ideas and strategies and visions in your head, but if you are always sick, if you are out of shape, if you have no energy, if you are bedridden, you may die with your ideas because your ideas, your head needs a body. [00:27:18] (35 seconds)


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Transcript
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