WEBVTT 00:00:16.429 --> 00:00:18.189 We'll be in Ephesians 2.10. 00:00:18.509 --> 00:00:32.670 Ephesians 2.10, it reads, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 00:00:33.070 --> 00:00:34.189 You may be seated. 00:00:39.310 --> 00:00:46.109 Cece spoiled it a little bit, but I am going to talk about fireworks because I think they're the coolest things in the world. 00:00:47.149 --> 00:00:52.429 I don't know if anybody else experienced this yesterday, and I don't know why I don't experience it more often. 00:00:52.670 --> 00:00:54.109 How does it work? 00:00:54.909 --> 00:00:56.670 I don't understand. 00:00:57.629 --> 00:01:02.989 It's one of those things where like, you guys are the ones where they go and then they boom and then they all boom again. 00:01:03.150 --> 00:01:05.709 It's like, why don't they boom the first time? 00:01:06.269 --> 00:01:08.829 And there were so many things about fireworks yesterday. 00:01:09.069 --> 00:01:11.870 I'm like, how does it get it to like spin and spiral? 00:01:12.030 --> 00:01:14.429 And I saw some that were hearts. 00:01:14.670 --> 00:01:16.269 It's like there are so many things. 00:01:16.349 --> 00:01:20.670 And I'm like, I was watching it, I was like, someone's smarter than I am. 00:01:21.549 --> 00:01:28.670 The whole time, truly, I was mesmerized and blown away and thankful, and I love fireworks, and Cece loves them even more. 00:01:28.909 --> 00:01:34.349 We were driving home from a wedding in Cedarville, and the whole time we were going home, I mean everywhere. 00:01:34.509 --> 00:01:36.269 It was jump scares while driving. 00:01:36.429 --> 00:01:40.909 Like I never knew what was to come, but every single time it's like, wow. 00:01:41.229 --> 00:01:42.750 That is honestly so cool. 00:01:42.989 --> 00:01:49.549 And then I thought, and maybe my most important thought of the morning, that's hopefully not true, why don't we do them more often? 00:01:50.429 --> 00:01:54.429 Like, why do we preserve them for like two national holidays? 00:01:54.750 --> 00:01:57.310 So if anybody has a birthday coming up, holler at me. 00:01:57.390 --> 00:02:00.829 We'll get some fireworks and we're gonna make it happen. 00:02:01.149 --> 00:02:05.869 But as much as I love fireworks, I really do mean it when I say that I love being here with you guys. 00:02:06.030 --> 00:02:11.950 And I love being in God's presence and seeking what he has for our life and the direction he's leading us in. 00:02:12.110 --> 00:02:16.670 God's presence a place that heals us, nourishes us, encourages us, and leads us. 00:02:16.830 --> 00:02:22.990 And I love it personally, but it's so special to be in God's presence with you. 00:02:23.390 --> 00:02:48.030 And in the culture that we live in, I don't know if you guys have noticed on the media or in friendships or in social media, that globally speaking, we're in what I would consider to be a charismatic swing of the church, where the church is realizing again that the work of the Holy Spirit is still active and present, which I think is a long overdue realization for people who believe in the risen king. 00:02:48.270 --> 00:02:52.110 But with that, I've noticed something that concerns me a little bit. 00:02:52.270 --> 00:02:59.150 And it's something that I think we need to be well aware of, and something that this morning we're gonna speak to a little bit. 00:02:59.469 --> 00:03:06.030 And it's this idea is that sometimes we treat God's presence like a fireworks show. 00:03:06.350 --> 00:03:17.950 It's something we come to, we enjoy his presence, we maybe smile in his presence, maybe we're even blown away in his presence, maybe we remember that everything's gonna be okay. 00:03:18.510 --> 00:03:21.870 And it's a sensory experience that's beautiful. 00:03:22.750 --> 00:03:24.750 But then we just go home. 00:03:26.189 --> 00:03:29.150 And life is relatively the same. 00:03:29.870 --> 00:03:39.710 While it's enjoyable in his presence, it is not at all the full picture of what God designed when he offered his presence to us. 00:03:39.950 --> 00:03:42.189 Something for us to be in and enjoy. 00:03:42.270 --> 00:03:49.070 And this morning I want to present to you that God's presence leads us to God's purpose. 00:03:49.550 --> 00:03:51.790 I'm gonna pray for us as we jump in. 00:03:52.189 --> 00:03:56.110 Father, I thank you that we have been given access to you. 00:03:56.990 --> 00:03:59.950 I thank you that we can be reminded of who you are. 00:04:00.189 --> 00:04:07.790 I thank you that your son did a work allowing us to stand firm in the truth that this is not the end. 00:04:08.430 --> 00:04:09.950 That we will see you again. 00:04:10.110 --> 00:04:14.110 We will know you in a way we have never known you before. 00:04:14.430 --> 00:04:18.750 So, Holy Spirit, I pray this morning that you open blind eyes. 00:04:19.790 --> 00:04:25.230 You open eyes that have lost sight of you to regain sight of Christ this morning. 00:04:25.790 --> 00:04:33.069 Hearts that have grown numb or bitter or hurt, Lord, I pray that they are softened this morning to see you again. 00:04:33.789 --> 00:04:40.029 And Lord, I pray that as we become aware of your presence, I pray that you lead us into your purposes. 00:04:40.349 --> 00:04:41.949 In Jesus' name. 00:04:42.269 --> 00:04:42.909 Amen. 00:04:43.629 --> 00:04:48.269 You may have noticed by this morning's teaching text that we are not in the Old Testament. 00:04:48.430 --> 00:04:50.349 We are taking a one-week break. 00:04:50.509 --> 00:04:56.029 We just finished up the patriarchs, and next week we're starting up the era of no kings. 00:04:56.189 --> 00:04:58.750 It's a section of the Old Testament where there was no king. 00:04:58.829 --> 00:05:06.430 And we're gonna see how the work of God was moved forward, and maybe more realistically, how the people rebelled from who God was. 00:05:06.509 --> 00:05:07.949 And we're gonna get to discover that more. 00:05:08.029 --> 00:05:13.310 But this week, we're gonna sit in Ephesians chapter two and see what God has for us. 00:05:13.789 --> 00:05:14.909 So let's begin. 00:05:15.069 --> 00:05:18.509 I'm gonna read verse two, chapter two, verse ten again as we jump in. 00:05:18.589 --> 00:05:30.909 It says, We are we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 00:05:31.310 --> 00:05:35.469 I'm gonna focus on this first section here, for we are his workmanship. 00:05:35.789 --> 00:05:41.549 Workmanship here in the Greek is the word poema, and no, that is not how you say it. 00:05:41.870 --> 00:05:45.229 But the word is where we get the word poem from. 00:05:45.549 --> 00:05:52.829 So what this is saying is we are his poem, which is very unique language. 00:05:53.069 --> 00:05:59.549 It presents the idea that we were created with intention, with creativity, and with beauty. 00:05:59.789 --> 00:06:08.430 And I don't know if you guys have read poetry much in your days, but I just started reading a little bit of poetry, and most of the time it makes no sense. 00:06:08.669 --> 00:06:11.069 I know that there's something beautiful in there. 00:06:11.229 --> 00:06:15.870 Like there's a treasure to be found, but I first read it and I'm like, this is just bad English. 00:06:16.189 --> 00:06:24.990 But then as I read it more and more and more, I begin to see what the author of that poem is trying to do. 00:06:25.229 --> 00:06:31.629 I begin to see the journey that they're taking me on the more I spend time reading it and trying to understand. 00:06:32.029 --> 00:06:41.310 And I think the same way, many of us who have walked with God or not, we've wrestled with this idea of do I have any value in me? 00:06:41.629 --> 00:06:43.229 Is there a beauty about me? 00:06:43.389 --> 00:06:44.750 Is there an identity about me? 00:06:44.909 --> 00:06:46.829 Is there a purpose about me? 00:06:46.990 --> 00:06:50.909 And what we see here is that the answer is yes. 00:06:51.709 --> 00:06:54.909 For you are God's workmanship. 00:06:55.149 --> 00:07:03.629 You are a poem that God has written, an extension of beauty, of character, of interest, and of intention. 00:07:05.149 --> 00:07:10.349 God making us with a purpose can similarly be understood as an inventor creating a product. 00:07:10.509 --> 00:07:11.629 It's a very simple idea. 00:07:11.789 --> 00:07:15.549 If you want to get to know how to use the product, just ask the one who made it. 00:07:15.870 --> 00:07:24.269 And for us, for us to understand who we are and how we were made, we simply need to look to the one who made us. 00:07:24.589 --> 00:07:28.589 What was the purpose in which we were designed with? 00:07:29.229 --> 00:07:40.029 In this truth that we are God's workmanship, to me, is one of the most beautiful presentations of why the gospel of Jesus is so darn cool. 00:07:40.430 --> 00:07:46.829 Because God designed you and me with purpose and intention when he first created the world. 00:07:47.069 --> 00:07:52.189 But when sin entered the world, it created this void and introduced a question. 00:07:52.589 --> 00:07:57.549 Not a question of how do I serve you, God, but a question of who am I? 00:07:58.189 --> 00:08:05.629 A question where our identity and purpose didn't become something we acted on, but it became something that we questioned. 00:08:06.189 --> 00:08:17.870 But the good news of Jesus is that Jesus Christ, through his life, his death, and his resurrection, he made a way again for us to have access to the one who made us. 00:08:18.430 --> 00:08:27.069 And in that we again have access through Jesus and Jesus alone to finally answer the question, Who am I? 00:08:27.870 --> 00:08:32.669 And in this verse, Paul is making a statement that you are Christ's workmanship. 00:08:33.070 --> 00:08:37.629 You were knit together and created with intention and design. 00:08:38.029 --> 00:08:45.789 This is good news for the lost soul, made with intention and creativity and given a purpose. 00:08:46.110 --> 00:08:53.549 In this second part of the verse, I want to really emphasize here that we're given a purpose as Christ created us. 00:08:53.710 --> 00:09:01.149 It says that we were created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand. 00:09:01.389 --> 00:09:04.829 Do you notice the intentionality of the authorship here? 00:09:05.069 --> 00:09:11.949 First and foremost, he establishes this is who you are: the workmanship of Christ. 00:09:12.269 --> 00:09:15.230 And then he says what you were made to do. 00:09:15.470 --> 00:09:23.069 What you do does not define who you are, but who you are tells you what you were designed to do. 00:09:23.389 --> 00:09:28.669 And this statement here that you are created in Christ Jesus isn't a niche statement for some of us. 00:09:28.829 --> 00:09:37.149 It isn't a niche statement for the skilled or gifted, it's a statement for all, a truth for you, me, and all of you. 00:09:37.389 --> 00:09:40.350 That we are created for good works. 00:09:40.590 --> 00:09:44.590 And as followers of Jesus, we share in a purpose. 00:09:44.909 --> 00:09:50.189 Each of us, as a creative expression of who Christ is, might do that differently. 00:09:50.429 --> 00:09:53.389 But the purpose remains the same. 00:09:54.429 --> 00:09:58.110 You and I share a singular purpose. 00:09:58.350 --> 00:10:02.189 So if you've ever asked the question, what is my purpose? 00:10:02.429 --> 00:10:03.949 What should I do with my life? 00:10:04.189 --> 00:10:05.629 How should I spend my time? 00:10:05.789 --> 00:10:08.509 How should I spend my resources? 00:10:09.870 --> 00:10:11.309 I'm going to tell you. 00:10:12.110 --> 00:10:16.189 And if you haven't asked that question, maybe you should be up here next week. 00:10:16.669 --> 00:10:26.509 But it's this idea that we ask this question, but I actually think Scripture answers it in a pretty simple and clear way for us of what was I made to do? 00:10:27.870 --> 00:10:30.029 Flip with me to Mark chapter 12. 00:10:42.829 --> 00:10:45.309 Mark twelve, verse thirty. 00:10:47.389 --> 00:10:49.549 The purpose of your life. 00:10:59.389 --> 00:11:05.389 When we think of purpose, we have to go back to this idea that we were created. 00:11:06.029 --> 00:11:10.509 And when something is created, it is created for a purpose. 00:11:10.829 --> 00:11:14.429 And here the Lord tells us that this is what you are to do. 00:11:14.669 --> 00:11:23.629 And as the one who made us, for you and I to walk in any measure of full life, we have to ask the question, what was I made to do? 00:11:24.029 --> 00:11:27.069 It's like, are we trying to play baseball with a hammer? 00:11:27.470 --> 00:11:29.949 I don't know if you've tried it, it's not gonna work. 00:11:30.509 --> 00:11:33.710 But this is saying, What was I designed to do? 00:11:33.870 --> 00:11:41.069 And the second thing, which is an overflow of the first thing, we can go to the next verse in 31. 00:11:41.309 --> 00:11:44.750 You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:11:45.549 --> 00:11:51.870 Despite this truth, purpose prevails as one of the largest battles we face as believers. 00:11:52.350 --> 00:11:56.590 But I want to encourage us, this is who we are. 00:11:57.069 --> 00:12:03.389 This is who we were designed to be, and this is what we were designed to do. 00:12:04.350 --> 00:12:17.149 A mistake we make in not in violence against God, but it's a mistake we often make as we come before God asking for a career path before we sort out the very thing He told us to do. 00:12:17.710 --> 00:12:23.789 Before we ask the question of God, how can I love you and how can I serve your people and love your people? 00:12:23.949 --> 00:12:26.669 We try to sort out the vocation. 00:12:27.629 --> 00:12:33.470 But this is the primary reason that you and I exist. 00:12:35.230 --> 00:12:37.389 Of course, we need to work. 00:12:37.629 --> 00:12:45.309 That is a part of how we love God and how we love people, but the heart and motivation has to be sorted first. 00:12:45.949 --> 00:12:49.470 That this is why God designed us. 00:12:49.710 --> 00:12:55.789 We are all made to honor God, to worship Him, learn about Him, grow in Him. 00:12:56.029 --> 00:12:58.429 From what we watch to what we say. 00:12:58.829 --> 00:13:01.230 And all of us are made to love people. 00:13:01.710 --> 00:13:13.949 And becoming aware of God's presence in our life is one of the primary ways to change us in such a way that we can actually do these things. 00:13:15.069 --> 00:13:22.269 Because being in the presence of your creator leads you to the purpose in which you were created. 00:13:23.789 --> 00:13:27.870 The third part of this verse, I think, might be one of the most important. 00:13:28.429 --> 00:13:34.590 And this is the area where we really have to sort out in our hearts if we're doing this or not. 00:13:34.829 --> 00:13:36.429 Because the truth is good. 00:13:36.669 --> 00:13:43.230 We are created for good works that God had prepared beforehand, but this next part is so key. 00:13:43.789 --> 00:13:47.870 It says that we should walk in them. 00:13:50.029 --> 00:13:54.990 God did not design you with immense purpose so that you could talk about it. 00:13:56.189 --> 00:14:00.269 He designed you with immense purpose so you could act on it. 00:14:01.789 --> 00:14:11.710 If God's presence doesn't lead you to God's purpose, you risk feeling the goosebumps and emotions all while lacking God's heart. 00:14:12.110 --> 00:14:18.189 Leaving you empty, isolated, and weak in the midst of a battle that doesn't have timeouts. 00:14:18.590 --> 00:14:23.470 Goosebumps and good feelings don't always equal God's presence. 00:14:23.710 --> 00:14:25.870 I don't know if anyone's ever been to a concert. 00:14:26.909 --> 00:14:28.829 Feel goosebumps and good feelings. 00:14:28.990 --> 00:14:36.269 And there's nothing wrong with feeling good in God's presence, but God's presence should point to his purpose. 00:14:37.230 --> 00:14:44.189 Too many Christians are caught up in the emotions, in feeling good, and enjoying the firework show. 00:14:44.829 --> 00:14:49.710 And too little of us are caught up in doing what God has called us to do. 00:14:51.470 --> 00:14:56.110 We're too busy seeking God's presence for our purpose. 00:14:56.669 --> 00:15:10.110 And furthermore, and something that I think many of us can relate to, is that it's easy to think that you're burnt out because you labor without his presence, which can be true, and oftentimes it is. 00:15:10.429 --> 00:15:16.590 But maybe you're burnt out because you spend time in God's presence, but you do nothing with it. 00:15:19.149 --> 00:15:30.909 If God's presence is what Scripture actually says that it is, a place where our eyes are open, where we're healed, where we're nourished, where we're sharpened, where we can see God rightly. 00:15:31.230 --> 00:15:44.509 To see God, the most beautiful, lovely, kind, compassionate, creative being ever created, to see Him rightly, to see how He made us, and then say, I love it, but I'm good on doing what you've asked me to do. 00:15:44.829 --> 00:15:50.269 Is a recipe for frustration, fatigue, and just annoyance. 00:15:50.590 --> 00:15:51.230 Same idea. 00:15:51.309 --> 00:15:53.710 Imagine trying to hit a baseball with a hammer. 00:15:53.949 --> 00:15:55.710 We were made for a purpose. 00:15:55.949 --> 00:15:59.870 If we try to do a different purpose, it's going to be quite frustrating. 00:16:00.110 --> 00:16:04.909 There's been many times where I didn't have a hammer with me and I had a nail and I tried using my drill. 00:16:05.549 --> 00:16:12.029 It'll maybe work, but my drill will break and I'll probably hit my hand on it, which I've done too many times. 00:16:12.269 --> 00:16:15.149 The idea is that we are made to do this. 00:16:15.710 --> 00:16:23.470 But we get so caught up doing what we want and expecting God's presence to affirm our opinion when he's already spoken his. 00:16:26.029 --> 00:16:30.990 I believe this is actually why most of us are tired and weary. 00:16:31.309 --> 00:16:37.710 It's not doing too much of God's work, it's doing too little of God's work and too much of our own. 00:16:38.350 --> 00:16:43.069 In God's design, his presence heals and strengthens us and gives us vision. 00:16:43.230 --> 00:16:44.350 So we grow full. 00:16:44.590 --> 00:16:49.710 As I was saying, we grow full, but then we have no outlet of the love. 00:16:50.189 --> 00:16:52.269 So then we simply grow stagnant. 00:16:53.470 --> 00:16:59.870 It's like putting a Bugatti in a parking garage and telling it to just like go fast. 00:17:00.110 --> 00:17:02.669 It's like that's a ridiculous idea. 00:17:02.829 --> 00:17:06.190 That thing is meant to go way past the legal speed limit. 00:17:06.430 --> 00:17:09.470 And parking garages go up to like five miles an hour. 00:17:09.630 --> 00:17:12.029 You're not letting it do what it was supposed to do. 00:17:12.190 --> 00:17:15.470 That is not using it in its purpose. 00:17:16.829 --> 00:17:23.150 This is what it's like to be near the Creator and do nothing with what he awakens inside of us. 00:17:23.389 --> 00:17:28.670 It leads to fatigue, it leads to burnout, it leads to immense disappointment. 00:17:28.990 --> 00:17:34.990 In Proverbs 13, it says, a hope deferred makes the heart grow sick. 00:17:35.309 --> 00:17:45.950 When we're in God's presence and he gives you hope, he gives you a vision for your life, and you defer acting on it, it makes you sick on the inside. 00:17:47.150 --> 00:17:50.349 It says, but a promise fulfilled is a tree of life. 00:17:50.750 --> 00:17:53.389 That is where life is found. 00:17:53.629 --> 00:17:58.589 In the book of Acts, Paul says, I consider my life worth nothing to me. 00:17:58.910 --> 00:18:04.269 My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task Jesus has given me. 00:18:04.509 --> 00:18:07.549 The task of testifying the good news of God's grace. 00:18:07.789 --> 00:18:12.269 Notice that in his own life, his purpose was useless. 00:18:12.509 --> 00:18:14.670 I consider my life worth nothing to me. 00:18:14.829 --> 00:18:19.549 My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task. 00:18:19.789 --> 00:18:23.150 Do you guys notice how getting to the end isn't the only goal? 00:18:23.389 --> 00:18:27.309 It's completing the task in which God has set out for his life. 00:18:27.470 --> 00:18:30.109 Too many of us are just trying to survive. 00:18:30.430 --> 00:18:31.629 We're just trying to make it. 00:18:31.789 --> 00:18:36.829 What a low bar for those who have been awoken to the kingdom of God. 00:18:37.470 --> 00:18:42.509 If Jesus is real, just getting by is a pathetically low bar. 00:18:42.910 --> 00:18:49.789 And I want to encourage us to raise the bar much higher to this idea that God has a purpose for your life. 00:18:50.029 --> 00:18:54.190 There's hope, there's identity, there's freedom, there's joy, there's laughter. 00:18:54.829 --> 00:18:57.230 But it is not found in your purpose. 00:18:57.470 --> 00:19:00.509 And it is not found in your own desire for your life. 00:19:02.509 --> 00:19:07.710 Something else that Paul demonstrates here, it's not that it's presence or purpose. 00:19:07.869 --> 00:19:09.549 They're inseparable. 00:19:11.069 --> 00:19:14.509 I don't want to be the church that enjoys God's presence for ourselves. 00:19:14.589 --> 00:19:18.029 And I don't want to be the church that's burnt out on selfish ambition. 00:19:18.990 --> 00:19:23.389 God's presence points us to God's purpose. 00:19:23.710 --> 00:19:25.789 To love God more wholly. 00:19:26.029 --> 00:19:30.109 Meaning to love God how He wants to be loved. 00:19:30.670 --> 00:19:37.389 And to love people holy, which means to love people how God wants them to be loved. 00:19:37.789 --> 00:19:42.029 Not with a heavy hand, but with grace and compassion and love. 00:19:42.109 --> 00:19:47.309 And this idea that the King of kings sent his son for them too. 00:19:51.869 --> 00:19:55.950 Matthew 11, it's one of the most popular verses in the Bible talking about rest. 00:19:56.109 --> 00:20:00.670 And anytime you're in a prayer meeting and someone's tired, Matthew 11 is coming out. 00:20:00.829 --> 00:20:02.269 I can assure you. 00:20:02.829 --> 00:20:04.829 But notice how it speaks to this idea. 00:20:04.990 --> 00:20:10.109 It says, Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:20:10.990 --> 00:20:15.230 But notice how that rest is promised to those who labor. 00:20:16.589 --> 00:20:22.109 And if you keep it in the context of the scripture, it's those who labor in Christ. 00:20:22.670 --> 00:20:26.670 The rest is promised to those doing God's purpose. 00:20:26.910 --> 00:20:32.029 The Great Commission, one of the biggest invitations of loving the lost and dying world. 00:20:32.269 --> 00:20:34.269 At the very end of it, you know what it says? 00:20:34.509 --> 00:20:37.150 I'm with you always until the end of the age. 00:20:37.309 --> 00:20:39.470 The promise of God's presence. 00:20:40.109 --> 00:20:42.430 Where does the promise of his presence come? 00:20:43.389 --> 00:20:45.309 After the purpose he's established. 00:20:45.549 --> 00:20:49.950 He's saying, if you do the purpose, I'll be with you to the end of the age, don't you worry. 00:20:50.269 --> 00:20:58.109 I could go on and on about Old Testament examples as well, and more in the New Testament, where God's presence is linked to his purpose in our life. 00:20:58.349 --> 00:21:02.109 To not do God's presence is us saying, I'm good, God. 00:21:02.269 --> 00:21:04.029 I don't need your presence. 00:21:04.589 --> 00:21:09.309 But then to be in his presence and not do his will is just as bad. 00:21:09.470 --> 00:21:12.670 Because it's saying, God, you're great for what I want you to be. 00:21:16.349 --> 00:21:25.549 If we walk in God's purpose without his presence, we have activity that's ineffective, impure, burnt out, and helpless. 00:21:26.269 --> 00:21:28.190 Because we're choosing to without him. 00:21:28.670 --> 00:21:33.230 You can love people and make disciples unempty for a while, but not forever. 00:21:33.470 --> 00:21:36.829 And that's not because God's grace is gonna run out for your life. 00:21:37.069 --> 00:21:39.150 That's because you're going to run out. 00:21:39.710 --> 00:21:43.470 Whatever you've been running on just isn't gonna be enough. 00:21:45.389 --> 00:21:55.230 Additionally, if you seek his presence without his purpose, you have hypocrisy, selfishness, poor stewardship, and again, you'll burn out. 00:21:55.549 --> 00:22:00.430 You can feel close to God and never let it push you to anyone. 00:22:00.910 --> 00:22:08.190 You can have all the Christian lingo, be a good prayer, wave your hands in worship, and still have zero kingdom activity in your life. 00:22:08.829 --> 00:22:12.829 That is not God's design for your life. 00:22:13.150 --> 00:22:17.629 In Acts chapter 4, you don't Have to flip. 00:22:18.430 --> 00:22:19.869 Is it Acts chapter 4? 00:22:19.950 --> 00:22:20.910 I think so. 00:22:22.509 --> 00:22:23.150 Oh, yeah, it is. 00:22:23.309 --> 00:22:24.029 Sweet. 00:22:24.349 --> 00:22:35.389 It says in Acts chapter 4, verse 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. 00:22:35.629 --> 00:22:39.869 And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 00:22:40.509 --> 00:22:41.950 Do you guys get that? 00:22:42.269 --> 00:22:48.670 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they perceived that they were uneducated, common men. 00:22:48.829 --> 00:22:50.589 They were astonished. 00:22:50.829 --> 00:22:55.869 And they recognized that these men had been with Jesus. 00:22:56.750 --> 00:23:07.549 Our ability to be used by God for his purpose has nothing to do with education, experience, the opportunities you've had in the past. 00:23:08.190 --> 00:23:09.309 None of that. 00:23:10.029 --> 00:23:13.629 It's an indication of who you have been with. 00:23:14.509 --> 00:23:16.269 Have you been in God's presence? 00:23:16.430 --> 00:23:19.389 Because if you have, you have everything you need for his purpose. 00:23:19.629 --> 00:23:24.670 They were amazed that Peter and John were uneducated, common men. 00:23:25.789 --> 00:23:29.069 Has anybody here ever desired to be unimpressive? 00:23:30.029 --> 00:23:32.990 Probably not, but maybe we should be. 00:23:33.629 --> 00:23:39.549 We're so caught up with being impressive to impress other believers and still whilst people are dying. 00:23:40.029 --> 00:23:42.910 They don't need smart people all the time. 00:23:43.470 --> 00:23:46.750 Sometimes they just need someone who's been with Jesus. 00:23:47.230 --> 00:23:55.950 Somebody whose heart is consumed with love, consumed with grace, consumed with a hope beyond this world. 00:23:56.829 --> 00:23:58.990 Much like Peter and John. 00:23:59.549 --> 00:24:02.029 In Jesus, in John 4, he's hungry. 00:24:02.190 --> 00:24:05.230 So his disciples go into town to get him food. 00:24:05.389 --> 00:24:16.750 And in this moment, Jesus has the famous woman in Samaria encounter, the woman at the well encounter, where this lady ends up giving her life to Jesus, going back to her village and telling everyone and they all believe. 00:24:16.990 --> 00:24:20.509 Jesus returns to his disciples and they say, Jesus, are you hungry? 00:24:20.829 --> 00:24:22.430 He goes, No, I'm not hungry anymore. 00:24:22.509 --> 00:24:24.269 They're like, oh, okay, who fed you? 00:24:24.509 --> 00:24:25.629 Like, no one. 00:24:26.109 --> 00:24:29.549 He goes, My food is to do the will of my Father. 00:24:29.950 --> 00:24:36.029 The very nourishment of Jesus' soul was obedience unto the Father. 00:24:37.069 --> 00:24:41.549 It's this same idea that some of us are burnt out, so we try to do less. 00:24:42.109 --> 00:24:47.710 But what we really need to do is less of our purpose and start doing his purpose. 00:24:48.349 --> 00:24:56.990 Maybe we're only so tired because we're too busy doing what we want and less consumed with God's desire and God's interest for our life. 00:25:01.470 --> 00:25:06.670 Too many of us go to God's presence to strengthen us for our purpose. 00:25:07.150 --> 00:25:16.509 God's presence will always draw us back to His purpose because it's the reason you were created. 00:25:17.230 --> 00:25:21.789 I don't know about you, but I desire to live in freedom. 00:25:22.269 --> 00:25:24.109 I desire to be whole. 00:25:24.430 --> 00:25:27.710 I desire to walk in hope and confidence. 00:25:28.269 --> 00:25:32.910 I desire for my family to know Jesus and my neighbors to know Jesus. 00:25:33.230 --> 00:25:39.629 I can assure you, the only way for that to happen is to do what I was made to do. 00:25:40.750 --> 00:25:43.789 It isn't the next fad, it isn't the next trend. 00:25:44.029 --> 00:25:48.990 It's coming back to the simple place of God, am I doing what I was made to do? 00:25:49.789 --> 00:25:56.109 Am I living my life in such a way that it honors the purpose in which I was made? 00:25:56.349 --> 00:25:58.109 Like, have you thought about that? 00:25:58.430 --> 00:26:01.869 Do you want to live a whole life, a free life? 00:26:02.190 --> 00:26:06.269 Then ask the question, God, what is the life you've asked me to live? 00:26:06.509 --> 00:26:15.950 And if you're worried that you're not going to be able to do it because you feel weak or tired or fraud or you've had past mistakes in your life, you are his workmanship. 00:26:16.509 --> 00:26:17.950 He made you for this. 00:26:18.190 --> 00:26:19.549 He designed you for this. 00:26:19.789 --> 00:26:21.950 He created you for this purpose. 00:26:22.190 --> 00:26:25.230 To love him and love the people around you. 00:26:25.470 --> 00:26:27.470 Sure, of course we have to learn. 00:26:27.710 --> 00:26:30.910 Of course we have to figure out how to actually care for people. 00:26:31.150 --> 00:26:36.190 We live in a very unique generation right now that has problems that previous generations haven't. 00:26:36.430 --> 00:26:38.829 Gen Z hates the church right now. 00:26:39.150 --> 00:26:42.509 The institution of the church is a double thumbs down from Gen Z. 00:26:42.589 --> 00:26:44.990 If you lead with the church, they're gonna walk out the door. 00:26:45.230 --> 00:26:58.109 But if you leave with high and you love them, and you invite them to dinner, and you get to know their name and get to hear their story, and you don't lead with an institution, they might actually be interested in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:26:59.549 --> 00:27:04.269 We have to be uh intuitive, like God, what does this people need? 00:27:04.750 --> 00:27:08.509 What does my neighbor need so that I may love them like you? 00:27:10.349 --> 00:27:17.629 God's purpose leads us to God's, God's presence leads us to God's purpose. 00:27:18.190 --> 00:27:31.629 If you want to regain life, if you want to have hope again, if you want to feel purpose again, you have to go back to what you were made for, made possible by the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:27:33.470 --> 00:27:36.910 If the cross wasn't there, this is all just good talk. 00:27:37.710 --> 00:27:39.950 It all just sounds good on paper. 00:27:42.109 --> 00:27:44.190 Let's think about this together. 00:27:45.470 --> 00:27:48.109 What if Jesus was God? 00:27:50.269 --> 00:27:54.670 I'm sure many of us have already believed that he is, but what if it's true? 00:27:56.190 --> 00:27:59.389 What if he actually lived a sinless life? 00:28:00.509 --> 00:28:05.069 What if he actually died and three days later he rose? 00:28:05.629 --> 00:28:15.470 And what if it's true that he sits in heaven right now with an open hand for you and I to also be citizens of heaven? 00:28:15.789 --> 00:28:20.269 And what if death on this earth really isn't the end and we don't have to fear death? 00:28:20.509 --> 00:28:23.230 What if death actually didn't sting anymore? 00:28:23.470 --> 00:28:27.629 What if we were free at the idea that death is just a doorway into heaven? 00:28:28.829 --> 00:28:31.150 Would our lives look different? 00:28:32.430 --> 00:28:38.109 This morning during first service, I felt God prompting me again that I need to be more bold with my next door neighbors. 00:28:38.269 --> 00:28:44.349 I've gotten to know them, like I know what they do for work, like my uh my neighbor brought me home a burger once. 00:28:44.509 --> 00:28:46.750 Like, it was awesome. 00:28:47.470 --> 00:28:49.389 But is there kingdom activity? 00:28:49.789 --> 00:28:52.029 Is the kingdom of God moving forward? 00:28:52.190 --> 00:28:57.230 Or am I waiting for this like perfect, hypothetical, never gonna happen scenario? 00:28:59.309 --> 00:29:01.869 God wants to use you. 00:29:02.269 --> 00:29:13.389 He designed you with a purpose because he wants to use you with all of your strengths, all of your weaknesses, all of your family dynamics, all of it. 00:29:13.950 --> 00:29:16.190 He wants to use you. 00:29:16.589 --> 00:29:24.349 For you are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which were prepared beforehand. 00:29:24.670 --> 00:29:26.349 How intentional is God? 00:29:26.670 --> 00:29:29.309 The works were prepared beforehand. 00:29:29.470 --> 00:29:32.109 You don't have to be super creative on your own. 00:29:32.269 --> 00:29:33.230 They're already prepared. 00:29:33.309 --> 00:29:35.150 You just gotta ask him what they are. 00:29:36.910 --> 00:29:40.349 I remember in class so many times I'd have no idea what I was doing. 00:29:40.509 --> 00:29:43.309 So I'd go to one of my smart classmates and be like, how do you do this? 00:29:43.389 --> 00:29:44.589 And he would just show me. 00:29:44.990 --> 00:29:46.190 It's the same idea of God. 00:29:46.269 --> 00:29:47.710 God, I have no idea what I'm doing. 00:29:47.869 --> 00:29:49.150 Will you show me? 00:29:49.549 --> 00:29:51.789 Will you help me see what I can't see? 00:29:52.029 --> 00:29:54.509 Will you help me love the way I can't love? 00:29:54.829 --> 00:29:59.230 Will you help me become who you made me to be? 00:30:00.589 --> 00:30:03.150 That is what God desires in his presence. 00:30:03.549 --> 00:30:06.509 And sometimes that requires us to get healed. 00:30:06.750 --> 00:30:08.670 Sometimes that requires us to repent. 00:30:08.750 --> 00:30:15.789 Sometimes that requires us just to worship in a way we never have, because he wants to be loved the way he wants to be loved. 00:30:16.430 --> 00:30:22.910 Because he knows that the way he desires things actually leads to the full life. 00:30:25.950 --> 00:30:27.230 Ban can come up. 00:30:27.950 --> 00:30:29.549 So, what do we do with this? 00:30:30.509 --> 00:30:37.389 I often get tempted to give like really practical application points, like one, two, three. 00:30:37.549 --> 00:30:40.109 Um, but this isn't a one, two, three morning. 00:30:40.269 --> 00:30:44.670 Uh this morning is uh an invitation to ask God a question. 00:30:44.990 --> 00:30:46.589 I'm gonna invite us to stand. 00:30:51.549 --> 00:30:56.190 There's just a one this morning, and we're gonna do it together right now. 00:30:59.069 --> 00:31:04.269 And the one is to simply ask God, God, what do you have for my life? 00:31:05.389 --> 00:31:09.789 Simple question, but one that I genuinely believe he wants to answer. 00:31:10.190 --> 00:31:14.430 I believe he wants to restore hope and courage and purpose. 00:31:14.750 --> 00:31:19.470 I believe he wants to remind you that this is not a matter of your works or your skill set. 00:31:19.869 --> 00:31:25.470 Right before Paul wrote Ephesians 2.10, there's two verses in verses 8 and 9. 00:31:25.710 --> 00:31:29.549 It says you were saved by grace and through faith. 00:31:29.950 --> 00:31:32.430 He's saying this isn't a matter of your performance. 00:31:32.589 --> 00:31:36.430 It's not a matter of what you can do and not a matter of what you can't do. 00:31:36.670 --> 00:31:38.990 He's saying, God has set everything aside already. 00:31:39.150 --> 00:31:39.950 Just ask him. 00:31:40.990 --> 00:31:43.710 And this morning, I want to give us some time to ask him. 00:31:45.389 --> 00:31:46.750 In whatever way you want to. 00:31:46.829 --> 00:31:47.789 I'm just gonna give you a moment. 00:31:47.869 --> 00:31:48.990 I'm gonna pray for us. 00:31:49.389 --> 00:31:51.309 I'm gonna trust that God is gonna speak. 00:31:51.549 --> 00:31:58.910 And I'm gonna trust this morning that there's a response for us in seeing God rightly so that we can see what He's called us to do rightly. 00:31:59.789 --> 00:32:01.950 So, Father, I thank you for these people. 00:32:05.309 --> 00:32:10.109 I thank you that you have made us with intention and creativity. 00:32:11.069 --> 00:32:13.869 You've made us with a purpose and a plan. 00:32:15.309 --> 00:32:17.549 You've given us hope and you've given us freedom. 00:32:17.629 --> 00:32:19.230 You've given us life. 00:32:20.269 --> 00:32:22.589 You've given us connection in Christ. 00:32:22.829 --> 00:32:32.750 And Holy Spirit, I pray this morning that as we become aware of your presence, will you open our eyes to your purpose for our life? 00:32:34.349 --> 00:32:39.069 Just want to invite you again and ask the Lord, God, what do you have for my life? 00:32:40.509 --> 00:32:42.269 I do believe God speaks. 00:32:42.349 --> 00:32:45.629 And sometimes it's through a spontaneous thought. 00:32:45.869 --> 00:32:48.509 Sometimes it's through us remembering something. 00:32:48.670 --> 00:32:51.549 Sometimes we just get an impression on our heart. 00:32:51.789 --> 00:32:55.069 Sometimes we'll see a picture or a memory in our mind. 00:32:56.269 --> 00:32:59.069 Sometimes he'll remind us of Scripture. 00:33:00.190 --> 00:33:03.150 There's a number of ways he communicates to us. 00:33:05.150 --> 00:33:08.430 I'm gonna invite the prayer ministry team as we just sit here. 00:33:09.549 --> 00:33:11.069 We're not in a rush this morning. 00:33:11.150 --> 00:33:12.829 I want to sit here and ask. 00:33:14.750 --> 00:33:16.990 I want to wait on the Lord together. 00:33:24.509 --> 00:33:27.549 I want to wait patiently on the Lord this morning. 00:33:39.950 --> 00:33:41.710 Lord, what are you saying to your people? 00:33:49.629 --> 00:33:51.069 We're not in any rush. 00:35:08.909 --> 00:35:24.190 If you're at a place where you feel like God has encouraged you that you want to live your life for his purpose and not your own, I just want to encourage you in your prayers just to tell the Lord, God, I want my life to be for your purpose. 00:35:25.469 --> 00:35:27.389 It's a courageous prayer. 00:35:30.030 --> 00:35:47.949 But I'm fully convinced that the consequence of living your life for God's purpose is joy, peace, hope, freedom, nourishment, rest, identity, confidence. 00:35:49.389 --> 00:35:53.070 That's what it's like to do what you're made to do. 00:35:59.070 --> 00:36:01.789 I want to keep patiently waiting this morning. 00:36:04.190 --> 00:36:10.670 It might be in unfamiliar length, but I want to wait patiently on the Lord. 00:36:30.190 --> 00:36:31.309 Thank you, God. 00:36:41.630 --> 00:36:42.750