Our Purpose

By: Brian E. Trenhaile, MTh, January 15, 2008

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

I.      Our Purpose is Upward and Outward

II.     Upward Aspects of Purpose

         Old Testament on God’s Intended Purpose

         New Testament on God’s Intended Purpose

         Holiness Fits Our Purpose

         Faith Fits Our Purpose

         Prayer Fits Our Purpose

III.   Outward Aspects of Purpose

         His Purpose for Us is Unity

         Service Fits His Purpose for Us

         Witnessing Fits His Purpose for Us

IV.   Yielding to God’s Purpose

         Pleasing God Fits Our Purpose

         Growth Fits Our Purpose

         Obedience Fits Our Purpose

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Our Purpose

INTRODUCTION

Our purpose, both individually and collectively, is to be in fellowship with God.  Jesus said: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).  Our purpose also includes reaching out to others so that they too can be in fellowship with God.  Our relationships with God and church authority are divinely ordained to bring us through various growing stages until the attitudes of Christ are maturely developed within us.

The first Son so blessed God that He wanted other sons and daughters in whom to delight.  He wanted more children like His Firstborn.  Thus, God determined to make human beings in the image of His first Son, who is the image of God Himself.  That is God’s motivation for creating us. Our purpose is to be sons and daughters of the Most High God in whom He can delight even as He delights in our older brother, Jesus Christ.  … This desire of God to have children to love and fellowship with is still the end toward which God works.  He has created us to love Him and be His children.  That is the universal purpose of mankind, determined by the creator before creation (Munroe, The Pursuit of Purpose, 115 and 117).

I.          Our purpose is UPWARD AND OUTWARD

There are both upward and outward components in our purpose. The upward component involves our direct relationship with God.  The outward component involves reaching out to others on God’s behalf.  Both these components are present in the following verses:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne (Matthew 11:28-30, AMP).

The first component involves coming to Jesus and learning from Him.  The second component involves taking up His will for our lives and reaching out in love to others.  Here Jesus says that when we are flowing in God’s purposes, we will have rest and refreshment.

He has created us a kingdom of priests (cf. I Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:6 and 5:10).  Priests relate to God on behalf of others. Our priestly office contains upward and outward elements of purpose.

II.       Upward Aspects of our Purpose

We are created for fellowship with God.  This purpose is revealed in both the Old and the New Testaments.  God has this right to expect this from us for two important reasons.  First, He created us for fellowship with Him, and second, He ransomed us from the Satan’s dominion to allow us to function in our originally created purpose.  We exist for God, not for ourselves.

Old Testament on God’s Intended Purpose

In Genesis we see God created man and women.  Then He walks in the garden and fellowships with them.  Because He desires voluntary fellowship, He purposely designed Adam and Eve with the ability to choose.  They can choose to stay in fellowship with God or they can separate themselves from Him by eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

New Testament on God’s Intended Purpose

Several New Testament writers have given their input regarding our purpose of being in fellowship with God.  The Apostle John said, “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete” (I John 1:3, 4 NASB).  Paul the apostle wisely¹ said, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:18 NASB).

Holiness Fits Our Purpose

Since God is holy, we need to be holy in order to properly relate to Him.  This purpose is illustrated by Paul in the following verse, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love” (Ephesians 1:4 NASB).  Peter also said, “But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY" (I Peter 1:15, 16). 

Faith Fits Our Purpose

Faith is a major part of God’s persona.  To be in fellowship with Him we need to be similar in character.  We need to demonstrate faith. The Bible says “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness” (cf. Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6 and James 2:23).  Paul also said, “With the heart man believes unto righteousness” (cf. Ro. 10:9, 10).   In fact, “It is impossible to please God without faith” (cf. Hebrews 11:6).

Prayer Fits Our Purpose

Romans 5:2 states we have direct access to God.  One reason for this access is because communion with God is a part of our purpose.  When we are walking in constant prayer we actually experience the same peace that God Himself experiences (cf. Philippians 4:6-7). 

III.      Outward Aspects of Our Purpose

There are many outward aspects of God’s purpose for our lives.  Some of the more prominent ones are mentioned here.

His Purpose for Us is Unity

The blessings of God come when believers are in unity.  Psalm 133 is an Old Testament example:  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  It is like precious ointment … for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” 

The relationship between Christ and the church is also a demonstration of unity.  Christ is the head, we are His body (cf. Ephesians 1:10).  The body needs to be vitally attached in unity to the head in order to live and function.  Jesus modeled for us by constantly walking in unity with His Father.  Jesus said: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30 NASB). “He is always ready to care for us if we will but accept our place as His children and live in an obedient, dependant relationship that reflects the unity of the firstborn Son and His father” (Munroe, In Pursuit of Purpose, 119).

Unity within the church creates powerful effects.  Jesus said “When two or more are gathered in my name I am in the midst of them” (cf. Matthew 18:20). They all prayed in one accord and the place shook (cf. Acts 4:31).  Paul and Silas in unity sang praises to God and the prison shook and their bonds fell off (cf. Acts 16:25, 26).

Service fits His Purpose for Us

Every individual is uniquely anointed to serve. “One of the greatest reasons for service is to bring satisfaction to our Lord Jesus” (Van Der Puy, 71). “Our devotion to God is expressed through servant hood.  Every believer’s life should result in faithful, fruitful and fulfilling ministry through servant hood” (Discovery Seminar, 3).  After many years of successful experience Joshua said, “Choose you this day whom you will serve.  But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 and Wilkerson, 32).  Paul said, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 3:10 NASB). 

Witnessing fits His Purpose for Us

Jesus gave the Great Commission to us so that others could also experience the same purpose (fellowship with God) that we experience.  That is we are to witness so that others can also experience fellowship with God.  We are all given the ministry of reconciliation (cf. II Corinthians 2:18).

IV.      Yielding to God’s Purpose

It is awesome when a person completely yields to God’s will.  Submission not only delights God but also is wonderful for the person yielding.  “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (II Chronicles 16:9 NASB). When you are yielded, nothing you have done (your past or age) can cancel your purpose (cf. Munroe, The Pursuit of Purpose, 23).

The need to completely yield our spirits to God is often misunderstood because we need to look at it from God’s point of view. If He does not break us He cannot effectively and powerfully flow through us.  This is similar to the need for a war horse to be broken.  In battle, spears, arrows, rocks and axes are flying, swords are clanging, there is constant screaming and blood is everywhere.  In this chaotic scenario, the rider needs a horse that instantly and fearlessly obeys. If the horse does not instantly obey, it is a liability and not an asset in the most pressing of circumstances (cf. Bevere, 161).  God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (cf. Matthew 23:12, Luke 18:14, James 4:6 and I Peter 5:6, 7).

Pleasing God Fits Our Purpose

Pleasing God more than pleasing others is an important part of our purpose.  When going to the cross Jesus pleased God rather than His concerned friend Peter.  In fact, Jesus told Peter “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's" (Matthew 16:23 NASB).  Peter and John said these words to the Sanhedrin: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20 NASB).  Paul also lived out this concept and said to the Galatians, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).

Growth Fits Our Purpose

God’s goal is for us to be conformed into the image of Christ.  This is why He gave us the five-fold ministry (cf. Ephesians 4:11-13).  Paul says that He predestined us to be conformed into the image of His Son (cf. Romans 8:29). 

Suffering is one of the most effective tools that God uses for our growth (Foster, 99).²  James said “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4 NASB).  Paul said, “We also exalt in our tribulations, knowing that tribulations brings about perseverance; and perseverance proven character” (Romans 5:3-4 NASB).  The promises listed in the first three chapters of Revelation are only for the over comers; proven character is required to overcome. 

Awesome blessings await the obedient.  “So Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and for the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come eternal life’” (Mark 10:29, 30 NKJV).

Obedience Fits Our Purpose

God always intended for us to have a choice.  Because of this, He will never take away our ability to choose His purpose for our lives.  Proverbs 16:17-18 says “The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. ”So when we are walking in our intended purpose we preserve our souls.  Our souls consist of our emotions, will and mind (cf. Munroe, Understanding Your Potential, 138). So we essentially preserve our emotions, will and intellect (or mind) by walking in God’s ways. Abuse occurs when we function outside our intended purpose (cf. Munroe, The Pursuit of Purpose, 32).  “Obedience keeps us effective. … When you choose obedience, you choose to fulfill destiny. Nothing and no one can stop you” (Bevere, 224).

Conclusion

Our purpose is to be in intimate fellowship with God.  When we flow in this purpose we are the most happy and productive.  Everything comes together when we flow in His purpose.³  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered in the heart of man.  The things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (Isaiah 64:4, I Corinthians 2:9 NKJV).⁴

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bevere, John. Under Cover. Nashville, Tennessee Thomas Nelson, 2001.

Christian Family Church. Discovery Seminar Notes.  Kapolei, Hawaii.  Pacific Christian University, 2007.

Foster, Richard. Celebration of Discipline – The Path to Spiritual Growth.  San Francisco, California: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1978.

Greenman, William. Purpose Destiny Achievement – Proven Strategies for a Productive God Centered Life. Franklin, Tennessee: Purpose Press, 2005.

Munroe, Myles. In Pursuit of Purpose. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania:  Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 1992.

Munroe, Myles. Understanding Your Potential – Discovering the Hidden You.  Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 1991.

Van Der Puy, Abe. The High Calling of God, You Can Serve God Successfully.  Lincoln, Nebraska: Back to the Bible, 1982.

Wilkerson, Bruce. Experiencing Spiritual Breakthroughs – The Powerful Principle of the Three Chairs. Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah Publishers, 1999.

Zodiates, Spiros. The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible. Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, Revised Edition 1991.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture references marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org).

Scripture references marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV ®.  Copyright © 1973,1978,1984 by the International Bible Society.  Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.