INTRODUCTION TO PURPOSE UNDERSTANDING YOUR DIVINE PURPOSE What is the meaning of the words Purpose and Destiny Purpose - the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists:.a person's sense of resolve or determination. Destiny - the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future Your destiny consists of the things that God has intended for you to accomplish on earth. Ephesians 2:10 How Do I Begin to Discover my God Given Purpose? Your purpose is rooted in your identity, which is a combination of the following: History Your heritage, family or origin, childhood, formational experiences. Relationship with God salvation experience, discipleship, spiritual journey Purpose Orientation Based on the five gifts found in Ephesians 4 Motivational Orientation Based on the seven gifts found in Romans 12 Supernatural Orientation Based on the nine gifts found in 1 Corinthians 12 God given Passions The things you care about most in this life Destiny Dreams If you had no limitations, what would you do for God? Your Purpose Takes Shape in Prayer, Community, Service and Mentoring Your purpose is foreshadowed by your God given passions and dreams and emerges over a lifetime of prayer, fellowship and service to others. The pursuit of your purpose empowers your to be the best that you can possibly be. It helps to order your life and lifestyle. It focuses your values and priorities; it governs your character and integrity. The pursuit and fulfillment of your purpose is the source of your legacy in life. It is the basis on which you will hear Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the rest of the Lord. CREATED FOR PURPOSE OUR STORY The Longing to Fulfill our Purpose is rooted in our God given design. God created us to partner with Him in His eternal purposes. We were created by God to fulfill His purposes in the earth. Gen. 1:26-28 Our purpose was derailed through disobedience and sin. Genesis 3:1-24 God has a plan of restoration of every man s purpose through Jesus Christ. 1
God redeems and reshapes us so we can discover our purpose. God forgives our disobedience and restores our purpose in Jesus. Eph. 1:15 God want us to discover the hope of His calling in our lives. Eph. 1:18-23 He wants us to receive the inheritance He has placed in us. God Wants us to Discover and Fulfill His Purpose for our Lives. Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation Pursue God and His Word Wisdom comes from God buy applying His Word Revelation comes through encounters with God Enlightened Understanding Renew your Mind. Present yourself a living sacrifice. Romans 12 Change your way of thinking Be transformed by that thinking Hope of His Calling Make your calling sure. 2 Peter 1:10 God s calling begins now and extends forever. Your calling requires diligence and discipline to pursue. God is committed to ensuring that you will never fail. His Inheritance in the saints See others through Gods eyes There is a treasure buried in the hearts of all men. That treasure is your portion of God s inheritance Your fulfillment co- depends on their fulfilled purpose The Greatness of His Power in Receive the Holy Spirit As a believer, the Holy Spirit dwells in you. The Power of the Spirit is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit Our purpose is empowered when God s power works through us. EQUIPPED FOR DESTINY WHAT IS YOUR MINISTRY GIFT Our Purpose is to Fulfill our Personal Part of the Ministry of Jesus Christ. God gives us different kinds of spiritual gifts to fulfill our destinies. We are created in Christ Jesus unto specific good works. Ephesians 2:10 God wants to display His wisdom through our unique diversity. Eph. 3:10 God is committed to the fulfillment and fruitfulness of our callings. Eph. 3:20 God has given us the ministry gifts of Jesus to fulfill His purpose in the earth. These Gifts were given at the ascension of Jesus. Ephesians 4:7-10 These Gifts have the same purpose. Ephesians 4:11-12 These gifts will be in operation until the goal is achieved. Ephesians 4:13-16 God gifted the few to equip the many according to our unique design. Every believer can receive impartation from every one of the gifts. Each person is oriented most toward one or two of these gifts Our Purpose Orientation determines how we operate in most situations. 2
God gave us the Purpose Orientations to equip us for Service 1. THE APOSTOLIC GIFT: God s Sent One or Delegated Representative Mentoring and Mobilizing for Ministry, Mission and Multiplication Function: Church and ministry pioneering, oversight and renewal. Impartation: Leadership development and multiplication 2. THE PROPHETIC GIFT: God s Confidant and Spokesperson. Discerning and Declaring God s Power, Presence and Perspective. Function: Intercession, worship and prophecy Impartation: Spiritual passion and pursuit of God s presence and power. 3. THE EVANGELISTIC GIFT: God s Herald of the Good News of the Kingdom. Declaring and Demonstrating the Gospel for Conviction and Conversion. Function: Equipping the church to reach the world. Impartation: God s heart for the lost and tools for reaching them. 4. THE PASTORAL GIFT: God s Shepherd and Caretaker of the Flock. Catalyzing and Cultivating a Christ centered, Caring Community. The Elder Gift Serving community by leading people and groups The Deacon Gift Serving community through projects and programs 5. THE TEACHING GIFT: God s Instructor and Guardian of the Truth. Communicating and Conveying Truth for Training and Transformation. Function: Disciple maker, Encourager, Teacher How To Discover and Develop Your Destiny Orientation: Which word in the following word groups do you most identify with? 3) Proclamation 1) The Kingdom 2) Power 4) Fellowship 2) Revelation 5) Word of God 1) Vision 2) Worship 1) Mobilization 3) The Lost 3) New Birth 3) Evangelism 4) Congregation 4) Body of Christ 4) Love 1) Missions 5) Instruction 2) Holy Spirit 5) Reason 5) Discipleship 5) Accountability 1) Commission 3) Apologetics 2) Spiritual Gifts 2) Holiness 4) The Church 2) Guidance 1) Church planting 3) Conviction 3) Salvation 1) Pioneering 3) Signs/Wonders 4) Community 2) Intercession 4) Nurturing 4) Binding Hearts 1) Intentionality 5) Mentoring 5) Training 5) Bible Inerrancy Which Things Bother you Most in the Church today?: 1) Spectator Mentality 1) Visionlessness 1) Spiritual Lethargy 2) Lukewarmness 2) Lack of Power 2) Prayerlessness 3) No care for the lost 3) Lack of Relevance 3) No New Believers 4) Loneliness 4) Lack of Unity 4) Lack of Care and Love 5) Relativism 5) Ignorance of Scriptures 5) Lack of Good Teaching Totals: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 3
PURPOSE DISCOVER TOOL #1 FORMATIVE INFLUENCES The foundations of our purpose are laid in our family of origin and early childhood experiences. God knows each of us long before we ever know Him. He is aware of our conception and has a role in our formation. Even the difficult factors of our lives are not outside of God s sovereign oversight. Understanding our formative influences can help us understand God s greater plan for our lives. 1. Write five (5) words or phrases that describe tour pre- teen childhood years. d. e. 2. Write your top three (3) childhood dreams: When I grow up I want to be 3. Name the top three positive experiences that shaped your childhood and teens. 4. Name the top three negative experiences that shaped you in life. 5. Name the three most influential people in your childhood and teens. How have these factors influenced your formation as a person and how do they affect your sense of destiny? 4
PURPOSE MOTIVATIONS WHAT IS YOUR MINISTRY STYLE? YOUR MOTIVATIONAL ORIENTATION (MO) DESCRIBES THE WAY YOU DO LIFE. We have all been called and gifted to serve God and others. Romans 12:1 Purpose discovery requires consecration and dedication to Jesus. This also requires that we resist the influences of the world. Matthew 4 Purpose Discovery is born out of a teachable heart of humility. Purpose Discover depends on understanding your Spiritual Gift- mix. God has equipped us in many and various ways for our purpose There are three primary lists of spiritual gifts in the Scripture Each gift set is distinct in context and function. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 The second set of spiritual gifts are called Motivational Gifts. Romans 12 God has given us distinct motivations or personality styles that affect purpose. These gifts describe the way or the style in which we minister to others. Understanding these helps us to be more effective and polished. This list of gifts are not exclusive categories but are life colors or flavors. All Gifts of the Spirit work in tandem with the Fruit of the Spirit The Motivation Orientation must always flow out of love. Application: On a scale of 1-10 note next to each line the degree to which you identify. The Prophetic MO: Perceiver According to the measure of your faith. Vs. 9 Motivated by: Right and wrong, righteousness and worldliness. Misperceived as: Self- righteousness, critical, judgmental. Affirmed as: one who perceives and proclaims God s perspective. The Ministry MO: Server According to a heart to serve others. Vs. 10 Motivated by: Practical problems, tasks and needs Misperceived as: Workaholic, too busy, performance oriented. Affirmed as: One who sees tasks and tackles it. The Teacher MO: Teacher According to a heart to instruct others. Vs. 11 Motivated by: Fact and falsehood. Ignorance and Accuracy. Misperceived as: a know it all, legalistic Affirmed as: One who uses the truth to remove ignorance. The Exhorter MO: Encourager A heart to stir and spur others. Vs. 12 Motivated by: Unrealized potential and possibility. Hope and Hopelessness. Misperceived as: Simplistic, poor listener, people as projects Affirmed as: One who sees unrealized potential and calls it forth. The Giver MO: Giver A heart to supply resource without pretense. Vs. 13 Motivated by: Supply and demand. Need and Resource Misperceived as: Doormat, naïve, and a lobbyist. 5
Affirmed as: A generous person who seeks to advance God s Kingdom through the supplying needs resources. The Leader MO: Leader A heart to organize others for outcome. Vs. 14 Motivated by: Unachieved corporate outcomes. Chaos and community. Misperceived as: Manipulative, exploitive, seeing people as utilities. Affirmed as: One who organizes others to achieve unfulfilled outcomes. The Mercy MO: Comforter A cheerful heart to comfort others. Vs. 15 Motivated by: Pain and suffering due to affliction, guilt and shame. Misperceived as: Wimpy, non- confrontational, undiscerning, co- dependent. Affirmed as: One who seeks to remove pain and guilt. The Prophetic MO total: The Ministry MO total: The Teacher MO total: The Exhorter MO: The Giver MO: The Leader MO: The Mercy MO: EMPOWERED FOR DESTINY: WHAT ARE YOUR POWER GIFTS: Your Supernatural Orientation (SO) lists your purpose power tools. Jesus never intended for us to fulfill His will in our own strength. Jesus has given us His authority and power to fulfill our purpose. He gave us His authority before He ascended to Heaven. Matthew 28:18-20 He sent power from on High. Acts 1:8 The manifestations of the Spirit are given to benefit all. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 The context of this passage begins in 11:17 through 14:40 Everyone can receive any gift, but we have a propensity for one. NOTE HOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE OPERATED IN EACH GIFT IN THE LAST YEAR: The Word of Wisdom The Word of Knowledge Gift of Faith Gifts of Healings Working of Miracles Gift of Prophecy Discerning of Spirits Different kinds of Tongues Interpretation of Tongues 6
WORD OF WIDSOM Logos Sophia: Wisdom is applied knowledge. Word of wisdom normally appears as divine problem solving. Examples: Solomon, Peter at Joppa in Acts 10; James in Acts 15 WORD OF KNOWLEDGE Logos Gnosis: Knowledge is information. Knowing things that could not be known naturally Examples: Zachaeus, Saphira in Acts 5, Man in Lystra in Acts 8 GIFTS OF FAITH Pistis: Faith is the conduit for God s supernatural work. Faith is a gift of certainty that God will fulfill His promise. Example: Man at Lystra in Acts 14 GIFTS OF HEALINGS Charisma Iama: Dispensing God s healings. Specific, God given restoration from disease, sickness and injury. Example: Man at the Gate Beautiful Acts 3 WORKING OF MIRACLES Energema Dunamis: Works of power. Miracles are the result of supernatural power over the natural. Examples: Place shaken in Acts 4; Dead raised in Acts 9 & 19 GIFT OF PROPHECY Propheteia: Speaking the anointed Word of God as unctioned by the Holy Spirit. Congregational Prophecy: Edification, exhortation and comfort Mature Prophecy: Correction, direction and foretelling Examples: Sending in Acts 13; Agabus Acts 11 & 21 DISCERNING OF SPIRITS Diakrisis Pneuma: Demonic or divine. The ability to determine spiritual sources and motives. Examples: Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13; Python in Acts 16 DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES Genos Glossa: of men and of angels. For communicating the Gospel, prophesy and praise. Examples: Acts 2:4; Cornelius in Acts 10; Ephesus in Acts 19 INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES Hermeneia Glossa: The supernatural ability to interpret a language not known to the interpreter. Example: Acts 2:8; 1 Corinthians 14:13-19 7