Description:
Our purpose in this study is to identify the difference between a heart dedicated to God and one dedicated to self. Based on the Word of God, we all start out as sinful. As David said in Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”
Message from Marsh: “May your personal walk with the Lord lead you to be transformed, renewed, and blessed.”
Marsh
Founder/President
Thank you for coming to: mensgroup.org
Men and Matters of the Heart
Lesson 9 – The Purposeful Heart – Creates Confidence in Daily Living
(www.mensgroup.org – “Original Study”)
Lesson Focus: We will show that purpose is essential to a full and vibrant life, for without it we are just swimming in the sea, susceptible to tides, creatures, and currents.
“Blessing on each man that understands and lives out God’s purpose for his life. Make it your aim to find your purpose.” – C. Marsh Bull.
Starting Prayer: Lord, you have made us with purpose in mind. Help us to accept and understand the talents and gifts you have given to us so that we might be helpful in spreading your Word to the world.
Opening Questions:
1. What do you think about when you hear the word, “purpose”?
2. Where do you hear people talking about needing purpose in their life?
Scripture Passages:
The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands. (Psalm 138:8)
Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. (Acts 13:36)
Phrase Explanation:
Who wants to live a life without purpose? Most people start with some purpose in mind but in time discouragement, distraction, and loss of the dream cause their purpose to die. Sadly, many live today as the proverbial frog in the pot of water. As the water is slowly heated, the frog adjusts to the new temperature; not sensing any danger. He remains in the pot, until he is boiled alive. This can happen to people and gradually cause them to lose their way and thus their purpose.
Living without purpose is wasting your life a second at a time. Losing a moment seems negligible and insignificant, but each moment is unrecoverable. God doesn’t want us living that way. We are to be purpose driven. From the beginning, God had a plan. He created an environment in which humans could live and furnished everything they needed to thrive. When they decided to act independent of God (sin), He already had fashioned a plan for them to return to Him.
Further, as we were uniquely created in our mother’s womb by God, He gave a specific purpose to each one of us. He placed talents within us that could be helpful and supportive to mankind, so we all have a contribution we can make.
Noah was purposed to save his family and the animal kingdom while all other families died in the flood. (Genesis 9:9, 22)
Joseph’s purpose was to save Jacob’s family by bringing them to Egypt. Egypt would become the womb that would protect them until time for them to be birthed as a nation by walking through the Red Sea (birthing canal).
Moses too had a purpose given to him by God. He said to him,
“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh. To bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10)
This brought purpose to Moses’ life. Being hidden in the reeds of the Nile River, adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, trained as a warrior, educated as an elite in Egypt, and made aware of his significance by his parents, but not yet humbled by it, caused him to try to bring his purpose to fruition by his own hand by killing an Egyptian. He thought the Israelites would rally to him, but instead told their oppressors what happened, so Moses fled into the wilderness. That led to an even more purposeful forty years in the wilderness; and substantial benefits when he led the people of Israel out of Egypt.
Samuel, by his mother’s oath to God, was purposed to be the first in a long line of prophets. (1 Samuel 1:11, 22, 28; 3:1-14)
David said,
“The Lord will work out His plans for my life—for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.” (Psalm 138:8 NLT)
Paul agreed with David’s life when he spoke in Antioch of Pisidia,
“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;” (Acts 13:36)
Mary’s purpose was to be the instrument of God to bring Jesus into the world. Gabriel said to her,
“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” (Luke 1:31)
Saul had a purposeful life dedicated to the purification of Jewish tradition. However, that purpose was changed on the road to Damascus, and he recognized that,
“I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles.” (1 Timothy 2:7)
These are just a few examples of how God purposes the hearts of people - all of us.
So, what should be your response to this? Confidence in your daily activities, for God has purposed you. Finding out what that means for you, and seeing it set in motion, will give you a purposeful heart; one where your mind, emotion and will are aligned to His purpose so that God can bless the world through you.
Discussion Questions:
1. What do the quotes above mean about what God has done for each person on the earth?
2. What did Moses do that wasn’t in line with God’s purpose?
3. How many opportunities to make a difference do you think you have lost by not knowing your purpose?
Application:
1. What do you know about your purpose in life?
2. What would be a way to find out more?
3. What is keeping you from fulfilling your purpose?
Closing Prayer: Lord, I want to know more about my purpose. Help me understand it better and help me to work it out into action for the world.
Additional Resources:
Similar verses:
Psalm 57:2; Isaiah 46:11; 48:14; Acts 5:38-39; 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 3:10.
Or use these links to navigate to various parts of this study:
Intro | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10 | Lesson 11 | Lesson 12
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