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Destined by Design

Destined by Design. Exploring & Charting Your Life Purpose. You have been destined by God!. “ David… served God’s purpose in his own generation...” Acts 13:36 Mordecai to Queen Esther: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this”? Esther 4:14

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Destined by Design

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  1. Destined by Design Exploring & Charting Your Life Purpose

  2. You have been destined by God! • “David… served God’s purpose in his own generation...” Acts 13:36 • Mordecai to Queen Esther: “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this”? Esther 4:14 • The Lord to Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you…” Jeremiah 1:5 Destined by Design

  3. You have been destined by God! • God to Israel: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 • The Psalmist to God: “For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16 Destined by Design

  4. Purposeful language of Ephesians • For he chose us in him before the creation of the world… (1:4) • In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons (and daughters)… in accordance with the pleasure of his will (1:5) • And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and earth together under one head, even Christ (1:9-10) Destined by Design

  5. Purposeful language of Ephesians • In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of himwho works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory (1:11-12) • For we are God’s workmanship (poiema = poem, work of art), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (2:10) • His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose… (3:10-11) Destined by Design

  6. Story of Eagle & Prairie Chicken Destined by Design

  7. Your destiny is written into your DNA • You have been “destined by design” • And yet… “Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside us.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes (U.S. physician, poet, humorist) • For many of us “if we have eyes to see – the life (we) are living is not the life that wants to live in (us).” – Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak, p. 2 Destined by Design

  8. Life Purpose Definitions • “The reason for which something exists.” (Random House Dictionary) • “God’s personal invitation for me to work on His agenda, using the talents I’ve been given in ways that are eternally significant.” (Addington & Graves, A Case for Calling, p. 7) • “The place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” (Fred Buechner) Destined by Design

  9. Life Purpose Definitions • Purpose is our deepest dimension – our essence – where we have a profound sense of who we are, where we came from, and where we are going.” (Richard Leider, The Power of Purpose, p. 30) • “That everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out in response to His summons and service.” (Os Guiness, The Call, p. 4) Destined by Design

  10. Life Purpose Definitions • Mission: • (1) To seek to stand hour by hour in the conscious presence of God, the One from whom your Mission is derived; • (2) to do what you can, moment by moment, day by day, step by step, to make this world a better place, following the leading and guidance of God’s Spirit within you and around you; • (3) to exercise the Talent which you particularly came to Earth to use – your greatest gift, which you most delight to use; in the place(s) or setting(s) which God has caused to appeal to you the most; and for those purposes which God most needs to have done in the world. (Richard Bolles, What Color Is Your Parachute, p. 312) Destined by Design

  11. Depression in the U.S. • Study at U.S. University of students who had attempted suicide: “life seemed meaningless.” • Victor Frankl: “Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.” • King Solomon: Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 • Even many Christians struggle to find a deep sense of purpose and meaning in life. How does this happen? Destined by Design

  12. What is God’s Overarching Purpose in the World? • Redeem humanity – from every tribe, tongue and nation – back into relationship with Himself. • Restore His kingdom rule and reign throughout the earth. Destined by Design

  13. What is God’s Specific Purpose for You & Me? • Come into saving relationship with Jesus Christ – 1 Timothy 2:4 (Great Commandment: Part 1) • Be conformed to the likeness of His Son – Romans 8:29 (Great Commandment: Part 1 – love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength) • Grow in authentic Christian community as a member of the Body of Christ (Great Commandment: Part 2 – “love your neighbor as yourself.” • Fulfill our unique, individual purpose and calling to serve His larger redemptive purposes in the world (Great Commission) Destined by Design

  14. Many have been chosen (see Eph. 1:4)… …but few have made themselves “choice.” (Paul Johansson – Elim) What does it mean to make oneself “choice”? Destined by Design

  15. Life Purpose PyramidQ:How do you make yourself choice? Convergence occurs when the foundational areas are aligned with God’s divine (“kairos”) opportunities Note that the first (4) levels of the pyramid – Christ, Character, Community & Calling - relate to the (4) areas identified on Slide 13 as God’s purpose for the individual Development of gifts, abilities & strengths Relationship with others; generally where character is worked out Unique individual calling based upon gifting, etc. Christlikeness Relationship with God A: By proper alignment and development of these areas in our lives. Destined by Design

  16. Life Purpose PyramidMisalignments, cracks or compromises in the foundation lead to trouble Destined by Design

  17. The Tale of the Old Man of the Mountain Destined by Design

  18. Your Foundation is Critical! • “Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” • “Your gifting can create opportunities that your character cannot support!” • God, in his mercy, will hold us back from opportunities until our spiritual life, character and personal relationships have been formed in such a way to support these opportunities. • Enlarged character leads to enlarged opportunities! Destined by Design

  19. Paul’s example… • Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. (1 Corinthians 9:25-26) • Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers (and sisters), I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14) Destined by Design

  20. Issues for us to grapple with… • It’s an issue of stewardship Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Eph. 5:15-17; Matt. 25:14-30; Phil. 3:12-16) • It’s an issue of faith Will you believe the promises of God to you? (Numbers 14) • It’s an issue of inheritance Let us not despise our birthright as Esau did. (Gen. 25:34; Eph. 1:14, 17-19) • It’s an issue of warfare It doesn’t come easily. We have to fight for it, take possession of our God-given inheritance (Joshua 1:6-7) Destined by Design

  21. Paul’s encouragement to us… • No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9) • Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20) Destined by Design

  22. So, how do you discover God’s unique purpose for your life? Destined by Design

  23. Does life sometimes feel like a “Maze”? Destined by Design

  24. Let Your Life Speak! • Let’s demystify the “mystery” of knowing God’s will • Your destiny is to a great extent written in your unique God-given design. • "Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you.” (Let Your Life Speak, Parker Palmer) • Vocation does not come from a decision of the will. It comes from listening. The word vocation is rooted in the Latin for "voice." Vocation does not mean a goal that I pursue. It means a calling that I hear. Destined by Design

  25. Discerning the Fingerprints of God Destined by Design

  26. Life Purpose Clues ConvergenceExperiences Patterns Life Purpose Themes ConvergenceExperiences Life Purpose Clues Life Purpose Target Destined by Design

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