God’s calling and purpose for our lives becomes clearer as we grow in our knowledge of Him.  What’s required of us to fulfill this calling and purpose is to trust Jesus and be courageous. In this podcast, Lance shares some insight to help us along in our purpose and calling.

Notes:

You were born for a purpose.

Mark Twain said, “The two greatest days of your life are the day you were born and the day you learn why.”

1. You have a purpose.

2. To know this purpose, know God.

3. To fulfill this purpose, be trusting (know God).

4. To fulfill this purpose, be courageous.

5. To fulfill this purpose, be competent.

6. To fulfill this purpose, know what season you’re in.

As one pastor said, “Learning begins at the place of application.”

Remember, as a leader…

1. You teach what you know, you reproduce who you are.

2. You can’t give what you don’t have.

3. You can’t take people where you haven’t been.

Your purpose becomes clearer as you grow in your experiential knowledge of God. In between where you are and the clarity you want and need is trust. Trust, or faith, is the bridge that connects our human behavior to the life-force of Jesus - our living intercessor, Lord and Savior.

As one pastor said, “Learning begins at the place of application.”

Remember, as a leader….

1. You teach what you know, you reproduce who you are.

2. You can’t give what you don’t have.

3. You can’t take people where you haven’t been.

Your purpose becomes clearer as you grow in your experiential knowledge of God.

Foundational questions for growing in the knowledge of Jesus:

1. Who is He?

2. Where is “who He is” showing up in my life?

3. What is He doing?

4. What does He want me to believe?

5. What does He want me to do?

Practice Trust.

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Trust - Joyce Meyer says, “Trusting God is simply believing that He loves you and knowing He’s good, He has the power to help you, and He wants to help you. “

In the Lord - His character and nature.

With all your heart - It’s not just words, but a lifestyle of dependency.

Lean not on your own understanding - The battle between what seems logical and illogical, reasonable and unreasonable is where we lean in trust.

In all your ways submit - Submission is the ultimate test of trust

To Him - We started with the Lord’s character in this verse and at the end of this verse we are returning to the Lord’s character. Trust begins and ends with Jesus.

He will make your paths straight - Jesus will enable you to fulfill your purpose and calling. He will supernaturally enable situations to work for your good.

Be Courageous.

Joshua 1:6, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”

• Courage because you have a purpose / calling and it’s backed up by God. Human leadership supported by God’s calling, God’s purpose and God’s promise.

Joshua 1:7, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

• Courage is obedience, not in human wisdom, carnal instincts or leadership reflexes, but obedience to what God speaks. Courage is needed because we are tempted to compromise, deviate direction and listen to other voices. Our success in our calling has a direction correlation to our obedience to God’s instruction and direction.

Joshua 1:8, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

• Courage is not the absence of fear, but the act of obedience and trust in the face of fear and uncertainty. Courage is the awareness of God’s presence with you, even in the time of sad moments, struggle and difficulty.

Application:

1. Where am I not trusting? Why not?

2. What does repentance look like?

3. What do you want me to believe and do?

4. Where am I not courageous? Why not?

5. What does repentance of fear, uncertainty look like?

6. What does God want me to believe and do?

Credits: Music - Pumpkin Spice by Audiobinger -- freemusicarchive.org