Yan Hadley spoke this morning from Phil 3:13 about a passion that pursues the purpose of God. We are not meant to spend our lives looking back, but should be straining forward towards God, living for Him with a zeal which reflects His (see Is 9:6-7, John 2:17). Enthusiasm and fervour are the hallmarks of those who understand that their lives have purpose and meaning in God (see Rom 12:11). We are not meant to be stumbling along or slipping back in our walk with God but should be straining forward, like an athlete bending to reach the finish line.
Discouragement and weariness can prevent us from pursuing the purposes of God, but 1 Cor 15:58 reminds us to remain steadfast, abounding in every good work and serving the Lord with wholehearted devotion. As we wait on the Lord, He will renew our strength (Is 40:31) so that we can run and not grow weary and walk and not faint.
The Purpose of God
Jesus said that His food was to do the will of God (John 4:34). Purpose ignites passion; life without purpose is pointless. 2 Cor 4:1 reminds us that doing God’s will means we will not lose heart; Paul prayed that the Colossians would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. (Col 1:9-10). We are made in the image of God to be creative and live with purpose; God sees what we can become, not just what we are now. His aim is that we grow to maturity in Christ (Eph 4:13) and bear fruit (John 15:16); we were created to do good works. (Eph 2:10) An architect sees the finished building and makes plans that are meticulous in every detail long before actual work on the building begins; in the same way, God knows what He has created us to do and we need to find out His purpose for our lives in order to keep pressing on towards Him.
The Protection of God
God’s purposes will be completed (Phil 1:6) and His protection is with us (Ps 138:7). We are often oblivious of the dangers in life and unmindful of God’s protection, but Scripture reminds us that there is often a battle between what God has promised and what we see initially. Sarah’s barren womb seemed an impossible challenge, but Isaac was born through God’s power. Pharaoh’s edict to kill Hebrew boys seemed to be the end of the road for God’s people, but God protected Moses and used him to deliver Israel from Egypt. Goliath’s threats against Israel seemed to spell certain defeat, but God’s protection through David meant the Philistine was toppled. People may well be against God’s plans, but God is stronger. Jesus reminded Peter that though Satan sought to sift him and destroy him, Jesus was praying for him – and He prays for us too!
The Power of God
Rom 1:16 reminds us that the gospel is the power of God for salvation. God’s power is available to each one of us, but there is a direct correlation between our desire for God and our understanding of His power. 1 Cor 2:4-5 reminds us that Paul relied on God’s power, and we need to hunger and thirst for righteousness. We need to wake up to the power that is available to us (see Is 52:1) and must be part of a church that wakes up, speaks up and proclaims the greatness of God. We need God’s power to overcome sin, to be effective in service and to live victoriously against Satan; there can be no substitute for the power of God. (Gal 5:16) When we stand for God in His mighty power (Eph 6:10), great things will happen.
