Read Acts 20:17-24
Most companies nowadays have a mission statement, often proudly displayed for the public to see and admire. Most sports men and women and high
At the most basic level it wasn’t to be God’s gift to the opposite sex or to live in luscious comfort and to be blessed by all that the world has to offer. Biblically speaking we can argue that you were put on this earth to be a Kingdom servant, to bless many, to edify the saints and to grow the kingdom.
Dr Luke, who wrote The Acts of the Apostles spelt out Paul’s goal for us. As Paul discoursed with the Ephesian elders he told them God’s calling and plan for his own life. Thankfully, Luke recorded what was spoken. Paul’s life mission or goal is stated in Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the Gospel of God’s grace.
Interestingly, Paul invested his entire life in this God given mission. His life would be worthless or pointless if he did not engage in the task given to him by the Lord. If you consider your life from the vantage point of judgment day, when we are called to account for our lives, you can see the value and pointedness of Paul’s statement here. Nothing matters eternally except the task given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s heart is to finish the race and to complete the task given to him by Christ Jesus. For Paul that task was preaching the Gospel of grace to the Gentiles. As you read through the Book of Acts you see how Paul laboured and toiled and worked towards that goal.
It’s encouraging to realise that when God calls us for a particular life or mission He equips us and leads us in that mission. God doesn’t throw us in the deep end but actually works with us and in us to bring that mission to fruition. We can march confidently forward striving to complete the Lord’s task given to us.
But sadly, many believers simply have no idea what God wants them to be doing. Many believers have no idea of God’s plan or goal for their lives. Many believers would simply baulk at having such a mission statement or goal for their own lives.
Let me encourage you to pray that God would reveal His plan for your life. Pray that He would show you the good works that He has prepared in advance for you to be doing. Pray that He would work in you and through you to bring those plans to completion.
Prayer:
Use today’s Bible reading and notes to pray along the following lines.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that each person in your congregation would know God’s plan for their lives. Pray that each person would be seeking God and seeking to be obedient to God.
¨ Pray that the leadership of your church would know the plans that God has for your church and that they would be wise in leading the congregation in obedience and trust.
As you read the Word, keep praying that God would speak to you directly through the Word.
1. How can a person find out what God’s plan for their life really is?
2. What advantages are there in being able to spell out your Kingdom life plan as Paul did in Acts 20:24?
3. A particular person in your church says that he’s happy NOT to have a plan but wants to roll with the punches and allow God to call him to any number of works. He thinks that a plan would smother God’s work. How do you respond?
Intro: As children we can have grand dreams of what we want to do when we get older. Share some of your dreams. God wants us to have grand dreams of what we can do for His kingdom as well. God wants this and gives us His Spirit to achieve this.
Discuss your dreams and goals for God’s kingdom. Share what desires you have regarding God’s kingdom.
Read Galatians 3:1-5
Why does God give His Spirit to us?
How do we receive God’s Spirit?
Pray together that God would allow you to walk in step with the Spirit and to be led by Him and taught by Him.
Intro: As children we can have grand dreams of what we want to do when we get older. Share some of your dreams. God wants us to have grand dreams of what we can do for His kingdom as well. God wants this and gives us His Spirit to achieve this.
Discuss your dreams and goals for God’s kingdom. Share what desires you have regarding God’s kingdom.
Read Galatians 3:1-5
Why does God give His Spirit to us?
How do we receive God’s Spirit?
Pray together that God would allow you to walk in step with the Spirit and to be led by Him and taught by Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment