Living With Purpose | Finding Your Personal Calling

Last week… Started a new series LIVING WITH PURPOSE   Learned 2 important truths: God created the world ON PURPOSE and FOR A PURPOSE Which means… The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is to GLORIFY GOD   Today, we are talking about the next step in purpose, which is… Finding Your Personal Calling   Separate into two parts: Part 1: What do we mean by “PERSONAL CALLING”   A personal calling is simply God’s tug on our hearts toward a particular thing. It can be for a specific situation, a season of life, or a lifetime.  Specific Situation At work With a person   Season of life Parenting (adoption) Marriage School College Job Lifetime Full-time ministry Personal calling that takes your whole life Let’s talk about what a calling is NOT This means that a calling is NOT Necessarily… What is going to make you rich What is going to always make you happy What you are meant to do forever   >>But it DOES mean that you will find the MOST FULFILLMENT in your personal calling<< Why is that? Your Calling is a specific way to glorify God in your life   Remember what we have already said about everyone’s purpose… The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is to GLORIFY GOD Your personal calling will help you be a part of the team to build God’s kingdom Don’t find your own calling in someone else’s calling “Your calling isn’t about you; it’s about all the people that you’re going to impact.” ~ John Bevere   2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:31 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Your calling may or may not be your “JOB” Your calling is your MINISTRY It can take many forms   Don’t need a bunch of “PASTORS.” We need Christian… Teachers Medical workers Scientists Engineers Mothers/Fathers People who “DO EVERYTHING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD”   People who are passionate about doing what God has uniquely wired them to do   Another important point about calling… Your calling will be out of your comfort zone but is accompanied by God’s peace and Provision Callings are not easy, but HARD/DIFFICULT   Your calling may cause you to… Go somewhere new Talk to people you don’t know Take risks that you can’t control   And ultimately… Trust God like NEVER BEFORE   Philippians 4:7 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.   Lastly, what is a personal calling?… Your Calling can often be seasonal, and each season teaches you what you need to know for the next   David being prepared for Goliath…   1 Samuel 17 32 David said to Saul, “Don’t let anyone be discouraged by him; your servant will go and fight this Philistine!” 33 But Saul replied, “You can’t go fight this Philistine. You’re just a youth, and he’s been a warrior since he was young.” 34 David answered Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”   David had CONFIDENCE because of God’s faithfulness in the past That season prepared him for the next CONTENTMENT vs HOLY DISCONTENTMENT Contentment: Being OK where you are Holy Discontentment: Feeling of God calling you to a new place, but waiting on HIS TIMING…   Stay faithful where you are NOW, and God will be faithful in placing you where you NEED TO BE Part 2: How do you find your calling   A few steps… 1: Seek God purposefully and intensely Prayer and fasting What is God pulling your heart to? People Problems Passions Gifts 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Don’t stifle the Spirit. 20 Don’t despise prophecies, 21 but test all things. Hold on to what is good.   James 1:5 5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. Will include gifts and talents Can’t sing… probably not called to be a singer   It can be pretty obvious Student Parent 2: Seek Confirmation The role of the church family   Acts 13 2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.   3: Begin to operate in faith   Trust God in your calling Walk like David Look for opportunities   This is one of the most important things you can do in your life