2. Understanding God’s Purpose in your life
At the Lord’s command they encamped,
and at the Lord’s command they set out.
They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance
with command through Moses.
Numbers 9:23
3. Understanding God’s Purpose in your life
Numbers 9:23
Life Application Bible
The Israelites travelled and camped as guided.
When you follow God’s guidance, you know
where you are where God wants you, whether
you’re moving or staying in one place.
4. Understanding God’s Purpose in your life
Numbers 9:23
Life Application Bible
You are physically somewhere right now.
Instead of praying “God. What do you want me
to do next?” ask God “ God, what do you want
me to do while I am here?
5. Understanding God’s Purpose in your life
Numbers 9:23
Life Application Bible
Direction from God is not just for your next big
move. He has a purpose in placing you where
you are right now. Begin to understand God’s
purpose for your life by discovering what he
wants you to do now.
6. Understanding God’s Purpose in your life
These are the words Moses spoke to all
Israel in the desert east of the Jordan – that is
In the Arabah – opposite Suph, between in
Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab.
It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh
Barnea by the Mount Seir. – Deuteronomy 1:1,2
7. Understanding God’s Purpose in your life
Deuteronomy 1:1,2
Life Application Bible
The Israelites spent 40 years on a journey that
should have lasted 11 days. It wasn’t distance that
stood between them in the promised land. It was
the condition of their hearts. God’s purpose went
deeper than simply transporting a huge group of
people to a new land.
8. Understanding God’s Purpose in your life
Deuteronomy 1:1,2
Life Application Bible
He was preparing them to live in obedience to
Him once they arrived. What good was the
promised land if the Israelites was just as wicked
as the nations already living there? The journey
was a painful nut necessary part of their
preparation. Through it God taught the Israelites
who he was: the living God,
9. Understanding God’s Purpose in your life
Deuteronomy 1:1,2
Life Application Bible
the Leader of their nation, he also taught them
who they were. People who were fallen, sinful,
prone to rebellion and doubt. He gave his
rebellious people the law to help them understand
how to relate to God and to other people.
10. Understanding God’s Purpose in your life
Deuteronomy 1:1,2
Life Application Bible
Your spiritual pilgrimage may be lengthy, and
you may face pain, discouragement and
difficulties. But remember that God isn’t trying
to keep you alive. He wants to prepare you to
live for service and devotion to him.
11. How we lose sight of ours
And the people said to Joshua, “ We will serve the
Lord our God and obey him. On that day, Joshua
made a covenant for the people, and there at
Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws
And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of
the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and
set it up under the oak near the holy place of the
Lord. Joshua 24:24-26
12. How we lose sight of ours
Joshua 24:24-26
Life Application Bible
The covenant between the Israel and God was that
the people would worship and obey the Lord
alone. Their purpose was to become a holy nation
that would influence the rest of the world for God.
The conquest of Canaan was a means to achieve
this purpose, but Israel became preoccupied with
the land and lost sight of the Lord God
13. How we lose sight of ours
Joshua 24:24-26
Life Application Bible
The same can happen in our lives. We can spend
so much time on the means that we forget the end
– to glorify God. Churches may make this mistake
as well. For example, the congregation may pour
all of its energies into a new facility, only to
become self-satisfied or fearful of lettting certain
people groups use it.
14. How we lose sight of ours
Joshua 24:24-26
Life Application Bible
If this happens, they have focused on the building
and lose sight of its purpose – to others to God.
15. God is directing our lives for a purpose
The Lord bless him! Naomi said to her
daughter-in-law. He has not stop showing his
kindness to the living and the dead.” She added,
“That man is our close relative; he is one of our
kinsman-redeemers.”
Ruth 2:20
16. God is directing our lives for a purpose
Ruth 2:20
Life Application Bible
Though Ruth may not have always recognized
God’s guidance, he had been with her every step .
She went to gelan and “just happened” to end up
in the field owned by Boaz who “just happened to
be a close relative. This was more than a
coincidence.
17. God is directing our lives for a purpose
Ruth 2:20
Life Application Bible
As you go about your daily task. God is working in
your life in ways you may not even notice. We
must not close the door on what God can do.
Events do not occur by luck or coincidence. We
should have faith that God is directing our lives for
his purpose
18. God has put you where you are for a purpose
He sent back his answer : Do not think that because
you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews
will escape. For of you remain silent at this time,
relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from
another place, but you and your fathers’ family will
perish. And who knows but that you have come to a
royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:13-14
19. God has put you where you are for a purpose
Esther 4:13-14
Life Application Bible
After the decree to kill the Jews were given ,
Mordecai and Esther could have despaired, decided
only to save themselves, or just waited for God’s
intervention. Instead they saw that God had placed
them in their positions for a purpose, so they seized
the moment and they acted.
20. God has put you where you are for a purpose
Esther 4:13-14
Life Application Bible
When it is within our reach to save others, we
must do so. In a life-threatening situation, don’t
withdraw, behave selfishly, wallow in despair, or
wait for God to fix everything. Instead, ask God’s
direction, and act! God may have placed where
you are “for such a time as this.”
21. Suffering does not destroy life’s purpose
Why is life given to man
Whose way is hidden,
Whom God has hedged in?
For sighing comes to me instead of food;
My groans pour out like water
What I feared has come upon me;
What I dreaded has happened to me.
I have no peace, no quietness
I have no rest, but only turmoil. Job 3:23-26
22. Suffering does not destroy life’s purpose
Job 3:23-26
Life Application Bible
Job had been careful not to worship material
possessions but to worship God alone. Here he was
overwhelmed by calamities that mocked his caution,
and he complained about trials that came despite his
right living. All the principles by which he had lived
were crumbling, and Job began to lose his
perspective.
23. Suffering does not destroy life’s purpose
Job 3:23-26
Life Application Bible
Trials and grief, whether temporary or enduring, do
not destroy the real purpose of life. Life is not given
merely for happiness and personal fulfilment, but for
us to serve and honor the Lord.The worth and
meaning of life is not based on what we feel, but on
the one reality no one can take away –God’s love for
us
24. Suffering does not destroy life’s purpose
Job 3:23-26
Life Application Bible
Don’t assume that because God truly loves you, he
will always prevent suffering. Romans 8:38,39 teaches
us that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
25. Religious leaders lose sight of their real purpose
But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away!
Crucify him!
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests
answered.”
John 19:15
26. Religious leaders lose sight of their real purpose
John 19:15
Life Application Bible
The Jewish leaders were so desperate to get rid of
Jesus that, despite their intense hatred for Rome, they
shouted “We have no king but Caesar,” How ironic
that they feigned allegiance to Rome while rejecting
their own Messiah! Their own words condemned
them, for God was to be their only true King
27. Religious leaders lose sight of their real purpose
John 19:15
Life Application Bible
And they had abandoned every trace of loyalty to him.
The priests had truly lost their reasons for existence –
instead of turning people to God, they claimed
allegiance to Rome in order to kill their Messiah.
28. Religious leaders lose sight of their real purpose
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be
conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be
the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:29
29. Religious leaders lose sight of their real purpose
Romans 8:29
Life Application Bible
Some believe these verses mean that before the
beginning of the world, God chose certain people to
receive his gift of salvation. They point out to verses
like Ephesians 1:11 that says we are predestined
according to the plan of him who works out
everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.
30. Religious leaders lose sight of their real purpose
Romans 8:29
Life Application Bible
Others believe that God foreknew those who would
respond to him and upon those he set his mark
(predestined) What is clear is that God’s purpose for
people was not an afterthought; it was settled before
the foundation of the world.
31. Religious leaders lose sight of their real purpose
Romans 8:29
Life Application Bible
People are to serve and honor God. If you have
believed in Christ, you can rejoice in the fact that God
has always known you. God’s love is eternal. His
wisdom and power are supreme. He will guide and
protect you until you one day stand in is presence.
32. Fulfilling the purpose for which we were made
Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:3
33. Fulfilling the purpose for which we were made
John 1:3
Life Application Bible
When God created, he made something from nothing.
Because we are created beings, we have no basis for
pride. Remember that you exist only because God made
you., and you have special gifts only because God gave
them to you.
34. Fulfilling the purpose for which we were made
John 1:3
Life Application Bible
With God you are something valuable and unique; apart
from God you are nothing, and if you try to live without
him, you will be abandoning the purpose for which you
were made.
35. Jesus’ Purpose was to do God’s will
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and
whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will
but to do the will of him who sent me.
John 6:37,38
36. Jesus’ Purpose was to do God’s will
John 6:37,38
Life Application Bible
Jesus did not work independently of God the Father
but in union with him. This should give us even more
assurance of being welcome into God’s presence and
being protected by him. Jesus’ purpose was to do the
will of the Father, not to satisfy human desires. When
we follow Jesus, we should have the same purpose.
37. God’s Purpose for all believers
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our
God may cont you worthy of his calling, and that by
his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours
and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so
that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in
you, and you in him, according to the grace of our
God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11,12
38. God’s Purpose for all believers
2 Thessalonians 1:11,12
Life Application Bible
Our “calling” from God as Christians, is to
become like Christ. This is a gradual lifelong
process that will be completed when we see Christ
face to face (1 John 3:2). To be “worthy” of this
calling means to want to do what is right and good
(as Christ would) . We aren’t perfect yet, but we
are moving in that direction as God works in us.
39. The purpose of the Bible
So that the man of God may be thorougly equipped
for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:17
40. The purpose of the Bible
2 Timothy 3:17
Life Application Bible
The whole Bible is God’s inspired Word. Because
it is inspired and trustworthy, we should read it and
apply it to our lives. The Bible is our standard to
testing everything else that claims to be true.
41. The purpose of the Bible
2 Timothy 3:17
Life Application Bible
In our zeal for the truth of the Scripture, we must
never forget its purpose –to equip us to do good.
We should not study God’s Word to simply
increase our knowledge or to prepare us to win
arguments.
42. The purpose of the Bible
2 Timothy 3:17
Life Application Bible
We should simply study the Bible so that we will
know how to do Christ’s work in the world. Our
knowledge of God’s Word is not useful unless it
strengthens our faith and leads us to do good.
43. How would you describe your purpose in life?
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ
for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the
truth that leads to godliness. A faith and knowledge
resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who
does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.
Titus 1:1,2
44. How would you describe your purpose in life?
Titus 1:1,2
Life Application Bible
In short phrase, Paul gives insight into his reason for
living. The process begins with the proclamation of
faith, continues with the knowledge of truth, which is
then shown by people living in godliness.
45. How would you describe your purpose in life?
Titus 1:1,2
Life Application Bible
Paul wanted men and women to be mature in Jesus
Christ. This was his ultimate objective by which he
evaluated all he did.
46. How would you describe your purpose in life?
Titus 1:1,2
Life Application Bible
How would your church evaluate its ultimate
objectives?
What specific goals, ministries, and service
opportunities bring believers to faith, spiritual
maturity and godliness?
47. How would you describe your purpose in life?
Titus 1:1,2
Life Application Bible
Do established members reflect good Christian
conduct and desire for Christian service?
How would you describe your purpose in life?
To what are you devoted?
Are you willing to share your faith, teach the truth and
live a godly life for all to see?
48. To be well pleasing to Christ is indeed the sum of all
which is truly Christian. In arresting contrast to the
ambition of this world, it is centered not on self, but
on the Savior. It’s our goal is to please Him.
– Philip Hughes