Participants: Karen Thomas (Host), Pr. Joseph Ikner
Series Code: IAADD
Program Code: IAADD000035A
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00:27 Welcome to Issues and Answers.
00:29 Have you ever wonder what your purpose is? 00:31 Have you ever wondered about why are you actually here? 00:34 I don't care, what age are you at. 00:36 At some point of your life, 00:37 you gonna hit that moment when you're gonna say, 00:40 "God, why am I here or what is my purpose, 00:43 how can I be my very best?" 00:45 Well, we're gonna talk about that today. 00:47 Our guest is Pastor Joseph Ikner. 00:50 He is the senior pastor for Berean 00:51 Seventh-day Adventist Church, in St. Louis, Missouri. 00:55 He has degrees from Andrews University, 00:57 both under graduate and masters degrees 00:59 and we are going to talk about, why are we here. 01:02 Pastor. Yeah. 01:03 Why are we here? 01:05 You know, I think that 01:06 that's great a question, 01:09 and I think that's an answer that 01:11 many people really want to know 01:13 because they... 01:15 When they ask the question, why am I here, 01:17 they are really asking why do I exist 01:21 and what is my purpose in life. 01:23 And you know, 01:25 when you ask people that question, 01:26 what they're going to say, 01:27 well, maybe I am here to have a nice job, 01:30 to make a lot of money. 01:32 I want my name to be in the lights, 01:34 I want to be famous, 01:36 I want to have a great family 01:38 but a lot of times people 01:40 don't really understand why they exist. 01:43 And I think one of the things that 01:45 we find out is that there has to be some meaning in life. 01:50 There's lot of thoughts out there 01:53 and when you talk about evolution 01:56 and you talk about the big bang theory 01:59 and those things. 02:01 If I say, if I believe in the big bang theory, 02:03 for example, 02:05 and I say there was a cosmic explosion 02:07 and all of this just happened randomly 02:09 with the existence of planet earth, 02:11 then that means that I am here by chance. 02:14 Random. Random. 02:16 If I say that I came from a tadpole 02:19 or I developed from a monkey then that was just by chance. 02:24 If I developed over many millions of years, 02:28 then I am just here by chance and, you know, 02:31 some people have been told about their parents, 02:35 you know "You were not planned." 02:38 Yes, kind of cruel, 02:40 when people say that, don't you think? 02:41 It is. Yeah, yeah. 02:43 Like they had something to do with it. 02:44 Yeah, you were not planed you were an accident. 02:47 I didn't plan on having you 02:49 and so people are walking around aimlessly 02:52 trying to find out what their purpose is in life. 02:55 And I think the reason and that becomes so important 02:58 is because without really understanding 03:00 the meaning of life and the purpose of life, 03:04 people are really living a life on empty, 03:07 they are not living a life of fullness, 03:10 they are not able to give all and invest all, 03:13 as to why they are really here. 03:15 And I think that the word of God 03:18 tells us really a little bit about 03:22 what our meaning in life is, 03:23 what our purpose in life is. 03:25 It does? Yeah, it does. 03:27 So I want to begin by looking at a scripture. 03:30 Okay. 03:31 That's found in Colossians Chapter 1. 03:35 Colossians Chapter 1 and verse... 03:39 And that's a New Testament, 03:40 Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, 03:42 Acts, Romans 03:43 and then we get into Colossians. 03:45 Okay, for those of you who want to follow with us at home, 03:47 follow along. 03:48 Yes, Colossians Chapter 1 but before you read that. 03:50 Okay. 03:52 I want to share this quotation 03:54 that comes from a senior research fellow, 04:00 whose focus was human molecular genetics. 04:04 His name is Dr. Michael Denton 04:06 and Rick Warren quoted him in his book 04:09 "The Purpose Driven Life" and he says, 04:12 "All the evidence that is available 04:14 in the biological sciences supports the core proposition, 04:20 that the cosmos is a specially designed hole with life 04:26 and mankind as its fundamental goal and purpose, 04:31 a hole in which all facets of reality have their meaning 04:36 and explanation in this central facts." 04:40 So this scientist says that everything that is designed, 04:46 mankind, life, 04:48 all has a fundamental goal and purpose. 04:53 Every facets of life has some meaning. 04:56 So it didn't... 04:57 just kind of it didn't randomly evolve 05:00 or just kind of like a chair, okay, or desk here, 05:05 these don't have any... 05:06 Well, they have a purpose for our sit 05:08 but as far as living and breathing entities, 05:11 you are saying that's no accident. 05:13 There is not accident, 05:14 it was not just, you are here. 05:17 Now you try to figure it out all on your own. 05:21 Is there any role that we have as individuals 05:24 as far as our hopes and our dreams 05:26 and our aspirations, 05:28 is there some part that plays in it, as well... 05:31 Is it okay to set goals? 05:33 We are going to get into that. 05:35 But before I answer that question, 05:37 I want to do that with... 05:38 I want to start with the text in Colossians 1 05:41 'cause that's gonna lead us into 05:43 what the question that you just asked. 05:45 So we are looking in Colossians, right? 05:47 Colossians 1:16. Okay. 05:49 And so for those of you at home 05:51 someone said Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 05:55 1 and 2 Corinthians. 05:57 Go, eat popcorn. 05:59 Well, we are not saying go eat popcorn, 06:01 well, you could actually reading the word of God but... 06:03 You could. 06:04 Colossians, no. 06:06 Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 06:10 that's a little accretive. 06:11 Okay, so here we are, we can find all together, 06:13 find Colossians. 06:15 Right. 06:16 Okay, and verse you said? 06:18 16. 16. 06:19 Colossians 1:16. 06:20 "For by him were all things created, 06:22 that are in heaven and that are in earth, 06:25 visible and invisible, 06:26 whether they be thrones, or dominions, 06:29 or principalities, or powers: 06:32 all things were created by Him and for Him." 06:35 And this text is powerful 06:37 because it gives us a little insight 06:39 to the creativeness of the God. 06:41 Okay. 06:42 It says for by him speaking of Jesus, 06:44 by Jesus all things were created 06:47 and then the last part of that text says that 06:49 "all things were created through Him 06:53 and then all things were created for Him." 06:58 So that tells us two things, number one, 07:00 first we were made by God and then two, 07:06 we were created by God for His purpose. 07:09 Now why that's so important 07:11 to the meaning of life and purpose 07:14 is because we don't exist for ourselves. 07:17 So the point is not that we exist to do 07:22 what we want to do. 07:23 We don't exist for our own ambitions, 07:26 we don't exist for our own goals, 07:29 we don't exist for our own dreams, 07:31 our own aspirations, 07:33 so a lot of times in life, 07:37 the question is asked to us or we ask ourselves 07:41 what is it that I want to do, 07:43 or what is it that I want to be, 07:46 or I want to become? 07:48 But the better question is asking 07:50 since God made me 07:52 and I am created for His purpose. 07:56 What is it that God would have for me to do? 08:01 What is it that I am supposed to do in my station of life? 08:05 What is it that God wants me to accomplish? 08:08 What is His will and desire for me? 08:13 And that's a big shift 08:15 because that moves me away from what 08:17 I want to do and what I am about 08:20 to living a life that is sold out completely 08:23 for fulfilling God's purpose through me. 08:26 So do I then just kind of sit in my easy chair of life 08:31 and just say I am going to sit right here 08:34 until God shows me what I am supposed to do, 08:38 is that what we do? 08:39 Do we just kind of sit and wait? 08:40 Or is there a part that 08:42 we have to play in discovering that purpose? 08:45 Yeah, I think that there is a discovery 08:47 and I think that 08:49 there are many different ways of being able to see that. 08:52 I think number one, 08:54 one of the most important things about 08:57 knowing what my purpose is in life is number one, 08:59 seeking God. 09:01 So I need to talk to God, 09:02 I need to be praying to Him, asking Him 09:06 what He wants me to do 09:07 and I come back to that in a minute. 09:09 Secondly, there are some gifts 09:13 and some talents that we have in life, 09:15 that we know we naturally bend toward some things, 09:18 some abilities and things that we have to do, 09:20 so we know that can play into it as well. 09:23 And then other people contribute toward it 09:26 because sometimes we don't have the ability 09:29 to see everything in ourselves 09:31 but other people can see as well. 09:33 In fact, that really goes hand in hand 09:36 with self discovery as I am looking, 09:38 I might say, you know what, 09:41 I think that this is what I am supposed to be doing 09:44 and then someone else, 09:46 somewhere along in life is going to come along 09:47 and affirm that as well 09:49 because if no one else can see it. 09:51 Like if so, like if I say, 09:54 I think that I should become a concert pianist. 09:57 Yes. 09:58 And I can't play. 10:00 There you go. Right. 10:01 Yeah, I have no ability to be able to play 10:06 but I say I am supposed to be a concert pianist 10:08 and everyone else around me is telling me 10:10 that's my gift and I am pushing on, 10:12 that may not be your gift. 10:13 Right, so you are saying that 10:15 the gift should make room for themselves, 10:16 as a saying goes that people should see that. 10:19 Other people should see that 10:20 but those gifts and those talents, 10:23 all kind of fit into the overall 10:25 arching purpose of life. 10:27 And what I want to say is this 10:28 'cause this is important. 10:30 It does not mean 10:32 because I am successful right now in life 10:36 that I am fulfilling my purpose. 10:39 Really? 10:41 Doesn't mean because, 10:42 you know, things are going well, 10:45 I've got a very successful job, you know, 10:49 lots of money is flowing in and what I am doing 10:51 because I put my hand to it and it prosperous 10:54 and that could be the other side as well, 10:55 because I don't see all the results of it 10:57 as of yet, 10:59 it does not mean that I am not within my purpose. 11:01 It's really more, 11:02 the first key is really seeking God through prayer 11:06 and through having a relationship with Him 11:09 to come to and understand about the plan 11:11 that He has for my life. 11:13 And I want to look at another scripture on that. 11:15 Oh, okay. 11:16 We want to go to Jeremiah, that's Old Testament, yeah. 11:20 Okay, look I just turned right here to Jeremiah. 11:23 Yeah. Okay. 11:25 We want to go to Jeremiah. 11:26 These pages are getting stuck here. 11:28 Jeremiah Chapter 29. 11:31 Jeremiah 29? 11:32 Jeremiah 29:11 and 12. 11:39 "For I know the thoughts..." 11:41 Oh, I like this scripture, I always like that scripture. 11:44 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, 11:47 saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, 11:49 and not of evil to give you an expected end. 11:53 Then shall ye call upon me, 11:55 and ye shall go and pray unto me, 11:57 and I will hearken unto you." 12:00 Now that's in the traditional King James Version. 12:03 Yes, so we're just going to extract 12:06 or pull out one small portion there 12:08 and it is that God says, 12:10 "I have plans for you." 12:12 So when we talk about well, you know, 12:13 I am sitting and I might do, I twiddle my thumbs, 12:16 how do I really discover. 12:19 Well, if God says that He has a plan for you, 12:22 then it becomes His responsibility 12:25 to reveal that plan. 12:26 Sometimes you might hear God's voice, 12:30 sometimes it might be a strong impression, 12:33 sometimes it might be through the hands of other people 12:37 and it goes along 12:39 with as you move through this journey of life. 12:42 I think you kind of see through situations, 12:44 circumstances, 12:46 doors that are opened in life that you kind of see, 12:49 this is what I am supposed to be doing, 12:52 this is God's plan. 12:54 And so let me kind of talk about it this way. 12:56 When we talk about purpose, 12:59 God has something for us all to do, 13:02 and one of those things is to be a light, 13:05 it is to be a representative for Him, 13:07 to be an ambassador for Him. 13:09 So let's take a look at a great scripture text, 13:13 Matthew 5:16. 13:15 Okay. 13:17 This is why it's so nice 13:18 to have more than one Bible in one's library, 13:22 that way like we just read from the King James, 13:24 I think I am gonna try 13:25 the New International, all right. 13:27 So Matthew? 13:29 Chapter 5 and verse 16. 13:30 And these are the very words of Jesus Himself 13:32 that speaks to us about purpose. 13:35 Okay, Matthew 5:16. 13:38 "In the same way let your light shine before men, 13:42 that they may see your good deeds 13:44 and praise your Father in heaven." 13:47 So this text kind of speaks to us 13:49 on the fact that we are to be a light. 13:51 Now early in the passage Jesus says 13:54 that we ought to be the salt of the earth. 13:55 We got to make people thirsty for the gospel. 13:58 In this text He said, 14:00 we need to be the light of the world, 14:01 and that light is not supposed to be, 14:03 you know, people looking at us and say, 14:05 "Oh, man, you're such a wonderful person, 14:07 you got great talent, 14:08 purpose all of that, I see all of that in you." 14:10 But instead, 14:12 we're supposed to be the reflectors of Jesus Christ, 14:15 so that when people see the things that we do, 14:18 the way that we carry ourselves, 14:19 the professions that we have, the words that we speak, 14:23 the things that we do, they might say, 14:25 "Wow, God must be real, God is inside of this person," 14:28 that's how I come to a knowledge of God 14:31 through him or her 14:32 and therefore they will glorify God 14:34 which is in heaven. 14:36 So all of us have this purpose of being a light, 14:41 being a representative, 14:43 being an ambassador for God so to speak. 14:48 And what we do is the vehicle 14:51 of being that representative for God. 14:52 So I put it this way, 14:56 I am a pastor but the pastor, 14:59 being a pastor is not my purpose in life, 15:02 that's the vehicle that God uses to help me 15:05 to accomplish the overall purpose that He has. 15:08 So some people are teachers, some people are doctors, 15:10 some people are nurses and lawyers, 15:13 and all different type of professions, and yes, 15:16 they have the abilities and the gifts 15:18 to do those things and God uses that 15:20 for them to be able to 15:22 accomplish their overall purpose. 15:24 So let me give you a little story behind that. 15:26 Okay. 15:27 I see my purpose in life 15:29 and my ministry being larger than just being a pastor 15:33 because if it was only by being a pastor 15:36 then when I go to church, 15:38 I preach my sermon, do my Bible studies, 15:41 do my counseling, do my visitation, 15:44 I punch in and I punch out at a certain time. 15:47 But if I got a purpose for God, 15:48 then I am always supposed to be a representative for Him, 15:51 then that means no matter where I am, 15:54 I'm always working and being a light for Jesus Christ. 15:59 So sometime back, 16:01 my dad was sick and he was in the hospital 16:04 and so I went to the hospital. 16:07 And while I was there, I'm asking God, 16:10 you know, there is reason behind this 16:12 but there is there more reason 16:13 than just me being here for my dad, 16:16 and to minister to him, to comfort him 16:20 and so forth and that was part of God's purpose. 16:22 And so my dad was having a particular test done 16:25 and we went down to the area 16:28 where they were having the testing, 16:29 and I had the opportunity with my dad who's, you know, 16:33 given me care in life to now minister to him. 16:36 I am not in pulpit, I am not in the church, 16:38 you know, there is no brownie points for this, 16:40 this is not something that I put on a report. 16:43 This is just ministry now between me and my dad. 16:46 And so I get an opportunity to share scripture with him, 16:49 to give him comfort as he was getting ready to go 16:51 and to his test and then to pray with him. 16:54 Now he goes in to the test, 16:55 he comes back out and while he is in recovery, 16:57 I am walking by, 16:59 and I did not know... 17:01 And you got to be really careful with what you do 17:03 because people are always listening to you even sometimes 17:06 when you don't recognize it. 17:08 And so I am walking by and this guy stops me, 17:11 he's getting ready to go in for a particular test as well. 17:14 And he stops me and says, 17:15 "Hey, I probably shouldn't have been doing this, 17:18 but I was listening to your conversation 17:20 with your dad on the other side, 17:22 and I just thought it was so powerful, 17:25 it was so meaningful the scripture 17:26 that you shared was just wonderful and awesome, 17:29 and I just want to say that, 17:30 you know, you're doing a wonderful thing. 17:32 Well, for me, I am like there is purpose in this, 17:35 where the God has taken this moment in time 17:38 for me to be able to reach this person. 17:39 Again, this is not on the clock, 17:41 this is not within the four walls, 17:43 this not within the church, 17:44 this not something I have planned to do, 17:46 but this is the purpose that God has put in my heart 17:48 and so instead of just saying well, 17:50 thank you and keep going and going back to my dad, 17:53 I then took a time to stop and talk with him 17:56 and his wife about God, 17:58 and I had the opportunity to minister to them 18:01 and pray with them about his exam that was coming up, 18:05 and to just give them some peace and comfort. 18:09 Purpose is not just something that we do, 18:12 it's in the heart, 18:13 it's a part of our being, it's everything that we are, 18:16 and that's why God has to put there in us. 18:20 So Pastor, I want to ask you a question. 18:21 Sure. 18:23 Because, 18:25 let's say that person is in a work situation, right. 18:28 And not everybody that one works with is a Christian. 18:33 Does God work purposes 18:35 maybe through one's employer to the boss, 18:38 maybe through magistrates, through judges, 18:41 through different people? 18:45 Does God only use Christians to fulfill His purpose? 18:48 No, it's interesting that you said that 18:51 because just the other day 18:53 I was reading a particular text in Romans 13 18:56 about how we should relate to people 18:59 who are an authority over us, 19:01 like governors, magistrates, judges, 19:03 whatever the case might be. 19:05 And Paul says that, 19:08 these people who are in these higher positions 19:12 have been appointed by God. 19:14 In fact, they are God's representatives 19:17 to carry out justice in the land. 19:19 And so in many cases, you know, 19:22 as Christians, you know, 19:23 we have a very specific focus 19:25 because we are looking for what God is doing. 19:28 But there are even other times, 19:30 where people that we speak of that are in high positions, 19:32 they may have not even completely 19:34 surrendered their life to God, 19:35 that God even uses them 19:38 to accomplish His overall purpose and goal. 19:42 It becomes the part of God's will. 19:44 It's like what we see with Artaxerxes 19:46 when he helps out Nehemiah to help him 19:48 to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem 19:50 or we see Nebuchadnezzar's role in Daniel's life. 19:54 The list can go on and on of examples 19:57 that we have in scripture of how God moves and so forth. 20:01 So God can use music? 20:03 God can use music. 20:04 Different music, religious music, 20:06 even some secular music 20:07 to bring joy and hope to people? 20:09 Yes. 20:10 God can use different leaders, different community people. 20:14 You are saying He could just work His purposes 20:16 through any and everyone? 20:17 God can work His purpose in any and everyone 20:20 but going back to the fact of people 20:22 who are trying to find their purpose, 20:24 there is always a reason behind 20:27 why everything happens and so. 20:28 Some people are unfulfilled in life 20:32 and they are unsatisfied. 20:33 They go to their workplace and they say, 20:35 "I just hate this job, I don't want to be here, 20:38 I don't want to be in this situation, " 20:41 or they find themselves maybe as a stay at home mom 20:44 and really wish they could pursue their career. 20:46 And so a lot of times 20:48 they just focus only on their situation 20:51 and what is around them, 20:52 instead of asking the question, 20:55 "What's the purpose in this? 20:57 What's the meaning in this? 21:00 So God, why do you have me here in this workplace? 21:03 Is it possible that I am here for more than just doing a job, 21:07 more than just punching a time clock? 21:10 Am I here because You want to use me 21:12 to be able to have influence on someone else?" 21:15 It reminds me, my family and I... 21:18 I was going to speak in a part of country 21:20 and my family was going with me. 21:22 And so we were in St. Louis airport 21:25 and we were rushing to get to the airport, 21:27 I thought we were going to be late, 21:28 got there, checked in the baggage, 21:31 I ran through security. 21:34 I thought we got there just in a nick of time. 21:37 Get there only to find out the flight is delayed. 21:41 The flight is delayed. 21:43 The flight is delayed. 21:44 And, Karen, can you believe why the flight was delayed? 21:47 Because the light bulb in the lavatory 21:50 on the airplane was not working. 21:52 So the plane could not leave just for that fact. 21:54 Wow. 21:55 So here we are, we are there. 21:57 According to regulations, 21:59 they can't leave without their light working. 22:01 It was almost a possibility of the flight not going out. 22:05 Now we are traveling, 22:07 this is business but it's also some pleasure as well. 22:09 We are looking forward to having this time to relax. 22:11 We really don't want to lose this day. 22:13 Yeah, you're ready, set, go. 22:15 Ready, set, go. 22:17 But I said to my family, I said, you know, 22:19 maybe we really need to seek God and just pray 22:22 about what God would have us to do 22:25 while we're here. 22:26 Maybe there is a reason 22:28 or purpose behind why we're here in the airport. 22:32 And so we pray this prayer in the middle of the... 22:34 Really, you stopped right there? 22:35 Stopped right there, 22:37 family, son, myself, my wife, my son, myself 22:40 and we prayed right there and we asked God's purpose. 22:43 While we're sitting there, 22:45 I noticed that there was a mom who's got two children. 22:47 She's traveling to see some other family by herself, 22:50 husband can't go with her. 22:51 And she's got a child who is just very energetic 22:55 and he is running all throughout the, 22:58 you know, the airport. 22:59 And he's just very, very, very busy. 23:02 So I said to myself, 23:04 man, maybe I just need to start a conversation 23:08 with this particular lady. 23:11 So I do, we begin to talk. 23:13 As we're having this conversation, 23:15 she explained to me what's going on, 23:16 we're building relationship. 23:18 After a while, 23:19 she takes her children with my wife and his son 23:22 and they go to a playground area in the airport. 23:25 So you know, 23:26 we are helping with her son to keep him calm and so forth. 23:31 So eventually the flight takes off, 23:34 we are able to go. 23:35 So we get on the plane and lo and behold, 23:38 the same lady that we are ministering to 23:41 is sitting right behind us on the airplane. 23:43 Wow. 23:45 She has a small child... 23:46 So three in three. 23:48 Yeah, three in three, 23:49 and she has a little infant 23:51 and he is on the plane and as infants can be, 23:53 you know, they feel really, you know, 23:56 uncomfortable being on this plane. 23:57 So he starts to cry. Right. 24:00 And you know how it is when you are on a plane, 24:02 and people start looking around and say, 24:04 Oh, is this going to be 24:06 what is going to be like in the entire flight 24:07 That crying baby on the plane. 24:08 Right, crying baby on... 24:11 So my wife asked can she take the child, 24:17 so now we build relationship and this may have not happened, 24:20 if we hadn't had all of this interaction before. 24:24 She takes the child, 24:25 she is holding the child 24:27 and he just instantly calms down, you know. 24:31 So we had this conversation, you know, 24:34 we plant the seed and when we get off the plane, 24:37 this woman has told her whole family, 24:39 where were we going about how we've helped them. 24:42 And so we meet up in airport and they say, 24:44 "Are you the ones that helped our daughter, you know, 24:47 with her child during this time." 24:49 And we had a little opportunity to talk about Jesus. 24:51 We just planted seed, you know, 24:53 we didn't had no Bible study, 24:55 didn't do, you know, all this Bible studies. 24:58 Yeah, and then baptized. 24:59 The whole nine yards. Yeah, didn't do that. 25:01 Making friends. 25:02 Yeah, making friends, touched this lady's life, 25:06 has not seen her again but there was purpose in that. 25:09 And many times we miss out on other things 25:12 that God would have for us to do 25:14 because we are just looking 25:15 at the normal set of circumstances, 25:17 how this thing impacts me. 25:19 How many times have we missed opportunities 25:22 because we are aggravated or we are agitated 25:27 because things are not working out the way that I am. 25:30 Self absorbed. 25:31 Sitting in traffic, sitting in an airport, 25:34 something got canceled. 25:36 Is there something more that God has for me? 25:41 So you are saying that God really is that detailed 25:44 where every single situation is under His view, 25:48 His divine view? 25:50 And everything has a purpose? 25:52 Everything has purpose. Really? 25:54 Yeah. Everything. 25:55 So we are free then to walk within that purposes? 25:58 We are free to walk within that purpose 25:59 and I think that God is so detailed 26:01 that the Bible says in Luke 12:7, 26:03 that He has the very hairs on our head counted. 26:05 That's how detailed our God is. 26:07 That's detail. 26:08 If He knows the number of hairs that we have on our head, 26:12 even after we get a haircut, 26:14 if He knows that... 26:16 That's a good one. 26:17 If He knows that, 26:19 then He's also concerned about every small thing 26:23 that's going on in our lives 26:24 and that means through every event of every day 26:28 God has a plan, 26:30 and He wants to know if we would move ourselves 26:33 in harmony to find out what He wants to do for us. 26:36 And the wonderful thing is that 26:37 God puts us on this road of self discovery. 26:40 He won't always come and say, "This is my plan for you." 26:44 All right. 26:45 But He allows us to figure it out 26:47 as He asked Adam, 26:48 "Where are you?" 26:50 He allows us to ask those questions 26:52 and us to ask questions of Him 26:55 and that's how we discover our purpose in life. 26:58 Pastor would you offer prayer for those of us 27:00 and who are watching and participating, 27:02 who are willing to know 27:04 more about really getting honing in on that purpose 27:06 wherever we are. 27:08 Could you offer the prayer please? 27:09 I can. 27:11 Lord, we are just so thankful 27:13 that you are God who loves us 27:16 and created us, 27:18 and made us 27:19 fearfully and wonderfully in Your image. 27:22 We are thankful, Lord, 27:24 that we are created by You and for You, 27:27 and You have things Lord that You want us to do. 27:30 And so Lord as I pray, 27:33 I pray for our viewers 27:35 that we would be able to come and discover 27:38 what our purpose is for life. 27:39 What it is that You would really have for us to do, 27:42 and what vehicles you want us to use in life 27:45 God to be able to do it. 27:46 Lord, I just believe that it's never too late in life 27:50 to be able to fulfill one's purpose and so Lord, 27:53 if that means for us going back to school 27:56 or changing professions or doing something different, 28:00 oh, God, we just make ourselves available to you, 28:03 and we say not our will be done 28:06 but thy will be done. 28:07 Yes. 28:09 Help us to take advantage, Lord, 28:10 also of the common places in life. |
Revised 2016-10-31