What is your life's purpose? Sermon @NCC Alberton 3rd Oct 2010

Sermon text verse:

Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ; 4 according as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He caused to abound toward us in all wisdom and understanding;

Your values, principals and passion are the strongest indicators of your Life’s Purpose.

Passion is that burning interest and enthusiasm that propels the huge effort you put into something.

Pro 23:7 for as he thinks in his heart, so is he

If you have managed to turn your hobby or passion for a subject into a career, then you are probably one of the successful people on earth :-

Because: success is what normally happens to people who live their Life’s Purpose.

Most people have never considered turning their passion into a career simply because the first thought that comes to mind is “it won’t pay the bills” or “it can’t happen…” instead of: “how can I make it happen…?”

Psa 37:3 Trust in Jehovah, and do good; you shall dwell in the land, and you shall be fed on truth. 4 Delight yourself also in Jehovah, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Roll your way on Jehovah; trust also in Him, and He will work.

Stop sabotaging yourself.

We prevent our own success. We find excuses, or blame others, for our own failures or mistakes instead of learning from them.

Our self-talk is all negative. "I'd never get a job like that," or "I'm not good enough," or "Why try? It's too hard."

Re-program yourself by writing appropriate affirmations, which will change your thoughts, beliefs and behavior.

Psa 37:7 Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of him who practices wickedness. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret yourself to do evil.

Through affirmations you will “speak” your dreams into reality.

Jam 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who

gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.

Avoid people who rain on your parade.

You must avoid negative dialogue: — it's poisonous to your dreams and future achievements. Instead, find supporters, new mentors, a coach, take classes, read books, listen to motivational tapes that teach effective ways to make your future and next job a real dream come true. Find ways to incorporate your passions and hobbies into your career.

You were born with natural talents and strengths. These talents and strengths are the things you find easy to do. Maybe it’s writing or training. Perhaps it’s designing or sport. Remember you don’t have to be a sportsman / woman forever. You could Coach Training and help others develop their talents and strengths.

That may be your Life’s Purpose.

If you built your career on your talents, strengths and passion it will be easier to excel.

When you live your Life’s Purpose, you automatically work harder, longer hours and feel absolute joy doing it. You will jump out of bed in the morning to rush to your job - if it’s doing what you were meant to do.

We often prevent our own success by sabotaging ourselves. We blame others and find excuses for our own failures or mistakes instead of taking responsibility and changing our lives forever by having the courage to make a career from our passion. We sabotage ourselves with negative beliefs and self-talk.

Successful people surround themselves with people who share their passion, goals and beliefs. To create that, you have to support others in the same way.

• Do you listen to your friends, colleagues and family when they express a need to reach a certain goal? Do you offer support and encouragement?

• Remember to display the behaviors that you want others to display to you.

• In other words, if you want trust, love and respect, then you have to show them that you trust, love and respect them.

• If you want your family to support your dreams, goals and career, then you have to support their dreams, goals and career.

• Encourage the people that matter to you and they will give you the same encouragement and support.

Eight Steps To Attaining Your Goals

Hab 2:2 And Jehovah answered me and said, Write the vision, and make it plain on the tablets, that he who reads it may run. 3 For the vision is still for an appointed time, but it speaks to the end, and it does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it; because it will surely come. It will not tarry.

For any personal development plan to succeed, it is necessary that you incorporate the following eight steps to ensure the successful implementation of your goals.

1.	Write your goal as a significant future event or behavior. Say exactly what it is that you will achieve. Define your goal and be very specific.
2.	Write your goal in such a way that it can be measured. For instance, say when, or how much money, instead of “I want to earn more money”, say “I want to earn R20 000 per month.’ This way you can keep track of your progress much easier.
3.	Set a deadline to achieve your goal. Once you have expressed exactly what you want, you need to commit to date. This way you act with more urgency.
4.	Create goals, which you can control. You are in charge. Own it.
5.	Always have an Action Plan. Without a recipe the cake will flop. Consider all the pitfalls and obstacles. Write them down as part of your Action Plan and decide, in writing, how you will eliminate them. Also consider available resources. Plot, plan, strategize.
6.	Plan your goals – step by step. Your Action Plan should reflect a step-by-step strategy with how, when, where, with whom and why results.
7.	Decide on consequences for not working on your Action Plan. Be accountable. Find yourself a coach to whom you can be accountable. Paying upfront for your sessions are one of the best ways of committing yourself to your goals. You are not very likely to pull out if the sessions are already paid for.
8.	Reward yourself. Decide on rewards for every (written down) step you reach in your Action Plan. Write down the reward when you write your Action Plan. Make sure you have a reward for every step. You deserve it. Pro 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the reward of a man's hands shall be given to him.

Pro 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he who keeps the law, he is blessed.

Amen