The Purpose of God

Bruce Mackenzie

City Hill Church

Acts • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Purpose

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Our God is a God of Purpose and His purpose was to work through His Church

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We are in series, “Acts” and the sub-section, “The Acts of God” What we have seen is that God is a God of Promise and Providence, a God who is Present, and we also see He is a God of Purpose. Today we are looking at “The Purpose of God!” There is clear intention in all God does.

There was purpose in Jesus death...

Acts 2:23 (CSB) Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.

Acts 4:27–28 (CSB) “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place.

There is purpose for our life...

Acts 13:36 (CSB) For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed...

There is purpose for where you live...

Acts 17:26 (CSB) 26 From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.

In fact, in the great story of the Bible, we discover his same tyruth over and over again.

Proverbs 16:4 (ESV) The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

A big question we need to be asking is, what is this purpose?

1. The purpose of God

Colossians 1:16 (CSB) 16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.

1.1. His glory

God’s primary purpose in all that He is does at all times is His own glory. He is the centerpiece.

1.1.1. In creation

I was taught this from the time I was a little child. “Why did God make you and all things?” The answer was simply, “For His own glory!” That just followed the Westminster Confession of faith, “What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Or as Piper piuts it., “By enjoying Him...”

Psalm 19:1 (CSB) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.

Isaiah 43:7 (NLT) Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’

We were made for this! This is why Christians should be the most content people in the world because we were made for more than ourselves and mankind will remain restless until it understands, “This is why I was made!”

1.1.2. In salvation

The reason we need to be saved is that we aren’t living for what we were made for!

Titus 3:4–5 (ESV): But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

We then see his purpose carried out through His ...

1.2. His generosity

The themes of God’s grace and mercy are strong in Acts. He chooses to save people for Himself. No one can say, “I deserve it!”

Acts 20:28 (CSB) Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.

As the Gospel advances and people come to faith in Christ in the book of Acts, grace and mercy are on display.

Grace = God giving me what I don’t deserve

Mercy = God not giving me what I do deserve

3000 on the day of Pentecost - grace

The Apostle Paul- Grace

Lydia - Grace

Philippian Jailor - grace

God is taking His glory through the display of His generous grace.

2. The Purpose of God for the People of God

The discovery of our purpose, what you were made for, and the living out of that purpose, transforms everything about us.

If we go back to Acts 2 we see the Spirit of God move in power, Peter preach and declare the hope of forgivenessness of sins through Jesus Christ, and 3000 people believed that message. The story doesn’t stop there because we see people who have changed beginning to live differently.

They are committed to each other and the apostles teaching. They suddenly hold their possessions loosely. There’s a joy that wasn’t present before. What’s going on?

The Holy Spirit in them is aligning their hearts, the purpose for their lives with the heart of God.

2.1. He receives glory from them

Creates a new people - “my own possession...”

Gives them a new identity - Sons and daughters

Brings them into a new family - the church - the household of God (Eph 2:19; 1 Tim 3:15; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 4:17)

Calls them to live as a new creation - redeemed children of God

Fresh purpose - the glory of God

Let’s read how this is manifest:

Acts 2:42–47 (CSB) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

When God takes centre stage, everything changes.

2.2. He reveals His generosity through them

They become the conduits of God’s grace. The place God had in their hearts was so deep that it welled up in a rich generosity towards others. You can find the same thing in Acts 4 in a radical display or unhindered worship.

2.2.1. They live differently but deliberately

Verticle and horizantal

What is the main goal of the church - Jesus. The Church exists for the glory of God.

Those in the church and others looking in, begin to fear God (Acts 5:11; 9:31)

2.2.2. They live radically

Radical submission

Christ is the head of the church

A people united under the Lordship of Christ who living for the glory of Christ in the midst of a hostile world.

In shouldn’t surprise us that the church comes under such attack when it lives out it’s purpose. Don’t be because nothing scares Satan more.

We can’t live as God intends until we embrace God’s purpose.

Radical generosity

It produces people who are real and really care

Acts 20:35 (CSB) In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

2.2.3. They live with purpose

You see an incrdibly strong commitment to each other. They prioritise each other.

Fellowship

Discipleship

Mission

Service

This is all the work of God.

3. What about us

There’s a flood of questions come through my mind as we think of our church. PLease allow me to express some of my heart!

Are we living our our purpose as a church - glory and generosity - even in a covid times

Do people who may look into our church life and go away with a fresh fear of God?

I honestly wonder whether pastors haven’t contributed to a weak church because we have made the Christian walk about being atendance on a Sunday, giving and volunteering in something. When Covid happened we celebrated, trying to sound positive, that Church isn’t about Sundays. But we have failed to be what we said we are.

People using gifts is smaller not larger. Yet, you all have gifts and they are for the building up of the church

Resulted in cold not awe inspiring Christianity

3.1. A renewed understanding of the church that ignites a passion and purpose for the church

3.2. A lament for these days for not being able to meet together - not celebration.