The Missionary's Predestined Purpose
Recognizing our election by God in Christ Jesus brings joy and reliance on God's purpose, which is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.
Oswald Chambers preaches about the profound impact of recognizing our election by God in Christ Jesus, leading to the destruction of preconceived ideas and a shift to solely serving God's purpose. Despite sin's diversion, God's purpose for humanity remains unchanged - to glorify and enjoy Him. Through being born again, we grasp God's great purpose for creating us for Himself, bringing immense joy. As God's love and nature are infused into us, we are reminded of His focused love for the world in John 3:16.
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The first thing that happens after we recognize our election by God in Christ Jesus is the destruction of our preconceived ideas, our narrow-minded thinking, and all of our other allegiances-- we are turned solely into servants of God's own purpose. The entire human race was created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Sin has diverted the human race onto another course, but it has not altered God's purpose to the slightest degree. And when we are born again we are brought into the realization of God's great purpose for the human race, namely, that He created us for Himself. This realization of our election by God is the most joyful on earth, and we must learn to rely on this tremendous creative purpose of God. The first thing God will do is force the interests of the whole world through the channel of our hearts. The love of God, and even His very nature, is introduced into us. And we see the nature of Almighty God purely focused in John 3:16-- "For God so loved the world...."
We must continually keep our soul open to the fact of God's creative purpose, and never confuse or cloud it with our own intentions. If we do, God will have to force our intentions aside no matter how much it may hurt. A missionary is created for the purpose of being God's servant, one in whom God is glorified. Once we realize that it is through the salvation of Jesus Christ that we are made perfectly fit for the purpose of God, we will understand why Jesus Christ is so strict and relentless in His demands. He demands absolute righteousness from His servants, because He has put into them the very nature of God.
Beware lest you forget God's purpose for your life.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Destruction of Preconceived Ideas
- A. Recognizing election by God in Christ Jesus
- B. Turning from narrow-minded thinking and allegiances
- C. Becoming servants of God's purpose
- II. The Purpose of God for Humanity
- A. Created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever
- B. Sin has diverted humanity from God's purpose
- C. Realization of election brings joy and reliance on God's purpose
- III. The Missionary's Role
- A. Created to be God's servant
- B. Glorifying God through salvation in Jesus Christ
- C. Demands of absolute righteousness from God's servants
Key Quotes
“The entire human race was created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” — Oswald Chambers
“For God so loved the world...” — Oswald Chambers
“Beware lest you forget God's purpose for your life.” — Oswald Chambers
Application Points
- We must continually keep our soul open to the fact of God's creative purpose.
- God will force our intentions aside if we confuse or cloud His purpose with our own.
- A missionary is created for the purpose of being God's servant, one in whom God is glorified.