1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life audio. I, in spite of working hard, doing what 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: I'm supposed to do, I still have moments where I 3 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: feel like I'm drifting. 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 2: Why am I doing this? What does it all mean? 5 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 2: Does it matter? 6 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: Because I fail to connect the actions to who I 7 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: believe God made me to be, what I believe God 8 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 1: wants me to accomplish, and the way that God wants me. 9 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 2: To walk that out. 10 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: Wellman, welcome to the March or Die Show today. Very 11 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:32,480 Speaker 1: glad to have you joining along. This is the show 12 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: where we do our best every single episode to give 13 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: you both the perspectives and principles you need to march 14 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: when it would be easier to stay where you are 15 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: and die. My name is Jeremy Stallnecker and I am 16 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: coming to you solo today. We've had some great episodes, 17 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: some great guests. Co host Sean Cannard was on last 18 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: week and excited to have Sean back behind the microphone. 19 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: Back behind the mic. 20 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: Sean, as you know, has been and if you've been 21 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: following along, has been sick and continue to work through that. 22 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,320 Speaker 1: Continue to pray for Sean and pray that God would 23 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: strengthen him and would bring healing to his body. But 24 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: in the middle of all of that, he said, I 25 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: want to do some recording and get back on the podcast, 26 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: and so we did an episode last week. We'll do 27 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: more and you'll see more content from Sean coming your direction, 28 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: but excited to be with you today, and man, I. 29 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 2: Just want to give you some principles. We talk about principles, 30 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 2: some principles to. 31 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: Help you define and understand who you are and where 32 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: you're going as we talk about those big obstacles that 33 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: jump up in front of us, the difficulties that we 34 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:43,479 Speaker 1: need to deal with or address in order to march. 35 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: As we talk about it's easier to stay where you 36 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: are and die often to give up, to throw the 37 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: white flag up, to just say this is as far 38 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: as I'm going. 39 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: And there are a lot of reasons to do that. 40 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: And I don't ever want to sound like I can't 41 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: acknowledge that there are reasons to stay where you are. 42 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: We can use the phrase to be stuck, to give up, 43 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: to raise the white flag, all that stuff, to surrender, 44 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 1: but honestly, there are a lot of reasons in this 45 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: life and in this world to stay where you are, 46 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: to say I've gone as far as I can go. 47 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 1: It hurts too much, it's too big, the obstacles are overwhelming. 48 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: Whatever the case, this is where I am. So I 49 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: do get it. But I also understand, and I hope 50 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: that you do as well, that God has called us 51 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: to so much more than that. God has a plan 52 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: for us, and God has a purpose for us, and 53 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,519 Speaker 1: God has things that he wants to accomplish through us. 54 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: And so even though there are certainly reasons to stay 55 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: where you are, the call of God is a call forward. 56 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: It's a call that says, I will, in spite of 57 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: difficulties and circumstance and the rest I will take the 58 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: next courageous step forward. I will step out and do 59 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: what God's called me to do, be who God's called 60 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: me to be, accomplish what God has set in front 61 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: of me, and that is huge. And to that end, 62 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: I want to talk about something today again that I 63 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: hope will be a help to you. 64 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,079 Speaker 2: I have a. 65 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: Number of points and versus underneath neath each one of 66 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: those points is It's not a fancy lesson, but some thoughts. 67 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: If I were to title title this, I would would 68 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: title it this way. We need to define our lives, 69 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 1: or define your life. How do you define your life. 70 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: Here's one of the problems that I struggle with personally. 71 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: When I'm going through life. I'm doing the things that 72 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: I need to do, and most of them are good things. 73 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: The things that I need to do are good things. 74 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: I'm a husband, I'm a father, I'm a grandfather. These 75 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: are my relationships. I have people in my life that 76 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: I care about. So I'm a friend. I am in 77 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,400 Speaker 1: charge of or oversee, not really charge of, but I 78 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: oversee a large national nonprofit, and so I am a 79 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: boss to some. I have a board of directors that 80 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: I have a relationship with that really oversees what we do, 81 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: and so I am responsible to them. So I have 82 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: all of these different roles, and it's possible for me, 83 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: and I do this a lot to go through my 84 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: life to fulfill those roles, to try to fulfill them well, 85 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 1: to try to be a good husband, a good father, 86 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: a good grandfather, a good employee employer, to be good 87 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 1: in the context of boards and the rest of it. 88 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 2: The things that I do. 89 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: I do my best to be good at those things. 90 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 1: And yet I have these moments and maybe you've had them. 91 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 1: I think you probably have. I have these moments where 92 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm drifting. And it's crazy because it's 93 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 1: not due to a lack of long days getting up 94 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 1: early and working hard and traveling all over the place 95 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: and doing all the things. It's not a lack of 96 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:55,359 Speaker 1: hard work or dedication. It's not because I'm unclear on 97 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: what I'm supposed to be doing. But even though I 98 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 1: may be working hard and accomplishing stuff, and if you 99 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 1: were to look at what I'm involved in from the outside, 100 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: you might say, man, a lot of good things are 101 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:13,359 Speaker 1: happening there. It's not that things are being wasted. But 102 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: in spite of all of that, I can still feel 103 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: like I'm drifting because I often fail to connect the 104 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: things that I do with who I am, where I'm going, 105 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 1: how I want to get there, and what I want 106 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: to be said about me when this life thing is over. Now, 107 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: don't miss that, please I in spite of working hard, 108 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: doing what I'm supposed to do, fulfilling the roles that 109 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 1: I'm a part of, and I'm not saying I'm great 110 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 1: at all those things, but I can go through the 111 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: days and the weeks and the months and the years 112 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: and fulfill those roles and do those things and accomplish 113 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: some stuff. In spite of all of that, I still 114 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: have moments where I feel like I'm drifting, where I 115 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: step back and say, what is it all about? 116 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 2: Why am I doing this? What does it all mean? 117 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 2: Does it matter? 118 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: Because often along the way, maybe because of the busyness 119 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: or because of all of the roles that I'm connected to, 120 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: I fail to connect the actions what I'm doing, the 121 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 1: roles that I have. Everything that I just described, I 122 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: can fail to connect that to who I believe God 123 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: made me to be, what I believe God wants me 124 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: to accomplish, and the way that God wants me to 125 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 1: walk that out. I have to define who I am, 126 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: where I'm going, how I'm getting there, and be able 127 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: to sum up what it is that I believe God 128 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 1: is doing in my life and what God wants to 129 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 1: accomplish through my life. I have to be clear on 130 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 1: who God made me to be and understand how that 131 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 1: connects to the various other roles that I am also. 132 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 2: A part of. 133 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: Otherwise I can do a bunch of stuff and still 134 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: lack what may be called fulfillment or a sense of 135 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: purpose or a sense of meaning or a sense of value. 136 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: And maybe you've experienced that as well. It's not that 137 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: you're not busy. If you're the guy, the girl, the 138 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 1: person who spends most of their time playing video games 139 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: or watching social media videos or whatever, maybe this. 140 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 2: Isn't for you. 141 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: You need to go to work, you need to find 142 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: a purpose, You need to engage with something meaningful and 143 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: put some good relationships into your life. That's a different conversation. 144 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: But if you are a mom or a dad, you're 145 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: someone who has a job, maybe you have employees, you're 146 00:07:55,000 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: working hard, you're filling the days with meaningful labor, you're 147 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: doing your best to be a good, good friend, and 148 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: all those things, and yet you still get to the 149 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: end of the week and think, why did I do 150 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: all of that? 151 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 2: What does it matter? Does it matter? Then? 152 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: Maybe what you need to do is take some time 153 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: to define your life. Where did I come from, Who 154 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: am I? Where am I going, how am I going 155 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: to get there? And what ultimately grounds me? What is 156 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: the purpose? If I were to sum up my purpose 157 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: for living? And then once you've defined your life, who 158 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: you are, where you're going, how you're getting there, the 159 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: rest of it should flow from that purpose or that definition. 160 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 2: I hope that makes sense. 161 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: If you've ever heard me speak outside of this podcast, 162 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: maybe even on the podcast. Outside of the podcast, maybe 163 00:08:56,280 --> 00:09:00,959 Speaker 1: you've noticed that I often go back to definition. When 164 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: I talk about trauma. I spend a lot of time 165 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,319 Speaker 1: defining words. When I talk about leadership, I spend a 166 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: lot of time defining words. When I talk about any 167 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 1: issue that can be ambiguous, I typically start with defining words. 168 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: What do we mean when we say this? Because all 169 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: of us have a different idea of what things mean, 170 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: so we need to nail down definitions otherwise we'll miss 171 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: the target. If you don't have clarity on your target, 172 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: you're going to miss it. 173 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 2: So it is with life. 174 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: If you go through your life never having defined who 175 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: you are, where you came from, where you're going, and 176 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: how you're going to get there, then inevitably you will drift. 177 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: All Right, I've said that enough. I think I've made 178 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: that point. But we need to define our lives. So 179 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: how do we do that? 180 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 2: I want to give you some thoughts. 181 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 1: Again, nothing deep here, but I think some thoughts that 182 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: can help you when I'm talking about defining my life. Okay, 183 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,320 Speaker 1: I've recognized I'm doing a bunch of stuff. It's not 184 00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: necessarily connected. I feel like I'm still a drift. 185 00:09:59,360 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 2: What do I need to do? 186 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: I recommend take some time. Maybe it's a couple hours, 187 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: maybe it's half a day, maybe it's a day. Go somewhere, 188 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: get into a quiet place, whatever the case, Sit down 189 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: with a Bible, a notebook, a pen, and begin praying 190 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: and writing some things down, letting God work in your life. 191 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: But answer some of these questions, all right, and I 192 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: want to give you some verses. I'm going to try 193 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: to make this as easy as possible. Right now, God 194 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: speaks to all of us differently, but I want to 195 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: make this as easy as possible. When we're talking about 196 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: defining our lives, we need to start by answering the 197 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: question where did we come from? Where did we come from? Now, 198 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: this isn't a question of evolution versus creation. If you're 199 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: listening to this show, you're. 200 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 2: Listening to me. 201 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: And I'm going to make the point I believe in creation, 202 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: and so we're talking about this from a creation standpoint. 203 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: Where did I come from? Where did I come from? 204 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: This is so important Even those of us that would 205 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 1: say we believe in creation, even those of us that 206 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: would say we believe in a biblical record. If we're 207 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: not careful, can fall into this place where we don't 208 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: really get a hold of the reality that we were 209 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 1: made by God, that God created us, and if we 210 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: don't start there, that we were made by God in 211 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: the image of God, and if in the image of God, 212 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: then to accomplish God's purposes on this earth Earth. If 213 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: we don't start there, then listen, nothing else matters. If 214 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 1: you're a mistake, if you're less important than someone else. 215 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: They're better, more talented, more gifted, they have more opportunity, 216 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: and so they're innately, inherently, intrinsically. 217 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 2: More valuable than you. 218 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: If you believe that, then you're going to miss the 219 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: purpose for which you were created. So we have to 220 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: begin with this. Here's the anchor, if you will. Where 221 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 1: did I come from? What is my origin? And I 222 00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: want to talk to you about this a couple of 223 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:04,479 Speaker 1: verses our origin? Where do we start? We started? Humanity 224 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: started as a creation of God. 225 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 2: Now you know, as. 226 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: Specialist creation is to be a part of the creation 227 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: isn't necessarily special? 228 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 2: Right? 229 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: God created the plants, he created the animals, He created 230 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: everything on this earth. He separated the sun from the darkness, 231 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: or the light from the darkness, the water from the land. 232 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 2: God did a lot in. 233 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: Creation, so to say we're created doesn't mean anything other 234 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 1: than we're on the same level as plants and animals. 235 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: But the creation of man in Genesis chapter one elevates 236 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,559 Speaker 1: the creation of mankind above the plants and animals and 237 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: everything else. Genesis chapter one and verse twenty seven says this. 238 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: So God created man in his own image, in the 239 00:12:54,120 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 1: image of God created he him, male and female created 240 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: He them. This verse, I think is often overlooked. I 241 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,719 Speaker 1: bring it back into a conversation every opportunity that I have, 242 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 1: anytime I'm talking about things that are meaningful and touch 243 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: our identity, I try to begin with this. God created man, 244 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: not by speaking, as he did to separate light from 245 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: darkness and water from land, and speaking to bring the 246 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: plants into existence and the animals into existence. Not by speaking. 247 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 1: God created man in his image. Genesis one twenty seven 248 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: tells us that we are created in his image, male 249 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: and female. He created us, He created them, that is humankind. 250 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: But it also gives us a picture there In Genesis 251 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: chapter one, it tells us that although God spoke everything 252 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: else into existence, God in the creation of mankind with 253 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: his hand, picked up the dust of the earth. He 254 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,439 Speaker 1: formed man in his hand. Literally, that's what the Bible says, 255 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: formed man in his hand. We're unique in that sense. 256 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: But then to instill life into man, the Bible says, 257 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: he breathed, He breathed. God breathed life into man. We're 258 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 1: not like plants, and we're not like animals. As incredible 259 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: as the rest of creation is, God didn't do the 260 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 1: same thing from mankind that he did with everything else. 261 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 1: We are a unique humankind, a unique creation of God, 262 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: created in the image of God. 263 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 2: Couple of things. 264 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 1: Number one, This means that we are eminently important to God. 265 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: Important in the sense of value, not that we're better 266 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: than someone else. We'll talk about that here in second 267 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: in a second, but that God really does care for us, 268 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: that God created us with purpose, with intent, with design. 269 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: And so when we have those thoughts I don't have 270 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: a purpose. I'm here by accident. Nothing matters. That is, 271 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: those thoughts are in complete country t addiction to what 272 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: we understand about the creation of man. Everyone you encounter, 273 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:11,239 Speaker 1: everyone you encounter, was created, is created, walks around, exists 274 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: in the image of God, a reflection of God. We 275 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: could talk a lot about what that means, but for 276 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: the purpose of this conversation, it means we are special, 277 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: We have purpose, There is design, and God has a plan. 278 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: That's why this is the anchor to this definition of 279 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: our life. If God created me with that much intentionality, boy, 280 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: then God probably doesn't want me just drifting through my days. 281 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: God wants to accomplish something in me and through me 282 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: that reflects who He is. Listen, we would also have 283 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: to acknowledge this that if we're creating the image of God, 284 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: others are as well. 285 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 2: And we in this. 286 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: World like to operate on a hierarchy based on money 287 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: or power or position or whatever, all these things that 288 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: we use to create this hierarchy. And yet what we 289 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 1: understand is that every single one of us, rich or poor, 290 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: those who have a lot, those who don't this, who 291 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: are very powerful, those who aren't. All of us were 292 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: created in the image of God to reflect Him to others. 293 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: Whether or not you acknowledge your God given purpose does 294 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: not change the fact that you have one. Genesis, chapter 295 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: two and verse seven, And the Lord God formed man 296 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: of the dust of the ground and breathed into his 297 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: nostrils the breath of life, and man became. 298 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 2: A living soul. 299 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: We are created by God with eternity built in. We 300 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: read the rest of the Bible, we understand the eternal 301 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: nature of the soul, and the soul was given to 302 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: us by God at creation. Created in the image of God. 303 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: Where'd you come from? We came from God. We look 304 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: at creation. But then we understand that that in the 305 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: image of God extends to our identity. Couple of verses 306 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: here as well, First John, chapter three and verse one. 307 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon 308 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 1: us that we should be called the sons of God. 309 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,679 Speaker 1: We can spend a lot of time here for those 310 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: that are in the spiritual family of God, if you will, 311 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: that have been born again in Genesis John chapter three, 312 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: that have been born again, that have understood their need 313 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 1: of a savior and put their faith in Jesus Christ. 314 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: They've been born into the family of God. They've been 315 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: born again. God is our father. This created in the 316 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: image of God allows us to identify with God as 317 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 1: our father Glatians four seven. Wherefore thou arn't no more 318 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: a servant but a son, And if a son, then 319 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,919 Speaker 1: an heir of God through Christ. Okay, again, this is 320 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,239 Speaker 1: important an air of God through Christ. There is a 321 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 1: phrase that people use that we are all God's children. 322 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter what you believe or where you come from. 323 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: We're all God's children. We are all God's creation, created 324 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: in the image of God. But to be the children 325 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 1: of God, the sons of God. Glatians four to seven 326 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 1: says that that happens through Christ. We're born into the 327 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:20,640 Speaker 1: family of God through Christ, through an understanding of who 328 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 1: He is as our savior. But when that happens, we 329 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: are the heirs of God. That's an amazing statement. The 330 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,720 Speaker 1: errors of God. How much more important. 331 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 2: Could we be. 332 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: Than to be the sons and daughters of God, the 333 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: God the errors of God two Corinthians five and verse seventeen. Therefore, 334 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 1: if any man be in Christ, so again in Christ. 335 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: This is the gospel. They've put their faith in Christ. 336 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: They are in Christ. What He is a new creature. 337 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 1: Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become news. 338 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: So the anchor of this whole conversation is we're defining 339 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 1: our lives. It begins with this, Who are we? Where 340 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: did we come from? We are men and women created 341 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: by God in His image. Because of Jesus Christ have 342 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: the opportunity to be born into his family to be 343 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: called the heirs or the sons and daughters of God. 344 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: If we don't get that, listen to me. If we 345 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 1: don't get that, if we haven't first defined our lives 346 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: as the heirs of Almighty God, then it is easy 347 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 1: to come to the conclusion that our days don't matter, 348 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: our moments don't matter. How we live our life is 349 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 1: really not that important. 350 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 2: But when we. 351 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:49,360 Speaker 1: Recognize that we are to reflect our creator, God, our 352 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: heavenly Father, that changes everything. I want everything to flow 353 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:00,040 Speaker 1: from that understanding of who I am. We get this 354 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: on an earthly level, we get this. Listen when my 355 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 1: kids are at school, when my older kids are working, 356 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: their last name is Stallnecker. That's my last name, as 357 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: my dad's last name is my grandfather's last name. That's 358 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: our family name. Good, bad or otherwise. The behavior of 359 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 1: my children reflects on me and my family. My behavior 360 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: reflects on my father, my mom, and my family. Having 361 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: that family name. Understanding where I come from, it should 362 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 1: change the way that I live. Right, I know where 363 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: I came from. But if we're defining our lives, we 364 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: also need to ask this question, where are we going? 365 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 2: Where are we going? That's a great question, all right, Well, 366 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 2: I know where I came from. 367 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: I was created by God, because of Jesus Christ. I'm 368 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: in the family of God. I am an heir of his. 369 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 2: I have his name on me. 370 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: If you will I represent him. Okay, Well, then where 371 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: am I going? What does understanding who God is and 372 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: understanding my identity and Him, what purpose does that give 373 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: to me? I've said this so many times. If you've 374 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 1: listened to this podcast, you've probably heard me say it. Hope, 375 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:23,239 Speaker 1: which is what so many are lacking. It extends or 376 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: flows from purpose. Purpose is knowing why we're here. 377 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:31,679 Speaker 2: Hope. 378 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 1: Knowing why we're here gives us a clarity or an 379 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 1: understanding that God has a plan for us. My purpose 380 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,120 Speaker 1: why I'm here, That purpose was given to me by God. 381 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: If I have a God given purpose, then there is hope. 382 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: I can go through my life, regardless of the ups 383 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: and downs, difficulties, trials, whatever, I can go through that 384 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: knowing that God is bigger, God has a plan. God 385 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: gave me a purpose, and God will work his life 386 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: his will through my life. Of hope flows from a 387 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:11,640 Speaker 1: lack of purpose. Purpose extends or flows from a clear identity. Okay, 388 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: follow me here. We have to start by answering the 389 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: question who am I or where did I come from? 390 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: Finding that identity. I am in Christ Jesus. I have 391 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 1: a relationship with God. I was created by him. I 392 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: represent him. I'm about who he is, not my job, 393 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 1: not all the externalities. Those may be a part of 394 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: my life, but that's not who I am. I am 395 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: the child of God. From that identity flows my purpose. 396 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: So from how did I get here? Or where am 397 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 1: I from? To where am I going? A couple of 398 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: thoughts on our purpose. First Peter, chapter two and verse 399 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 1: nine says this, speaking to Christians, this, we're in Christ. 400 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: Who've nailed down that where am I from? But you 401 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 402 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 1: a peculiar people. That ye should show forth the praises 403 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: of Him who hath called you out of darkness into 404 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 1: his marvelous light. So he says, you're a chosen generation, 405 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: chosen by God, a royal priesthood. You're in the family 406 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: of Almighty God, a holy nation. Set apart, set aside, 407 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:30,639 Speaker 1: a peculiar people. Again set aside. 408 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 2: You're unique. Why what's that all about, that. 409 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 1: Ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath 410 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You 411 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: are all of those things, a royal priesthood, a chosen generation, 412 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: a holy nation, a peculiar set apart or unique people. 413 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: You're all of those things for this purpose. 414 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:54,920 Speaker 2: Okay? 415 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 1: What's the purpose to show forth the praises of him 416 00:23:58,480 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: who is him God? 417 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 2: Your our purpose. 418 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 1: As a child of God, created in the image of God, 419 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,159 Speaker 1: born into the family of God because of Jesus Christ. 420 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 1: Your purpose as a child of God is to point 421 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 1: others to your Father, to God, the Father, the one 422 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:19,479 Speaker 1: who's pulled you out of darkness and into his light. 423 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 1: Ephesians two and verse ten says this, for we are 424 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 1: His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works which 425 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 426 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 1: Our purpose is to do good works. What are good works? 427 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: If Heesian Chapter two and verse ten comes after obviously numerically, 428 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:43,159 Speaker 1: Ephesian chapter two, verses eight and nine. Verses eight and 429 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 1: nine talk about the fact that we're saved by grace. 430 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 1: It's a gift of God. It's not of anything that 431 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 1: we do, and then from that as saved people, the 432 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 1: grace of God residing living within us. We are His 433 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 1: workmanship created unto good works. We have a job to 434 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: do that is to represent God, our Father, the Creator, 435 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:09,120 Speaker 1: represent God to the rest of the world. That's our purpose. 436 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: And we can understand how this purpose transcends job in 437 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 1: a secular sense. It transcends even family, physical family lineage. 438 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,919 Speaker 1: It transcends where you've come from, or what resources you 439 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 1: have available to you. It transcends all of it. Because 440 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 1: no matter where I am, where I've come from, what 441 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,719 Speaker 1: I have available to me, the job doesn't change, The 442 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: purpose doesn't change. The purpose remains to always give glory 443 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: to God and to live in a way that points 444 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: others to Him. On Corinthians ten and verse thirty one, 445 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:50,879 Speaker 1: whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do to 446 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 1: the glory of God, to the glory of God. Whatever 447 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:01,919 Speaker 1: you do, wherever you are, with whatever resources you have 448 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: available to you, live in a way that brings honor 449 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: and glory to God. 450 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 2: That's your purpose. 451 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,760 Speaker 1: Now, when we talk about all of the roles that 452 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: we fulfill in this life, all of the things that 453 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: we need to do in this life, we can start 454 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,919 Speaker 1: to see the picture a little more clearly. What adds 455 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 1: or gives meaning to that job and to those relationships 456 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: and to those other roles. What provides meaning is what 457 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:38,639 Speaker 1: an understanding of our purpose. I am engaged in those 458 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 1: relationships as a husband, as a father, as a friend, 459 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: as an employer or an employee, and those are other 460 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:47,199 Speaker 1: relationships that I have. I'm engaged in those things and 461 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:50,919 Speaker 1: working in those things for one purpose, to give glory 462 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: to God. 463 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 2: Now, if I'm. 464 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: Working to give glory to God, then I'm going to 465 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: be a great husband. I'm going to be a good father. 466 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: I'm going to work hard in those areas. I'll be 467 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: a good friend, I'll serve others. I'll be the best 468 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: employer or employee that I possibly can be. In the 469 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 1: other areas of life, I'll be the best I can be. 470 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 1: Why because that reflects who I am as a child 471 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:17,439 Speaker 1: of God. So understanding where I came from gives me 472 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:23,200 Speaker 1: an understanding of purpose. My purpose is to glorify God. 473 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:27,920 Speaker 1: But you can't stop there, all right, I know where 474 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 1: I've come from. I'm defining my life. Remember, I'm defining 475 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: this is who I am, this is what I'm about. 476 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 1: I'm defining my life. I know where I've come from. 477 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: Created by God in his image, born into the family 478 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: of God through Jesus Christ. That's where I've come from. 479 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 1: That's who I am. That's my family. 480 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:42,360 Speaker 2: If you will. 481 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 1: From that, I know where I'm going my purpose. I'm 482 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: going to live my life. I'm going I'm going to 483 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 1: live my life to give glory to God. 484 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 2: All right, that's great. 485 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 1: That can be church talk if we don't ask the 486 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:03,880 Speaker 1: next question, how are you get there? That's a great question. Okay, 487 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: I get it again. When I say church talk, I 488 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 1: don't mean that exactly pejoratively, I guess, but kind of. 489 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:14,359 Speaker 1: There are a lot of things we say in church 490 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: that don't really have any meaning, but when we talk 491 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:25,159 Speaker 1: about purpose, there should be some real meaning behind it. 492 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 1: My purpose is to give glory to God. Okay, that 493 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 1: can become just happy church talk if we don't ask 494 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:33,639 Speaker 1: the question, well, how am I going to do that? 495 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:36,159 Speaker 1: How am I going to do that? 496 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:36,360 Speaker 2: Now? 497 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:37,880 Speaker 1: We need to look at every area of our life 498 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:41,239 Speaker 1: and ask the question specifically in these areas, how am 499 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: I going to give glory to God? How am I 500 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: going to live in a way that shines light in darkness. 501 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: How am I going to fulfill my purpose? And here's 502 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 1: some thoughts when we ask the question, how am I 503 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 1: going to do this? What will be my guide? What 504 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: are the actions that I'll take? How will I even 505 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 1: know how to fulfill my purpose? Appointing others to Christ 506 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 1: A couple of things. First, we need to surrender to self. 507 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: If we're going to live out our purpose of glorifying God, 508 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: we can't live lives that are about us. Otherwise our purpose, really, 509 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: in spite of what we may say, our purpose is 510 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: about glorifying ourselves. So we have to surrender ourselves. Here's 511 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 1: what Paul said in Glatians two and verse twenty. I 512 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 1: am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, 513 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,720 Speaker 1: but Christ live within me, and the life which I 514 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: now live in the flesh, I live by the faith 515 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: of the Son of God, who loved me and gave 516 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:44,640 Speaker 1: himself for me. Paul man, he said, so clearly, I'm 517 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: crucified with Christ. 518 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 2: What does that mean? 519 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: I identify with His death, his burial, his resurrection. I'm 520 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: all about Jesus. Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but 521 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: Christ lives in me. The life which I now live 522 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: by the flesh I live by the faith of the 523 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,800 Speaker 1: Son of God. This is saying my life is not 524 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:05,240 Speaker 1: my own. My life belongs to Jesus. Verse Corinthians sixth 525 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:09,640 Speaker 1: nineteen and twenty. Paul says, this, what know you not? 526 00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 1: That your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, 527 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:13,720 Speaker 1: which is in you, which you have of God. And 528 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:17,000 Speaker 1: you are not your own, for you're bought with the prist. Therefore, 529 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 1: glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which 530 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 1: are God's. You must surrender self. If you're going to 531 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 1: pursue that purpose of glorifying God, it begins by surrendering self. 532 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: All right, it's not about me, So then what do 533 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: I do? 534 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 2: Well? 535 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 1: Live following the example of Christ on Peter two and 536 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: verse twenty one. For even here unto where you called, 537 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 1: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example 538 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: that you should follow his steps. John chapter thirteen and 539 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: verse fifteen. Jesus said, for I've given you an example 540 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 1: that you should do as I have done to you, 541 00:30:56,560 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 1: the example of Jesus Christ. So we surrender our It's 542 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,480 Speaker 1: not about me. I need to fulfill this purpose given 543 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 1: to me by God, but it's not about me. I 544 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 1: can't do it in a self promoting way. It's not 545 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:10,080 Speaker 1: about what I want or what I am going to get. 546 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:12,440 Speaker 1: I'm surrendered to God. All right, Well, then how do. 547 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 2: I do this? I follow the example of Jesus Christ. 548 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 2: I walk as he walked. 549 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:21,960 Speaker 1: The Gospels give us a wonderful picture of who Jesus 550 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 1: is and how he talked to people and how he 551 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: interacted and the decisions that he made. Following that example, 552 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: throughout the New Testament, we have those physical authors that 553 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 1: God used to write the Bible that help us to 554 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,200 Speaker 1: understand what God wants us to do and how God 555 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:40,880 Speaker 1: wants us to live. We see so often modeled for 556 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 1: us Jesus Christ. 557 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 2: And how he lived. 558 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 1: One of the great examples is Philippians chapter two that 559 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 1: talks about the crucifixion and what it meant and how 560 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: God Jesus in the flesh, God humbled himself because we 561 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 1: needed him to. We follow the example of Jesus, and 562 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,240 Speaker 1: then we live in dependence on him. Live in dependence 563 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 1: on him. A couple of verses these are so helpful. 564 00:32:05,520 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 1: You know this one Proverbs chapter three, verses five and six. 565 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean 566 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 1: not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, 567 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 1: and he shall direct your paths. Proverbs three, five and 568 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: six tell us that in everything we do. 569 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 2: We need to. 570 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: Follow the leadership of God, not leaning to our own understanding, 571 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: but allowing God to guide us and direct us. Flippian 572 00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:35,840 Speaker 1: chapter two and verse five. Let this mind be in you, 573 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:38,640 Speaker 1: which was also in Christ Jesus again, letting the mind 574 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 1: of Christ, the thoughts of Christ, the attitude of Christ 575 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:43,840 Speaker 1: guide us forward. Hebrews chapter twelve. You've heard me talk 576 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:47,840 Speaker 1: about these verses one, two and three. Wherefore, seeing we 577 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:50,240 Speaker 1: also our compassed, are surrounded about with so great a 578 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and 579 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:55,680 Speaker 1: the sin which does so easily beset us, and let 580 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 1: us run with patience the race that is set before us, 581 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 1: looking unto Jesus. Y, what does that mean? Following Jesus 582 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:06,920 Speaker 1: looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, 583 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:09,479 Speaker 1: for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, 584 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 1: despising the shame, and is set down at the right 585 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 1: hand of the throne of God. For consider him that 586 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:18,480 Speaker 1: endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, Lest you be 587 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,920 Speaker 1: wearied and faint in your mind. There's a lot there. 588 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 1: I've taught a lot and spoken about this passage so much, 589 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:28,640 Speaker 1: But what is it saying? As we run the race 590 00:33:28,680 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: set before us? We do so by following Jesus Christ, 591 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:37,320 Speaker 1: allowing him to guide us and direct us, not living 592 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:42,840 Speaker 1: in our own dependence, but living in his dependence, living 593 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:47,280 Speaker 1: according to his direction, according to his example. What does 594 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 1: it say there at the end of Hebrews Chapter twelve, 595 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 1: verse three, Lest you be wearied and faint in your minds, 596 00:33:54,120 --> 00:34:00,240 Speaker 1: if you're not following Jesus, eventually you'll give up, You'll 597 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:04,920 Speaker 1: become fatigued, You'll throw in the towel. You may say 598 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 1: something like this, It just doesn't matter. When defining your life, 599 00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:12,760 Speaker 1: you need to ask the question where did I come from? 600 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:13,920 Speaker 2: Who am I? 601 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 1: As you nail down that identity, you asked the question 602 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:18,760 Speaker 1: where am I going? 603 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:22,640 Speaker 2: What is my purpose? When you learn that your purpose is. 604 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:25,160 Speaker 1: To glorify God, you then asked the question, Okay, well, 605 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:26,200 Speaker 1: how am I going to do that? 606 00:34:26,280 --> 00:34:27,359 Speaker 2: How am I going to get there? 607 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:30,680 Speaker 1: By following the example of Christ, surrendering myself realizing it's 608 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 1: not about me living dependent on him. The last question 609 00:34:37,920 --> 00:34:40,800 Speaker 1: I think you need to ask when defining your life 610 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 1: is this, how will you stay grounded or focused? You know, 611 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:51,959 Speaker 1: when as a kid in church, people would talk about 612 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 1: their favorite verse or their life verse. Maybe you've heard 613 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:58,120 Speaker 1: that phrase before. Sometimes people make fun of that. All 614 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 1: of the Bible is given to us by God, profitable, 615 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 1: it's all great. But people would say, this is my 616 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 1: life verse, this is my guiding verse. This is the 617 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:11,359 Speaker 1: one I go back to again and again. And when 618 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:14,839 Speaker 1: I was young, I didn't always understand that. But man, 619 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,080 Speaker 1: the Bible is all given to us by God. 620 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 2: It is all. 621 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 1: Profitable and helpful. But there are a couple of verses 622 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:26,200 Speaker 1: that jump out to us as individuals that really become 623 00:35:26,239 --> 00:35:31,640 Speaker 1: the anchors. They keep us grounded, They keep us focused. 624 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:36,840 Speaker 1: When things get a little blurry, when I feel like 625 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 1: I'm sliding, when I feel like maybe it doesn't matter, 626 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:48,239 Speaker 1: maybe it's not important anymore, there are some verses that 627 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:52,359 Speaker 1: help clear the path, the shine a light if you will, 628 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,760 Speaker 1: that get us back on track. One of those verses 629 00:35:54,800 --> 00:35:56,799 Speaker 1: is found in Acts chapter twenty and verse twenty four. 630 00:35:57,080 --> 00:36:00,080 Speaker 1: For me at least, the apostle Paul was speaking, he 631 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:03,160 Speaker 1: said this, but none of these things move me. Whatever 632 00:36:03,200 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 1: else is happening. Whatever's going to happen, doesn't matter. Neither 633 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:09,120 Speaker 1: count I my life dear unto myself. It's not about me. 634 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 1: We talked about this humility, sacrificing yourself following Christ. He said, 635 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:15,560 Speaker 1: neither count I my life dear into myself. Said I 636 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:19,919 Speaker 1: might finish my course with joy and the ministry which 637 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:23,239 Speaker 1: I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the 638 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:29,800 Speaker 1: gospel of the Grace of God. Paul said, my grounding truth, 639 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:32,840 Speaker 1: if you will the purpose that I know I was 640 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:35,759 Speaker 1: created for the thing that I want to fulfill. When 641 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:37,920 Speaker 1: I'm defining my life, how I would define it in 642 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:41,840 Speaker 1: just a couple of sentences. Is this Nothing else matters 643 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 1: but testifying or communicating the gospel of the Grace of God. 644 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:52,440 Speaker 2: I wonder if Paul ever felt. 645 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:54,320 Speaker 1: Like he was slipping, maybe that it didn't make sense 646 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:56,880 Speaker 1: to do what he was doing. Maybe he just wondered 647 00:36:56,920 --> 00:37:00,400 Speaker 1: if anyone cared and he had to come back to 648 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:06,680 Speaker 1: this truth. It's all about the gospel. He said it 649 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:11,880 Speaker 1: this way in Philippines three and verse thirteen. Brethren, I 650 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:14,600 Speaker 1: count not myself to have apprehended. I haven't gotten there yet, 651 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 1: But this one thing I do forgetting those things which 652 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:21,840 Speaker 1: are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. 653 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:25,440 Speaker 1: I press toward the mark for the prize of the 654 00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:33,400 Speaker 1: high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It's all about Jesus. 655 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:36,400 Speaker 1: Whatever happened in the past doesn't matter. The rest of 656 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:39,560 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter. This one thing I do. 657 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 2: Paul was very clear on his purpose. 658 00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:47,480 Speaker 1: He had defined his life, and listen, if we don't 659 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:55,320 Speaker 1: take time to define our lives, then we'll always struggle 660 00:37:56,680 --> 00:38:03,799 Speaker 1: because we're busy, we're accomplishing stuff, we're getting things done. 661 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:06,560 Speaker 1: But in the end we'll have to ask did it 662 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:11,520 Speaker 1: matter if it's not tied to God created us to 663 00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:15,000 Speaker 1: be what God created us to do and to accomplish 664 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:19,160 Speaker 1: the example that God has set before us, the overarching 665 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:26,759 Speaker 1: purpose God's plan for our lives. I believe that this 666 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:31,279 Speaker 1: can be transformative in your life, just as it is 667 00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:38,319 Speaker 1: in mind when you understand this is who I am, 668 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:39,840 Speaker 1: this is what God wants me to do, and this 669 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:42,319 Speaker 1: is how I'm going to get there. I hope that's 670 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:45,520 Speaker 1: a help to you. Appreciate you listening. And we've got 671 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:48,000 Speaker 1: some great guests coming up in the next couple of weeks. 672 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:52,600 Speaker 1: Excited about that and looking forward to man some other 673 00:38:52,680 --> 00:38:57,040 Speaker 1: great conversations. But take some time this week to get away. 674 00:38:57,440 --> 00:38:59,240 Speaker 1: It could be for an hour, it could be for longer. 675 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:05,480 Speaker 1: Define your life, really nail it down. Who am I, 676 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:08,319 Speaker 1: where did I come from? What is my purpose? How 677 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:13,080 Speaker 1: am I going to fulfill that purpose? And then ultimately, 678 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:15,560 Speaker 1: what are some grounding verses or some grounding truth that 679 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:17,960 Speaker 1: I can hang on to when things get a little fuzzy. 680 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:20,360 Speaker 1: And if you'll do that, God will use you in 681 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:24,240 Speaker 1: ways that maybe up until now you had not even 682 00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: thought possible. Thank you for listening, Thank you for watching, 683 00:39:28,680 --> 00:39:31,840 Speaker 1: really appreciate it. Subscribe if you haven't done that, go 684 00:39:31,840 --> 00:39:34,359 Speaker 1: ahead and subscribe from the podcast platform you're listening from 685 00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:36,319 Speaker 1: on the YouTube channel, and. 686 00:39:36,480 --> 00:39:37,560 Speaker 2: Would love for you to do that. 687 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:46,240 Speaker 1: Looking forward to talking to you.