Let me ask you this question it is a great question but I want you to ask it for yourself
and here's the question why do I exist
what is the purpose of my life what is it that you offer the rest of the world as a Christian
you are a unique individual the Bible says that you were made in God's image and so there's
quality about you that no one else can bring except you see God has gifted you he's given you
talents and abilities that he's given only to you and when you find out what that gifting is
that will help point you in the direction of your purpose say it a different way in other words that
God's not going to call you to something that he hasn't gifted you for First Peter 4:10 says this
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts use them well to serve
one another you and I have been given God-given gifts passion personality and experiences and
God uses all this to shape your mission in the work he's called you to do Proverbs 18 verse 16
a man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men
your gift will make room for you now what is your gift it's the thing that you do
the absolute best with the least amount of effort that's your gift quit running away from the gift
all of you have this gift identify it's the thing that you do the absolute best with the least
amount of effort that's what you should be doing our culture says pursue a career for paychecks
and so you live just to survive not to make a difference
because at the end of the day whether you're young or old you're successful or unsuccessful
whether you're just kind of starting a career or you've been in one for a long time you want to
know deep down inside that what you do and who you are matters and so when I ask you what is
it that you offer the world your soul is just dying to know that it's something meaningful
notice what Paul says here in verses 6 and 8 we have different gifts according to the grace given
to each of us if your gift is prophesying then prophesy in accordance with your faith if it is
serving then serve if it is teaching then teach if it is to encourage then give encouragement
if it is giving then give generously if it is to lead do it diligently if it is to show mercy do
it cheerfully notice what he says here different gifts according to the grace that's been given
to us you see the source of our gifts is God not us we don't determine it we don't decide
what we get there is this unique working of God in which he hardwires you and I to be someone
that we cannot be on our own receive your gift use what you have for the good of other people
so how can you discover your gifts three things first of all what's your passion
think about your passion what is it that you enjoy doing what do you enjoy what are you
passionate what kind of gives you life what fills your cup try that try that out and then secondly
possibilities what have you tried doing right this is a kind of a learn by doing thing in other words
I don't think you can discover your spiritual gift by just taking a test I think you need to be in
community I think community helps to clarify for you what your gift is so try things out
and lastly people what does your community say about your gifts
what have people said about you that you're good at you see this is that wonderful part where we
actually need other people to speak into our lives and to draw out of us what it is that we can offer
most of us maybe if we felt like man I don't know what it is just give yourself time in community
and so what we have to offer the world you guys is absolutely everything
everything and we can begin to find our gifts this way man because by the grace of God you can
offer something incredible to the world God has a specific purpose for your life you right for you
are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto a good work which he pre-ordained for you to walk in
our general purpose right his purpose he desires all to be saved so we're going to reach the lost
his purpose for all of us is to mature but you are unique of eight billion people your DNA how
you process information where you were born what you've been through the good the bad the ugly the
injustice the favor God has a purpose that only you can fulfill God's purpose for your life will
flow from your natural abilities obviously right Psalm 139 you were knitting your mother's womb
you have a DNA that no one else has you think act feel process have abilities you are you
the tools that God has given you naturally and then notice your spiritual gifts
those things are the equipment God's given you to fulfill the unique purpose that you have
and so his natural talents spiritual gifts life experiences
good and bad some of the greatest ways that God will use you is the hardships that
you've been through the reason we go back to God is because he is the master and he
put everything in the box we needed to be successful at what we were created to do
so I don't I don't have to wish for stuff that he put in your box because I'm not supposed to
be you I'm supposed to be me I don't have to long after things that he has given to you because he
gave them to you so you could be who you were supposed to be he gave me everything in the
box I needed to do everything I was created to do he designed you for the life he wants you to live
and if your life is unbearable it might be because you're leading someone else's life
if you if your life is too much and too heavy and too fast and too painful maybe you're
living somebody else's life because you will find that you are perfectly designed to be you
and when you surrender to him he will show you how to best be you God has a unique purpose
for each and every one of us so don't follow in the footsteps of somebody else's purpose
let me say it again don't follow in the footsteps of somebody else's purpose
God has a wonderful purpose for me I want you to say this God has a wonderful purpose or plan
for me and what I've discovered is this is that this question of why am I here this question of
purpose is not something that you just land it automatically but it really is a journey
he formed you in your mother's womb you are special
what a mighty God there's no sin he cannot forgive there's no prayer he cannot answer there's no
soul he cannot save there's no problem that he cannot solve he has a wonderful plan for you