PRIORITIES, PRINCIPLES AND
PURPOSE

n PRIORITIES: You must have the things in your life in proper order in order to experience “the abundant life.”

n PRINCIPLES: Your life must be built on God’s principles.

n PURPOSE: You must have a vision or realization of what God wants to do through you.

1. PRIORITIES

Matt. 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

n Seek first: (Priority) the Kingdom of God and

His righteousness.

2. PRINCIPLES:

A paraphrase – Prov. 14:34: “Living by God’s principles promotes a nation of greatness, violating those principles brings a nation to shame.”

n Reduce this scripture to the personal level.

...”living by God’s principles produces a person of greatness.”

3. PURPOSE:

Jer. 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

n Priorities and principles are all supported in the framework of an overriding, all consuming purpose.

n God the father, who sent Jesus the Son to become flesh and dwell among us, calls us into an eternal relationship with Him, through the gospel.

Rom. 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

Col. 1:13: For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

n It is this Gospel and all it means that creates within the heart of those who believe one all consuming purpose.

n Paul’s great sense of purpose is a powerful example to us!

2Tim. 4:6: For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Eph. 3:10,11: His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, [11] according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

n Because of the condition of men’s souls, Paul’s sense of purpose gave him a great burden for souls.

n Jesus clearly taught the value of our souls.

n When we better understand our purpose, then we are ready and equipped to develop priorities for life that cannot be shaken, and to understand principles for living.

n We now can see and better comprehend the eternal dimension of existence.

…Priorities are set with a view to

eternity.

…Life, with it’s ups and downs, no longer defeats us.

Rom. 8:18: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

n Knowing God and therefore knowing something of our purpose, we can better understand living in a fallen world, yet living an abundant life by faith.

n We need to know that we lose in life a great deal more times than we win. We spend far more days in the valley than we do on the mountaintops.

n We must learn that while a creature of crisis, we must also be a creature of dependence.

n Whether we realize it or not, we are totally dependent for our very existence, for life itself.

n …We are one heartbeat from

eternity.

Heb. 9:27: Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…

n God wants us to learn to trust him, that we will live successfully and victoriously in the midst of heartaches, problems and difficulties.

James 1:2: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. [4] Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

n An amazing thing about our amazing God is that by the giving of His Son to live the only perfect life ever lived and then to die for our sins, then conquer death for us in the resurrection, He has provided the priorities, principles, and the purpose

for our lives.

n PRIORITY -

Phil. 1:21: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

n PRINCIPLES -

Phil. 4:11: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. [12] I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. [13] I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

n One writer said, “Success in life is often nothing more than going from one failure to the next with undiminished enthusiasm and faith.”

n PURPOSE –

Eph. 3:11: … according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Co. 15:3: For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…

n When we understand the PRIORITIES, the PRINCIPLES and the PURPOSE we are ready to really live. We are ready for Biblical Brinkmanship!

n Biblical Brinkmanship is walking on the edge every day of your life, where everything you have gained in this world can be lost in a heartbeat

n . . .Biblical Brinkmanship is simply LIVING BY FAITH.

Phil. 4:13: I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

n Paraphrase –

“For I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.”

n We are continually faced with glorious opportunities brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.

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2 Cor. 5:15: And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

n WHAT ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES, PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSE?

Mtt. 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Acts 2:37: When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?“

38: Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.