Finding God's Purpose

By Charles Simeon

"Finding God's Purpose" is a book that explores the meaning and importance of discovering God's purpose in the life of every human being. Through a combination of personal stories and biblical teachings, the author guides the reader on a journey of self-discovery and deep reflection on the goals and objectives God has for them.

The book presents a practical approach to finding God's purpose, offering tools and strategies for overcoming obstacles such as fear, uncertainty and lack of self-confidence. It also explores themes such as vocation, passion and service to others, and how these aspects can play an important role in fulfilling God's purpose.

Through its pages, Finding God's Purpose inspires readers to pursue their dreams and goals, while showing them how their pursuit can have a positive impact on the world around them. With an exciting narrative and powerful message, this book is a must-read for those seeking to live a meaningful and fulfilling life according to God's plan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: FELIPE CHAVARRO POLANÍA INC
• Release date: Apr 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223830740

Book preview

Finding God's Purpose

BY CHARLES SIMEON

Contents

THE BLESSINGS IMPARTED BY THE GOSPEL

THE TRUE LIGHT IN WHICH THE GOSPEL IS TO BE CONSIDERED

THE OBJECTS OF GOD'S CALL

CHRIST IS ALL IN ALL

ANALYSIS OF THE PRECEDING DISCOURSE

CHRIST CRUCIFIED, OR THE EVANGELICAL RELIGION DESCRIBED

THE FEELINGS OF A FAITHFUL MINISTER

APOSTOLIC PREACHING

GOSPEL WISDOM

THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL

IGNORANCE OF THE GOSPEL, FATAL

THE GOSPEL, A STUPENDOUS MYSTERY

THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD

INFLUENCES OF THE SPIRIT

THE IGNORANCE OF THE NATURAL MAN OF DIVINE THINGS

ADVANTAGES OF THE SPIRITUAL MAN

UNDUE PARTIALITY TOWARDS MINISTERS IS REPRIMANDED

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE WHO BUILD ON THE TRUE FOUNDATION

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

THE DANGER OF PROFANING GOD'S TEMPLE

THE MEANS TO ATTAIN TRUE WISDOM

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CHRISTIAN

BELIEVERS ARE THE PROPERTY OF CHRIST

MINISTERS, STEWARDS OF THE LORD

PAUL'S INDIFFERENCE TO THE JUDGEMENT OF MEN

GOD MUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED IN ALL THINGS

#1929 Finding God's Purpose is a book that explores the meaning and importance of discovering God's purpose in the life of every human being. Through a combination of personal stories and biblical teachings, the author guides the reader on a journey of self-discovery and deep reflection on the goals and objectives God has for them.

The book presents a practical approach to finding God's purpose, offering tools and strategies for overcoming obstacles such as fear, uncertainty and lack of self-confidence. It also explores themes such as vocation, passion and service to others, and how these aspects can play an important role in fulfilling God's purpose.

Through its pages, Finding God's Purpose inspires readers to pursue their dreams and goals, while showing them how their pursuit can have a positive impact on the world around them. With an exciting narrative and powerful message, this book is a must-read for those seeking to live a meaningful and fulfilling life according to God's plan.

THE BLESSINGS IMPARTED BY THE GOSPEL

1Corinthians 1:4-9 .

"I thank God always for you, for the grace that he has given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in everything - in all that you speak and in all that you know - because our testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you lack no spiritual gift as you wait impatiently for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you steadfast to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you to fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

We cannot but admire the introductory greetings which are manifest in all Paul's epistles. He, of course, has frequent occasion to mention truths which are far from being agreeable to those to whom they are spoken; but he always introduces them in such a kindly manner, and accompanies them with such expressions of the sincerest love, that it is almost impossible for any one to take offence at him. He never shirks the faithful discharge of his duty, but always endeavours, to the utmost of his strength, to heal the wounds which his fidelity inflicts.

The Corinthian Church was in a far worse state than any other which he had occasion to address: indeed, the manners of the Corinthians, before their conversion, were dissolute to a proverb; and therefore it is not to be wondered at, that, after their conversion, many of them still needed to be admonished on points which they had hitherto been accustomed to regard as trivial at least, if not altogether indifferent. In all things necessary to their welfare, the Apostle here communicates his sentiments freely: but in the beginning of his epistle he makes no distinction between the Corinthians and the purest of all the Churches. He knew that if many of them were corrupt, the great majority of them were sincere; and therefore he includes them all in the first expressions of his consideration, that he might afterwards have more influence over those, whose errors he wished to rectify. We notice in this introductory acknowledgment of the Apostle,

I. The blessings imparted by the Gospel.

The Gospel is nothing else but a testimony of Jesus. This was the spirit of prophecy under the Old Testament, Rev. 19:11; and it is the spirit of all the New Testament writings. What the testimony was, is stated with great precision by John: This is the testimony, that God hath given unto us eternal life; and this life is in his Son: he that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life, 1 John 5:11-12.

The believer has this testimony confirmed in him. There are two ways in which this testimony is confirmed: the one is outwardly, by signs and wonders; the other is inwardly, by the operation of the Spirit of God upon the soul. The Corinthians had it confirmed in both ways: for no Church excelled them in miraculous gifts, 1 Corinthians 12:10; and in the change wrought in their own souls, they had an evidence of the truth and power of the Gospel: they had an evidence of it in the grace that was given them by Jesus Christ.

Two things in particular they had received, which served to mark the saving efficacy of the Gospel; namely,

1. 1. An enlightened mind.

They had been enriched by Christ with all utterance and all knowledge. Distinct from miraculous gifts, there is in believers a knowledge of an experiential kind, and an ability also to declare that knowledge with ease and accuracy. It is a knowledge derived from the heart, rather than from the understanding; even as Solomon refers to, when he says, The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth knowledge to his lips Proverbs 16:23. John speaks of this when he says, He that believeth on the Son of God hath the testimony in himself, 1 John 5:10.

There is a perfect correspondence between the divine record concerning Christ, and the feelings of the believer's soul: he feels that he needs such salvation as Christ offers, and that there is in Christ a sufficiency for all his needs. And in speaking of these things, all believers in the universe agree. As in all human beings, notwithstanding some slight differences, there are the same general features pertaining to the body, so in the minds of all believers there is, notwithstanding a diversity in minor matters, a correspondence in their general opinions and feelings; all confess themselves sinners saved by grace through the blood of the Redeemer.

Others, who are not true believers, may have the same creed; but they have not these truths written on their hearts, nor can they speak of them from their own experience: this is the portion of the true believer only; and it is a portion, in comparison with which all the knowledge of the universe and all the wealth of the Indies are but dross and dung, Philippians 3:8.

2. A spirit of expectation.

The Corinthians tarried not behind in any gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The saints under the Mosaic dispensation looked for the first advent of our Lord: those under the Christian dispensation look for His second advent, when He will come again from heaven with power and great glory, to gather together His elect, and put them in full possession of the inheritance destined for them. The early Christians thought that this period was very near; we, who live nearly 1,800 years after them, believe that it is still far off, because there are many prophecies which have not yet been fulfilled and which must be fulfilled before the coming of that time. But, so far as we are individually concerned, the time is near at hand for each one of us, even at the door; for, the instant of our departure from the body, we are brought into the presence of our Judge, and have our portion fixed for ever. Hence the believer looks forward to its dissolution as the promised beginning of eternal joys.

Others may look for, and even long for, death, as a termination of their sorrows; but only the believer waits and hastens to the coming of the day of Christ, as the completion and consummation of all his joys.

Others may regard heaven as a rest from trouble; but only the believer looks forward to it as a rest in God. In the prospect of that day, he is sober, and waiteth for the grace that shall be brought unto him at the revelation of Jesus Christ,t 1 Peter 1:13.

But our text leads us to look further,

II. The blessings the Gospel secures

God, in calling us to the knowledge of His Son, calls us also into fellowship with His Son, in all the blessings both of grace and glory; and where He gives the first of these blessings, there He undertakes to impart the second also. On this basis, the promise of a faithful God, the Apostle assured the Corinthians,

1. 1. Their continued preservation.

He will establish you to the end, he says. If believers were left to themselves, they would have no prospect of enduring to the end. So many and so great are the difficulties with which they have to contend, that they could have no hope at all. But God undertakes for them to keep them by His own power through faith unto salvation. He undertakes both for Himself and for them: for Himself, that He will not turn away from them to do them good; and for them, that He will put His fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from Him, Jeremiah 32:40. If they offend him by any breach or neglect of duty, he will visit their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes; but he will not utterly take away his mercy from them, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail, Psalms 89:30-35.

So fully confident was Paul of this truth in relation to the Philippian church, that he declared himself confident of this very thing, that he which had begun a good work in them would perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6; and the same confidence we may feel in relation to every true believer, that no man shall ever separate him from the love of Christ, Romans 8:38-39. God pledges his own word, that he will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able, 1 Corinthians 10:13, but will perfect that which pertains to them. Therefore, when we pray God that our whole spirit, soul, and body may be kept blameless for His heavenly kingdom, we are authorized to add, Faithful is He that called us; who also will do it, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

2. Their final acceptance

He will keep us, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. In a sense, His people are already blameless, since the Lord Jesus Christ washed them in His blood and declared them clean (John 15:3). But at the last day we shall be blameless in ourselves, as well as in him; being not only justified, as we are now, by his blood, but also sanctified by his Spirit, and transformed into the perfect image of our God. Then Christ shall present us unto himself, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; yea, holy and without blemish, Ephesians 5:27; and meanwhile, by his almighty and all-surpassing grace, "he shall strengthen, establish and establish us unto the end! 1 Peter 5:10.

In this way God assures His people of their continued preservation and final acceptance with Him; and promises His own faithfulness for the fulfilment of His word.

But let no one imagine that these truths supplant the necessity of care and watchfulness on our part; for God will never fulfil the promise He has made to us but by our efforts. Hence He requires every effort from us, as if He left the final result solely in our hands, and suspended His promised mercies altogether to the performance of our duties. To obtain His final acceptance as blameless, we must keep our faith firm: He will present us holy, blameless and irreproachable before Him, if we continue in the faith that is sure and steadfast, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, Colossians 1:22-23. We are also to abound in love; we are to grow and abound in love one to another, that he may establish our hearts blameless in holiness before God our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints, 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13."

We are also to employ all diligence in every duty; for it is by diligence that we are to make our calling and election sure, and that we are to be "found finally by him in peace, without spot, and blameless, 2 Peter 1:10; 2 Peter 3:14.

Here we see that the very things God has promised us must be obtained through our own faith, love and diligence. Without these, the end will never be obtained (for God has connected the end with the means), but through the continued exercise of these, the end is secured beyond a possibility of failure. God cannot deny Himself, 2 Timothy 2:13; and His word, confirmed as it is by covenant and oath, can never fail Hebrews 6:18. "Heaven and earth may pass away, but His word shall never pass away. Matthew 24:35.

APPLICATION-

1. Be thankful if you are a partaker of this grace.

Paul always gave thanks to God on behalf of the Corinthians on this account: how much more, then, ought those to be thankful who have received God's saving grace! To possess this experimental knowledge of evangelical salvation, and to enjoy these blessed prospects of immortality and glory, is the greatest happiness of man. Having these things which accompany salvation, we need not covet any other good, nor regret any concomitant evil: we have the richest blessings that God Himself can bestow!

2. 2. Take care to walk with dignity.

God's mercies to us demand an adequate retribution; and the retribution he desires is a total surrender of ourselves to him (Romans 12:1). What God wants, in communicating his mercy to us, is to keep us blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus. Let that, then, be our end in their improvement, to be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, shining among them as lights in a dark world. Philippians 2:15.

3. Remember in whom all your strength lies

On your own you can do nothing. It is God, and God alone, who can establish you to the end. He who has been the Author, must also be the Finisher of your salvation. It is He who must work all your works in you. All your fresh springs must be in Him. Know, then, that He is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. Jude verse 24; and he will, if you trust in him; for Paul expressly says, The Lord is faithful, who will establish you, and keep you from evil, 2 Thessalonians 3:3. To him, then, to the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever and ever. Amen. Jude verse 25.

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THE TRUE LIGHT IN WHICH THE GOSPEL IS TO BE VIEWED

1Corinthians 1:23 -24.

We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

THERE IS in man a disposition to dictate to God, instead of receiving from Him what He is pleased to give. Though this is not right, nor should ministers gratify it, yet they should consult the inclinations of men, and endeavour to please them for their good. The Jews and Greeks sought what by their education they had been accustomed to admire: but Paul, notwithstanding his readiness to yield in all things that were less important, was obliged to make the strain of his preaching directly opposed to their corrupt desires. The Jews demand, etc.; but we preach, etc..

I. The great theme of Christian ministry

The Apostle calls it preaching the Gospel, preaching the cross, preaching Christ and him crucified. But in preaching Christ crucified he did not confine himself to a historical account of the fact, or to an emotional description of it. To fulfil the true end of the Christian ministry, we must,

1. State the nature of Christ's death.

This, in appearance, was only similar to that of the evildoers who suffered with Him; but it was a true and proper sacrifice to God. In this light it was characterised by the whole Mosaic ritual. The sacrifices were types of the atonement; in this light it was foretold by the prophets, Isaiah 53:5-6; Isaiah 53:10; in this light it is clearly represented throughout the New Testament, Matthew 26:28. 1 Corinthians 5:7. Hebrews 9:26. Ephesians 5:2; and unless preached from this point of view, we do not, in the Apostle's sense, preach Christ crucified.

2. 2. Outline the benefits that result from it.

There is no spiritual benefit that is not to be attributed to this source; forgiveness, peace, holiness, glory, are its proper fruits. Without the atonement we could have received nothing; but by it and through it we can receive everything. This too must be clearly inculcated, if we are to consider ourselves faithful stewards of the mysteries of Christ.

3. To persuade men to seek a saving interest in her.

We find men full of Pharisaical conceits, and with great difficulty induce them to