LIVING LIFE WITH A PURPOSE

Text:    Acts 20: 20-28

Thesis: If we fail to plan, we plan to fail.  If we plan with God, we are guaranteed success.

I. How I spend my TIME reveals my priorities.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.

Philippians 1: 21-22

A.     The Apostle Paul’s priorities were centered around “finishing the race and completing the task the Lord Jesus has given him” (vs.24)

B.     Everything in my life is given value. The greater the value I place on them, the higher the priority is given.

Three High Priorities in our lives:

1. God

Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

This is the first and greatest commandment.”  Matthew 22: 37-38

2. Family

“No amount of success in any other area can compensate for a failure in the home.”  Unknown

3. Church

“…I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not overcome it.

 Matthew 16:18

II. How I spend my TIME reveals what I will accomplish.

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.  I Corinthians 3: 12-15

A.     Dreams without committed time are just wishful thinking.

B.     Miss directed time will produce unwanted results.

“I spent my whole life climbing the ladder of success and upon reaching the top realized it was leaning against the wrong wall.”  Unknown

C.     The Apostle Paul built with “Gold, silver, costly stones” because he invested the time in the work of the Lord.

III. How I spend my TIME reveals where I will spend eternity.

A.     The eternal destiny of Paul’s and those who were saved through his ministry were guaranteed heaven, because they invested their lives in the will of God.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight

 I have finished  the race, I have kept the faith. 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.

2 Timothy 4: 6-8