CONSCIOUSNESS OF A DIVINE PURPOSE 190206
Text: Mark 1:32-39
19 February 2006
(I) THE EXISTENCE OF A DIVINE PURPOSE
“The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:…” Isa 14:24-25
“The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.” Isa 46:11
1. The Lord’s proclamation of His divine purpose
2. The Lord’s pledge to fulfill His divine purpose
3. The Lord’s procedure in raising up people to execute His divine purpose
(II) THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS IN BEING CONSCIOUS OF THE DIVINE PURPOSE
1. Understanding the divine purpose
a. The priority of preaching the gospel
“That I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” Mark 1:38
b. The power to meet great needs of people
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Luke 4:18-19
2 Driven by a sense of divine purpose
“Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” Mark 1:38
3. Sustaining a sense of divine purpose
“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35
a. By reflecting on divine purpose
b. By requesting God for strength
4. Consistency of fulfilling the divine purpose
“And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and casting out demons. ” Mark. 1:39
(III) THE ENGAGING OF THIS DIVINE PURPOSE
“Let us go into the next towns,…” Mark. 1:38
1. An Invitation to share in this divine purpose
2. An Invitation to follow the Lord’s example
3. An Invitation to fulfill this divine purpose