Finding our Purpose Series:

• Seeking our Purpose
• Drawing out our Purpose
• Living our Purpose

What is Purpose?

Share your definition of purpose in the comments

Proverbs 20

New International Version

20 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

² A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.

³ It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel.

⁴ Sluggards do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

⁵ The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
    but one who has insight draws them out.

Purposes in Proverbs 20:5

etsah: Counsel, advice, purpose, plan

Original Word: עֵצָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: `etsah
Pronunciation: ay-tsaw’
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-tsaw’)
Definition: Counsel, advice, purpose, plan
Meaning: advice, plan, prudence

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb יָעַץ (ya’ats), meaning “to advise” or “to counsel.”

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: – G1012 (boulē): Often translated as “counsel” or “purpose,” reflecting similar themes of divine or human planning and advice.

– G4823 (symboulion): Meaning “counsel” or “advice,” used in contexts of deliberation or strategic planning.

Usage: The Hebrew word “etsah” primarily refers to counsel or advice, often in the context of guidance or strategic planning. It can denote both human and divine counsel, reflecting the wisdom or plans of individuals or God. In the biblical narrative, “etsah” is frequently associated with the wisdom literature, where it underscores the importance of seeking wise counsel and the consequences of ignoring it.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite society, counsel was highly valued, especially from elders, prophets, and wise individuals. The concept of “etsah” is deeply embedded in the communal and covenantal life of Israel, where decisions were often made collectively and with divine guidance. The wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, emphasizes the pursuit of wise counsel as a path to righteous living and success.

https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6098.htm

To Draw Out

https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1802.htm

How to Draw out our Purpose

1. We need People of Understanding and Wisdom
   • Who has wisdom in your life?

Matthew 3

New International Version

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” ³ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”

⁴ John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. ⁶ Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

Finding our Purpose Series:

• Seeking our Purpose
• Drawing out our Purpose
• Living our Purpose

What is Purpose?

Hebrew and Greek Definitions

Ya`ats

yaw-ats’

Parts of SpeechVerb

Ya`ats Definition

NAS Word Usage – Total: 80

1. to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan
   1. (Qal)
      1. to advise, counsel, give counsel, consult
      2. counsellor (participle)
   2. (Niphal) to consult together, exchange counsel, deliberate, counsel together
   3. (Hithpael) to conspire

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/yaats.html

Boule

boo-lay’

Parts of SpeechNoun Feminine

Boule Definition

NAS Word Usage – Total: 12

1. counsel, purpose

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/boule.html

Matthew 2

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Look for something outside ourselves

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Seek Your Purpose

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Be Overjoyed – We know we are living our purpose when the Holy Spirt won’t let us do anything else.

 ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. 

Worship God

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Offer our Gifts

 ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Take the Detours

To Seek Our Purpose

1. Pursue something outside ourselves
2. Seek your Purpose
3. Be Overjoyed
4. Worship God
5. Offer our Gifts
6. Take Detours

What do you treasure?

Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Luke 2:19

And Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart

Treasure = preserve these things in her heart.

The word for ponder = “to consider carefully” and “weigh mentally”

She is weighing the ramifications of all this in her heart.

How to Treasure Christmas

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Luke 2:16-19

Verse 17 – Spread the Word

What word can you share on what God has done in 2024?

Verse 18 – Wonder, Be amazed

Luke 2:18 - 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds to them.

• What have you been amazed at this year?
• What have you Wondered at?

Verse 19 – Ponder these things in our hearts

Soom-bal’-lo   

Greek word for Ponder: 

Verb

The Greek word that is translated into ponder is actually a mash up of two words, forming the Greek word “sumballo,” which literally translates into “thrown together.”

Two uses of Ponder on the Gospel of Luke: Luke 2:19; Luke 14:31

Luke 2:19 - 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 14:31

31 “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

How will you Treasure Christmas?

How could those we love vote for a candidate with such despicable morals?

The answer is not about behavior, it’s about the values we hold. Any of us are willing to ignore inappropriate behavior when a candidate pledges to uphold our value system.

In the 1990’s, Democrats justified the adultery of Bill Clinton. “It goes with the job of being in power” they said. Why? Because he held the power to promote their agenda.

The same is true today. Many are asking how can anyone vote for Donald Trump, who is also an adulterer, among other things.

The same question is asked about Kamala Harris. How can anyone vote for her when she enbles to the faults of the Biden administration? An administration that enabled the genocide of thousands of Palestinians.

The answer is simple. Political candidates hold potential power to promote our values. The office of President has to ultimate power in this regard.

Behavior, morals, and viscous language are irrelevant to each of us in pursuit of promoting our agendas.

“So people can say and do whatever they want?” No. Our behaviors have consequences on ourselves and others. The higher the political office, the greater the consequences on all of us.

“So, how should we respond?” First, understand that all of us are willing to ignore behaviors of candidates who align with our values. 

Second, know that those we oppose are also questioning why you voted the way you did.

Third, get involved in politics at any level you can.

Notice I’m not calling for unity.  Unity can only happen when all involved agree to a basic understanding of each other’s worth. Jeremiah 6:14 warns of proclaiming peace when there is none.We aren’t at a place of unity yet.