AWAKENING: YOUTHCAMP2019

Group Huddle 1
Title: Chosen for a Purpose
(Importance of Finding the Meaning of Your Life in God's mind)

Since the beginning of time, people struggle with three basic issues in life. The first is the issue of
existence: "Why am I alive?" The second is the issue of significance: "Does my life matter?" And the third
is the issue of intention: "What is my purpose?" at ang tatlong tanong na ito ay magkaka inter twine at
related sa bawat isa. Kaya ang camp na ito ay dinisenyo para sa malalim na dahilan na maliban sa
enjoyment, entertainment, relax and recreation. ang matulungan kang sagutin ang mga tanong na ito.

The answers to the above three questions can only be found in GOD. Tulad kung papaanong ang mga
appliances, gadgets at iba pang gamit ay mauunawaan lamang dahil sa manufacturer’s instructions
manual, ganun din naman tayo bilang tao, ang Dios manlilikha lamang ang nakakaalam nang mga
kasagutan patungkol sa ating buhay.

The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That's because we typically
begin at the wrong starting point: ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to do
with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on yourself will
never reveal your life's purpose.

The Bible says, "Everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible... everything
got started in him and finds its purpose in him" (1 Colossians 1:16, TM). And contrary to many popular
books, movies, and seminars, you won't discover your life's meaning by looking within yourself. You've
probably tried that already. You didn't create yourself so there is no way you can tell yourself what you
were created for! If I handed you an invention you'd never seen before, you wouldn't know its purpose,
and the invention itself wouldn't be able to tell you either. Only the Creator or the owner's manual could
reveal its purpose.

You cannot arrive at your life's purpose by starting with a focus on yourself. You must begin with God,
your Creator. You exist only because God wills that you exist. You were made by God and for God — and
until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our
identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead
end. So many people try to use God for their own self-actualization, but that is a reversal of nature and
is doomed to failure. You were made for God, not vice versa, and life is about letting God use you for his
purposes, not you using him for your own purposes.

You can usually succeed in reaching a goal if you put your mind to it. But being successful and fulfilling
your life's purpose are not at all the same issue! (example tulad ng mga artista at kilalang tao, na sa
worldly standard ay masasabing “successful” pero nagawang magpakamatay (robin Williams, vocalist ng
linkin park at iba pa). Nasa kanila ang lahat. Fame, money, material wealth. Good looks) the point is you
could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world's standard, and still miss the
purposes for which God created you.

God created humanity to represent Him and to declare His glory. The command to be fruitful and
multiply (Genesis 1:26) was a command to spread God's glory as His image-bearers to the ends of the
earth. Sadly, we abdicated this high calling, bringing shame upon the image of God.
That is our general purpose, to SHINE, to present, represent, reflect declare and proclaim the glory of
our Lord God almighty. This is counter intuitive, kasi tayo ay makasarili. Tayo ay isinilang na
makasalanan.

I. We are distorted image-bearers (Gen. 1:26-28, 3:1-24)

Sin has caused us to live in a world of deception. Our sin has distorted the image of God within us, and
we now live in the midst of others who bear this distorted image. (selfishness, prideful, envious, etc.)

In Genesis 1:26-28 we read the triune God created man in His image, and after His likeness. We are the
only part of creation that has this stamp on us. Animals, birds, livestock, and all the creatures that crawl
upon the ground are not made in His image. No trees, mountains, stars, or oceans were made after His
likeness. In a world without sin humanity accurately reflected the beauty of God.
God lovingly created us in His image to display His glory through our enjoyment of Him. There are
implications to this truth.
 We are accountable to Him
 We can trust Him
 Each person has great value
 We have a God-centered purpose
 He intends for us to find our greatest satisfaction in Him.
As an image-bearer you have great value, responsibility, and accountability to God. We must admit that
our sin has distorted the image of God within us. Our only remedy for this is our redemption in Jesus
Christ.

II. Jesus redeems what we have distorted (Col. 3:9-10)

In Colossians 3, Paul reminds them that they have been "delivered from the domain of darkness" and
"transferred into the kingdom of his beloved Son" (Col. 1:13). Paul urges believers to "put to death" that
which belongs to the Adamic nature and "put on" that which belongs to the nature of Jesus. He reminds
us of the great transfer of citizenship that has taken place, telling "You have put on the new self which is
being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." In our redemption Christ is restoring that
which we have distorted - namely, the image of God.

Conclusion:
You were created to enjoy God and reflect His glory. You and I made shipwreck of that holy calling. Yet,
God lovingly acted to redeem and restore us in Jesus Christ. Our only fitting response is to turn from life
in Adam and, by faith, walk in our new life in Christ. As believers we are called to be ministers of
reconciliation. Unbelievers, you are called to be reconciled to our loving God.

Application: encourage the campers to memorize the camp theme verse, EPHESIANS 5:14b “Awake, O
sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” this camp goal is to help each and every
one AWAKEN to our true Godly nature that will accurately reflect God's glory as we fully enjoy Him.
Jesus has already purchased this promise. It is our task to practice what Christ has already accomplished.
As believers we measure our growth by our increasing Christ-likeness.