Purpose in Life

I came across this quote the other day by W Clement Stone, an expert on success and positive attitudes, "whenever you discover your mission (or purpose), you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on.".

As I've been contemplating purpose over the last couple months I've realize how important theme this is in the Scriptures. There is a verse that is always spoken to me out of Proverbs 29:18. Basically this verse states that where there is no purpose, there is no direction. In essence, that is what this verse is talking about. It uses the word vision or revelation for which I think we can also include the word purpose. I think it is easy to see that when we purpose to do something we usually get it done. Most people go through life and find purpose in the things that they are doing. Because of this purpose or this driving force inside of them, they are able to accomplish many things in life. We have actually been created with a need to find our purpose in life.

Although this is not always easy to do, it is also not as difficult as we think. I think there is a great correlation between what we are passionate about and what our purpose is life. When we understand that the purpose of our life in relationship to God then we can better understand the reason for much of what we do. And this purpose helps us set short term goals that are attainable. In this way we can understand the why of today in order to reach the purpose of tomorrow. There are a lot of things that we all do that are not always fun but if we find how they fit into a greater purpose. They are much easier to carry out.

It is important to bring into focus a greater purpose for our lives that we can only find in Jesus Christ. Of course, there are many things that are very noble purposes in this world and I don’t deny those but state that there is a greater purpose into which all these things fit.

I'm sure most everyone has asked themselves the question, "why do I exist". Finding our purpose in life answers this question and brings a tremendous fullness to our life. And remember Jesus came to give us life in abundance, not just in existence. So where do we begin to find the true purpose in life? I believe it can be found in the person of Jesus Christ. I believe the Bible will give us all the direction we need to live this life to the fullest and to accomplish the purpose for which we were created.

Let me give one key factor towards finding the answers to these questions. We are God's creation. He made you the way you are with the abilities and talents that are innate in you. God has given each of us the ability to fulfill our purpose on this earth. Here's a quote from a Greek philosopher, "know thyself". That's a valid statement. That is where we need to start.

Can You See?

It is interesting to read the story of Abraham. It encompasses quite a few chapters in the book of Genesis and is pretty detailed. Wow what lessons we can learn from his stories. Both good and bad.

For the moment I simply want to take one ongoing story that is weaved throughout his whole life story. And specifically I am focusing on the covenant promise God the Father made to Abraham from the very first.

It is now a universal (or global if you prefer) promise that was first spoken to Abraham but now can be claimed by all mankind. “I will bless you and you will be a blessing”.

Of course the Lord expands on this statement by saying to Abraham that his descendants will be so numerous that you won’t be able to count them. What an awesome promise. God spoke this to Abraham. We have it written and can read it but Abraham heard God’s voice over and over saying what He had promised him. He heard a word, promise, from God’s heart to his. And he heard it many times as we look at scripture.

Now here is an important side note. Abraham wasn’t sure how and if this would ever happen. And as a result we can read his life saga of mistakes for not truly believing what God said He would do for him. So it gets a little more interesting because the Lord understands that we need help in order to believe. We probably make believing a lot harder than it really is. I know I do. You know when Jesus says ‘just believe’ and a father cries out and exclaims ‘I do but help my unbelief!’. It is supposed to be easy and it really is. It is just too easy and therefore the paradox of what we are doing when we fight the good fight of faith.

But I am digressing a bit. Let me get back to the focus of what I want to share in this blog. Abraham, same as us, needed a way to boost his faith and cause believing to by faith to become a reality without seeing the actual fulfillment. Because you see the key to faith is that we are believing without having seen what is actually the focus of our faith. So how do we get it to click on the inside that what God says is really true and as a result we are unshakeable in our trust in Him to fulfill it?

Here it is. No more suspense. God told Abraham one night to look up at the stars. He wanted him to see promise of an heir and birthing of nations through the visual of the stars. Impossible to count and so the promise was impossible to fathom. But the stars gave Abraham a visual. It is the same as putting scripture on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror so you see it everyday. Every time Abraham would look up and see the stars at night he would be reminded of the promise God had made to him and would be able to get a mental picture of a spiritual promise.

It actually says in Genesis the verse immediately following the star visual that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. So wasn’t he believing or trying to before now? Of course! But now he had something he could visualize in the natural in order to believe in his heart what God had said. Maybe we should use this as a key to believing the great and awesome promises God has given us. Find your visual to keep before your eyes. Find your star-filled sky to look at.

Here is a verse that really speaks to this in 1 Corinthians 15:46:
The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual (NIV)

So it looks like God had a simple way for us to believe all the time. First the natural: See it with your eyes in the world around us that God created. Then the spiritual: believe that it is done and it is settled in your heart.

Written Words

Have you ever thought about how words effect you? I think we are not very aware of their power in our lives until we actually hear words that carry an impact on where we are at the moment. I don’t mean where we are in reference to geography but where we are on the inside.

Of course we can talk long and hard about the negative effect that words have on our lives. I think everybody recognizes that. But I want to blog about the positive effect instead. I think this really hit me recently as I was able to hear and read words directed to me that just filled me with an overwhelming sense of God’s grace and love for my life. What a blessing for my life. It is not something one thinks about everyday. What I mean is we don’t go around thinking “I wish people would speak words that build me up today”. And in our society today I believe we definitely lack telling people around us positive things about them. So when it happens it tends to make us sit back and think how awesome it feels to hear positive things about who you are in life.

Words of praise. Did you know that God speaks words of praise to His children all the time? He sure does. Just read what the bible has to say about you. Let me rest my case in the truth that “for God so loved the world (you) that He gave His only begotten Son”. That should be enough yet the bible is riddled with God’s words of love toward us.

Obviously we would all agree that it is important to esteem and bless one another. We encourage our young athletes before they step into the game. We encourage children in our schools that they can do it. Over and over again we employ words and notes to build up people of all ages so that they will achieve more in life as well as have a great attitude.

Here is my point. Everyone is effected for the better as we build them up. Let’s do it more regularly. Let’s make it a point to esteem and edify others in the moment. Not wait for another day or future time. Let’s do it more often. It is a beautiful thing to receive words of affirmation and love that let you know your life is worth living.

Say something good to somebody in your life!

Define Salvation

What is your definition of salvation? Have you really thought it through? When you hear the word salvation what comes to mind?

Moses said to the people of Israel once, "stand still and see the salvation of your God." The Israelites were blocked in by the enemy on one side and the Red Sea on the other. What did salvation mean to them at that moment? I'm sure it meant something more than what we think. After all, they were at the point of dying and there was no way out. So salvation at that point meant living. It meant to be delivered from the hand of their enemies. And probably a whole lot more.

What does it mean to us? I think the usual answer would be that it means forgiveness of sins. Is that all it means? When we talk about salvation through Jesus Christ, are we only talking about forgiveness? I think we can safely say that salvation is a lot more than forgiveness of sins and a free ticket into heaven.

Jesus came and became a man on earth. He was in every way a man like you and I. Yes he was God, but he was also totally a man. You see Jesus came to show us how to live and how to have life. His message was not one of just how to get into heaven but it was a message of how to live with abundant life. Just think about this for a minute. Jesus died on the cross as a man. He literally took our place so that God's judgment would be removed. He purchased right standing before the Father in heaven.

Even though we could expand on all of this for quite some time I would like to focus solely on the word salvation. What does it really mean? I think we have short-changed the meaning of salvation that Jesus has provided for us. We usually only repeat what we have heard over the years. In the normal response to salvation is is that we are forgiven of our sins. But salvation is a lot more than that. Not to minimize the importance of forgiveness of sins, which is a great miracle and blessing from God. But at the same time we don't need to leave out all that God has provided for us. We need to see the whole picture and embrace the truth of God's word. Salvation is all-inclusive and affects every part of our life, spirit, soul and body.

I believe Jesus came to earth to show us the depth of what salvation really is through his life and actions. So here's an oversimplified way to look at salvation. What is going on in your life today that you need said to be saved from? That you can meditate on that for a while and when you come up with an answer you can cry to our Creator, Jesus Christ, saying, "save me Lord!". You see, he didn't pay the enormous price of dying on a cross only to save you from sin. He made the ultimate sacrifice in order that we might live and enjoy the blessings of heaven on earth. I am purposely not filling in the blanks in this blog. I'm leaving that for you to do. I don't believe I can fully define salvation with a few words. Because I think it takes on a new meaning for each individual and situation we are living. The important thing to see is that salvation goes beyond the saving of our soul to get into heaven. That doesn't change just because we don't believe it. It is still true. We need to change our mindset about salvation in order to change our beliefs of salvation. We need to see the realm of possibilities that God has provided for us through the work of Jesus Christ and not limit all that he did by believing only part.

Breaking The Curse

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4706741805360354160

I think you will enjoy the above link. It is the testimony of a family that lost a 17-year-old daughter in a plane crash. I thought some of his insights were very good. Hope it ministers to you as much as it did to me.

I have been studying recently about the effect of curses on our lives. My main text has been out of Galatians chapter 3. There it speaks mainly about Jesus becoming a curse for us and freeing us through the price he paid. Redemption. We are purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. We have been redeemed from the curse. Throughout the word of God there is much to be said about cursing and blessing.

One of the outstanding things that I find in the word of God pertaining to cursing and blessing is the fact that we are not to curse. In the book of James we find the example of a fountain that can only produce one kind of water. Saltwater and freshwater cannot come from the same fountain. Nor can blessing and cursing come from the same mouth. We are also told in the book of Deuteronomy that God has set before us the blessing and the curse and it is up to us to choose one or the other. In Psalms 109:17 it states that if we curse we will also be cursed.

The truth is Jesus died to free us from all curses. We must accept the redemption that he has provided for us through his blood. We need to know and appropriate all that he has paid for through his blood. He wants us to live in freedom from all curses. He wants us to inherit the blessings of Abraham. Now that's an interesting statement. The blessings of Abraham. I guess we would have to go through the word of God and discover exactly what are all those blessings. Abraham was known as the father of faith. God performed miracles on his behalf. He also spoke to him as a friend and called him a friend. But the blessings of Abraham go much further than that. The blessings of Abraham include all the promises that God has made to us and for us through his Son. So we should embrace the blessing rather than the curse.

How do we embrace blessing? Simply said, by embracing Jesus and all he purchased. By accepting what he did for us and refusing to wear the curse. We accept His grace for life. We live by faith in all that is provided for us. We believe what we hear in the word of God. You see, to believe God by faith means there is nothing we can do to earn anything from God. That would be imposing a law on ourselves. And if we live by a law then we must obey every part of it. Many times we put obligation, be it religious, social or personal on ourselves and find that we cannot live up to those things. We have imposed a law that we cannot complete. So we need to learn that the righteous live by faith. Simple trust in all that God has said and done for us.

I will write further about this in future blogs. There are several aspects to the subject that I would like to mention. The text I mainly refer to earlier is Galatians 3:1-14. But there are several other texts I would like to speak about. Let me close this session with one more idea. It is found in Nehemiah 13:2 and it states this, "our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing." The God we serve takes all that is against us and turns it into something favorable. He turns the curse into a blessing. What an amazing truth. We live in a world that is under a curse. But Jesus redeemed us from the curse.

Time In Mexico

I just spent a great week in Mexico visiting churches in the area we lived for many years. It was great to reconnect with our Latin friends and minister to hundreds of people. Actually over 800 strong! There were many salvations, and physical healings that took place. Wonderful times of ministry happened and I returned very encouraged seeing the grace of God continuing to abound in Mexico.

What an encouragement to see all that is taking place. There are many things I could mention and fill up a few pages. It is always great to see peoples lives changed. That never gets old. And even more so was the joy of seeing lasting fruit from our labors over the many years we lived and worked there. Even though I could talk about many things I want to focus on just one.

The one thing that stood out to me (I guess the thing that blessed me more than the rest) happened almost at the end of the trip. It was after seeing all the salvations and healings and ministering to hundreds seeing great results. It was in a breakfast for pastors where I was asked to speak on the last morning of my trip. It was a great time and great food. I believe I was able to help a lot of hurting pastors. What a great time!

But as I finished and we were about to dismiss they let different pastors get up and make announcements for all the churches to hear. The first person got up and before the announcement they began to talk about a time that happened about 1o years ago where I was living and ministering in that city. Her and her husband began coming to some of the services and were greatly helped to the point of their marriage being saved and consequently going on to pastor another church. Presently they are pastoring a successful work in the same city. But God used us to deliver His grace to their lives at a critical moment.

Now the reason this was a highlight for me is because it is easy to see the things we are doing in the present moment but seldom do we see fruit from seed sown in our past. What a joy it was for me to see that God’s grace used us beyond the boundaries we set for ourselves or beyond the sphere of ministry that we believe we have accomplished. It was so moving to hear their testimony. So even though the week was full of good things this one thing made the trip.

Fruit unseen. Fruit beyond expectation. Something lasting and growing. Wow! You know it is so much more fulfilling to see that our lives count for things more permanent than just momentary blessings and great meetings. It’s the stuff that lasts for eternity that makes a difference! All the rest is good but this is better!

Your basic variety of faith

There were five occasions in the book of Matthew where Jesus used the terms "oh you of little faith". All of the five occasions dealt with situations that we live on a daily basis. They were the following:

• worry
• fear
• doubt
• provision
• authority

 

The indication in what Jesus is saying about faith in these different situations is that all of us can have it. We can live believing God in each of these areas. The end result is a much richer life. After all, God has provided all things for us. But we must first believe him. We must have that basic faith of trusting him for the basic things in life. After all worry and doubt and fear are things that just tear us down. They never build our lives. As a matter of fact fear enslaves us. The Bible even speaks of fear as something that torments us. I think we know that to be true. It can actually paralyze you. And prevent you from acting or doing anything in a given situation. The word of God is riddled with God's provision of peace in the place of fear. We need only to trust him on a daily basis. I mean, if you look up phobias, you will find that there is at least one for every day of the year. God wants to set us free from all of those fears through his peace.

 

In the same way worry destroys us from the inside out. How many times have we been stressed out over a situation that we could not change and yet all our worry made no difference at all. The only thing we accomplished through all the worry in that situation was to feel sicker the normal. God cares about us so much more than all the animals that he created. And yet the word of God talks of him keeping his eye on the sparrow. We are worth a lot more than a spare and God wants us to know by trusting him that he will take your us.

 

Doubt is another one of those always present ways of thinking that robs us. The number one tool to combat doubt is the word of God. We must come to a place that we actually believe what the word of God says and act on it. In order to have faith in God we must believe his word is true. Then we must listen to his word and trust him to fulfill it. Unbelief, or doubt, keeps us from enjoying all that God has for us. Take a simple step against doubt in your mind. Instead of repeating the doubts you have with your lips quote the word of God. Sounds very silly and simple. But I guarantee you that it works. The hardest person to convince that the word of God is true is yourself.