FOR THIS PURPOSE WAS I BORN: WHAT, HOW AND WHY

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" 2Tim 1:9

What is purpose? The dictionary defines it as 'An anticipated outcome
that is intended or that guides your planned actions'. That means the
above verse can read "who hath saved us and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works but according to his own intended
anticipated outcome and grace which guides our planned actions, given
us in Christ Jesus before the world began"

Another definition says Purpose is 'what something is used for'. That
tells us your purpose is what you are to be used for. Purpose is why
and who and what you are. It is like cars built for road
transportation; airplanes built for air transportation; boats and ships
for sea transportation. The creators saw a need and built those things
to fulfill that need. That is exactly what happened with YOU! God saw a
need and carefully crafted you, giving you the necessary physical,
mental, emotional, psychological etc attributes to fit into that need.

What happens if you use yourself for something else? The same thing
that happens if you drive a car on the sea; or attempt to drive a ship
on the road; or fly an airplane in the sea. Engines go haywire,
bodyworks are damaged, accidents happen. In human beings, depression
sets in, frustration follows, health is affected, and death often
rounds it up. You just cannot cope functioning out of your purpose zone.

How did our purpose come to be? The above verse says "Before the world
began". Yes, our paths in life were set long before God said "Let there
be light". The bible talks of Christ as "the Lamb of God that was slain
before the foundation of the world" Rev 13:8. This tells us that before
Adam and Eve ever sinned and fell, God knew and had already prepared
our escape route.

He also knew that with Adam's fall, the devil will take over the
affairs of this world and God would need people to get back earth for
Him. So God looked down and saw the need for Doctors, Nurses, Bankers,
Lawyers, Writers, Economists, Politicians, Newscasters, Athletes etc
who would take over Governments, Economies, Banking Industries, Media,
Hospitals, Judiciary, Sports etc and make things run the way He
originally intended for them to run before Adam handed them over to
Lucifer.

Because of that need, God began creating men and women, endowing them
with the special abilities needed to be godly Engineers or Architects
or Teachers etc to take over the Engineering world, the construction
companies, the Education sectors etc for God.

Every gift and talent you have is given you to use to restore order in
that particular sector it fits, for God. That is YOUR purpose. That is
why you are good in those things. It was planned and ordered long
before you were born. Long before even Adam was created.

In Exodus 31:1-5, God spoke of how He had endowed Bezalel, son of Uri
with crafting skills for the purpose of building the things for the
Tabernacle and Ark of Covenant. That was why God created that man and
gave him those skills and talents. You also have a reason why God
created you and gave you the skills you have and the thing He wants you
to do with those skills.

How then can you go against it and not execute your executive orders?!
You cannot! The bible says "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it
is the Lord's purpose that will stand" Prov 19:21. You cannot stop
God's purpose! You will only mess yourself up and ruin your own life
and God's purpose will still be fulfilled. If not through you then
through another person, "God is able of these stones to raise up
children unto Abraham" Matt 3:9. The purpose of God will forever be!
"The Lord's purpose is eternal; the designs of his heart go on through
all the generations of man" Ps 33:11. Solid and Unchangeable! With or
without you!

Why then should you fulfill your purpose if God can get it done without
you? The same reason Toyota Corolla must still be driven on land and
not in the sea or air despite the fact that a Honda Accord can do same
job. Just like the Toyota Corolla cannot be used for any other purpose
apart from its original use as a means of road transportation despite
the presence of so many other cars being used for the same thing; so
also you cannot be used for any other purpose other than the one you
are created for despite the presence of others who are also created for
the same purpose.

You are needed. Can you imagine if there was only one doctor available
for the whole of Nigeria? It will be a disaster. That is why God cannot
have just one person in a particular profession. In Exodus 31:6-11,
God told of other people he had endowed with similar skills to work
with Bezalel. This is a joint effort. That's why we need all hands on
deck. But if you refuse to do your part in God, another will be raised
to take your place. Remember that a Toyota Corolla that won't drive on
the road will be left parked in the garage. Don't be left redundant in
life's garage!

FOR THIS PURPOSE WAS I BORN: INTRODUCTION

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” 2Tim 1:9

“A master looked at his students one day and asked them, “What is the greatest question in life?”Many answers were given. Some said ‘Is God real?’; some others said, ‘What is love?’; still others said the greatest question is “What is the greatest question? The wise man slowly shook his head and said “The greatest question is WHO AM I. The day you ask yourself that question is the day you begin to live” – Words Of Zen


The master in that parable is 100% right. The day you can ask yourself that question is the day you begin to live. Asking yourself WHO AM I is the first step to self discovery.

And the truth of the matter is that you can never realize who you are without knowing WHY you are. Your PURPOSE is who you are.

My journey to self discovery started when i said ‘there has to be more to life than this’. Someone once said ‘Dissatisfaction is the first step to progress. Until you are tired of where you are, you cannot advance to the next level’. That was exactly what the Holy Spirit used to propel me to discovering my purpose. I wanted, needed, CRAVED for more than I was.

I started searching. And when I opened the door to see what was on the other side, to know what the MORE was, I discovered PURPOSE.

Notice I said DISCOVERED! Yes, you always DISCOVER your purpose, you never choose it. Your purpose was first determined, and then you were specially molded and given the tools and talents to actualize it. Your purpose was not made for you; you are created for your purpose. Your purpose is WHO and WHY you are. It is the reason you exist at all.

Even though I say YOUR purpose, it is really God’s purpose, not yours. Notice the above verse “according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us”. It is His purpose and it was given you to execute.

No matter your achievement in life, no matter your success or wealth, even if you live to be two hundred years, if you leave this world without doing what God made you to do, every second of every minute of every hour of every day you spent on this earth is a total and complete waste. Just like someone who buys a Range Rover and parks it at home, thereby not fulfilling the purpose for which that car was made. A Range Rover is not a showpiece or collector’s item. It is built for use.

Purpose is not a topic that can be rushed. I will continue in subsequent posts, but for now, keep the following in mind –

* You are specially created for a specific purpose
* Every talent, gift, attribute was given you as tools (grace) to fulfill that purpose
* It is not your choice but a God-given task
* You are to discover what that purpose is
* It is in fulfilling that purpose that you know who you are
* If you do not discover and fulfill that purpose, your life is meaningless and a waste
* It is never too late to discover and fulfill your purpose. NOW is always the time to start.

Next post will be a short summary of the definition and history of purpose. Please join me to continue this so important topic.

TWO REALITIES: THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN

"For we walk by faith, not by sight" - 2 Cor 5:7


I learnt something during the week that I want to share with you. It is about the two realities that govern our lives. Reading the story in 2 Kings 6:11-17 about the siege on Elijah, I am reminded that the Spiritual is every bit as real as the physical. In fact, the bible tells us that it is the spiritual that will outlast the physical - "While we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" 2 Cor 4:18.

And I want to ask you – WHAT DO YOU SEE? Do you see as the world sees or you focus on seeing like God sees? As humans, we have sight, one of the five senses. But as the redeemed of the Lord we have something more – INSIGHT – what the dictionary calls the deep perception of a situation and the bible calls Inner Sight or Inward Perception.

There are intangible realities in our everyday lives. The realities that cannot be registered by the five senses but are every bit as real and true as the things we can see and touch and taste and smell and hear.

What we see depends on the altitude at which we operate. Do you live in the spirit or in the flesh? Remember the bible says "But the natural man recieveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" 1 Cor 2:14. If you live firmly on this earth instead of being in the’ heavenly places’ with Christ Jesus, you cannot operate in the unseen. So my second question is ARE YOU OF THIS WORLD OR OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?

It should be noted from the passage in 2 Kings 6:11-17, that what we see actually affects our faith, it brings fear into our lives and increases doubt. But when we like Moses focus on the unseen - "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible" Heb 11:27, we have the faith that drives out fear.

If we live strictly in the realm of the seen, hear what the bible says about us - "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" Rom 8:6.

It is the spiritual that gives life - "It is the spirit that quickeneth" John 6:63. Without the spirit, we are dead - “For the body without the spirit is dead" James 2:26.

So, the choice before you now is –

PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL
NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE
DEVIL OR GOD
SIGHT OR FAITH
CHARIOTS OF SYRIA OR CHARIOTS OF FIRE

There is no middle ground "so then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" Rev 3:16. Neither can you have it both ways “No man can serve two masters” Matt6:24.

As you decide which to be, remember that a man has the choice of his path but he does not have the choice of the consequences of that path.

May God help and keep you. Amen

FORGIVEN

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9


As I am writing this, my mind is still trying to wrap itself around the awesomeness of it. I committed a willful sin. By willful, I mean I knew before I did it, I knew while I was doing it and I knew when I had done it. Through it all, I had the consciousness of the spirit and the awareness of what I was doing and yet, I still went ahead.

I did not want to ask for forgiveness later. Not because I wasn’t sorry but because I felt I could not justify myself and I could not defend the apology to God. So even though, my heart was repeatedly crying out my sin and asking for forgiveness, I decided to wait till I could ‘feel’ sorry enough and cry before apologizing.

Whilst waiting for my emotions to be penitent enough, I imagined all sorts of calamities that would happen because of my willful disobedience to the Holy Spirit.
I waited for God to strike me.

When nothing physical happened, I decided that something spiritual must have happened; I had been punished spiritually, I thought to myself. Or at the least, I had lost something spiritually! Oh, the foolishness of man!

The Holy Spirit broke into my ruminations and quietly asked “Are you sorry?” I answered “YES” immediately and made to add. “But . . . . . . .” He never gave me a chance, “Then you are forgiven” was the quiet declaration.

I immediately revolted against that. Forgiven??!! How could I be forgiven? No, I could not be forgiven so easily for a willful sin, I thought.

Jesus saw my mind and spoke, reminding me of Simon Peter who denied Him three times (Matt 26:33-35, 69-75). He reminded me that Peter had been warned that he would deny Jesus three times and each time he denied Jesus, while he did not remember the warning, he still knew he was doing something grievously wrong by denying Jesus. That was willful sin!

Jesus went on to tell me that by the time Peter was denying Him, forgiveness was no more an issue because Peter had already been forgiven long before the sin was committed. He had been forgiven from the time Jesus told him he would deny Him.

I still could not accept that I was getting off so lightly, I felt I should be judged for the sin I committed; not for God to have mercy on me. I asked “what of JUSTICE?” and Jesus responded and told me that in 1 Jn 1:9, His words were not that God is MERCIFUL to forgive us but that He is JUST to forgive us. JUSTICE IS SERVED IN FORGIVENESS!

OH MY GOD! A light switch just went on in my heart. I finally understood. God has forgiven me my willful sin simply because I confessed and asked Him to forgive me and because He is FAITHFUL to forgive! He had even forgiven me before I asked and before I sinned! And in forgiving me, the demands of justice had been met. The legal grounds for punishment had been met and fulfilled by the justice of forgiveness!!!

Any lingering trace of guilt was erased with the word that says “If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart” 1 John 3:20.

YES! He is greater than my heart. If He doesn’t condemn me, no one else can, not even me!

I cannot begin to tell you what this revelation is doing to me. My heart is aglow with it. My spirit sings at this. Now I know I will never commit that sin again because now I KNOW. What punishment could never have done, forgiveness has done. I cannot take that forgiveness for granted; I can never abuse the sacrifice that satisfied the demands of justice on my behalf. That is what will keep me from falling again.

FORGIVENESS!

I AM FREE! I AM FORGIVEN!

COUNTING THE GAINS

"And everyone that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name's sake shall receive a hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life" Matt 19:29


When I decided to rededicate my life to Christ and make Him my Lord, I knew there were great unimaginable things ahead of me. I looked forward to the adventure and the wonder and the glory of walking hand in hand with the Holy Spirit. I was eager and expectant. But in all my expectations, I never counted the costs!

Jesus warned us that following Him involves sacrifice and fellowship with him comes at a cost - "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" Matt 16:24. Matt 19:29 clearly shows we will definitely forsake some things and some people for the sake of the gospel.

You deny yourself of so many things because following God requires you to be different and set apart from the rest of the world - "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins" Rev 18:4.

We are called a “Holy Priesthood” 1 Pet 2:5 therefore we cannot do things like other people. The difference is that WE ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD! And when God leads you, He takes you down some tough paths.

I am going down my tough path right now. I am making a sacrifice so painful; it’s feels as if my heart is being ripped out. I keep on looking at what I’m giving up and it seems way too much.

Then reading my bible one morning, I came across that passage that tells us how Christ called his disciples in Matt4:18-22. I immediately began to look through the four books of the Gospel for where and how Christ called the disciples and their responses. (Matt 9:9, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27 &28) And I asked myself, what could have made these men so willingly to follow Christ without hesitating? They left their families, their source of livelihood, their lives! They just heard “Follow me” and right away, they got up and did exactly that.

I believe it was because instead of them being like me and wallowing in depression and lamenting over what they were ‘losing’, they instead looked up to Jesus and COUNTED THE GAINS!
They knew that what they stood to gain was far more, unbelievably more than anything they could ever leave for His sake. Hebrews 11:6 says “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” He will never leave your sacrifice unrewarded.

What a change that made to me. How radically my perspective shifted at that revelation. What is ever a loss when Jesus is involved? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! It is all gain; it is all joy; it is all to my benefit! It is just as my brother said, whenever God tells you to drop what you are carrying, it’s because He wants empty arms to fill up with His own unique blessings.

I still hurt but now I don’t sorrow. Instead I look up to the Author and Finisher of my faith in eager expectation for the amazing thing He has for me. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love him" 1 Cor 2:9.
And I know by the time I see and understand what it is God is giving me in replacement, I will scream ‘THANK YOU, LORD’ so loudly even heaven will reverberate.

Now I do as the scripture bids me “Count it all joy” James 1:2. I do not focus on the loss anymore because there is no loss. Now I sit and watch expectantly while COUNTING MY GAINS.