The Lord's purpose prevails

The Lord's purpose prevails

I was reading Proverbs the other day and a few points came to mind that hit home. There are a lot of people I come across that feel they are not where they should be or not sure how God is going to use them. Some even question if God is using them at this current time and if he is how would they know.

Growing up I always was taken by the music industry. Since birth I would watch performers and mimic there moves. Adolescent years I took up writing and rapping. Many years went by and I got pretty good at it.  I went to school and worked but always thought about rap as the career meant for me. However what I have learned is you can practice and become good at something but it does not mean it is your purpose. A thief practices over time taking things that are not there’s but we know it is a commandment not to steal. Therefore it cannot possibly be Gods purpose for your life no matter how good you might be at it. The thing is no matter how good you are at something you will not feel complete or successful at it. I had recorded numerous songs and people that I would let hear them liked the material but they would always say why don’t you put this out, or this sounds as good as or better than what’s on the radio. The answer came earlier this year. I had talent at music but at least that kind of music was not my purpose with God. It was something in me that would not allow me to heavily promote material that would go against what had been imprinted in me since birth. Proverbs 19:21 says many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the lord's purpose that prevails. We can want something all we want but if it is not meant for you God will have the final word. Man cannot keep you away from your purpose or blessing not even yourself. When we try to deviate from it is when we face confusing and struggles internally and externally. This can go for careers, posessions and relationships.  I never understood why things were not going my way or why it never seemed like quite the right project to use as a demo.  I am not even sure that music is my purpose but I am stronger with God now and I pray for that purpose to be revealed. I know he will. I have faith that he will and that is start. One thing is for sure if it is music it will not be the same kind of music as before. When you change the things around seem different. I find myself not wanting to hear or entertain the same things. I am thankful for that. It shows God has implanted something that causes conviction when I know it is right.  Proverbs 20: 24 says a person's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way? You cannot lean to your own understanding.  Keep communication open with God and he will reveal things to you the more you talk to him.  Prayer and studying the word is the best way to discover your purpose. Reading the word and meditating on it will teach you about the word but also teach you about yourself.  I pray you strive towards living a purposeful life as well. I pray you have received something from this and have a blessed day.

2 Timothy 3 Godlessness Days

2 Timothy 3

New International Version (NIV)

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Reflection of 2 Timothy 3

The scripture says there would be lovers of themselves.  Learning to love yourself can be healthy but not in the sense that you become selfish and unwilling to sacrifice or help others. 

It also mentions during these days there would be those that were lovers of money. It is understood that everyone needs to make a living but that’s not what is being stated here.  To be a “Lover of Money” is one that has now placed it above God and is now motivated by currency. The bible says money is the root of all evil.  When you become a   “ Lover of Money” you glorify items and possessions. This in turn changes your decision making and actions.  You begin adapting sayings like “M.O.E” Money over everything.  Words hold power. You say something long enough you are going to believe it. It is self fulfilling. Money over everything becomes your lifestyle. When this happens you experience what is going on today that was warned about by Paul.  Parents spend so much time chasing money that they are hardly at home. Sure they can purchase a few more things but  there children do not know them.  Quality time is replaced by gifts and allowances to forget the missing relationship.  In turn children begin to value money by learning from there parents.  Since  there isn’t much parenting then disobedience and disrespect steps into the household.  Crime rates go up over the  love of money.  Objects that  are not worth your soul are now viewed as mandatory to have and people do whatever it takes to get them. 

Because of what we have or our careers  we have become Boastful and Proud.  God can not use someone that  knows everything. There must be some space left for God to add wisdom, understanding and anointing.  Saul thought he knew everything until God made him experience hardship. Through that struggle came humility. God can use a humble willing vessel.

We have become Lovers of pleasure.  We are unable to deny the flesh. Things that we know are against Gods word have been tweak or altered so that it conveniently matches your lifestyle. This can not be. Timothy states that any one that wants to live Godly will surely face persecution.  Christians are sufferers on Earth. And we reap our rewards in heaven. To be a Lover of Pleasure does not fit into Gods journey for us. Every day will not be rough but we are expected to endure more because our reward is greater.

The bible speaks on us being a ungrateful people during the Godlessness days.  It now requires more for us to be happy. The reason for this is we have a false expectation that we are owed some things. Reality is we are still in debt to Jesus for the ultimate sacrifice of sparing our souls. To wake up is a blessing and enough to praise him. To have a roof over  our heads, clothes on our backs and food on the table is works of an awesome God. These are trying times and there are plenty people who do not have any of these things.  If you thought  about what you do have as much as what  you do not  I bet it would change your perspective.  It changed the way I look at my life.

Paul also spoke on men preying on weak willed women. This is prevalent today. It is shown all through society and reality tv. Women crying because there man is not faithful or is abusive. Women who do not know there worth or are not rooted in Christ allow and tolerate too much. There are men out here who want a Godly woman and when God appoints the season will find you.  However you have to be a Godly woman to attract a Godly man. The bible says that these women fall victim to these men because they have evil desires.  Men can show you money and belongings that will excite those desires. Once again the bible says money is the root of all evil. So if the weak women were described to have evil desires. They desire worldly things and can be influenced by money. This is the main reason  why corrupt wealthy men in society and on reality tv deceive these women and then they feel victimized.  Find truth in Jesus and become the woman you were meant to be. Once the anointing is on you those tricks and moves of deceit will not fool  you any longer.

The Bible was referred to as God-breathed and can be used for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training righteousness.  In these Godlessness days it is important to have a relationship with our Father and his son Jesus Christ. Spend some time with him today for tomorrow is not promised.

 

1 Thessalonians 4 Living to Please God

Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; ⁶ and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.^[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. ⁷ For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. ⁸ Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
⁹ Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. ¹⁰ And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, ¹¹ and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Reflection of Colossians 1:15-23 The Supremacy of the Son of God

Reflection of Colossians 1:15-23 The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of^[g] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — ²³ if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Reflection

This is a powerful scripture. There is no one that has ever walked this earth with the authority That Jesus has. He was created in the image of our invisible God. He was the first born of all creation.  The bible says he is before all things. There is nothing that is before him. He will always be first. People of the world tend to put priority on Careers and relationships and things that will not get you to Heaven. Jesus will always be first and keeping him first will cause everything else to fall in line. The bible says in him ALL things are held together. So that can only mean when you take him out of the equation things will fall apart. That significant other that you know is not equally yoked. It is not approving in Gods eyes. He will not hold it together because that is not of his works. That lifestyle you have that you have stubbornly chose ignoring Gods calling for you. It will not work out. It will lead to trouble because he is not there to hold it together. Sure when you come to him for forgiveness or assistance he is going to help because now you have placed him in the midst. There is nothing that he can not do.  There is power in the name of Jesus. He is the firstborn of the dead. He has risen from the dead and  has power and authority over the dead.  Through this merciful act we have been reconciled and now have a chance to be entered in to the Book of Life and enter heavens gates. Thank you Lord for all you do.

Revival defined

re·viv·al  

n.

1.

a. The act or an instance of reviving.

b. The condition of being revived.

2. A restoration to use, acceptance, activity, or vigor after a period of obscurity or quiescence.

3. A new presentation of an old play, movie, opera, ballet, or similar vehicle.

4.

a. A time of reawakened interest in religion.

b. A meeting or series of meetings for the purpose of reawakening religious faith, often characterized by impassioned preaching and public testimony.

5. Law Renewal of validity or effect, as of a contract or judicial decision.

Fit For A King

Reflection of Sauls conversion

After reading the powerful passage about Saul giving his life to Christ I felt moved to write a few things.

This passage shows there there isnt a person on this Earth that God can not use. This very man schemed and plotted on many apostles and followers of Christ. He was a feared man to the point that other followers of Christ did not want to be around him for fear that he had not fully changed. He opposed all that spoke highly of the name Jesus. But even He had to listen when God spoke. God works in mysterious ways and it was purposed for an enemy of  the apostles to be made an example and to see the light and follow his word. Saul was blind for three days and then was healed with new sight spiritually and physically. God can use you too!

Acts 9 Saul Conversion

Acts 9

New International Version (NIV)

Saul’s Conversion

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Rags To Riches Pt. 3/3 - Bishop T.D. Jakes

Another Sunrise

Thank God for Waking me up today. I do recognize this blessing and know there others that did not today. He is slowly showing me my purpose. What a great feeling!