Fresh

Bread

Volume 33   Number 30 Jul 26, 2009

        2 Timothy 1:9: (God) has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. It is important to understand that God has a purpose for you, and it is not based on what you have done, but it is based on His purpose and grace from the very beginning. So then, IF YOU HAVE A PULSE, THEN YOU HAVE A PURPOSE.
        First of all, your purpose is to glorify God. Your purpose is to magnify His name. Let's look at five principles that affect your purpose.
        (1) PREPARATION FOR THE PURPOSE. This requires you to look unto Jesus, the Pattern Son. It should be that you want to be like Him, to think like Him, and do what He has done. You must come to the place where you can say, "My life is in You, Lord."
        All of that starts with having a pure heart. Matthew 5:8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." 2 Timothy 2:21: Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. In other words, if you keep yourself pure, you will be a vessel for honor that God can use for His purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
        (2) PARTICIPATE IN GOD'S PURPOSE. Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 20:4: May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose.
        Romans 12:1-3: And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. The King James Version reads: Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
        Having a renewed mind will make the difference in your being able to hear from God and being able to move in faith. Too many people are being conformed to this world, and we see the devastating results. We also need to remember that it is only through the power of God that we are transformed to become a new creation.
        (3) PROTECTING YOUR HEART WILL PROTECT YOUR PURPOSE. Proverbs 4:23: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. In Psalm 17:3a, David said: I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
        Daniel purposed in his heart recorded in Daniel 1:8: Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. This is a decision you have to make with yourself. No one else can make this decision, because it must come from your conviction and disciplines.
        (4) WALK IN PEACE IN YOUR PURPOSE. Colossians 3:15: Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. I often say to people, "You are going to have to set your heart to walk in peace." There will always be some kind of storm around you and always something going on to get your attention. Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
        (5) PREVAIL OVER THE ENEMY IN THE MIDST OF YOUR PURPOSE. It is important to remember what1 John 3:8b says: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Luke 10:19 tells us that Jesus said: "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." We have this authority by doing all the above, standing in faith, and speaking the name of Jesus. At the name of Jesus every knee will bow.
        Now having done all of that, what is it you can do to FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE? Romans 10:9-10: ...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. This verse is speaking about more than just salvation. While it starts at salvation, this is a verse and principle that will make the difference in all you do. It focuses on what you believe and what you confess. Remember, life and death are in the power of the tongue.
        Here are four scriptures you should be confessing every day:
        I CONFESS Romans 8:11: The same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in me and is quickening my mortal body.
        I CONFESS Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
        I CONFESS Romans 8:38-39: For I am persuaded (purposed in my heart) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
        I CONFESS with purpose in my heart to set my heart toward God so He can show Himself strong in Me. 2 Chronicles 16:9: For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect (set, fixed, purposed) toward Him.
        Ephesians 3:20-21: Now to Him who is able to (carry out His purpose and) do super abundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams), according to the power that works in us. To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
        God sees you being and doing more than what you could ever imagine. IF YOU HAVE A PULSE, THEN YOU HAVE A PURPOSE. FYR—Find Your Reason!