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PURPOSE
God has a special purpose for each and every one of us. The only way to find out what that purpose is, is to first find out who we are, and what it is exactly that God wants from us. That’s right! We all have a purpose in life, and through God that purpose will be revealed.
We are called to be somebody. In the Bible, I Peter 2: 9-10 says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into the wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
These two verses tell us that we are God’s “chosen people”. We did not come to him by coincidence or accident. We were chosen by Him to be somebody, “A royal priesthood”. This scripture also tells us that we may someday be royalty, priests, or both if we follow His commandments.
Someday we may be given our own cities to rule. In Luke 19:17, Jesus tells a parable, and in that parable he gives cities to his faithful servants to rule over.
In the parable of the ten pounds, a prince gives three servants ten pounds each, and tells them to multiply it. Later when the prince returns, he asks each of the men what they had done with their share of the money.
The first servant doubled the money he had made, to another ten pounds. The great prince said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!” Then the prince gave him ten cities to rule over.
The second servant made five pounds profit, and was given five cities to rule over. However, the last servant buried his money, and made nothing out of it at all. So, the great prince took the ten pounds back from him, and gave it to the first man.
So, by reading this parable we see that we will be rewarded greatly for doing what is asked of us. ( See the “Rewards” chapter.) Yet, what is asked of us? What exactly is our purpose?
In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible says, “We are His works, created for His good purpose.” So with this in mind, we can by sure that God created us with a good purpose for each and every one of us. In Philippians 1:6 the Bible says, “And I am sure that God Who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in His grace until His task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.”
So God is faithful to complete the good works that He began in us. The Bible says, in Ephesians 1:4 -14, “4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8. Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10. That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11. In whom also we have obtained and inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
So we were born with a special purpose in mind, each and every one of us. Through God we can achieve that purpose. We are promised redemption through His blood, which He shed on the cross for our sins, the forgiveness of sins He promised to all who will believe and repent. Then once we have repented, and asked for forgiveness for our sins, we can ask him to give us wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and to reveal our purpose to us. Acts 2:38 says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
You may have noticed that in chapter 1, verse 10, it reads, “To be put into effect when the times have reached their fulfillment.” This may very well mean that whatever our gift is , God knows how and when we will begin to use our gifts. It will be in His good time according to his perfect works. There is only one thing that can keep us from using our gifts, and that is ourselves. Sure, Satan will try to keep you from using those gifts and completing God’s perfect plan, but Satan can only hinder us. He can’t stop us. Satan doesn’t even make us sin, he just tempts us. We have the final say in the end.
I never knew what my purpose was in life, and this was partially due to Satan blinding me. You see, all of my life I hated to read and write, especially as I grew older. I was a good student in Spelling, and Math, but in the rest of my classes, I got C’s and D’s. I hated to read. I grew lazy when I had to do a book report for school. I would even try to make myself read the Bible, but I would find myself putting it right back down again.
Then one day when I was about fourteen years old, my mom found one of my report cards from the fourth grade. On that report card my teacher put a remark, saying, “James seems to have a remarkable ability to write.” So I tried writing a book. It was a murder mystery, but again I grew tired of writing, and put it away.
I wasn’t until a few years ago that I picked up a Bible that was easier to understand, named, “Reach Out.” I began to understand what I was reading better, yet I still had trouble comprehending what I was reading. So, I prayed to God, asking Him to help me understand what I was reading, and how to apply it to my life. I had a bad memory, so I found myself continually taking notes on the parts of the Bible that I felt pertained to life today. (In other words, I read, but did not take notes on things I already knew, or things like sacrifices that pertained to the old days.)
Before I knew it, I was putting my notes together, and writing a book named, “The Fig Tree, A Parable for Life.” Everyone who read this book was amazed at it’s contents, and found it hard to put down. In fact, one person from my church demanded a copy of it, and reads it all the time, showing it to people every chance he can get. You may see now how Satan tried to blind me of my gift of writing. He made me lazy and hyperactive so that I would not like to sit around and read or write. He knew that I was to be a great writer for God.
God gave me a bad memory, so that I continually took notes, which eventually led to me becoming a writer. Sound a little far fetched? Well, it’s not! Satan controls us in ways that we do not even realize. He makes us lazy, because God does not like a sluggard. He makes us eat a lot, because Sod says thou shalt not over indulge. He makes us lie, because God does not like a liar.
You may be asking yourself, “Does Satan really have the power to make you hyperactive, or to make you do certain things, like lying, or hating to read or write?” Sure he does! You don’t think its God do you? After all, Satan even caused a tornado that killed all of Job’s family. (Job 1:19) Yet, some people think God causes them all.
So my purpose was to become a writer for God, and to help Him bring His lost sheep back home. Satan knew this, and so he set up several roadblocks for me. Parents who were alcoholics for the most part of my childhood raised me. I was what you call a “dysfunctional child,” and as I grew older, my life seemed to continually fall apart. I eventually became an alcoholic and drug addict. I began drinking and partying. I wasted all of the money I made by buying drugs and alcohol for my so-called “friends,” who did not work. I was always broke. I lost several good jobs and my family. I eventually became homeless. (Read my book, “From Gutter to Glory.”) All those years I let people use me because somewhere deep within I felt a calling to be a servant, and make people happy. I was serving the wrong master, the wrong people. It was God calling out to me. It was He who needed me for his good purpose.
Will God use a sinner like me for his good works? Of course He will. After all, I have been places, and seen and done thing that most people don’t experience in life and I can use these past experiences to help divert others form making the same mistakes. In Matthew 18:11, Jesus said, “For the son of man has come to save that which was lost.” (The sinners; see the “Sin” chapter.) It is not God’s will that one should perish. (I Peter 3:9) So God has a purpose for each and every one of us, but we most turn to Him for the answers.
In Ephesians 1:11 the Bible says, “Having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” So we are predestined to His perfect plan to fulfill our purpose. It says in the Bible that He knew us before we were even conceived in the womb. “ So He knew our purpose when He made us, but it’s up to us to follow through with it. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
So God wants us to succeed, but we must want it as well. We have a choice to make in life. God, which will help us prosper in life and become better people as well as guarantee us eternity in heaven, or Hell, which leads to death.
In verse 1:10, you may have noticed that the Bible says, “To bring all things in heaven and on the earth together under one head, even Christ. We are all the body of Christ. He is the head of the body. In Ephesians 1:22, the Bible says, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the Church, which is the body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
So we need to go to church, for the church makes up the body of Christ, but we each have a different gift or function in that body. I Corinthians 12:12 says, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” So we are all a part of the body, and we need each other to be complete. Just like the eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you! Neither can we say to another Christian, “I don’t need you!” Notice that the Bible says, “There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. So when someone in the church has a gift, such as singing, writing, or preaching, we should not be jealous and treat them badly. Likewise, We should not doubt their gift, but test it to be sure that it is true, and of the Holy Spirit. Some people will have the gift of singing, and some of preaching. Some teaching, and others writing or comforting others. Some will have a gift of healing, and some the gift of helping people in need, such as the sick or the elderly. Ephesians 4:11-16 says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15. But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” All gifts are truly a blessing, and one is no better than the other. They work together in perfect harmony. What ever our gifts are we must use them to our fullest potential, or God can take them away from us. He will give them to another whom is more deserving.
When I began writing this book, I finished three chapters in two weeks, even though I was working at my job. Rather than sit and watch television all of the time, and ignore my gift, I put it to work full speed ahead. Of course I grew tired, and needed a break. I relaxed a day here and there, but for the most part I used my gift to it’s fullest potential.
God gives us gifts so that we can all work together, serve Him, and help others. It takes each of us to make the body complete. If you’re missing out on Church, and watching television, the body does not function at its fullest potential.
We each have different jobs in the Church, and we need each other. God gives us these great gifts so that we can build up His Church, and no gift is less valuable than the next. They are each and every one useful in their own way. When you discover your gift, you need to be faithful, (dedicated) and devote as much time as possible to utilizing that gift. You must read the Bible, attend Church, (for this is where the Holy Spirit answers us) and pray continually, thanking God for that gift. Ask Him to continue blessing you.
You can not do it your own way! If you try, you will most certainly fail. You must do it God’s way. You must study your Bible, and get to know Him like you know your boss, your spouse, parent, etc. In Ephesians 4:15, the Bible says, “We will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” We must support the Church, (body of Christ) and learn to work in unity, and share our gifts with one another.
Do one of you have the gift of preaching while another has the gift of writing? If so, then find someone with a clerical gift that can type. Together all three of you can write a book that will help others find the Lord or strengthen their walk. This will store up great treasures for you in heaven, and at the same time, you will all be blessed. The money that is made could bless the Church when you pay your tithes and offerings. (See the “Tithes” chapter.)
How can you be sure that God will be with you? In Romans 8:28, the Bible says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. And those He predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” We are guaranteed God’s love and guidance as long as we love Him and do His will, rather than our own. (See the “Sin” chapter.) In Romans 8:37, the Bible says, “In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Jesus Christ).” Romans 12:1-8 says, “1. I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye persent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7. Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8. Or he that exorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.” With His help we can accomplish anything, but without Him we are nothing.
We need God to fulfill our purpose, our destiny. Many people have an emptiness inside that they just can’t seem to fill. They do drugs, drink, party, as well as many other addictions. (Including sex) What they do not realize is that the emptiness they feel inside is the lack of God in their lives, and fulfilling the purpose in which they were made for.
Ephesians 4:1-13 says, “ 1. I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10. He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:"
What is your purpose in life? Do you enjoy teaching, preaching, writing, or helping others? When you discover your purpose in life, you will find a joy and a peace of mind like you’ve never known before. However, you must show God you are worthy of your calling. Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” We can’t plot our own course in life, or we are destined to be shipwrecked. We need to ask God for his guidance, love, strength, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do anything through him who gives me strength.” So do not listen to others whom doubt your gift, for mockers are bound to come. With jealous envy they shall try to destroy you and make you fall short of your purpose. --------- says, “Anyone who puts off the work I gave given him is not worthy of the Kingdom.” Philippians 2:13 reads, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. So do not be a sluggard, (lazy) and let Satan persuade you from doing God’s will. Study the Bible continuously, pray to God, and he will reveal your purpose to you.
The Bible says, in Isaiah 40:28-31, “28. Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. 29. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” In Isaiah 48:17-18, the Bible says, “I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” Also in Philippians 3:13, the Bible says, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But this one thing I do: forgetting what is behind, (the past) and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” You must not give up. You must continually seek God and His wisdom. The Bible is so full of wisdom that it amazes me every time I read it.
We are all special in a different kind of way, so do not make the mistake of comparing yourself to others. Just be yourself, and ask God to reveal your purpose to you. (Please read the PRAYER chapter.) When you do realize what your gift is , do not be negative, and let others get you down. When you try to share your gift, some people will try and degrade you, say that you are boasting, and that you are not special. They are wrong! ----------- says, “Boast that you know me and my ways.” I had these problems when I fist started writing. I knew that this purpose was chosen by God, but some people pushed me and what I had written for the Lord away, saying I was dreaming, or that I was bragging. Yet, in fact, I was trying to share what God had given me to share.
God gives us these special gifts to share with others. Those who reject it are jealous, envious, and being led by Satan. If your gift is playing a musical instrument, or singing, it was meant to uplift people. It should give them joy and a peace of mind, as well as teach them to praise God.
Quit feeling worthless, and seek what God has in store for you. Most people fail, and never achieve great success. They give up, and have a negative attitude. A man with a positive attitude attitude may fall, but he always gets right back up, and thus becomes and over achiever. Remember, in Philippians 4:13, the Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Also, remember negativity attracts negativity. If you have a negative attitude you will poison those people around you, thus spreading the negativity like a virus. Thoughts of negativity come from Satan. What you do with those negative thoughts is totally up to you. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” So lay aside things that weigh you down, negativity, sin, and other’s remarks of negativity as well.
Does a man enter a race to lose? Does a baseball team play to lose? Of course not! In Hebrews 12:2, the Bible goes on to say, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” He is the author and finisher of our faith. Imagine that! He will finish perfecting us if we have faith in Him, and live by the words He teaches us.
In Revelations 3:8, the Bible says, “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” ‘No man can shut it!’ Isn’t that great?!! We are in control of our own destiny,not Satan, nor anyone else. We have the final say in how we live our lives, and what we will accomplish. So, live up to your calling. ‘Seek and ye shall find.’ In Philippians 2:13, the Bible reads, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
In Exodus 35:31, the Bible informs us, “And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.” If you turn from sin, and seek God’g face, (see the SIN chapter) He will bless you with these things, and more. In II Timothy 1:9, Timothy says this about God: “who has 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.” In order to obtain all these great blessings, we must live a godly life. Psalms 1:1-4 reads, “1. BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” Whatever he shall do, shall prosper. How beautiful that would be! To have everything we do, prosper and grow. Hebrews 13:21 says, “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in hi sight, thru Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
In Isaiah 43:7, the Bible says, “Even everyone that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” This scripture says that God created us ‘for His glory.’ We need Him in our lives. This alone fulfills a big part of our purpose, but we still are given gifts in which we are to use to promote His kingdom. Isaiah 48:17 says, “Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, the holy one of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” ‘Which teacheth thee to profit and leads thee in the way that thou should go. Amen! This tells us that He will teach us to profit from life, and lead us in the right direction.
In II Peter 1:2-10, the Bible says, “2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” Also, in Matthew 6:33, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all of these things shall be added unto you.”
Do you want to fulfill your purpose in life? Do you want to be happy and full of joy? Then you must seek the Kingdom of God, and all His righteousness. --------- says, “He writes visions in men’s hearts.” What is your vision? James 1:2-9 says, “1. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that his is exalted:”
Never forget the promise that Jesus made to us in John 10:10. He said, “I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” Psalms 32:8 says, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with my eye.” So we also have a guarantee that He will instruct us and teach us in the way we should go. However, these promises are only to His people. You can not serve two masters. It must be Him, and only Him.
In Psalms 32:9, the Bible says, “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.” This scripture is telling us to not be stubborn as a horse or mule, who needs a bit and bridle to make him move. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
The Lord God Almighty also promises to make you successful. In Joshua 1:7-8, He said, “7. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
I wanted to type these three important chapters to make sure you read them, but I know you are seeking the truth and sincerity of our precious Lord. So, I will trust you to read these three chapters. Please read I Corinthians, chapters 12-14. I praise God for people like you who diligently seek His truth and wisdom. Please continue to do so with an open mind, and God will surely bless you!