A Purposeful Life

God placed each and every one of us here for a purpose. Many of us may spend an entire lifetime just existing or “getting by”. Everyone has a purpose in life, something that burns in your heart, something you may only perceive to be a dream. When I look back on my life 5 to 6 years ago I thought my purpose was all about me. I wanted to be rich, I wanted to have this or that, it was all me, me, me. Now that I have come into the Kingdom of God what really burns in my heart is to help others.

Do I still desire to have some of the things I wanted in the past, yes; but now I have this passion to bless others. If you look at your life and your situation, can you say that you are operating in life for a purpose or are you just living? I want you to really think about it because I believe if we started to really seek God regarding purpose the world would be a much different place.

Some may say “well my purpose is to go to work and provide for my family”, in that regard I would say that is definitely something you should do but is that your purpose in life or just your function as a leader in your household? Now it may very well be that your purpose it to do that, I’m not saying that that can’t be someone’s purpose in life. All I’m saying is just do an evaluation. Is there a dream in your heart that just won’t go away? Do you have a feeling inside of you that you need to be doing something other than what you’re doing now? If that’s you I believe God is speaking to you about pursuing what He placed you on this earth for.

You may say “I have a dream of becoming xyz… but I can’t see how it can be accomplished in my current situation”. I say that’s all God, chances are that God is not going to tell you to do something that you can accomplish yourself. If He did then why would we need Him? When God speaks and gives you vision it’s usually something that blows your mind away. He might tell a farmer to go and preach the Word in a major city; He might tell a teacher to go be an astronaut. What has He shown you lately? God wants the world to witness His greatness through you. He wants people to actually see His mercy and grace and not just read about it. God can only accomplish this through you and me.

Exodus 9:16 (NKJV)
But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.

In the above scripture God is talking to Moses when He gave him the task of going to Pharaoh to deliver the messages. It’s no different today; God still wants and is still using His people in the same manner. The biggest hindrance in this process is our own selves. We can be quick to say I can’t, or that’s just a dream, etc… This is real; God wants to use you in such a mighty way. He wants to show you off to the world, He wants to put you on the stage and say “See there, that’s My son or My daughter”. We just have to take that first step of faith. Will it be a bit freighting, it may be. Will you have doubts here or there, you very may well. But through it all God is God and He will carry out what He has spoken in your life. It will happen if you just keep on walking.

So I say make a declaration that you will first pray and seek God as to what that purpose is in your life and then act upon it. I know that you can do it because God has already done it.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

The Redeemed!

Many people both believer and non-believer thinks that the devil has the power to cause havoc in their lives. There are also many individuals in this world today that also fear the devil to the extent that they put themselves into bondage using the Word of God. You may be asking yourself what I mean? What I am referring to is this; many people live their lives with the thought that if they mess up or in some way commit a sin than the devil will have reign over their lives. This is called living under the bondage of the law. Many believers live in this state of mind every day. If you were to rightly divide the Word of God you will see that as a new covenant church we are not bound to the requirements of the Law of Moses.

At no means am I saying that the Law of Moses was not of God because it was indeed holy. What I am getting at is this. There is a new covenant that we live under that is founded on grace. We need not focus on what we need to do to be in right standing with God but more on what has already been done that made us righteous forever. The price has been paid for all of your past, present, and future sins on Calvary. It’s time to redirect all that energy we put into trying to be pure and use it on building quality personal relationships with God. Relationship is what God wants with all of us and not dictatorship. It’s so awesome to know that I can have a personal relationship with the One who created me. I can go and talk freely and hear God without having to go to a middle man like in the times of Moses.

Hebrews 8:13 (NIV)
By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Using God’s Word to keep His people in bondage under the law has been a very subtle deception that the devil has used for awhile to keep the children of God from progressing. Still with every thought and suggestion that may come from something other than the Holy Spirit, you still have the power to accept or reject it.

Acts 5:2-4 (NIV)
With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

The situation in the above scriptures is a perfect representation of your authority over unrighteousness. Did satan suggest that they try and deceive the Holy Spirit; no doubt. All the devil can do is give you a thought or a suggestion but it is ultimately up to us whether we will honor God or honor selfish ambition.

Colossians 2:13-15 (KJV)
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

The above scriptures can pretty much sum up everything that I am trying to convey.
1. You have been forgiven of ALL your sin.
2. The old covenant was fulfilled when Christ was crucified, so we are not to hold ourselves to that standard. Only one man was ever able to fully fulfill the law, and that was Jesus.
3. The devil has no hold in your life; he cannot do anything in your life unless you give him room in your heart. He can’t make you sick with disease, he can’t take your money, all he can do is give you an unrighteous suggestion or thought and in the end the decision to act still lies with you.

I pray that this has been a blessing to you.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

The Witness of Power

1 Corinthians 4:20 (KJV)
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

It is important that as followers of Christ we have to ensure that we are totally led by the Holy Spirit and not just by what we read. The Bible is a tool that God gave us to instruct us, guide us, and show us how to be effective witnesses for Him. One may merely read the Bible just for information and revelation but the Word of God is meant to not only provide information but more importantly provide transformation in our lives. In order for someone to accurately perceive someone who claims to be a Christian they need proof. In other words they need more than just someone saying I’m a Christian, and Jesus loves you. The world needs to witness what being a follower of Christ is. As soon as the church gets on one accord with this, the world will no longer be able to deny the power of God.

Acts 4:13-21 (KJV)
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

The above scriptures tell of the time when Peter and John are before the council. The council did not like the fact that they were preaching Christ and also understood that a miracle had been performed on a lame man. As you see they could not deny the power of God nor find a way to punish them because all the men glorified God. If this doesn’t show you how we ought to be I don’t know what does. When everyone comes on one accord and just gives God the glory the world will bow. It’s not about which preacher is right, about different intricacies of the Bible. It’s not about judging others if they slip and fall from time to time. If we all just give God the glory in all things the Holy Spirit will led us in all things. Many walk around puffed up because they may be more knowledgeable in God’s Word than another but I say are you displaying power with what you know? The ones around you do they just see you as someone who just talks or as one who performs?

Acts 2:22 (KJV)
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.

Jesus was approved (exhibited, pointed out...) by God not because of how much He knew but because of what He did. God performed many miracles through Jesus, and He wants to do the same through you.
Now a miracle is much more that just healing someone, the word in the Greek there is dynamis:
1) Strength power, ability
a) Inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) Power for performing miracles
c) Moral power and excellence of soul
d) The power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) Power and resources arising from numbers
f) Power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

Now, miracles do consist of supernatural healing but also excellence of soul. As followers of Christ we are to exhibit miracles on a daily basis. When Jesus was on the cross being crucified and he said Father forgive them for they know not what they do, this was a miracle. Young men when a woman comes to you and offers herself to you and you resist the temptation, this is a miracle. Young women when you find out that someone has been talking about you behind your back and you choose not to hold that person at fault, this is a miracle. It’s time to begin to expand our minds beyond the traditions that we have been accustomed too. It’s time to not only know Word but actually display its power.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org

Reconciliation

Recently there has been a lot of talk about the world coming to an end and there are many people that are in a state of fear and panic. This has affected both the believer and the non-believer. This ought not to be the case when it comes to the children of God. Some may ask why not; shouldn’t we be concerned at the second coming of Christ? I say the only one that needs to be concerned with the second coming is the one who is not ready for it. Everyone loves to quote the scripture of how the Lord will come as a thief in the night. As believers we believe this to be true for us also, my friend this is not so. If you read the scripture in context you will be enlightened.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NKJV)
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

So in the concern with the end of the world, we ought not to be afraid because as the righteousness of God we are eternal beings (Matthew 25:45-46). There is no end, when we pass through this life on earth we will not die but will continue on. In verse 9 of the above scripture it says that we are not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. That is the purpose of why we live, to be witnesses of Christ to others so that they too may also decide to receive Jesus. In turn the Kingdom of God will expand.

Me personally I’m not watching the clouds everyday waiting for Jesus to come because that’s not what God has called me to do. But rather I am watching and being sober to the fact that there are many who are out there that need to hear the Truth. When the day of the Lord comes then I will be ready but until then my purpose is the ministry of reconciliation. To tell and show as many people I come in contact with about the goodness of the Lord and about the Truth. In doing this they too can make the decision as whether to choose life or not. My purpose is clear and in whatever function God has me carry it out in is fine. Reconciliation and not the great day of tribulation is what we are to be focused on.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (NKJV)
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Daryle Houston II
Kingdom Vizion Ministries
www.kingdomvizion.org