“Each of us is born with a life purpose. Identifying, acknowledging, and honoring this purpose is perhaps the most important action successful people take.” Jack Canfield
Philippians 4:13 New International Version (NIV)
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 Amplified Bible (AMP)
13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]
Forward Thinkers Paul is telling us here we were born to do this and God has empowered us to do this. Notice, Paul says our purpose is really His (God’s) purpose and we should be an available instrument ready to be used by God. Paul reminds us we were born ready and we should operate in confident peace knowing we are connected to God’s plan and purpose.
Forward Thinkers the entire month of May we have been looking at the journeys of people in the bible living their lives on purpose with purpose with the hope of their stories motivating us to pursue our God ordained purpose in life.
Forward Thinkers successful people are purpose driven people.
The primary figure we have studied closely was Moses and let me remind you Moses had to overcome a very difficult beginning before he arrived at his rightful position as leader of his generation. Forward Thinkers the enemy desires to knock us off track but we must leap over every hurdle placed in our way and continue to run this race in faith.
Forward Thinkers this month we also looked at Esther and her boldness to speak truth to power at the risk of losing her life to save the lives of others. The bible says Esther was born for such a time as this.
Question: Do you think God stop creating people with a purpose in mind at their birth after Esther? Forward Thinkers remember God had your assignment on His mind before you even leaped out your mother’s womb.
Forward Thinkers we can’t forget Joshua and Caleb’s faith pushed them into the Promise Land after years of wandering in the wilderness and I’m declaring today your faith this season will make the difference in you becoming the difference maker you were born to be. Yes, Forward Thinkers you were created to be a difference maker.
Moses, Esther, Joshua, and Caleb all had to deal with barriers while they were operating in their purpose and we must remember those barriers didn’t stop them from achieving greatness. Forward Thinkers we can’t be defeated by barriers because we have the same power of faith to press and push through every barrier in our way that was available to them.
Let’s look at three barriers we all must overcome while living a purpose driven life.
OPPOSITION
Think about this kites rise against not with the wind of resistance. Forward Thinkers stop fearing opposition and start using opposition as a springboard to your next level of success. The bible says your enemies will become your footstool meaning that God will use opposition as a method of elevation.
Marcus Garvey said real men laugh at opposition and real men smile when enemies appear.
Forward Thinkers opposition couldn’t stop Moses and you must believe opposition can’t stop you. Take a selfie laughing and smiling at your opposition while you declare no weapon formed against you shall prosper and tell your opposition to go take a seat and watch you work.
REALITY
Forward Thinkers yes, it is what it is but your purpose is bigger than your current reality and my God is bigger than your current situation. Matter of fact your faith should be so strong you’re believing your current reality is changing to God’s ordained reality for your life.
Forward Thinkers see if you can figure out who this purpose driven person is: “Life is a roller coaster. My father got shot in the leg while holding me in his arms. I’ve seen my father sell my mother crack. My father went to prison at an age when I needed him most. My best friend got killed on his birthday and a week later got buried on my birthday. I got cheated out of a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Games. My aunt who lived with me died of AIDS. I grew up in a one bedroom apartment with no hot water and it was seven of us in the apartment. Through it all, I always knew God had my back. Tough times don’t last, tough people do.” Forward Thinkers this purpose driven person is Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, undefeated boxing champion who earned over 300 million dollars in 2015.
Forward Thinkers show me your current reality and I’ll show you my God who is a reverser of realities.
STRUGGLE
Forward Thinkers the enemy is hoping you will finally get tired and quit. The enemy is counting on you to give up in the midst of it all. Forward Thinkers remember Moses went to Pharaoh several times without receiving a yes but he kept going back believing God at His word. Moses not only had to deal with Pharaoh but he had to also deal with the negative attitudes of the people he was assigned to help. Forward Thinkers God will never give us an assignment before empowering us with the ability to handle the assignment so keep the faith.
Forward Thinkers in the hood there is an old saying pressure will burst a pipe and the enemy is hoping that if enough pressure is applied to you that you will break and throw in the towel on your assignment. Yes, life gets hard and seems unfair at times but we must remember if God gave us the assignment God will grace us with the power to complete the assignment and God will empower us to handle every difficult situation that shows up along the way.
Forward Thinkers when I’m struggling with my assignment (yes, even the Pastor has good days and bad days) I often think about the Prophet in bible named Jeremiah. Forward Thinkers Jeremiah declared after facing strong resistance he was not going to preach anymore yet he showed back up at the House of God preaching with more power and authority than ever before. When asked why he didn’t give up in the midst of the struggle Jeremiah replied I couldn’t quit because the call of the assignment is like fire shut up in my bones.
In conclusion remember the bible says in Genesis 18:14 that there is nothing too hard for God. Forward Thinkers the purpose should keep you going in the midst of it all. Pick up your head and look ahead the Lord didn’t bring you this far to allow you to fail. Forward Thinkers you were born to do this now get up and live your life on purpose with purpose.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church now located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com, follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Periscope @ Pastor E A Deckard or the church website www.ghic.net