SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Proverbs 29:18) "Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
(Habakkuk 2:2) "And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”
(Habakkuk 2:3) "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end, it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."
(Jeremiah 29:11) “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
(John 15:16) “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
(Numbers 12:6) "And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.”
(Proverbs 19:21) “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
PREFACE SUMMARY
Beloved, did you know that the scriptures teach that the church is to be a unified body consisting of many members, and each member has a unique function?
Dear reader, no one else can accomplish what God placed in your heart to do; therefore, beloved, we must be persistent in achieving the visions God has placed within each of us.
Beloved reader, when we make up our minds to fulfill our vision, we can expect opposition from the enemy of our souls to try and steer us off course; therefore, beloved, this is why we must make plain the vision and then be persistent in obtaining it.
Dear reader, we must let every opposition strengthen us and use every failure as an experience and stepping stone to give us more determination to meet our goals.
Beloved, the bottom line in fulfilling our vision and God-given purpose on earth is to be bold as a lion and harmless as a dove, fulfilling our role in the body of Christ and our Christian pilgrimage.
Beloved, did you know that people with a determination to walk this walk of faith will be persistent and never take no for an answer to fulfilling their visions?
Dear readers, let us accept the challenge to fight until we get our breakthrough so that we may experience the joy of the Lord who is with us, encouraging us to meet our purpose and fulfill our dreams.
Beloved Saints and fellow peers, if we have joy, the word of God tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength, therefore, may we acknowledge that the strength of God’s vision in our heart is more vital than any darkness the enemy may bring our way.
FINDING YOUR PURPOSE PURPOSE?
According to Wikipedia, "Purpose" is the end for which something is done, created, or for which it exists.
Beloved reader, we discovered in our preface summary that vision is that deepness within you and will help steer you to the goals that God has set for your life, but beloved, may I ask you a fundamental question, "what is the purpose, and how does it affect and drive our vision to be all we can be for the kingdom of God?
Beloved reader, I believe, after years of experience, that I can describe "Purpose" as the inward clarification that gives meaning to our vision, which in turn motivates us to chase or fulfill our vision, or you might compare it to the inward worship which is released and vocalized through our praise.
Beloved, the bottom line and summary of purpose is that it guarantees the promises of God to us much like an anchor does to secure a ship, for it holds us steadfast in God and allows us to draw from our future instead of being tripped up in our past.
In closing, beloved, we can look at King David's life and how many times, with his life in danger, he had to hide out in caves but beloved, David was a worshipper, and when he made the statement in (Psalms 121:1-2) (1) "I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help." (2) "My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."
Dear Saints, notice how David speaks of allowing the understanding of the purpose within, which is driving his vision to fulfill God's call and purpose on his life.
Beloved, the secret to David's success can be found in his experiences with God while he watched after his father's sheep in the wilderness.
Saints, this can be a lesson for us when we discover that this relationship with God caused him to look unto the excellent heavenly father whom he called "my darling," O Yes, beloved, David allowed his divine purpose to motivate his vision, which prompted him to look unto the hills of the Lord, instead of his surroundings for there he knew he could receive the strength and help to be an overcomer and fulfill the cause and purposes of God, especially when he needed direction in enemy territory.
Beloved, notice how David speaks of looking unto the hills of the Lord for his help and beloved; let me pause in this sentence and inform you that other versions of the bible speak of him looking to the mountains but beloved, if he would be looking at the hills around him and especially at night, beloved, he would be looking at the campfires of the enemy that was all around him for many times beloved, he was in unfriendly territory.
Deer reader, too many people today are trying to live their past life all over again, and if they are living their past, there is no way that they can live their future. and did you know that although David was living under the law, he was able to reach into the future of grace by stating in "Psalms 32:1-2) "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." (2) "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."
Beloved, did you not know that years later, we will find the Apostle Paul quoting from these verses as he states in (Romans 4:6-8) (6) "Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works," (7) "Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered." (8) "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."
Beloved reader, David discovered his purpose and allowed it to drive his vision, which granted him to not only envision the glory of Israel through the promised messiah but helped him envision the day when men will no longer be required to bring a sacrifice to a priest on earth to offer for their sins but would be able to be forgiven by putting their faith and trust in God who alone can forgive sins.
WHAT DRIVES YOUR VISION?
Dear Saints, when we apply vision to our future, we can create a mental picture or image through our imagination, which can be used to direct our actions to complete our assignment; for beloved, we visualize the purpose through our vision, therefore beloved, our vision serves as a guide and motivator to show us our purpose."
Beloved, according to the definition of webster concerning vision, we can acknowledge that vision gives direction to complete our goals in life, which will not only fulfill our purpose but beloved; the bottom line is, "our purpose and beloved drive our vision, once we discover our purpose, we can work to complete and fulfill our vision.
Saints, did you know that when we have a vision, we have something to look forward to, and we understand that the trials we face may not seem reasonable at the time, but they have a purpose? Therefore, beloved, we must come to a place where we start seeing things the way God sees them.
Beloved reader, having a vision enables us to wake up every morning with purpose. Our vision will keep us moving forward to accomplish our goals, for we can rest in knowing that the Lord our God had our life planned, the end from the beginning, therefore beloved, we can be safe in saying that a person who wakes up every morning with a strong desire to fulfill their vision, is a person that will have a strong future.
Beloved, what happens when things happen in our lives that cause us to lose focus on our goals and shake us up to the point of giving up on our vision?
Dear reader, we live in a fallen world. There will be things that come against us mainly because we have an enemy that works to disrupt the plans God has for our life, and he uses people, places, and things to derail us, including orchestrated events designed to distract us from our vision.
Beloved, let me tell you that I have encountered these roadblocks most of my life, but there is one thing that keeps me going, and that is found in the holy scriptures, which help me grasp the purpose that drives my vision.
(Jeremiah 29:11) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
(Philippians 1:6) "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"
Beloved, when we discover the purpose that drives our vision, we will learn to choose carefully who we allow in our inner circle because not everybody who pretends to be our friend has our best interests at heart. If we do not work to fulfill our vision, they will distract us from working on theirs.
Saints of God, what happens when we become discouraged and faint in our vision?
Beloved reader, I believe what I am about to share with you will help you, especially when you encounter something coming out of nowhere, maybe even someone you had confidence in and gave an essential position in your ministry, only to have them tear up overnight what it took you years to accomplish, and now your vision is shattered in tiny pieces all over the ground and you in tears before God seeking "what you did wrong.
Beloved Saints, your vision has not gone anywhere; it is just not appearing in your imagination as big as it was, but let me tell you, beloved, that God knows the plans he has for you, and he made provisions for those plans before he created the world for Adam.
Saints, did you know that our God knows every piece of matter in the universe, and everything seen and unseen has a purpose for its existence?
Beloved reader, the living God has carefully planned each part of our life, which I call the moment we will live on this planet. In the past, He worked out the course that our life would take, and he knows everything that will happen to us in this life span because nothing surprises this wonderful creator.
Beloved, did you know that God can look at our past, present, and future simultaneously, and did you know that His Holy Spirit was there when our moment was planned?
Beloved reader, in the beginning, the Living God carefully looked down through the ages of time and, yes, through every generation that would be born and planned every intricate detail of every life that would live on Earth.
Beloved, the answer for life and our existence, which drives our vision, can be found in (John 3:16): "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whomsoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Saints, the bottom line is that we exist because God wanted a family, a mirror image of himself on Earth, including a deep desire to recover as many as possible from Adam's fall and Satan’s rebellion.
Beloved, we must understand that God’s divine plan for us is in the Spirit, and his Holy Spirit is in us, enforcing this plan as Spiritual law.
The Holy Spirit will take charge and control the circumstances surrounding us, causing natural law to be for or against us, and that is why we need to discover either by revelation or have it revealed to us through God's Holy word, the plan he had for us before the foundation of the world, and when he reveals that plan, we use it to strengthen our hearts to drive the vision to complete it, realizing that books were written about what we are to accomplish on earth before birth.
THE DEEP CALLETH UNTO THE DEEP
Dear reader, did you know that God has appointed times and seasons for different parts of your vision to come to fruition?
Beloved, can you hear the deep calling within your heart that says, "I was born to accomplish something, and I must fulfill that calling from deep within, echoing through eternity?"
When people come to me for specific prayer, I ask them fundamental questions, "How will the Kingdom of God benefit from this request?"
After pausing for a moment and seeing the sincere look on their face, I explain how God gives from Eternity to benefit his purpose. Therefore, if he grants their request, what will they do to give it back to him?
Now that I have their attention, I speak to them about Hanna's story in the word of God, found in 1 Samuel 1:15-16. Hanna was accused of being intoxicated but replied, "I have neither drank wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord."
Hanna, a woman in love with her husband, asked God for a child. She promised to give him back to the Lord after he was weaned from his mother if God granted her request.
Hanna needed a son, and God needed a prophet. The word of the Lord was shut up in those days because of the sin brought upon the people by the sons of Eli, the priest.
Beloved, did you not know that God placed a part of himself in you at birth, and this precious seed drives your vision to fulfill your destiny?
Dear Saints, did you know that the vision God has placed in our hearts is like a small piece of eternity that we are meant to bring forth during our time on this planet? In other words, what God has put in our hearts reflects what is in His heart. These ideas and dreams may seem to linger with us, and that's because they are meant to be pursued and fulfilled.
The bottom line to this message would be, "When we have discovered our vision, driven by his purpose, we will not envy another person because there will be no room or cause for competition, for no one else on earth can accomplish what you were chosen to do for his cause and purpose.
LEARN FROM YOUR PAST, BUT DRAW FROM YOUR FUTURE!
Dear reader, I do not know how to write this paragraph except to trust God, for beloved, my whole life has been one of hurt, pain, and rejection.
Beloved, although my life has not been easy, and there have been times in my younger years that on three occasions, I attempted to take my life to end it all, beloved, let me tell you that these trying experiences helped condition my life for where I am at today for it was in these seven years suffering through a nervous breakdown that the television show "Touch by an Angel" became a reality in my life for the living God sent absolute Angels my way. They informed me that he sent them to me.
Beloved reader, these trying times and meeting those Angels who looked human, who spoke of the miscalculations in my life and spoke of a bright future that the Lord God Jehovah had planned for me, helped awaken the purpose deep within me to accept the call on my life realizing that I was not a mistake but was born for a specific cause and purpose. That purpose drives my vision, becoming a willing vessel for my creator to use so that he may leave his signature through my life to other generations.
Beloved, looking back through my past but not dwelling there, has given me great wisdom and understanding concerning the flaws and characters of men and women in a fallen world.
Dear reader, the things and people of my past have been used by God to mature me to walk in his plans and calling on my life today if I had been placed where I am now living in the Philippines doing evangelism as the International Evangelist for a significant ministry that was founded by the late A.A. Allen and carried on by Apostle Don Stewart, I would not be able to be confident in maintaining that position.
Dear reader, anybody can tear down, but are we willing to use discernment and offer our hand willingly to the work of God for the upbuilding of his kingdom?
Beloved, did you know that the Apostle Paul is a person who not only made it into God’s hall of fame but was used by God to give us most of the New Testament that we have in our hands today?
Saints, did you know that he suffered a shipwreck several times and was beaten till the bones in his feet were broken?
Beloved reader, we find in (Romans 8:18) Paul making the statement, “I reckon the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Dear reader, please remember that no matter how much trouble we have, such as heartaches or sorrows, there is a reason and purpose for it, and our God is behind the scenes.
(Romans 8:28) “And we know that all things work together (good and bad) for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
Dear reader, we find that the word of God teaches that the Christian race is exemplified unto us as that of not embracing the swift or intense as the winner, but all who win this race are those that endure to the end, which reveals to us that to be a winner in this race; we must have a spirit of endurance.
Beloved, did you know that there have been reports of runners who quit during a race only to discover that just around the next corner was the finish line?
Beloved, we already know that when we attempt to do anything for the kingdom of God, we will meet opposition, and victory does not come easy, but it should help us to know that Christ is with us, and he said in his word that “his Grace is sufficient for our every need.”
Beloved reader, did you know that the Apostle Paul made a statement to his disciples instructing them to follow him as he follows Christ? If we were to follow the life of Paul, we would find a man who, once discovering his purpose in life, allowed that purpose to drive his vision, maintaining a high standard that did not allow him to quit, turn back, or give in to the pressure of others but with boldness and confidence made a bold statement that speaks wisdom to us today, and beloved that bold statement can be found in the third chapter of the book of Philippians and the fourteenth verse.
(Philippians 3 14) “I press (stretch) toward the mark for the prize of God's high calling in Christ Jesus.”
Dear reader, may we, too, allow our purpose to drive our vision to complete the assignment the Lord has called us to, and in closing, may we always remember that “we cannot do what you say we are unable to do until we attempt to do what we can.”
Beloved, do you remember the woman spoken of in John the fourth chapter of the word of God, and how after meeting with the Lord, she ran and told her story, which, knowing her past failed marriages, caused a whole city to come to see the Lord for themselves?
Dear reader, that Samaritan woman, who was despised and had to come to the well in the heat of the day, made it into God’s book. The holy bible speaks volumes today that God chooses those incapable of producing anything of their own so that he might show Himself strong through them so that no flesh can glory in his presence.
Beloved, do you remember that after meeting the Lord, she ran and told her story, knowing her past failed marriages caused a whole city to see the Lord for themselves?
Beloved, this Samaritan woman, like some of us, got a rough start in life, but notice beloved, in the end, she could make it into God’s book as one who could evangelize a whole city.
Beloved, the woman was looked down on as unfaithful, but God had a plan for her life, which she loved. However, the scriptures declare that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, the needs of Jesus to be at a specific place and at a particular time. She brought him the long way through the desert of Samaria to set on that well.
Beloved reader, the Jewish rabbis of that day would usually tolerate up to three divorces. However, this woman has been married five times and lives with a man.
Saints, what made this woman stand out was her failed past, and no doubt she knew women would be gossiping behind her back. (Is This You?).
Beloved, did you know that this Samaritan woman may have had a slow start in life, but God had a pre-ordained plan for her to make it into his Hall of Fame?
Saints, no doubt she, like some of us, may have grown up having dreams of someday becoming a happily married wife with a wonderful family, and this chosen vessel of God may have had a hope chest that she showed to her friends. Still, beloved God had plans for her to turn a whole city to glorify his name.
Beloved reader, notice how the Lord made the statements in John chapter the fourth chapter that his needs brought him to this woman in Samaria.
Beloved, the people in Samaria were of mixed races of people, and the Jews were to have no dealings with them.
Saints, this Samaritan woman may have had grand plans for her life only to see them vanish before her eyes, and notice how the scriptures reveal that she had said her “I Do's” to five husbands only to watch her marriages fall apart. (Is this You?)
Notice, dear reader, that because of her past, she is no longer a respected woman in her community, and now beloved, she is dealing with low self-esteem. She cannot come to the well in the cool of the day like the other women because now she lives with a man who is not her husband.
Beloved, this woman is a broken vessel who had some knowledge of the coming Messiah and temple worship, but notice beloved as Christ asks the woman to receive Him and his Gift without any prerequisite change in her life. (God wants us as we are).
Dear reader, notice that after talking with the Lord about her situation, she was persuaded and believed that Christ was the promised messiah, causing her way of life to be changed forever. (This can be You).
Beloved, I, like many others before me, can reflect on my life and find ways to identify with this woman, including her failures; however, I have decided that someone’s opinion of me does not have to become my reality, and they will not be the one that will sign my report card, therefore beloved, the mystery of life proves that God will allow circumstances, peoples and things to come into our life for three reasons.
1. To educate us
2. To teach us
3. To elevate us to the next level
Beloved Saints, I can boldly declare today that because of God's amazing grace, I am no longer the man I used to be because when I accepted Christ into my life, my nature was changed, and I have been forgiven. (He Loves Me)
Beloved reader, the lesson for us to learn on how to deal with our past without re-living our past is to get an understanding that God knows the plans he has for us, and he will and does allow things to come the way that are designed to take us apart and break our human stubborn selfish spirit.
Beloved, this breaking will leave us vulnerable but pliable to realize our need for him above anything else, which causes us to become workable in his hands.
Dear Saints, one could imagine an old musical instrument that may not look like it is worth much to some. Still, when the master musician cleans it up, tunes it, and begins to play, it suddenly becomes valuable and beloved; when we allow the master to remold us and work through us gracefully, we can gracefully say to others, "I might be marred, but I am in his hands."
MY CONCLUSION
Dear reader, it is easy to criticize others, but are we willing to use our judgment and help in the work of God to build his kingdom?
Did you know that Apostle Paul is a person who not only made it into God’s Hall of Fame but also contributed significantly to most of the New Testament that we have today? Despite suffering shipwrecks and being brutally beaten, Paul's faith in God never wavered. In (Romans 8:18) Paul writes, “I reckon the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Remember that no matter how challenging our circumstances may be, God has a purpose for everything. (Romans 8:28) “And we know that all things work together (good and bad) for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
The Christian race is not about being the fastest or strongest but enduring until the end. We must develop a spirit of endurance to win this race. Like runners who give up before discovering the finish line is around the corner, we should not give up on our faith because victory does not come quickly. However, it is comforting to know that Christ is with us, and his Grace is sufficient for our every need.
Apostle Paul asked his disciples to follow him as he followed Christ. He was a man who discovered his purpose in life and never let go of his vision. He didn't allow himself to quit, turn back, or give in to the pressure of others. Instead, he boldly and confidently declared in (Philippians 3:14), “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3 14) “I press (stretch) toward the mark for the prize of God's high calling in Christ Jesus.”
Dear reader, let us allow our purpose to guide us as we work towards fulfilling the assignment the Lord has called us to. Let us always remember that, "We cannot accomplish what we believe is impossible until we first attempt to do what we can."
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
