God's Isn't Finished With You

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Purpose is what makes you get up in the morning and instead of thinking “Oh no, it’s morning” you think “This is the day the Lord has made!” We’re not supposed to be floating around in life just existing. There ought to be a mission and a purpose driving our lives! We may think we are too old to make a difference but when God called Abraham to begin his mission, he was 75 years old. Genesis 12 says, “Now Yahweh had said unto Abram, Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, unto a land that I will show you: and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great….So Abram departed, as Yahweh had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” Abraham was 75 when he came out of retirement with a mission and a purpose attached to his life.

You see, God has a plan for your life in the now. Right now! He has a purpose. He has a mission for you being here. If you’re still here, if the car wreck didn’t kill you or whatever you’ve been through didn’t wipe you out then you’re here for a reason. God doesn’t preserve anything He doesn’t have a purpose for. This was a costly decision that Abraham made to move out of the lush valley he had called home. According to Bible commentaries he had at this time at least a thousand servants. He was rich and had it made. He had ample cattle, sheep, and provision for his family. But at the age of 75 God came up with a brand new mission for his life.

Just when you think you can retire and are settling into a comfortable schedule, don’t be surprised if God doesn’t put a brand new mantle on you for a great, new mission and purpose in life! This wasn’t an easy decision for an old 75 year old man to get up out of what he had worked all of his life to build and move to a place that he did not even know where he was going. He just packed his bags and said, “Honey, we are going to move away from here.”  And his wife probably said, “Why? What are we doing? Why are we going? Where are we going?” And he said (paraphrased), “I don’t know? I’ll know when I get there, but I’m agitated in my spirit and I have heard God tell me that He has bigger plans for me.”

Abraham didn’t know it, but this one act of obedience started his journey to become the father of faith and led to Jesus Christ showing up on the planet. Because one 75 year old man realized and accomplished his mission, the genealogy of Jesus was set in motion and the world would never be the same. What is God asking of you in this season of your life? It’s never too late. Your purpose is why you’re still here.

Look Up, The Harvest Is Ripe!

“Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest.” - John 4:35 NASB

Jews and Samaritans were not just hostile neighbors. They were outright enemies. On occasion, Samaritans were known to kidnap Jews traveling through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem...even selling some into slavery.

Jesus saw a harvest field instead of hostilities when looking at Samaritans. He was willing to talk with them…even a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.

When the disciples returned from looking for food, they could not understand why He would talk with such people, especially a woman. But Jesus was not worried about how other people reacted. He focused on doing the will of the Father to reach people who needed salvation.

When the disciples questioned Him, Jesus told them to open their eyes. They needed to let God free them of their prejudices, so they could see the world in a new way. They needed to purify their hearts and be filled with compassion.

The fields are still white and ready for harvest. Where are these fields? They are all around us…people we know, circumstances in which we are comfortable, our homes, communities, and places of employment. But these fields also include people from different cultures, people with whom we have had differences, strangers, and people we might even consider enemies.

Where are your mission fields that are ripe and ready for harvest? Ask God to let His Spirit help you see the world in a new light. Let Him show you the people you can touch. Those people are your harvest fields.

Father, open my eyes to see the world as You do. Give me compassion for the lost. Use me to reach them with the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Power of Agreement

Again, I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19.

Have you ever worked on a project with a team and there was disagreement? One team member thinks the team should go left, another thinks the team should go right and another member has a totally different idea. Well, we all know a team will not accomplish anything if they are not in agreement.

Our scripture reference says, if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. The key here is agreement. In order for anything to happen, in order for God to move, the two must be in agreement. This tells us of the power there is in agreement. I’m sure that this has been a proven fact in our lives. The question is. ‘Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" – Amos 3:3

Let’s look at Acts 16:25-26. Paul and Silas were thrown in prison. The bible does not say they were crying, worried or upset with God. Scripture tells us Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. Let’s suppose, Paul said to Silas, ‘let’s pray and worship God’ and Silas said, ‘no, why should we; look what God allowed to happen to us'. Would they have experience God in such a mighty and powerful way? No, they would no! They were in agreement and God moved. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. Now that’s a great demonstration of the power of agreement! Also, read Acts 2:1-4. Genesis 11:1-6.

I want you to visualize this mighty move of God. Imagine it! Paul and Silas praying and singing praises to God. Then the place started shaking violently. So much so, that the very foundations of the prison shook, doors flung open, and chains loosed. My God! For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them – Matthew 18:20. Even in a prison cell, God showed up! God is not limited to people, places or things. What He requires is agreement!

In ending, our scripture reference begins with the words spoken by Jesus, ‘Again, I say unto you’. Jesus repeated what He said. I believe God wants us to fully comprehend that when we are in agreement in His name, mighty things can happen!

Have you ever worked on a project with a team and there was disagreement? One team member thinks the team should go left, another thinks the team should go right and another member has a totally different idea. Well, we all know a team will not accomplish anything if they are not in agreement.

Our scripture reference says, if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. The key here is agreement. In order for anything to happen, in order for God to move, the two must be in agreement. This tells us of the power there is in agreement. I’m sure that this has been a proven fact in our lives. The question is. ‘Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" – Amos 3:3

Let’s look at Acts 16:25-26. Paul and Silas were thrown in prison. The bible does not say they were crying, worried or upset with God. Scripture tells us Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. Let’s suppose, Paul said to Silas, ‘let’s pray and worship God’ and Silas said, ‘no, why should we; look what God allowed to happen to us'. Would they have experience God in such a mighty and powerful way? No, they would no! They were in agreement and God moved. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. Now that’s a great demonstration of the power of agreement! Also, read Acts 2:1-4. Genesis 11:1-6.

I want you to visualize this mighty move of God. Imagine it! Paul and Silas praying and singing praises to God. Then the place started shaking violently. So much so, that the very foundations of the prison shook, doors flung open, and chains loosed. My God! For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them – Matthew 18:20. Even in a prison cell, God showed up! God is not limited to people, places or things. What He requires is agreement!

In ending, our scripture reference begins with the words spoken by Jesus, ‘Again, I say unto you’. Jesus repeated what He said. I believe God wants us to fully comprehend that when we are in agreement in His name, mighty things can happen!