Introduction
An encouraging message which explores what it means to live a purpose driven life unto God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Such a life starts with cultivating intimacy with God through Jesus Christ which results in the opening of the portals of Heaven or the revelatory realm of God to us. In this place we inevitably know God, find favour and receive His revelatory gifts and become empowered to do exploits for Him. Daniel is revealed to be one of our role models in this regard.

I end with two contrasting prophetic poems I wrote some weeks apart, their contrast conveys the clear message of two lifestyles that are completely different; a life that seeks first the Kingdom of God and His purposes (“Intimacy with Purpose”) and a life that does not (“Significant unto Self”).

Living a Purpose Driven Life unto God

In the Bible, Daniel did not only receive visions and dreams from God and had the gift of interpretation of dreams, he was also a man of purpose.

These were his achievements as a young man; He
-rose to pre-eminence in his own nation Israel (Daniel 1:3-6)
-rose to pre-eminence in Babylon,
a) among the wise men (Daniel  1:17-20),
b) gained power over all of Babylon (Daniel 2:48-49;5:29)
and
-obtained power over the Medo-Persian empire (Daniel 6:1-3,28).

How did Daniel, an Israelite attain so much power and authority in the heathen empires? It was because he was a man of purpose. Daniel did not wake up one day as a child of God and say “I want to have power over nations and to be famous, I am going to do all I can to attain that goal!”

We get an insight into Daniel’s no nonsense and bold “I purpose to live for God at all cost!” attitude when we read Daniel 1:8 (KJV) among other verses:

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

From a very young age Daniel purposed in his heart to be a sincere and committed worshipper of the God of Israel. He allowed God to set his goals and priorities all the time. He was not hasty in his actions, but took time to be in the “Secret place” with God and to hear from Him. This is why Daniel was a man who knew his God, was bold and had favour with God and man, a foundation to build on and do exploits for God. When we develop the habit of pursuing God with all that is in us, we inevitably become His visionaries because our lifestyles scream out “Lord, I am available! Speak to me! I want to hear or see what you have to say or show me”.

God is graciously raising people like Daniel today. Are we counted as one of these people?

In the biblical book of Revelations, Jesus was speaking to those who are his when he said “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20 WEB).

These words of Jesus reveals that in addition to  confessing that one is his or God’s, one needs to advance in one’s Christian walk to the “secret place” of his presence  or intimacy with God where one receives revelation or insight into God’s mind, will and purposes. He “knocks” by offering himself to those who are his in many ways especially through the Holy Spirit that testifies of him and indwells the believer and through the Word of God which he personifies (John 1).

Those who qualify to be Jesus’ disciples, he calls friends (John 15:15), for unlike servants they have access to revelation of Father’s words and therefore his secrets and will through Jesus, they are the ones who accept to open the door of their lives to a knocking Jesus. They accept the invitation of Jesus to “come up here” (Rev. 4:1) to abide with him closely, so that through intimacy they know God, receive His power, favour and revelatory gifts as Daniel did.

Jesus Christ also makes it clear that obedience to his will which demonstrates love for him is the key (John 14:21-26) to entering his and Father God’s presence or glory. This produces a life that is purposeful unto God.

Brethren, God has not changed since the days of Daniel and as long as we are willing and completely surrendered to Him, God’s plans and purposes will be fulfilled in our lives. If per chance you feel you have made too many mistakes and think it is too late or you are too old to get back on track, I have a message for you today,  it does not matter how old we are for we can start afresh with God at any age or stage. Determine today to begin or to continue at all costs to live a purpose driven life founded on the Word of God in total surrender so as to fulfill God’s destiny for your life.

When you do this, it means you are living in obedience to God’s precious Word; key scriptures such as

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33 KJV)

^“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (Proverbs 5:3-8 KJV).

God is willing to do whatever it takes to help us live a purpose driven life so that we are stay on course fulfilling our God given destinies. He forgives us again and again or endless times and He is a God of second, third, fourth or multiple chances. The only condition is that we acknowledge our sins and repent before him (1 John 1:9), surrendering our lives totally to Him so as to exchange our purposes for His.

 

PROPHETIC POEMS

1. Significant unto Self
   Introduction:
   I felt led to contemplate on the futility and consequences of life without God. The ultimate purposeless life is one lived without God. Self worth attained by placing one’s significance in things and achievements instead of God is meaningless as is life without God of our Lord Jesus Christ in general. “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecc. 1:2).

Significant unto Self

“I am significant”
repeat this in a trance,
believe it at a glance
at your achievements
and accolades.

What is the purpose
if you have no repose
only tension with no solution?

What is the purpose
if you see the broad way of death
but are blind to the narrow way of life?

What is the purpose
if your hands are tied
and you ride on the waves
of hell and cannot tell
when Jesus calms the tide so you can walk by
faith and not by sight and be set alight to do what is right?

There is no purpose!
©Deborah E.Nyamekye 14/01/2016

2. Intimacy with Purpose

Introduction:
The intimate relationship a Christian has with Abba Father through Christ Jesus automatically results in them having a purpose in life beyond this relationship because through it they become like Daniel as they “purpose” in their heart that they “would not defile” themselves but rather live sanctified or consecrated lives unto God.

This means through obedience and surrender as Daniel they are able to know their God, receive His strength and arise in His power to do exploits.

This poem is about a person who not only wants to live a worshipful life unto God “cradled” in his arms (fat with His blessed presence and glory) but desires more than just merely warming church pews… so to speak! He or she desires to be of use to Him for the sake of the world as a “City set on a hill”, or a light that cannot be hidden.

Intimacy with Purpose

Almighty God,
dwelling in thy Secret Place I see thy face
and I am love struck  and stricken by thy grace.
I have nothing in my palms to give thee as a
holy offering of alms, so I give myself to
thee as a babe cradled in thy arms.

I abide under the shadow of the Almighty,
not so that I can sleep, oblivious to the trillions
of issues in the deep, but so that I can learn to
discern thy will, be strong in the power of thy
might and emit thy light as a city set on a hill.

For Jesus said to me “You are the light of the world like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father(1)”.

((1)Matthew 5:14-16 NLT, Psalm 91:1, Eph.6:10) ©Deborah E.Nyamekye 26/01/2016

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther
©Deborah E.Nyamekye 29/01/2016