Dealing with Enemies of Purpose

Purpose is when you know what you were called and born to accomplish. Vision is when you see it in your heart. God has called each one of us for a purpose, and wants us to accomplish it. Keeping in mind the first two teachings on purpose (Discovering God’s Purpose for Your Life and Matching your Job/Career with your Calling), let us now look at some enemies that threaten to hinder us from accomplishing our purpose, and how to deal with them.

1.       Lack of knowledge

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. 

Lack of knowledge was an active sin against God, looking at this Scripture. For you and me, who are born again, Jesus is our wisdom. We cannot afford to be in a place where we’re being destroyed by lack of knowledge, because, Jesus is our wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30). The greatest threat to humanity and purpose is ignorance (lack of knowledge, information, being unawares), not even the devil. Ignorance leads to destruction. For us to get to a place of accomplishing our purpose without destruction, we have to have self-awareness (in Christ).

People know you, but only you knows who you are. Know who you are; know yourself. When you don’t understand and know who you are, you will not accomplish your purpose. If you’re a sinner, be aware and repent, accepting Christ. If you don’t know your talent, how can you accomplish God’s calling over your life? Know what you can do, and what God has called you to do.

You must also understand what you are not. For example, when you lead worship, what is the reaction of people? When you cook, what do people say about your cooking? Concentrate on your strengths, not your weaknesses. We know Usain Bolt for running, same for David Rudisha. If you know you have a calling to teach, sing, dance, play keyboards etc., do it like there is no tomorrow. Sometimes we never move because of what people say. Be aware of what you can do, and what you cannot do.

Find out who you are by checking out with your Manufacturer, your Maker.

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

There is something very specific that God has called you for. God has already given you everything you need to be what God called you to do. God called you. When God called for light, it came to be. Accept to be what God called you to be, and when you do you'll see His calling and Word over your life come to be.

Romans 9:20-21

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Ephesians 2:4-5

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 

Ephesians 2:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

God is not making up His mind on what you will be; He already made up His mind way before you were born. Check out with Him concerning what God called you to be. People will tell you things you are strong in. Get feedback from people, but only that which aligns with God’s Word to you. Sometimes you look at yourself and despise yourself, but God can use people to help you see what He has called you to be. Hear and listen and confirm with the Spirit of God.

Ask important questions: Who are you? Whose are you? Who you wired to be? What do you want out of this life? Understand yourself by asking yourself these questions.

What guides your life? It is the constitution, the Word of God. As for the things not written in the Bible outrightly, check with God.

2.       Lack of Vision

Vision is a desired future. It provides guidance, inspiration and focus.

Proverbs 22:18 (KJV)

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

This is prophecy, to be precise. It’s revelation of God’s will. If you lack revelation of God’s will for you, you will perish. If you keep listening to the Word, sitting under a teaching, then you will get to know your purpose, and won’t sabotage it. Lack of vision brings confusion, disorder and rebellion. Abraham waited for a son, all those years, trusting God. Now that we are in the covenant of grace, how much more should not we rely on God, to help us wait on Him?

When God communicates His will and vision for you to you, write it down. Many times in the Bible God told His people not to forget. It is important for you not to forget. It doesn’t matter how big the vision seems; actually if it is from God, it will be big. So when God communicates it, even when it doesn’t make sense, write it down, and never forget it. If we came for a meeting or showed up at pir place of work, and didn’t know what we are to do, there would be confusion. In the same way, with no vision, life becomes a confused mess. If you lack vision, you lack direction.

We need and must have an understanding and revelation from God, otherwise we sabotage our purpose.

John 16:13

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

The disciples were told by Jesus, the Son of God, that they shouldn’t leave Jerusalem, till the Holy Spirit came upon them (Lk. 24:49). Going without the Spirit of God is going without direction. If we don’t have the Spirit of God, then how do we hear? He’s the only one to leading us into the purpose of God. It doesn’t matter where you are in life; if God has spoken, believe Him, and let His Spirit lead you to His will and purpose. God is God. Keep focus, and wait on Him. Vision comes from Him. Rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, even as we seek out to understand what God called us for. Trust Him. When He is quiet, keep on going. When using a GPS system, unless you move, the GPS system won’t speak to you. As you’re in the right direction, the GPS system is silent. If you’re doing what God called you to do, keep doing it, until He speaks again. When He speaks, move, otherwise you might harden your heart.

Once you’ve written down your vision, put measurable and achievable goals. These goals become a measure, being led by the Spirit of God. These are things that you will measure your move with.

Habakkuk 2:2-3

Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. ³ For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not tarry...."

Going through a period when he was wondering what is happening around as God seemed quiet, God told Habakkuk to write down the vision, and it was for an appointed time. Every vision has an appointed time, and you have to wait for that time.

3.       Circumstances and crises

These are God’s tools to move you to His purpose. For many people, however, this is a paralysing tool to purpose. There are things and issues that when we go through, instead of allowing them to teach us, we allow them to cripple us in our walk with God, in fulfilling His purpose for our lives. Sometimes we go through really tough circumstances, and wonder what to do with them. All these happen with God’s full knowledge. Check with God; He knows what to do with those circumstances and crises. Don’t beat yourself down. Check with God. Walk with faith, and you’ll start understanding why the things have happened the way they have, and see the whole situation the way God sees it.

Every negative situation is an opportunity for us to be moulded into better people. We’re always told about gold, how when it’s being mixed up is put into fire, over and over again, till the refiner can see his image in the gold. Crises are fires and pressures to transform us into His fragrance, into His vessel of honour.

Isaiah 61:3

To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified...

When God is done with us, we’ll be out there to display His splendour. Don’t run away from situations and circumstances. If we allow them, they can sabotage our purpose, especially if we allow them to make us bitter. God is able to turn any situation/crisis around.

4.       Fear

It can cripple your ability to think rationally. Fear (False Evidence Appearing Real) is always a misconception; it’s not the real thing.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

What's the advantage of this power? 

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

What's the advantage of this love? 

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 

What's this sound mind? 

1 Corinthians 2:16

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

We have power from on high. God has wired us with everything we need in this life. We need to get rid of fear by practicing what God has called us to be. It doesn’t matter which field we are in. Whatever you are called to do, whatever you are doing, do it with confidence, as it is not by power, might by but the Spirit of God.

5.       Procrastination

This is preferring simpler and easier things, giving ourselves an extension, before we do what we should do. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the vision God has given us. Start small, think big, start now, not tomorrow. Stay in the Word. Not tomorrow or the day after, but as from today, we need to start doing what we’ve been called to do.

6.       Company

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 

You are an average of your closest friends. I’m not saying you throw away your friends; but rather that we need to have people we can look up to. Of your friends who are lagging behind, lift them up too. Don’t be in a circle of friends who are all down; get people who you can look up to, who will challenge you, even as you lift others up. Get people to associate with that you can learn from.

Your company: if it’s not taking from you, it’s giving to you. Company (bad) can also sabotage your purpose.

7.       Criticism

Expression of disapproval of someone/something on basis of perception of someone’s mistakes. There are things we always check with people, what they will say, and not even worry about what God will say. Fear of criticism keeps us from attaining our purpose. What has God told you? People may not think you have that ability, or talent, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is what God says. The standard we keep should be God’s.

Romans 8:31

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Why are we really worried, if no one can be against us? Don’t focus on the mistakes; see what God is seeing, which is just good things about you. People may say your voice is not good and so on, but if God is calling you a great musician, see that and go with God’s opinion. What is God saying about your life? Stop allowing criticism to bring you down. God is the One who formed you, called you even before you were created in your mother’s womb. Sometimes the people trying to bring you down are people closest to you, as a prophet is without honour in their own home (Mk. 6:4). It’s what God says who you are.

The teacher may have said you are stupid, but is that what God says about you are?

Moses couldn’t speak, and even told God (Ex. 4:10). God had called him as His mouthpiece, and he couldn’t change God’s mind regarding what He had called him to be. No one can take your assignment. Your assignment is specific and unique to you, for the glory of God. Whatever you do and wherever you go, just know you are unique to God. Your purpose is as unique as your fingerprint is. You have been called with a purpose; don’t listen to what people say.

What you focus on, you magnify. What are you going to focus on? Your problem? Inability? Or strength? All the other people before Goliath focused on him, and saw a giant. David focused on God, and saw victory. Don't even focus on the enemies of your purpose; just acknowledge them, be careful of them but always ensure that your focus is on God. He Who called you will accomplish what He started in you (Phil. 1:6), as He is faithful. 

Amen. 

    Pastor Beatrice Njeri

August Quarterly Youth Event 1st Teaching, Teaching Transformation Ministry.

Pastor Beatrice is a friend of Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.