World travel will change your life. If you enlarge your heart, you will also enlarge your world.

12 Compelling Reasons to Go! - Part III

7.Leave the pew and discover your purpose.

If your church is not equipping and empowering you to walk in your divine purpose, than it is nothing more than a social club. Where there is containment and control being imposed, a church might even be thought of as a prison with stained glass windows.

Jesus did not die on the cross so we could rot on the pew. Instead Christ empowered His people to live victoriously on earth and establish His kingdom. The great apostle Paul purposed in the spirit (Acts 19:21). Paul was a pioneer always purposing to go somewhere or to do something great.

Spiritual purposes have seemed to greatly wane in many churches as the senior Pastor has erected himself as lord over Gods heritage. Jesus however never intended for His Church to become a one-man show.

Together everyone achieves more (TEAM). Getting everybody to work together however requires that everyone honor and respect one another. Nehemiahs generation had a mind to work. Work is a four-letter word, but by no means is it a curse word. Gods people have work to do to prepare the coming of the Lord and hasten His return.

The primary purpose of Jesus is to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Unfortunately the church world and denominations often have purposes far removed from that of Christ. Jesus is owned by no denomination, neither does He give His allegiance to any religious affiliation.

Our Lord Jesus is the captain of the host and general of the army of God (Joshua 5:13-15). Jesus is not a politician. The Savior of the world cannot be bought or sold by any political party (John 6:15). His mission and mandate is clear. Jesus is the King of kings. God the Father placed Jesus in power and promoted Him. Therefore no man can remove or demote Him.

When we are true to our primary purpose we are most powerful and influential in the earth.

When you know who your Master is men do not scare or intimidate you. Many times when ministering throughout the earth I have had to say things that I knew ministers and people of a certain denomination might not like. Saying such things probably caused my offerings to decrease and might have closed the door to ever being invited back.

If I were money motivated, I might have shrunk back from boldly declaring the Word of the Lord. Yet I determined that I was going to be true to God, His Word and my heavenly calling. I settled it in my heart early on that God is my Source and that I will not fear what man can do to me.

Therefore when the Holy Spirit speaks to me I can say what He puts in my heart. Often the Spirit of God leads me to bring a word of correction, exhort people to be holy, call dead religion a devilish distraction and expose religious traditions that detour people from experiencing the power of God

Everybody likes to be encouraged, flattered and told they are doing well. Few like to focus on that which they can do better. Nevertheless once God gives you a word, if you refuse to speak it the blood of the people remains on your hands (Ezekiel 3:18).

Though I have extensively studied and practiced conflict resolution, when it comes to ministry I have always tried to yield to prompting of the Spirit. Obeying God can sometimes be offensive to others. Jesus said, Blessed are they who are not offended in me (Matthew 11:6). Jesus once called Peter Satan when he became distracted with the pursuits of men (Matthew 16:23). No doubt the gospel is offensive. The gospel is an ultimatum not an alternative.

I once had to tell a brother in India who was named Moses that he should change his name to Judas, as he had been stealing money and not rendering services for which I had paid him. Behind the scenes ministry can sometimes be not so pretty. Jesus knew very well that religious people can sometimes be quite devilish. He told the Pharisees, Your father is the devil (John 8:44).

Pushing forward into your purpose can often be problematic when the devil shows up to resist you. Like Jesus and Paul however we must boldly follow our purpose and sit the devil down when he shows up to distract us (Acts 19:15). As we do we too will be feared and known in hell by the enemy of our purpose.

8.Multiply after your kind and establish Gods kingdom. In the beginning God blessed man and woman to be fruitful and multiply. Multiplication and fruitfulness should be the legacy of every Christian. Jesus ordained us to bear much fruit. When you live a Spirit filled life you become captivating and contagious. People want to be around you. Life suddenly becomes adventurous.

When you are led by the Spirit of God and given to your eternal purpose, things happen wherever you go. Peoples hearts are burned by your mere presence without you ever having to utter a word. Indeed the apostle Peter experienced this when his shadow was enough to heal the sick (Acts 5:15).

I recall when I was in Poland that a Russian young man named Piotr was drawn to me. We began having a friendly conversation when suddenly the Holy Spirit showed me that Piotrs father was experiencing heart trouble. Piotr adamantly denied it. Yet once I left Poland and Piotr returned to Russia, I received an email from him affirming that indeed his father did have heart trouble.

God used this to awake Piotr to the reality of the risen Christ and to his eternal purpose. Since that time we have kept in touch as Piotr never ceases to write me on a monthly basis.

The same kind of connection occurred when I was ministering in Argentina and a wave of Gods glory swept through the Assemblies of God, King of Kings Church in Buenos Aires. The intense move of God was such that the service lasted until 1:30am. I was in awe myself as I watched people lying prostrate on their faces before God clothed in their best attire, weeping in the Presence of Almighty God.

Pastor Juan Pablo Palla, the worship leader and youth minister, was greatly impacted by the services and has become a dear friend. That was years ago that I ministered in Argentina, though it seems just like yesterday. Juan Pablo still continues to write me and keep in touch.

These are the kind of kingdom connections that we all need. Everyone needs a Paul to mentor them; a Barnabus to befriend them; and a Timothy whom they can disciple. These three types of relationship assure maximum inward growth and outward fruitfulness throughout your spiritual life.

9.Love, live, learn and laugh more! God is love. Ministry is all about loving people. Loving people when they are unlovely is not easy. Hence it requires the God kind of unconditional love to do so. The love of God flows by the Holy Spirit which lives in every born again believer (Romans 5:5).

I remember when I was sent by a mission organization to India for a year. I felt like I didnt have it within me to love the people there. I had already been to India several times. The food was at times difficult to bear, the hygiene atrocious and the living conditions sometimes appalling. Nevertheless for the love of God I decided to go anyhow despite my inability.

The Scripture the Holy Spirit gave me to stand upon and strengthen me was 1Corinthians 13:7, which states love endures all things. Endurance was precisely what I needed because I knew full well that in and of myself apart from Gods enabling me I would fail.

Thankfully however as I placed myself in a state of dependency utterly and entirely upon Almighty God, daily He under girded and enabled me to love the people of India.

The mad chaos and societal disorder became something I laughed at instead of broke under. The smells of curry became delightful. The music and festivities became enjoyable. I suddenly began seeing things through the eyes of God.

When we position ourselves to love, we truly live. As we live, we learn. True learning most often occurs during life experiences. Then as we learn we also discover what it is to laugh. This is the beauty of loving and living.

In Christ Jesus we live, move and have our being. In loving we become more compassionate, caring and impacting. As you love yourself, you will in turn more easily love others.

The overflow of love is afforded to whosoever will. Where there is the God kind of love, there will be the God kind of life. It causes you to rejoice and puts an end to all strife. Ultimately the love of God causes you to give up your life. This was the motive and essence of Christs sacrifice.

Perfect love drives out fear. Where there is fear self is the focal point. Fear is self-based and self-driven. Love is selfless, sacrificial and spiritual. When you seek what is best for others first, even at your own expense, you know the motive is love. Such a love can only come from God above.