Vision That Aligns With His Purpose

New beginnings like New Year’s seems to be the time we all identify a vision to follow. I once read that a true vision from God is certain to be fulfilled because it is the purpose of God revealed in advance. This implies that, though we may operate from vision, God operates from purpose. Rest assured His purposes will be accomplished on this earth, so if we want to be successful, we’ll tune into what He’s doing. The question we might want to then consider is what part will we play in accomplishing His purposes? Will we align with them, or will we expect Him to rather align with ours?

“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 22:30–31

I placed added emphasis on that passage to draw attention to the fact that God was looking for someone who would stand in the gap before Him. Wheels had been set into motion, action/reaction, and yet God was willing to avert the consequences if only He could find someone! When He could not, we see the “therefore”. What does that speak to you about the chaos we see in our world and nation today? What would it look like for us to “stand in the gap”?

“You are not supposed to check into Heaven with a clean uniform, unsoiled by warfare”

Mario Murillo

How many of you feel we are, like Esther of old, put here for such a time as this?

Let’s read Ephesians 3:20-21

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

What stands out to you in that passage?

It’s common for our eyes to be drawn to the obvious part – “exceedingly abundantly beyond”.  Here is what stands out to me:  “According to the power that works WITHIN US”! 

Are we expecting God to move on behalf of America or other nations? Let me just boldly say that what can happen is not always what will happen. God has given us free will, and our free will has a direct impact on not only our lives but also the lives around us – not just in this lifetime but also for generations. He chooses to allow this so that in turn we may freely choose to partner with Him in accomplishing His purpose on this earth. Will He stay His hand if we are not willing to stand in the gap?

If there is one thing I can get across to you in this post is how vital partnership with God really is.  It’s the YES in our spirit as we yield to His work and to His will, to accomplish His purposes, for His glory!

What are some thoughts that may come to mind when we think of partnership with God?    

• God’s purpose will be accomplished regardless if I’m engaged or not
• Why polish the brass on a sinking ship?  If we’re out of here, what’s the point?
• There’s nothing new under the sun – this has all happened before.  We should expect it. (As a side note, anyone who reads Ecclesiastes and realizes there is nothing new, per say, should also realize then that the bible has all the answers we seek, and precisely for that reason because we cannot take God by surprise!)
• Apathy. Do I believe the Lord is apathetic and won’t (or possibly can’t) do anything about what I’m going through?  Do I believe somehow that it’s inevitable and I can’t stop what God has already stated is coming? 

With all the chaos in the world today, it’s easy to become discouraged. Like I said, His purposes WILL be accomplished. For those of us who feel the call of Esther, what do we learn from Esther 4:14?

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14

We not only learn from this verse that Esther was attained royalty from God for that moment, we ALSO learn that if deliverance does not come by Esther’s hand, it will not go well for her and her household. This indicates that God still desires partnership – He was seeking to accomplish His will with Esther in play.

Do we get a pass for not engaging, or will we be held accountable one way or another?Have you ever been to a wedding? Maybe I should ask how many weddings! Do you remember the part when the pastor asks if anyone has anything against this couple getting married, and to basically “speak now or forever hold your peace”? When we say nothing, we are giving our consent to the marriage! What marriages of evil and darkness are currently taking place that, as the Church in past decades, we may have given our consent towards by choosing to remain silent?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said in his message to the German church that to do nothing in the face of evil is evil itself.  Did the church in Germany listen?  No!  Can you imagine for a moment with me what it might have looked like if they had listened?  How many people might not have had to die?  How many nations might not have had to live under communist rule? 

The path of least resistance was to shut up in order to avoid persecution, but reality reflects that Germans suffer to this day for their silence.  Whenever you hear the word “Germany”, often the first thing that comes to mind is not the beauty that came from Germany such as Luther, Bach/Beethoven/Handel, Kepler, Koch, Christmas, the Guttenberg Bible and press, or even the Brothers Grimm. No, what we usually think of first nowadays is “Hitler”, who by the way was not even born there! 

Yes, deliverance will come, but will it come now?  Will it come in the same way?  Will your children survive?  What will it mean for the generations that follow?

What does it look like for us to face the apathy in our heart and ask why it is that we can stare into the face of evil and do nothing? What makes us lay down our arms and just walk away?

Do you see yourself wanting more, knowing that there is more to this life than how you’ve been living it, or do you see extraordinary faith in God as being unreachable, unattainable? My friend, it is within reach for all of us!  We only need be willing to say yes, I will believe. Yes, I will courageously stand. Yes, I will push back in love, shine brightly in a dark place, be willing to suffer persecution and possibly lose everything. Yes, I will align with God’s purpose on this earth and I will have an impact in such a time as this!

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