(2 Tim 4:7 KJV) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
This morning we continue our mini-series on “Purpose and Vision” by taking a brief look at the life of Paul. Honestly, I am not sure if this message will be the last in this mini-series. I am still praying about it. On Monday morning I will either get back to teaching on prayer or I will continue to flow in this vein. We will see how the Lord leads me.
Paul is an amazing example. Let’s look at his bio:
- Paul was born in an average place: Tarsus of Cicilia.
- He received an above average education: under Gamaliel.
- He did everything with passion and zeal.
- He witnessed and assisted in the stoning of the first Christian Martyr (Stephen).
- He used his leadership skills to lead a movement against Christianity.
- Then he had a supernatural conversion experience on a street called “Straight.”
- After joining the movement he was fighting against he went away to Arabia to prepare for ministry; while there he received Direct Revelation from Jesus!
- After over three years of preparation he started preaching with his friend Barnabas and people were first called Christians under their ministry.
- He took the Gospel to the Gentiles all over Asia.
- He went on four successful missionary journeys.
- He helped start churches.
- He mentored many Pastors and leaders.
- He wrote half the New Testament.
- He reached countless lives.
- He touched countless people.
- The truths he wrote, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, are still being read thousands of years later.
- His legacy is immeasurable as he is still encouraging us today.
By the way, I forgot to mention that Paul was not doing all of this from a posh office with world-class staff. No, ministry back then was much different than it is today. Paul was preaching the Gospel at a time where Christianity was not popular and not welcome. This caused Paul to suffer the wrath of governments and the religious leaders at the time. Giving an account of some of the things he had endured, Paul wrote, “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this…” I have to pause here, because what Paul is about to write is amazing to me. Even after all he had been through for preaching the Gospel, Paul still had the needs and concerns of others at the forefront of his mind and heart. Paul continued, “I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches” (2 Cor 11:24-28).
Paul did what He did because he was driven by purpose. I am convinced that the Father gave Paul supernatural vision and direction for his life. Paul knew exactly where he was going and he was driven to get there. Paul was determined to die empty; to get out of him all the things the Father deposited in him to share with others. Paul maximized his purpose and potential. In the very last letter he ever wrote, Paul, knowing that he had accomplished all that he was supposed to accomplish in life, said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” You can’t say that you have arrived at the end of your course if you don’t know what it is. Paul knew his course, he remained on it in spite of the opposition, and God used him mightily!
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Once you know your purpose it will give birth to divine vision.
2. Divine vision will give you the aim-point to strive towards.
3. Once you know where you are going, you can receive supernatural motivation to get there and this motivation will enable you to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way.
4. The Father wants you to die empty; to find, follow, and finish your purpose before you die.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for the many examples You have left for me in scripture and in life today. I learn from the successful lives of others and success, for me, is not measured in dollars and cents. My success is measured in mission accomplishment. My goal is to find, follow, and finish my purpose in life before I die. Once I am settled in my purpose, my purpose will give birth to divine vision, and I will keep that vision before me as I pursue it with all my might. While I am pursuing Your vision I know I will face opposition, but I understand that the obstacles and challenges along the way won’t do anything but validate my purpose and vision and the power of my God. I am determined to arrive at Your expected end for my life and I declare, by faith, that I will! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
