(1 Samuel 17:29 KJV) And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Yesterday I shared a message with you about how David’s eldest brother, Eliab, must have felt when he saw his brother getting married to the king’s daughter. Interestingly enough, last night I was in a church service where my Spiritual Father (Bishop Richard Peoples) talked about the time when David was taking lunch to his brothers. David heard Goliath’s threats and inquired about the reward for killing the giant. Eliab got angry and said, “What are you doing here! Why aren’t you minding your own business, tending that scrawny flock of sheep? I know what you’re up to. You’ve come down here to see the sights, hoping for a ringside seat at a bloody battle!” David replied, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” Bishop Peoples taught last night on being Passionate About Your Cause. I feel led to share a few points that I gleaned from his message:
1. Passion helps you win. Passion will give you a drive and determination that helps you overcome challenges when the arise, because they will arise.
2. Passion keeps you going. Passion gets you up in the morning. I am a witness to this. I can’t count the times I have been doing something for God, or myself, and wound up going to sleep late, only to get up a few short hours later to write Today’s Word.
3. God gives you passion for your purpose. God births a divine passion in our spirit for our assignment in life. This is part of the grace we have for our assignment.
4. Passion motivates you to do it, whether you have the position or not. Without passion you can have a position and not walk in the fulness of it. With passion you can walk in the grace even without the position or title.
5. Passion keeps you looking forward. Your passion helps you keep your focus on that which is bigger than you. Passion gives life to your life. Anyone without passion is already dead; they just have not made it official.
6. Listening to the wrong things will stifle your passion. The Bible says, “When Saul and his troops heard the Philistine’s challenge, they were terrified and lost all hope” (1 Sam 17:11). Don’t nurse and rehearse negative things. Saul and his men foolishly stood there, listening to Goliath for 40 days, and their lost their passion and hope.
7. Successful believers guard their heart in order to protect their passion. David’s son Solomon taught us that we must guard our hearts, literally protecting what we allow through our eyes and ears, because our life springs out of our heart (Prov 4:23).
8. Passion draws people. People are naturally drawn to people who are passionate about their purpose.
9. Passion draws resources. When you are passionate about your purpose you will find that everything you need to fulfill your purpose finds its way into your hands.
10. Passion never gives up until manifestation. Caleb waited 45 years for a promise from God to be manifested. At 85 years old Caleb said, “Listen Joshua, 45 years ago the Lord promised me this mountain region and I am now 85 years old, still ready to fight to take possession of the land the Lord promised me. So now, GIVE ME MY MOUNTAIN!” (Pina Translation) (see Joshua 14:7-12). Caleb maintained his passion for 45 years and he never gave up hope of what the Lord promised he would posses. Guess what? He got his mountain and you will also get yours if you maintain your passion for your cause!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this teaching. I declare, by faith, that I have a divine passion that will not burnout. I seek You with my whole heart. I pursue Your presence daily and Your presence keeps my passion burning. I have divine passion for my divine purpose and I shall maintain it every day of my life. My passion keeps me going when my body is tired, when my mind is weary, and when I encounter obstacles along the path of life. It is my passion that gives me divine determination to see Your best manifested. My passion keeps me looking forward, with a “forward ever, backward never” mentality. I guard my heart will all diligence. I carefully consider what I allow through my eye and ear gates. I don’t allow things to get into my heart that will stifle the fire of my passion. Instead, I feed my passion with Your presence and Your Word. As I meditate Your Word day and night the fire of my passion burns bright. My passion is so strong that it helps draw all the people and all the resources I need to fulfill Your Kingdom plans and purposes for my life. Father, I pursue Your presence and my purpose with passion and I shall never give up until I see the manifestation of everything You have promised me. Every day I walk in the land of the living shall be a day full of passion. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
