Today we continue our series, “Progress On Purpose.” I told you that God wants us to walk in “NEW LEVELS IN 2021!” But if we are going to do so, we must be intentional about our progress. With that in mind, as we lay the foundation for the year, I told you that I would discuss “Leveling Up” in five areas:
1. Spiritually
2. Financially
3. Physically
4. Internally
5. Externally
We have covered the first two thus far. Today we start the third: leveling up physically. In this section, I will cover the following:
1. Is health and wealth good or bad
2. Healing is the will of the Father
3. God wants you to live long and strong
4. Some things you can do to live long and strong
Of these four, I have covered the first two thus far. Yesterday I started on the third. Today I will flow in the same vein.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things
1. Your assignment on this planet is task-based, not time-based.
Yesterday I taught you that it is God’s will that you live a long and satisfying life. I showed you scripture after scripture that shows you the heart of God concerning living long and living strong. Today I am going to take a step further and make it clear that your individual lifespan is tied to your specific purpose.
When I was a young Soldier in the Army, I remember being assigned to manual tasks, either as an individual or as a team. When we received the tasks, sometimes our leader would say, “Hey, you guys are going to be here all day. I need you to work on this until 4:30pm… until it’s time to go to the formation.” This type of work was time-based. Other times our leader would say, “Hey, I need you guys to work on this until you are done. Once you are done, you can head back to the barracks and chill until it’s time for the 4:30pm formation.” When we received this type of guidance, the work was task-based and not time-based. It had everything to do with the assignment and not a specific amount of time. This is how it is with your time on this planet.
God did not send you to this planet for a certain amount of time. He sent you to this planet ON PURPOSE, on an ASSIGNMENT. When you complete your assignment, you are free to go, and it has nothing to do with a certain amount of time or years on this planet.
I debunked the theory that God wants us to live 70 or 80 years on this planet in yesterday’s message. That’s not true. Furthermore, your work on this planet is not time-based; it is task-based. I will use Jesus as an example.
Yesterday we looked at the fact that many people who walked with God lived to around 120 years old. But Jesus died at 33 years old. Does that mean His life was cut short? Or does that simply mean that He was efficient?
— Can anyone say Jesus was not successful?
— Can anyone say Jesus did not live a full life?
— When His purpose fulfilled… when His assignment was complete… Jesus died!
*** Jesus did not die because He was sick. Jesus did not die because He was old. Jesus died because He was DONE! This is the mindset we are supposed to live with!
2. When you are done, you are free to go!
(Gen 25:8 CEV)
Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
— Jesus is not the only person who “gave up the ghost.”
— Abraham did not die because he was old.
— He did not die because he was sick.
— Abraham realized when He was DONE and he simply released himself into death, so he could transition into glory!
(Gen 35:29 CEV)
And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
— Isaac was old (if the Bible calls you told, you are OLD!).
— He was full of days.
— He completed his assignment.
— He did what God sent him to the planet to do.
— So when he was done, he was done… he gave himself over to God!
(Duet 34:7 CEV) Moses was a hundred twenty years old when he died, yet his eyesight was still good, and his body was strong.
— Moses’ body was strong at 120 years old.
— His eyesight was still good. He did not need glasses.
— The Bible says his body was strong.
— Another translation says he had all his teeth.
— Moses did not die because he was sick. He died because his assignment was over.
— It was time to lead the people into the Promised Land, and that was NOT his assignment.
— That assignment belonged to Joshua.
— When Moses’ mission was complete (MC), he died. That simple.
(Acts 13:36 NIV)
Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.
— David served God’s purpose in his own generation.
— Once he did, once his assignment was complete, he was free to go!
— You Die When You Are Done!
— Your life is not tied to a set number of years.
— Your lifespan is tied to your purpose!
3. You are not free to leave this planet until you have completed mission.
(Phil 1:20-24 ERV)
20 I am full of hope and feel sure I will not have any reason to be ashamed. I am certain I will continue to have the same boldness to speak freely that I always have. I will let God use my life to bring more honor to Christ. It doesn’t matter whether I live or die.
21 To me, the only important thing about living is Christ. And even death would be for my benefit.
22 If I continue living here on earth, I will be able to work for the Lord. But what would I choose—to live or to die? I don’t know.
23 It would be a hard choice. Sometimes I want to leave this life and be with Christ. That would be much better for me;
24 however, you people need me here alive.
— Paul was honest about the fact that he was torn between his assignment on this planet and dying, so he could go be with the Lord in heaven.
— Paul knew that heaven was better, but he also knew that his assignment was not over, so he was NOT FREE TO GO!
— Once you are Born-Again, your citizenship is in heaven.
— Once you are Born-Again, you are IN this world, but you are not OF this world anymore.
— Heaven is your home, and one day you will be there with the Lord. But for now, you have an assignment, and you need to get focused.
— This series is about progress on purpose. It is about being intentional. Because our work on this planet is task-based and not time-based. We need to get to work, and we must keep working (by God’s grace) until we are DONE!
In the last letter Paul wrote to his spiritual son Timothy, he said the following:
(2 Tim 4:7 KJV)
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith!
Shortly after writing this, Paul died. He knew his assignment was complete.
You can say, “Wait a minute, Paul, everyone is not saved yet.” But Paul would say, “I finished MY course!” You could say, “Wait a minute Pual, the gospel has not gone out to the entire world yet.” But Paul would say, “I finished MY course!”
Paul knew what his course (his purpose) was, so he knew when it was complete. Once he finished, he was FREE TO GO!
That’s how it is with you. Your lifespan is tied to your purpose!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, You sent me to this planet for a reason. That reason is my divine purpose. I am here on assignment, and I am laser-focused on getting it done BEFORE I DIE! My lifespan is tied to my purpose. I will walk this planet until I get OUT OF ME, everything You placed IN ME before the world began. I will not die because I am old. You renew my youth like the eagles. I will not die because I am sick. You are the Lord God who heals me. I will keep running my race, at my pace, with Your grace, until I am finished! I will only die when I am DONE! That’s it! I LEVEL UP this year in every area. I live long and strong! GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith, in Jesus’s name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
