Me, My Purpose & The Pandemic

PART A: The Pandemic

Revelations 6:1-2 (KJV)

The First Seal: Rider on a White Horse

1And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

The Pandemic like a coin has two major sides. On one end it’s a scary killer that isn’t just taking lives but a the economy, education, businesses, it has affected the system humanity has evolved to thus far and we still don’t know when this will end. The response to this side of the coin is either Faith or Fear, the choice is ours. Choose Faith.

But the coin has a second side, its brought a time for much needed time with family, a time to rebuild our relationship with God, a time to reflect on what truly matters, a time to rebuild successful habits and kill off bad ones, a time to review your 2020 plan and make a 10 year plan towards 2030, a time check up on those you’ve not been able to for a long time, a time to rest from the 9-5 rat race (I’m so glad), and finally a time to ask yourself the hard questions, e.g.

“At a time when many are passing away, is my life really contributing significantly to Gods kingdom & humanity?”

“Am I doing what I was created to do or just passing time till its my time?”

“Am I saved and ready to meet my maker any time He calls?”

Please, we know the secret place of the Most High is the safest place to be, so if you haven’t accepted Jesus, now is the time. Without salvation your purpose will be defined by you (doesn’t end well), but when saved you can look into the creators book and define purpose based on Gods will (ends amazing).

Once the Pandemic passes and you emerge alive please make sure you’re coming out as a force of dominion for Christ, why? Because for one you were spared for a reason bigger than you, and because as we speak key players in the world are planning how to take dominion in the post corona era and most of them don’t have good intentions for Christianity both in Nigeria and abroad. But we also have a mandate of dominion through Christ. In the end times many things will occur but the Bible shows, the first 4 seals opened by the Lamb in Revelations 6 produced the 4 horses and their riders. But which rider was released first? The white horse which is the gospel and the bible says he went forth conquering. A conqueror takes territories and dominion and we here are the ones to be used, but we must move fast because the other horsemen are close behind and they aren’t good news.

The path to destiny has 4 key hurdles, know your God, know yourself, know your purpose and know your enemy of purpose. The Pandemic should help you seek to know your God better but lets discuss knowing yourself because its key to knowing purpose.

PART B: ME

Matthew 5:13-16 New International Version (NIV)

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

You are first of all a child of God who is called to be LIGHT and SALT. Being light speaks mostly to your spiritual impact, and salt usually speaks to your physical impact. Doing both brings glory to God the Father. More of this will be broken down under PART C of this teaching.

Secondly, the bible says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God doesn’t create for the fun of it, so know, that you are custom made for a customized purpose. Your shape fits perfectly into God’s grand design.

PSALM 139:13-17

13For You formed my inward parts;
You [f]covered me in my mother’s womb.
14I will praise You, for [g]I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15My [h]frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

17How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

Knowing specific things about your shape will be key in finding and understanding your purpose. Along with what I learned from Rick Warren I have been able to recommend a shape test I call the SHAPE-P2A Test. I will break them down so we understand.

SHAPE-P2A

(S) SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Understanding your spiritual gifts are key pointers to what you are called to do, they were given to you for use in the kingdom. But you cannot see your spiritual gifts manifest if you don’t serve in Gods house, so begin to serve if you haven’t.

(H) HEART (What causes are you most passionate about?): The things you are naturally most passionate about is also a hint to what your purpose is, don’t look down on them but also don’t think they are all you need to move like motivational speakers make it seem.

(A)   ABILITIES (What you can readily do without prior preparation): This focuses on your natural abilities or talents. They are also key hints to your purpose as they are to be used for your earthly assignment, some things you do professionally as well and you just do it better than others also falls into this category.

(P) PERSONALITY: Your personality is very key in understanding yourself and ultimately the kind of people you have been sent to. So outline them and you will begin to see some dots connecting.

(E)    EXPERIENCES: This speaks to the key life experiences that have shaped you into who you are today as well as experiences that have given light to what you are called to do.

(P) PROPHECIES: Prophecy is very key both what God has told you, dreams, and what a man/woman of God have told you God has called you for. But test all spirits, if the Holy Spirit in you doesn’t agree with the prophecy you receive discard it but if He concurs then note it down.

(P) PROBLEMS: You are usually called to solve the problems that you can’t seem to ignore around you, problems that you take so personal others around you don’t seem to understand why. Most people focus on just complaining bitterly but as light and salt, you are to become a solution to that problem. What problems in the church or world irritate/get to you the most? Articulate them.

(A)   ADMIRATIONS: This hint speaks to understanding people you naturally just admire based on what they do for the church and/or for humanity, these are people you admire and see yourself in the most as regards purpose. This is a hint as spirit appeals to spirit, they will also be amazing mentors for you in your journey.

All these are articulated in a purpose sheet I will send at the end of this class, it will guide you on how to go through the process outlined above in a simple way.

All of these are hints to purpose and help you understand key things about yourself. BUT to clearly get your purpose spelled out you must go to GOD and ask of Him, then He will now show you how your shape connects to what He has led. Purpose is gotten by revelation from God, He hardly ever gives you the full picture at once, but He gives enough information for that season and as you obey and abide in Him He will keep revealing more and more.

PART C: PURPOSE.

Firstly, kindly find and read this book: Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. That’s where most of what I understand about purpose comes from as well as the bible and personal revelations.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah 60:1-3 KJV.

What is Purpose? It is simply the assignment God created you to fulfill for the body of Christ and for the world. It is God-centric and so all we do is to the glory of God not men's accolades.

Why is it important to know and walk in it? Because the more you delay, the more lives attached to yours suffer. You are a soldier in the most important war in the universe. It’s the war of Light against Darkness. Usually Light always wins BUT if Light refuses to arise Darkness will dominate. You must arise!

Sadly, it’s not that most young Christians don't arise, but when they do, they arise into the wrong assignment because of following the crowd or ‘this is where the money is’, etc. That's the biggest tragedy because you will never find fulfillment until you do what God created you to do. Otherwise, you position yourself for Depression!

How do I find purpose and walk in it?

First of all understand the concept.
Purpose is a combination of two assignments. The combination of those two assignments is what makes your Purpose Statement.

1.       Your Ministry (LIGHT): This is what God has called you to do for the body of Christ.

2. Your Mission (SALT): This is what God has called you to do for humanity/the world.

How do I find out my purpose?

1. By Revelation
2. By Self discovery
3. By Service
You must go through all three not just one or two of them.

Motivational speakers speak of number 2 alone that's where they miss it. You can't find purpose without the creator which is what number 1 settles and number 3 sorts out the fact that God will not reveal purpose to someone who isn't willing to serve.

1: By Revelation
Of all the three this is the most important step. Your whole life has been written in Gods book (scripture) and to know what to do you have to ask who made you and He reveals these things in stages not all at once but you need to go and Ask. Even if you have heard many prophecies over your life you need to Go and Hear from yourself.

2: By Self Discovery
When God has spoken to you need to study yourself so you know how best to actualize what you're called for. God wont create a bird with wings and lungs and say its assignment is to live in the ocean so your make up is a hint to your assignment.You need to understand your shape and its uniqueness. You passion, your strengths, weaknesses, spiritual gifts, etc. There is a link for us to go through to learn about our shape and hence position ourselves better called the purpose sheet. You can start with this as it will give you more hints of what you're here for and when you go to God you can pray with better direction.

Link: https://forms.gle/xnuK9q6khrWn41JV7

3: By Service
Service to Gods kingdom and humanity according to your purpose is the only way God will keep revealing more. As He reveals you serve and He blesses you with more. Most of us may find it hard to even know ourselves better until we serve. God loves to give instructions to people who move with it not those who will hear and do nothing. You are called to serve as light and salt according to the scriptures.

To be able to articulate these you need to fill the purpose sheet proposed in Part B of this talk, and then ask God to make it clear to you. 

Understand how your purpose connects to the kingdom agenda for the world

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore."

 Isaiah 2:2-4 KJV.

The Bible says that God’s kingdom will dominate all other kingdoms in all sectors, Politics, business, health, sports, education, military etc. And you have a role to play in this; your purpose is connected to saving souls, and taking dominion of a sector for Jesus.

There are 7 mountains of Culture that every sector in the world falls under:

1. Governance Mountain
2. Education Mountain
3. Media Mountain
4. Arts and Entertainment Mountain
5. Family Mountain
6. Religion Mountain
7. Business & Finance Mountain

Now you have assignments connected to one or more of these mountains to be taken for Christ, this connects to the scripture above.

Finally, What is the Purpose Action Plan? Please follow these steps carefully after you have filled the purpose sheet.

1. Know your God and learn to hear from Him and then yourself better using the purpose sheet.
2. GO TO GOD in prayer and ask Him for what He has called you to do with the shape He built you in. And He will answer.
3. Begin serving in God's house in the capacity you are called into regardless of applause or reward from men.
4. Join a group of fellow believers who have a similar purpose to yours, because you need others on the same road with you to succeed. No man is an island.
5. Find a successful mentor in the field your purpose relates to and learn wisdom from them.
6. Write out the problems of people/companies and the body of Christ that you can solve based on what your purpose is. List them and write out solutions to them.
7. Turn your solutions and passion into a valuable skill. If you're to take Media Mountain, become very good at the arm of media you're led into, go for trainings, online classes, get good grades at school etc.  Work hard to begin implementing those solutions.
8. Keep putting God first in all you do and help others find purpose too. Make impacting lives your focus not money.
9. Ensure your relationship with God is always good in Bible Study and Prayer.
10. Support the kingdom work of soul winning and discipline people even as you also remain a disciple.

In conclusion
My name is Joshua, Joshua Adeloye and my God-given purpose is to help Christians and churches around the world find purpose, walk in it in their correct ranks and take dominion of all nations, systems, & homes for Christ. In addition to it He has also raised me to alleviate poverty in Africa through entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

At the end of this teaching, my hope is that everyone here will be able to accurately say like I've said "This is why I was born....."

It is my prayer and hope that with this you will begin to walk in purpose. The church of God, Nigeria, and the world will be better for it. I pray that as you go to bed today God will begin revealing His purpose to you in Jesus Name.

Amen.

Questions?