FOLLOWING GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE AND PURSUIT IN YOUR LIFE: IT GIVES MEANINGFUL FULFILMENT IN CHRIST JESUS STEAD!
“And say to Archippus, TAKE HEED to the MINISTRY [ASSIGNMENT, MANDATE, COMMISSION] which thou hast RECEIVED in the Lord, that thou FULFIL [COMPLETE] it” Colossians 4:17/Emphasis Mine.
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not DISOBEDIENT unto the HEAVENLY VISION [ASSIGNMENT, MANDATE, COMMISSION]” Acts 26:19.
“Jesus said to them, My FOOD [NOURISHMENT] is to DO the WILL [PLEASURE, ASSIGNMENT, MANDATE, COMMISSION] of Him Who SENT Me and to ACCOMPLISH and COMPLETELY FINISH His work” John 4:34/Amplified Classic Edition.
There is the CHOICE of being FULFILLED in life and godliness [godly LIVING] — and the CHOICE of being MERELY A SUCCESS AND SUCCESSFUL in life, as many have found themselves when they pursue it passionately and are driven with such enthusiasm to become it.
The quest in the above concept is this: Can you afford to move from a place of GLAMOUR SUCCESS to a DESERT PLACE in life when it is GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for you?
And especially when you know that GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT could be your place of meaningful FULFILMENT in the grace.
I want you to know for sure that doing life and living godly in Christ Jesus is all about FOLLOWING GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for your life in grace; and possibly in ministry, rather than just having the mere glamour of SUCCESS or being SUCCESSFUL for men’s applause and hype while you remain unfulfilled in God’s intent for your life and wellbeing.
Following GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for your life is the only guarantee for GOD’S APPROVAL and your meaningful FULFILMENT in Him, just as He exemplified for us to follow and walk in His steps as disciples of Him, in the Father God by the Holy Spirit of grace and BLESSEDNESS in Christ Jesus’ stead. Amen.
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this PURPOSE the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” 1 John 3:8 (John 18:37)
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man APPROVED (ACCREDITED , ATTESTED) of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know” Acts 2:22/Emphasis Mine.
“And we know [with great CONFIDENCE] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] CAUSES all things to work together [as a PLAN] for good for those who love God, to those who are CALLED according to His PLAN and PURPOSE” Romans 8:28/Amplified [Ephesians 1:11].
“Study and do your best to present yourself to God APPROVED, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15/Amplified.
Know for the truth that any person who is keen on a MERE glamour SUCCESS inclination and attachment will not see the need to leave such a GLAMOUR place and position to attend to a single-person business or a Gospel Ministry — especially to go to such a place in the DESERT [REMOTE], as was accomplished by Philip the Evangelist — who saw OBEDIENCE to GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS [PLAN, PURPOSE AND PURSUIT] as far higher and more fulfilling, as written in Acts 8:26-29.
“. . . 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere PREACHING THE WORD. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and PREACHED CHRIST UNTO THEM. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 AND THERE WAS GREAT REJOICING IN THAT CITY . . . 26 But an angel of the Lord SAID to Philip, RISE and PROCEED southward or at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the DESERT [REMOTE]. 27 So he GOT UP and WENT. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship. 28 And he was [now] returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the [Holy] Spirit SAID to Philip, GO FORWARD and join yourself to this chariot . . .” Acts 8:1-8, 26-40.
And such obedience of Evangelist Philip to DIVINE order and command is only possible in a person whose objective is not about being successful or having global or glamour success, but about being in OBEDIENCE and FULFILMENT in Christ Jesus’ stead in God.
That is someone whose goal is to be a follower of GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT — and who truly believes in the WHOLENESS of God’s leading. Such a person will go WHEREVER the Lord LEADS, as Philip did in Acts 8.
That is what I call and consider as one who is OBEYING THE HEAVENLY MANDATE or ASSIGNMENT, irrespective of the norm and prejudice that is about the person.
Hence I am asking you today: WHAT IS YOUR WORTH IN GOD’S BLESSEDNESS IN CHRIST JESUS?
Or how do you VALUE yourself in life and godly living in Christ Jesus?
Is it by material achievement called SUCCESS, or by being ACCOMPLISHED in God’s given vision and mission called FULFILMENT in His assignment, irrespective of the norm about you?
Are you just a mere glamour SUCCESS-driven person, or a person of FULFILMENT in the heavenly assignment?
Note for sure that SUCCESS is good, and it is relative and it is of God. However, GOD’S desire is for us in Christ Jesus’ stead to have and achieve SUCCESS — but far beyond just being successful.
For we are blessed of God, and He wants the best for us. He wants us to be successful in our life’s endeavours, but not at the EXPENSE of His eternal PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for our wellbeing in Him. Amen.
So, there is the need to balance the pursuit for success with being fulfilled in God by following His PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for us respectively.
“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may SUCCEED and PROSPER and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]” 3 John 2/Amplified.
“BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath BLESSED us with all SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ: . . . 5 having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, . . . 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being PREDESTINATED according to the PURPOSE of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” Ephesians 1:3, 5, 11.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS, and then thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS” Joshua 1:8.
Unlike SUCCESS which is relative, FULFILMENT is not only of God, but it is a place of being readily, willingly and obediently set to accomplish in the wholeness, completeness and fulfilling of the Lord’s given and driven PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT — in LIFE and GODLY living.
And it is about doing this God’s given and driven mandate in an unhindered and uncompromised way, without any sort of deviation outside God’s intent, just as our Lord Christ Jesus did — 1 John 3:8; John 18:37 — and as Apostle Paul did in obedience — Philippians 3:1-16 — and exhorted, admonished and charged Archippus to likewise do also, as written:
“And say to Archippus, TAKE HEED to the MINISTRY which thou hast RECEIVED in the Lord, that thou FULFIL it” Colossians 4:17.
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not DISOBEDIENT unto the HEAVENLY VISION” Acts 26:19.
BEING FULFILLED in life and godliness [godly living] is about living a GOD-GIVEN and GOD-DRIVEN PURPOSE LIFE; that is what brings about MEANINGFUL FULFILMENT in GOD’S BLESSEDNESS in Christ Jesus’ stead.
And it is far beyond just being a merely SUCCESSFUL person by material accumulation that has no heavenly implications under GOD’S assigned PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT.
Therefore I urge you today to follow GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for your fulfilment in Him, in Christ Jesus’ stead, because success is RELATIVE in matters of doing life and living godly.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this PURPOSE the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” 1 John 8:3.
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this CAUSE came I into the world, that I should bear WITNESS unto THE TRUTH. Every one that is of THE TRUTH heareth my voice” John 18:37.
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. TO THIS END WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I INTO THE WORLD, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” John 18:37.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his PURPOSE. 29 For whom he did FOREKNOW, he also did PREDESTINATE to be CONFORMED to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did PREDESTINATE, them he also CALLED: and whom he called, them he also JUSTIFIED: and whom he justified, them he also GLORIFIED” Romans 8:28-30.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath BLESSED us with all SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ: . . . 5 having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, . . . 11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being PREDESTINATED according to the PURPOSE of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” Ephesians 1:3, 5, 11.
“And say to Archippus, TAKE HEED to the MINISTRY which thou hast RECEIVED in the Lord, that thou FULFIL it” Colossians 4:17.
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not DISOBEDIENT unto the HEAVENLY VISION” Acts 26:19.
“Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to the city of SAMARIA and PROCLAIMED the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people]; 6 And GREAT CROWDS of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing [from time to time]. 7 For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health. 8 AND THERE WAS GREAT REJOICING IN THAT CITY . . . 26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and proceed southward or at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the DESERT route]. 27 So he GOT UP and WENT. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship. 28 And he was [now] returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the [Holy] Spirit SAID to Philip, GO FORWARD and join yourself to this chariot . . .” Acts 8:1-40 [Kindly read the entire chapter for context].
“And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE SEVEN; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy” Acts 21:7-9.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS, and then thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS” Joshua 1:8.
“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may SUCCEED and PROSPER and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]” 3 John 2/Amplified.
SUMMARY
The message is a charge to pursue MEANINGFUL FULFILMENT in GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT above GLAMOUR SUCCESS.
It teaches that true godly living in Christ Jesus is found in OBEDIENCE to the HEAVENLY MANDATE God has given you — even if it means leaving places of applause, crowds and success to go to a “DESERT PLACE”. Your worth and fulfilment are measured not by material achievement, but by completing God’s assignment in Christ Jesus’ stead.
KEY POINTS
- The Two Choices: Fulfilment vs Mere Success
There is a choice between being FULFILLED in life and godliness, and being MERELY SUCCESSFUL for men’s applause and hype. Success is good, relative and from God — 3 John 2, Joshua 1:8 — but it becomes empty when pursued outside God’s PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT.
- Biblical Patterns of Purpose
- Christ: “My FOOD is to DO the WILL of Him who SENT Me and to COMPLETELY FINISH His work” — John 4:34. He came FOR THIS PURPOSE — 1 John 3:8, John 18:37.
- Paul: “I was not DISOBEDIENT unto the HEAVENLY VISION” — Acts 26:19.
- Archippus: “TAKE HEED to the MINISTRY… that thou FULFIL it” — Colossians 4:17.
Fulfilment = completing what God assigned.
- The Philip Example: From Samaria to the Desert
Philip was in Samaria with GREAT REJOICING, miracles and deliverances — Acts 8:4-8. Yet when God said “ARISE and go to the DESERT road to Gaza” — Acts 8:26, he GOT UP and WENT.
He obeyed and won one soul, the Ethiopian eunuch — Acts 8:27-29. This proves that a God-driven person values OBEDIENCE over crowd, position, or global success. They go WHEREVER the Lord LEADS.
- God’s Plan Guarantees Approval and Blessing
We are BLESSED with all SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS and PREDESTINATED according to His PURPOSE — Ephesians 1:3, 5, 11.
“All things work together for good to them CALLED according to His PURPOSE” — Romans 8:28-30.
God approves those who rightly handle the Word — 2 Timothy 2:15, Acts 2:22. He wants us to SUCCEED and PROSPER, but not at the EXPENSE of His eternal PLAN for us.
- The Question of True Worth
WHAT IS YOUR WORTH IN GOD’S BLESSEDNESS IN CHRIST JESUS?
Do you measure yourself by material achievement called SUCCESS, or by being ACCOMPLISHED in God’s given vision called FULFILMENT?
BEING FULFILLED is living a GOD-GIVEN and GOD-DRIVEN PURPOSE LIFE in an unhindered and uncompromised way.
CALL TO ACTION
- Identify and Fulfil Your Assignment
Take heed to the MINISTRY [ASSIGNMENT][MANDATE][COMMISSION] you have RECEIVED in the Lord and FULFIL it completely. Do not be disobedient to the HEAVENLY VISION. - Choose Obedience Over Applause
Be willing to move from GLAMOUR SUCCESS to a DESERT PLACE if that is GOD’S PLAN, PURPOSE and PURSUIT for you. Heaven values obedience more than crowd. - Balance Success with Surrender
Pursue excellence, prosperity and good health — 3 John 2 — but only within God’s PLAN. Meditate on the Word day and night so your way may be PROSPEROUS — Joshua 1:8. - Live a God-Given, God-Driven Life
Commit to doing God’s mandate without deviation, just as Christ did. Present yourself APPROVED to God as a workman.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
Leave a Reply