Dear Friend,
If You Have a Pulse, You Have a Purpose
Jimmy Carter was the longest living ex-president in US history. After he lost his pursuit of a second term as President, Jimmy Carter then continued to pursue God’s will for his life.
Shortly after President Carter lost his run for president against Ronald Reagan, I interviewed him in Kansas City, Missouri. During that interview he told me that the thing which disturbed him the most were statements by some ministers who declared that now that Ronald Reagan was president, there was finally a Christian in the White House.
President Carter knew that if you had a pulse, you had a purpose, and in spite of the negative statements of others he wasn’t going to stop pursuing God’s purpose for his life, when it came to helping other people.
Does your life lack a sense of purpose, meaning and direction? Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” You have been positioned like Jimmy Carter for purpose.
In spite of your past disappointments and losses it is absolutely critical that you come to the one who will give you a purpose both now and for all eternity. Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28 (NIV).
It is Jesus who has come to give us a new life and purpose. He then sends the Holy Spirit who gives us special gifts to fulfill that purpose.
If we have been set free through Jesus Christ, we will then have a vision to help those in need, as we share Jesus with them in word and deed. When our life is surrendered to Christ it becomes a life of purpose, hope, and meaning, knowing that God, “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” 1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV).
Paul was faithful in sharing the message of salvation even when he was imprisoned, because he knew God had a purpose for his life. John the Baptist was beheaded after he had successfully fulfilled his purpose. Peter was crucified upside down on a cross, but died knowing he had been positioned for a purpose.
Death is not the end but simply a transition to glory. When we make this transition fulfilling the purpose God has given us, we will hear Christ say “Well done, good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:21 (ESV).
You are a person with a pulse, who is uniquely and wonderfully made. As you surrender your life to the Lord, He plants a purpose within you. Jesus has set you free from the captivity of sin, death, and the devil. Now, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, let that purpose come forth.
Knowing we have been positioned for purpose by the Living God, we now faithfully let the Holy Spirit work through us to fulfill that purpose. In order to do this, we must daily seek God and set our minds “on things above, not on earthly things” Colossians 3:2 (NIV).
As we work to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives, we must be honest with Him, sharing our true feelings. Then we must believe that God uses everything for good as Romans 8:28 (ESV) declares, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ”
Jesus can use each and every one of us as we know we are called according to His purpose to be His light in the midst of the darkness of this present age. He said, “Let your light so shine before others (men and women), so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” Matthew 5:16 (ESV).
To let our light shine and God’s purpose and plan for our lives to come forth, we must first pray, and then let the directives of Micah 6:8 (ESV) take place. There we read, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
This passage tells us to do justly, treat people fairly and not take advantage of the weak. We are also told to love mercy and be kind and compassionate to others. Seeking God for the purpose to reflect the light and love of Christ involves helping and blessing those who are in need. As we do this, we are to walk humbly with God, thanking Him for the opportunity to serve Him daily.
Genesis 6:8 tells us that Noah pleased God and fulfilled God’s purpose for his life. As we look at the life of Noah, we see three things he did that pleased God.
1. He loved God and desired to do His will.
Genesis 6:9 (NIV) says that “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”
2. Noah trusted God completely. He took steps to preserve life by building the ark. In Hebrews 11:7 (NIV) we read, “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.”
3. “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” Genesis 6:22 (NLT).
1 Samuel 15:22 tells us that God desires obedience rather than sacrifice. It is obedience that will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible School. In the Living Bible we read David declaring, “just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live, I’ll wholeheartedly obey” (Psalm 119:33). Then in 2 Corinthians 5:9 (NIV) we read, “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”
The history of New Life Evangelistic Center is the story of a people desiring to please God, as they sought Him for direction amid community needs. The foundation for developing a vision for fulfilling the purpose that God had given them, was the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of New Life Evangelistic Center from the time it was started has been and continues to be sharing gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason the word evangelistic is in its name. This sharing of the good news of salvation, as a result of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, is done by NLEC in both word and deed
In the 1970’s during a crisis of homelessness, the Holy Spirit gave the New Life Evangelistic Center Staff a vision for how to provide not only shelter, but a wide variety of programs to help break the cycle of homelessness.
During the 1980’s the Living Lord gave those working at NLEC a vision to help the poor and elderly as they struggled to pay their utility bills. The solutions included the provision of wood furnaces, Dollar Help, and direct energy assistance. Later, renewable energy and energy conservation methods would be added to this. In response to the great heat crisis of 1980, thousands of fans and air conditioners were distributed in the years following.
A vision for fulfilling the purpose of building Christian Television and Radio Stations was given to The New Life Evangelistic Center Staff. This was in response to the need for wholesome family, community, and inspirational programming.
When 157 people had been murdered in St. Louis by August 26th in the year of 1991, the New Life Evangelistic Center community began to seek God for a vision for a murder free St. Louis. To work toward this goal, a gun buyback program was developed. Teachers were trained to educate their students how to resolve conflict in a non-violent way. NLEC also encouraged hundreds of believers to pray for the murders to stop. The result was a drop in the murder rate in the City of St. Louis for the rest of that year.
As believers in the risen Christ, we are spark plugs with a purpose, who after seeking God for solutions, give life and energy toward working for solutions to community problems. Those positioned for purpose are catalysts who provide stimulation and motivation as they trust God to get things moving. Their faith is like a spark that ignites action which results in God given solutions. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV).
Believers with a sense of purpose know that Christ is, “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20 (NIV).
Believers who have a pulse are positioned for purpose as they move forward by faith bringing forth the vision the Holy Spirit has placed within them. In order to do this, they must believe God when He says, “So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV).
If you don’t see the purpose God has given you fulfilled immediately don’t give up. Wait for it. “Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NIV).
God’s presence is the oxygen His people of purpose breathe. They won’t disregard God’s purpose and plan for their lives when others overlook them and pass them by.
Remember God “won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but He’ll steadily and firmly set things right. He won’t tire out and quit. He won’t be stopped until He’s finished His work – to set things right on earth” Isaiah 42:3-4 (Message Bible).
The Lord God Almighty tells us in Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV), “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
As Salt and Light we are a people with the purpose of working for a brighter future. We have hope both now and for all eternity. This hope is anchored in Christ Jesus who calls us to be salt in a rotten world and light in the midst of darkness and hopelessness. In Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV) Jesus puts it this way, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under food by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men and women in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
In conclusion, remember the following four steps in order to position yourself for the purpose God has given you:
1. Begin to picture God’s purpose for your life. As you pursue this purpose move forth in faith that the power of Christ which passes all understanding will work in you and through you By doing this you will be able to “rejoice always, pray continually, giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV).
2. Don’t panic, you still have a pulse which means you can pray when everything seems to be going wrong. Directions for such powerful praying are clearly given in Philippians 4:6, 7 (NKJV). There it tells us to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus ”
3. In order to be positioned for purpose, prioritize your time and pace yourself. Learn to guard your time wisely. Satan will constantly speak condemnation so you must remember that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Spend time in prayer and Bible reading each day. Then exercise, eat nourishing meals and get plenty of sleep. Protect your time to rest in the Lord and move forth with the strength and anointing He provides.
4. Experience Christ’s peace as you come to Him during life’s struggles. Accept His invitation to come into the divine rest that only He can give at those moments when toxic stress overshadows you. Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV).
We have a pulse and we have no greater purpose than that which Christ gave us in Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) when He said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This purpose given to believers by Jesus Christ is known as the great commission. It is a purpose of such great importance we see in Revelation 14:6 (NASB) that in the last days, “another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God, and give him glory, because the hour of His judgement has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of water. ’”
God has given us a pulse so as we live, like the angel we will fulfill the great purpose He has given us. This purpose is to give God the glory for Christ is Risen, our sins have been forgiven and we can now worship God in word and deed, telling everyone there is hope both now and for all eternity.
Yours in Christ,
Larry Rice