Monday Memo 353: Visions of Angels

You should have a purpose hero or two, models whom you can study to encourage you along your PurposeQuest.  I have a few, some whom are mentioned in the Bible, some not.  One purpose hero in the Bible is the Apostle Paul. Since I mention him so often in these Memos, I thought I would write about him for the next three or four weeks. 

Paul was a man who had quite a few supernatural encounters in his ministry.  I find this interesting because so many today also seek to have such encounters with angels or, better yet, the presence of the Lord.  Did you know, however, that each one of Paul's supernatural meetings had a common purpose?  They did and to find out what that purpose was, you will have to read on.

COMMON THEME

I can find seven passages where the Lord appeared and spoke to Paul:

1. Acts 9:1-9-- on the Damascus Road, where Saul met Jesus face-to-face.
2. Acts 13:1-3 -- in Antioch where the Holy Spirit set Barnabas and Saul apart for missionary work
3. Acts 16:9-10-- a man calling Paul to Macedonia
4. Acts 18:9-11-- in Corinth, urging Paul to preach without fear
5. Acts 22:17-- while Paul was praying in the Temple
6. Acts 23:11 -- while Paul was held prisoner in Jerusalem
7. Acts 27:24-- while Paul was in the ship doomed to sink on his way to Rome

Can you see the common thread through all of these heavenly appearances?  Let me help you out.  Each one of these encounters took place to direct or encourage Paul in his purpose.  Not once did the Lord appear to Paul simply for the sake of appearing to Him.  As far as we know, the Lord did not appear to Paul to tell him He loved him.  Not once did He come to give Paul a supernatural experience where Paul clucked, crowed, barked or fainted.

In all seven instances, the Lord appeared for a purpose, not for an experience. 

SO WHAT?

I am not against anyone having a spiritual experience.  I have never spoken against or condemned some of the bizarre encounters that people claim to have had (and probably did have) with the Lord in the last ten years.  I am not ready to conclude that the Lord will only reveal Himself to people, as He did with Paul, for the purpose of purpose. 

I am ready to say, however, that some people are seeking for an encounter with the Lord for purely selfish reasons.  They want the experience but they want to separate it from any instructions that the Lord chooses to impart.  If the Lord chose to reveal Himself to Paul so dramatically and regularly to keep Paul focused on his purpose, I would think He would do the same with you. 

When is the last time you had a purpose encounter with the Lord?  What did He say or show you? What difference did it make in your life? Are you seeking the presence of God simply for the experience or for some direction in purpose? 

God wants you to know and fulfill your purpose more than you do.  He has given you something to do and wants you to know what it is.  Paul's life demonstrated the means that the Lord can use to encourage men and women of purpose.  I hope you are one who is seeking God's face and presence not so you can collect spiritual stories but rather to gain insight and encouragement into the purpose that God has for you.  Have a great week!

Feel free to add your comments on the site where this entry is posted.

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SPECIAL NOTICE:  Don't miss the upcoming broadcast of my radio show, Your PurposeQuest: The Power of a Focused Life, this coming Wednesday, June 25 at 9 AM Eastern time on the Voice America network.  You don't need any special equipment or software.  Just go to their website and click on their flagship station and I will be on for a live broadcast.  The show will air at 2 PM in the UK, 3 PM in Zimbabwe and South Africa, 4 PM in Kenya and 9 PM in Singapore. Then it will be broadcast again 12 hours later, and after that it can be listened to or downloaded from the archive section.  The show airs every Wednesday at the same time.

You can download and listen to the first three shows by going to station's archives.

Feel free to email me your questions for the show, or you can call me when the show is live at 1.866.472.5787.  Here is a description of the next show: 

Episode Six: Purpose in the Third World

Is purpose a concept only at home in a Western culture?  Is purpose relevant in Africa and for Africans?  Join John Stanko and his special guest, Mrs. Kentice Tikolo, from Nairobi, Kenya, as they discuss these questions and other relevant purpose topics.  Kentice is the coordinator for PurposeQuest in Kenya and also works for the Kenya Wildlife Service, and has a host of fascinating purpose stories that you won’t want to miss.