The Monday Memo from John Stanko

542: Serve Before Kings

I am in the midst of a seven-part series on purpose in the book of Revelation. Jesus made a promise to each one of the seven churches in Revelation but only if they were victorious and overcame certain obstacles. You can read about the first three promises here before we move on to the fourth this week.  I have to admit that this one is the toughest to see, so don't be too hard on me as you read.

RULE OVER THE NATIONS

Revelation 2:26-28 states:

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Now the reference to iron scepter and pottery is a quote from Psalm 2, which talks about the Lord ruling in heaven while the kings of the earth try to throw off and avoid the Lord's reign.  Since Psalm 2 is a reference to "now" and not the hereafter, I am assuming that the context of this passage from Revelation is also "now."  Therefore there is some measure of authority that the Lord gives now to those who have overcome.  Still with me?

Now let's look at one more verse in Proverbs 22:29:  "Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank."  The Lord will promote anyone who is skilled in his or her purpose work to the highest level their skill and and gifting can handle. They will in some sense have authority over the nations because they will be serving before and with kings, whether kings of education, industry, governments or entertainment. What's more, the overcomers will have the morning star on their side, which is a reference to the Lord Himself as you can see in Revelation 22:16.

This was certainly the experience of Joseph, David, Daniel and Paul in their purpose work. It can be your experience too, if you are willing to pay the price.

SKILL

God does not promote potential; He promotes those who have developed their potential.  That potential not only includes skill but also character.  Are you willing to pay the price?  In my new book to be out this coming July, I list many people whom I call purpose heroes, those who became leaders because they were men and women of purpose, skill, character and integrity.  They ruled and still rule nations because they made an impact, men and women like George Washington Carver, Florence Nightengale, William Wilberforce, A. B. Simpson and Harriet Tubman. 

I don't know about you, but I want to be on that list someday.  I want to be the best writer, speaker, or coach possible.  I want to overcome the obstacles in myself and around me to serve before kings, to enjoy a measure of authority in my sphere and to have the morning star shining in my life in the dark times.  Will you join me?  Will you not just talk about greatness but devote your life to obtaining it as God helps you? 

The world is waiting for more sons and daughters of the King to rise up and rule now. Your purpose opens the door for you to do so.  I hope and pray you will be up to the task and that God will grant you favor as you seek to fulfill your purpose and extend His kingdom into the affairs of men.  Thanks and have a great week!

***************

KENYA:  I wrote a post about faith and the money for Kenya that you may want to read here. After you read it, you can give online through my website or by sending a check made out to PurposeQuest to PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.  Thank you for standing with me in this time of great opportunity.

541: Bread and a Stone

It's time once again to continue our look at the topic of purpose in the book of Revelation, a place few people think to look for it! In the first two installments of this seven-part series, I pointed out that the churches mentioned in Revelation were promised something if they were victorious overcomers. This week we look at the third promise for overcomers mentioned in chapter two:

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it (2:17).

BREAD AND A STONE

Those who overcome are here promised two things: manna from heaven and a new name written on a stone that no one else can see. This passage always causes me to think of purpose; let me explain why. When you find purpose, it is personal and intimate. Your purpose may not mean something to anyone else, it is special to you. It is your message from heaven that God knows you by name and has something for you to do that only you can do!

Once you engage that purpose, it is part of your spiritual sustenance, as we read about Jesus in John 4.  He sent the disciples off to get lunch and then spoke with the woman at the well who had been married five times.  When the disciples returned, Jesus was no longer hungry, which caused them to ask if He had gotten something to eat from another place: "Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, 'Rabbi, eat something.' But Jesus replied, 'I have a kind of food you know nothing about'" (John 4:31-32).

When you work in purpose, it can so energize you that you forget to eat, or find food (along with television and other diversions) less alluring. I have often wondered if the stress from a purposeless life is a cause for being overweight for some.

The first time I ever spoke on purpose in 1991, people wept openly as I talked. I recognized then and there that purpose was special, that it was the answer to so many human problems.  That is why I have continued to pursue purpose for myself and others since then.

HUNGRY?

Ultimately Jesus is the bread of life and satisfies our spiritual hunger completely.  Part of that satisfaction, however, is the assignment along with the gifts and calling He has for you.  Are you hungry to find them?  Are you hungry to fulfill them?  Then I urge you to be an overcomer, and work to overcome the fears and distractions that can slow you down or get you off track. God wants you to fulfill your purpose more than you do - that's why He gave it to you - so you can count on His help if you do your part.  And your part is to find that stone and eat that manna that will make your life special and complete.

Whatever price you have to pay to find purpose is worth it!  Don't give up, therefore, as you search and don't give up fulfilling it once you have found it.  If you press through, a heavenly stone and heavenly bread await.  Have a great week!

***************************

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST:  We received notice this week that our shipment to Kenya has been delayed in Durban, South Africa and may arrive while we are in Kenya in mid-March, or even later!  This is unacceptable for we are dedicating the library on Sunday, March 25 and need those books there by then.

So I am asking you to pray that God will work on our behalf and get those books there in plenty of time.  While you are praying, also lift up the financial needs.  We received about $350 last week, which is great and we are on our way toward finishing the $12,000 that we need (we have already raised $13,000).  If you can pray, please do.  If you can give, please do that as well.  You can give online through my website or by sending a check made out to PurposeQuest to PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.  Thank you for standing with me in this time of great opportunity. 

540: Play Without Fear

Last week I started a seven-part series on Purpose in the book of Revelation.  Most people go to Revelation to look for the Antichrist; I go to find purpose.  I think I have a better chance of achieving my objective, but I will leave that for another time.  If you missed last week's first installment, you can find it here.

DEATH

Each one of the seven churches in Revelation was promised some reward if they were faithful to overcome and be victorious.  "What were they to overcome?" you may be thinking and that is a valid question. We aren't really told, but there are clues in the promised reward.  This week, we look at the second promise for overcomers found in Revelation 2:11: "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death."

The second death is the final judgment when everyone who has not put their faith in Jesus will receive their eternal reward. Now if you are free from fear of the second death, you have been set free from the ultimate fear - separation from God and judgment. That means you also don't have to fear the first death, which is your physical one when you cease from this life.  If you are free of fear, then you should be able to live your life in a manner that sets you apart from those who are not free from that fear:

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (Hebrews 2:14-15).

PLAY WITHOUT FEAR

When I played basketball years ago, the worst opponent to have was one who played without fear. They were not afraid of getting hurt, taking a risk or playing aggressively. They always seemed one step ahead because they flowed without thought to personal harm or failure. We would say they played big no matter how tall they were. May I suggest that this is how you and I should live our lives?

We should be able to live without fear, for the greatest enemy death has been defeated through the cross of Christ. Yet I find fear still the major debilitating factor for most as they pursue purpose.  I know it is for me. 

When I write, I have to fight fear that I won't finish or it won't be a quality work. When I speak, I have to press through fear that I won't make sense. When I am in a restaurant, I am fearful to send my bad food back because I don't want the people to think poorly of me.  You get the picture; fear is my enemy and it is yours, too.  Fear of death is the ultimate one we have to deal with. The good news is that it has been dealt with for us.

Are you playing the game of life without fear? I hope you are learning to do so.  If not, you will always be looking over your shoulder for the next bad thing that can happen and you will play small.  I urge you to learn to play big and do the work that God created you to do.  Have a great week!

*****************

FREE PURPOSE SEMINAR:  I am hosting a purpose seminar next Saturday, February 18, from noon to 4:30 here in Pittsburgh.  If you are interested in attending, please write and let me know.

KENYA HELP:  THE Kenya trip is fast approaching and I need your help.  Please make a contribution today to help feed orphans and widows, and to establish libraries and learning centers in Kenya.  You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.  Thank you!

539: Your Garden Work

When I was in Zimbabwe last December, I taught on the topic of purpose in the book of Revelation. Now that's something I imagine you haven't heard anyone else try to do! Since I love risks, I thought I would take the next few weeks, seven to be exact, to share with you what I talked about there. If it doesn't work out, we can blame it on the Antichrist!

THE GARDEN

Jesus came to restore all things that were lost when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden. Before they sinned, our parents freely ate of the tree of life.  They had fellowship with God, purpose, creativity and the ability to work together as a team.  When they fell, they lost all that, or at least it was marred by their sin.

The evangelical church has emphasized, rightly so, that Jesus came to offer us forgiveness for sin and to restore our fellowship with God. The problem is that the message has stopped there. The church has done little to tell people, "Once your sins are forgiven, your fellowship with God also enables you to have purpose, be creative and work in a team with others."  Therefore believers forfeit much of the finished work of Christ due to ignorance. Their sins are forgiven but they are cut off from "the tree of life," which in part is purposeful, joyful work.

That brings us to the book of Revelation and to what I call your Garden Work.

THE TREE OF LIFE

The book of Revelation contains many references to familiar symbols from Old Testament, like the Temple, tabernacle, and covenant. This is to indicate that what was begun in the Old Testament was finished in the New through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  There are two important passages that indicate Jesus restored what was lost:

1. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7). 
2. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lambdown the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-2). 

So if the tree of life is once again available to God's people, then that means the conditions of the Garden have been restored and you are now free to pursue what I call your Garden Work, or purpose, because of the finished work of the cross.  Since God paid such a high price to restore your ability to flow in purpose, don't you think you should urgently be about finding and fulfilling it?

The message of Revelation is not one of fear, but of liberation. The Lamb is on the throne and reigns, and that means that we reign too.  Part of our royal rule is to function in purpose and finish our Garden Work under God's direction with your gifts and creativity once again rightly related to God. I hope this series helps you live in the fullness of Christ's work for your life.  Have a great week!

 ************************

FOOD FOR MIND AND BODY:  Our supplies are heading over to Kenya, and I am getting ready to go over on March 15 - but I need your help!  $550 came in last week so we are on our way to raising the second half of The Big Blessing $25,000 goal.  Read the latest from Pastor Peter in Kenya here (the picture at left is of two young men who are waiting for the library) and then please do what you can to help me provide food for minds and bodies over there. You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

WWJA: I started my latest daily devotional called What Would Jesus Ask? on January 1 and it is going well.  If you would like to check it out or subscribe to receive it every day, you can do either here.

MEMO INDEX:  Did you know that every Monday Memo I have ever written is on my website?  Did you also know that there is an index with the title, topic and biblical cross references for each Monday also on my site. To browse through any of the 538 prior Memos, you can go here.  Next month, the Memo turns 11 years old! 

ISRAEL 2013:  Just so you know, I have postponed my next trip to Israel until September, 2013. If you are interested in information when it is available, drop me a line and let me know.