The Monday Memo from John Stanko

545: Training for Reigning

Greetings from Kenya!  The hotel Internet was down yesterday, so I could not send you this last installment from my series on Purpose in Revelation. It is back up now, so let’s finish up this topic and be ready to move on to something else next week.  If you missed the first six entries, you can read them here. This week we look at Revelation 3:21 and what Jesus promised the seventh church if they became overcomers: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

A MAN OF PURPOSE

Jesus was a man of purpose.  He came to earth on a specific mission, which perhaps is best summarized in Luke 19:10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” The interesting thing is that Jesus has ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He continues to fulfill His purpose.  He is still seeking and still saving.

Heaven for Jesus is not a place of idleness or worship.  It is a place of purposeful work.  If that is the case for Jesus, then it will certainly be the same for you and me.  We will find our purpose here and will continue our purpose there.  I don't know exactly how that will happen, but in the new heaven and earth, you and I will still be people of purpose.

When Jesus returned from the dead, He had full memory of what had happened to Him.  In some sense, His years prior to His death were the foundation for His reign after His resurrection.  What you are going through now will serve as the same for you. That is why Jesus is working in your life now, to prepare you for your purpose work here and in the hereafter.  In other words, you are going through training now so you can be reigning both now and then.

PAY THE PRICE

What will it take for you to be victorious and earn the right to reign with Jesus?  What must you overcome?  There are certainly obstacles without and within, but the rewards for overcoming both are fantastic! I pray that God will strengthen you this week to set a course for reigning that will empower you to succeed. I went back to school at the age of 57 to earn another degree and saw it as part of my training for reigning.  I write every day because that is part of my training for reigning.  i am Kenya now with a team of others, because that is part of my training for reigning. I think you get the idea.

I want to pay the price to be a great leader, empowered by God's grace to reign now and later. I invite you to join me in this magnificent journey.  Jesus' throne is wide, there is plenty of room for everyone, so let's get on with the task of purpose and see where it takes us now and in the age to come.  Thank you, and have a great week!

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KENYA UPDATE:  There is still time to give to the Kenya project as you can read here.  You can also follow my travel blog while here in Kenya at this link.  Please follow along, pray, and then give to help the children. Pictured at left are the bosy of the Each One Touch One Orphanage that we visited last Saturday (with Pastor Jeremiah Thomas). Help me to help and feed them! 

Also I will be holding a Purpose Profiling Seminar here in Nairobi on Saturday, March 31 in partnership with Irene Mureithi of Royal and Rich.   I hope to see my Kenyan friends there.

544: Pillars

Next week I will be in Nairobi and will finish the Purpose in Revelation series there.  For now, let's look at part six of this seven-part series, the first five of which you can read here, in case you missed them.  By the way, I have two Kenya updates below, so make sure you catch them when you are finished.

STEADFAST

The Lord promised something to every church in Revelation that was an overcomer.  This week we look at the promise to become a pillar in temple of God: 

The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name (Revelation 3:12).

Who doesn't want to be steadfast in the things of the Lord?  I know I do, but steadfastness isn't simply consistency. It is being faithful and strong in times of trouble and shaking. I don't know anything that makes your more steadfast than your purpose, for it is so important to you that you cannot stop pursuing its successful expression.

Notice that the Lord partners with those who overcome in this instance and He makes them a pillar in God's temple.  When God strengthens you to be a pillar, God makes sure that you will be a source of support and strength for many. I find this again to be true of purpose, for you often have almost supernatural strength to flow in purpose.  It's not that you don't get tired; you just don't get fatigued.

ARE YOU A PILLAR?

Are you a pillar in life?  Do some or many depend on you to function and flow in your purpose?  When you do, do you sense God's presence and strength helping you do what you did not think you could do?  That has been my experience in purpose and it's always special.

I hope I have been a pillar these last 11 years as almost every Sunday night I sat down to write the Monday Memo.  I hope I have been a pillar as I finished my verse-by-verse New Testament Bible studies.  I hope I have been a pillar as I attempt to produce the best possible material to help others find purpose. In other words, I hope God considers me steadfast in the work He has given me to do.

Will you join me in being a pillar?  One pillar can't hold up a very big building, but many of us can support the work of God in His temple.  Let's devote ourselves to being pillars and allow God to make us strong as we go about our purpose business.  Thank you and have a great week!

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LAST CALL FOR THE BIG BLESSING!:  We have $6,513 to go to reach our goal of $25,000.  The deadline is this Thursday.  Do what you can, but do it quickly!  The children and widows are waiting. You can still send a check (just let me know if you do) to PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882 or give through my website. Thanks for enduring with me these last six months as I worked to raise this money. 

PRAYER REQUEST:  The container with our books has been delayed in South Africa.  Please pray for its release.

543: A Prayer Partner

The Monday Memo turns 11 years old this month.  I would love to think of some special way to celebrate with you, so if you have any thoughts of anything I can do, let me know. I wish I could throw an online party.  Maybe I can and just don't know how.

We are well into this series on the topic of purpose in the book of Revelation.  If you are just joining in, you can read the past four entries here and then proceed to read this one, which is number five.

PRAYER PARTNER

Jesus promised something to each church in Revelation if and only if they were overcomers.  That means that each church and the people in them had obstacles and challenges in life. Those problems came (and come) to help you learn more about yourself and more about Him and His faithfulness.  For the fifth church, this is what Jesus promised:

The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 3:5-6).

Jesus is in heaven, and He is not singing or just sitting around.  He is busy and one thing He is doing is praying for you! He promises to maintain the presence of your name in heaven once you have turned your life over to him and seek to serve Him in your generation.

Can you imagine anything more glorious?  Jesus knows your name and mentions it in heaven before the Father and the angelic host. Your name is being proclaimed in heavenly places.

If that's true, and we know it is, then what are you doing and how are you acting?

PRAYER LIFE

Jesus wants you to fulfill your purpose more than you do.  Perhaps that is why He told His disciples three times in John's gospel that He would give them whatever they asked in His name (see John 14:12-14, 15:7, and 15:16).  That being true, what are you asking the Lord to do?  Are you asking Him for great things, help that will enable you to fulfill your purpose, or are you playing it safe and asking for little or nothing? Are you taking advantage of the fact that you have a prayer partner in heaven, or are you cowering in fear, afraid you are asking for too much, thus asking too little?

The promise to this church was heavenly prayer power, and that power is available to you.  Are you using it?  I urge you to have big dreams tied to your purpose and then pray big prayers to match those dreams. Then watch your heavenly prayer Agent move heaven and earth to help you do what only can be done in partnership with the One who went ahead to assume His place as a heavenly Intercessor.  Have a great week!

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DON'T BE AFRAID!: $1,600 came in last week for Kenya, so I now need less than $10,000 by March 15 for The Big Blessing Kenya fund. If you have thought of making a gift but were afraid it was too big or too little, I urge you to act on what your heart is telling you to do.  If nothing else, take the lesson from this week's Memo and pray that he money will come in or that God will give you a big gift that you can give.  Test the truth of what I wrote this week and see if it's true.

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 but hurry, the time is fast approaching for my departure and I have to get the cash together to take with me.

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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.