Harris Temple Outreach Ministry

Pastor, Supt. W.K. Ellison

March, 2008

God’s Divine Purpose

I was lying in bed praying one morning and some how I lost myself in prayer. The Spirit carried my mind back to how much God really loves us and the process He used to redeem man back to Him.

I started with years before His Son Jesus came into the world. The prophets of old prophesied about the coming Messiah and that He would come through the lineage of David. They caught a vision of this mighty Redeemer years before it happened. The Jews believe the Messiah was coming, but they were looking for a king that sat on a throne.

Then my mind dwelt on the preparation for the coming of Christ. You see God knows how to set everything in order. He made a way for His Son before He was born. God doesn’t do anything without a plan and a purpose. He can arrange and rearrange things: He is God.

He chose two people well stricken in age who both were righteous before God walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Zacharias and Elisabeth had no children because Elizabeth was barren. But one day Zacharias was busy doing his priestly duties at the temple and the angel of the Lord appeared to him with a message of hope, “Thy wife shall bear you a son and his name shall be called John.” (Luke 1)

But one thing I want you to remember, it might take years, but God never forgets your works and labour of love and He always keeps His promise.

I had never compared these two great miracles in this light. Six months later the angel appeared unto Mary and announced; “Hail thou art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women.” This was a very strange salutation, but it got her attention. In order for the Lord to move in our lives, He must first get our attention. This gave the angel to further proceed with his assignment. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his Father David.

Can you imagine a young Jewish virgin girl, engaged to be married to a well known citizen, of the house of David whose name of Joseph, hearing these words. Mary was so confused, she said unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” The angel was well prepared for his mission. His answered was: the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

God will not leave you hanging. The angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a dream, saying, Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (God’s Divine Purpose.) I noticed another thing; God kept it in the same blood line. Elizabeth and Mary were cousins.

John and Jesus spirits made connection in their Mother’s womb. The scripture says: And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, (which was the good news about her being pregnant with Jesus) the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

Then the Spirit directed my mind to the birth of Jesus. The focus was on when He was born they laid Him in a manger. The King of kings and Lord of lords was born in such a poor surrounding and then laid in a manger. By this time the presence of the Lord was so great, I couldn’t do nothing but praise the Lord.

I thought about God’s divine purpose. If he had been born in a mansion I wouldn’t have a chance. Only a certain class of people would be included in His circle. But by His humble birth, He could be our entire King.

The prophets prophesied hundreds of years concerning the coming of Jesus before it actual happened, but they never lost hope and stopped looking for Him to come. Yes some of the people believed He would come one way, but to a great surprise He came another way.

The same thing applies to our situation. God has a divine purpose for our lives. Yes many of us have prayed for some things to take place in our lives years ago and nothing has happened. We can’t lose hope. He might not come when we want Him to come, but He’ll be on time. Keep in mind His timing is not our timing, but He sees the whole picture, when we can see only in part.

God knows how to line everything up. As I said earlier, He knows how to arrange and rearrange. He moves in a way everyone will know that He is God. God waited until Elizabeth was old and barren to give them a child. With men this was impossible, but with God all things are possible. Maybe the things you are facing have been happening for many years and seemly the situation will never change, you feel it’s a lost deal, but Jesus came to bring life to the problems you are facing. When you have gone to your extreme, it’s just right for a miracle.

God works in an orderly manner. If there is more than one person involved, He contacts both parties. When the angel spoke to Mary, He also appeared to Joseph. When your blessing is coming from another source don’t worry, He has already made it good with the same source. So don’t be afraid to accept what the Lord says to you nor the way He is leading you, He always come through.

Years passed, it is now time for both John and Jesus to fulfill their purpose. John identified himself according to the scripture. For this is he that was spoken by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His path strait. The people saw all the good works John was doing. Many repented and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. When asked the question art thou the Christ or should we look for another, he could have easily left them wondering. But he stayed within his calling. He preached repentance. His words were: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

This was a good example, never pretend to be something you are not. Although you might be the person out front, but if are presenting someone else’s idea or plan just be honest and don’t take credit for it when others began to praise you. God is not glorified when we steal others ideas because of our ability to explain it successfully or have authority to make it happen. I find this happening too much among the people of God and also in the business world.

The bible then states: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to be baptized of him. John didn’t feel worthy to baptize Jesus, but Jesus said, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. The two had to fulfill their connection and purpose together. When Jesus was baptized, went up straight out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. John completed his purpose by finishing the work God had assigned him to do.

When Jesus was baptized and the Spirit was upon Him He was anointed for ministry. But first He had to have a wilderness experience. He was tempted by the devil, but He passed the test. When Jesus completed His purpose on earth, He ascended back to heaven and is now interceding for us. But because He completed His purpose, through His shed blood on the cross: we now can be delivered from our sins. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

( Hebrews 4:15-16)

Some years ago the Lord spoke to my heart about something seemly was impossible, but I held on to His Word. My son Elder Terry Ellison was working for a certain large company that hadn’t landed a contract in this particular area for over a period of time. This put the company in a bad position. They bidded for this large contract; it really meant life or death for the company. My son had asked me to pray. One Morning I was on my knees praying about it and the Lord spoke to me and said they have the contract. I told Terry what the Lord said, he believed and told the people in the office and they began to call around and spread the good news, Terry’s Mom was praying and the Lord told her we have the contract.

Don’t think the devil leave when God send a word of promise. Did I fear? Yes for a moment the “what ifs” came to my mind, but I remembered God doesn’t lie no matter how impossible it seems. The end result was they receive the contract. It’s the devil’s job to try to make you doubt what God says to you, but rejoice and be glad He has chosen you to work through. Consider yourself blessed and highly favoured.

God doesn’t always work that quick for me. He has a divine purpose for everything He does. He works in the frame work of His time period, but we must keep the faith. Some things God promised I had to wait for years before it was performed. But when it came to pass it was far greater than my expectation. On the other hand some things God promised me years ago I’m still waiting and trusting Him to do them. I can’t give up because in due season I shall reap if I faint not.

May God bless you and be assured that God’s Word is good.