You walk in your gifts naturally…but you have not found your Kingdom purpose nor your Kingdom calling. It’s hard to be excited about life if you don’t know why you are here and where you are going. It all seems pointless and hopeless. Like, “This is as good as it gets, so just get used to it.” That’s a lie that many people believe to be true.

As a result, many try to bury themselves in work or material pursuits, thinking that activities or things will bring them joy, peace, fulfillment and contentment. But ultimately, it doesn’t. It still leaves them empty and desiring more. Some try to self-medicate with drugs, alcohol, and other adrenaline or euphoric inducing experiences. But that doesn’t work either…because the feelings always leave as the “high” goes down or the “fog” clears, and reality kicks back in. And others simply give up on life all together, and that’s when depression and suicidal thoughts begin to consume them.

Many people in life are empty and defeated. They are simply “going through the motions” of life because that’s what we’re supposed to do. They are without true lasting joy, peace, contentment, fulfillment, and purpose. Life is NOT supposed to be lived that way, but so many do because they do so without God’s presence in their life.

Even when life throws “junk” our way, God commands us to count it as “joy” (James 1:2-4), be of “good cheer”(John 16:33), to “glory” in it (Romans 5:3-5), and walk in “peace” (John 16:33, Philippians 4:6-7). Why would He give us such commands, if it were impossible to obtain? He can’t legitimately command us to do something that we aren’t physically capable of doing. Jesus is not speaking to the “world” or the “lost” when He gives these orders…He’s speaking to those who have been “born again” (John 3:3-5) into the Kingdom of God and are now the adopted children of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14-17).

Those living outside the Kingdom must try to manufacture or create their own joy, their own peace, their own contentment, their own fulfillment and their own purpose. It’s really hard work and lacks longevity. We can only sustain any one of those traits temporarily for a short period of time…before life throws us another “curve ball” and knocks us right back down. Jesus gives the order to those “spiritually born” into the Kingdom, because we have the power of the Holy Spirit and the tangible love of God to provide us with His joy, His peace, His contentment, His fulfillment and His purpose.

The scriptures say,

“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” – James 2:19

Demons believe in God, that doesn’t make them Christian or saved. Simply believing in God does NOT mean they have been saved by Jesus’ death on the cross. One can believe in God and Jesus Christs’ death and resurrection, and still be condemned and denied access to heaven.

“Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity [“lawlessness”].’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.” – Luke 13:23-28

These are not the Atheists, the Scientologists, the Buddhists, the devil worshipers, etc. that Jesus is referring to in this story. These are people who “expect” to go to heaven…they DO believe in God, they DO pray, they DO read their bibles, they DO try to be good people. More specifically…these are self-professing “Christians” that Jesus is talking about. There will be “many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” These people are ”seeking” to enter…that means they believe in God and think they have a place for them in heaven. Non-believers, like Atheists, devil worshipers, etc. will not be “seeking” to enter a heaven they don’t believe in.

If you are lacking true joy, peace, contentment, fulfillment, and purpose, it’s because you lack that intimate personal relationship with God. You know who He is, but you have not yet encountered Him on a personal and intimate level. Luke 13 said, “He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from?” Even though they physically walked along side Jesus in the streets while He went about preaching, they even ate and drank with Him, and God still said, “Who are you? I don’t know you.” That is because while they were acquainted with Jesus, with God, they did not have a personal relationship WITH Him. They were just another face on the streets. That’s the relationship so many “Christians” have with God…just another face who shows up for a few church services, reads the bible sometimes, prays when they can and tries to be a nice human being. They are just another face in the crowd. God does not KNOW them. If God does not KNOW you, you will NOT be let into the Kingdom even though you believe He exists.  Back to James 2:19 “Even the demons believe”, but we all know they certainly aren’t getting into heaven.

1. CONFESS & REPENT: With all humility and vulnerability, you must verbally (spoken out loud) bring EVERYTHING before the throne of God.

You must acknowledge EVERY SINGLE SIN you can remember…big or small (in your eyes). And not just surface level sins…EVERYTHING. And then, acknowledge the fact that because of those sins, you have now racked up SO MUCH pending judgement against you in God’s eyes…because of your rebelliousness to such a gracious God who was willing to die for you without a 2^nd thought.

This means sins like:

…knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death,”- Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 1:29-32

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16

2. ACKNOWLEDGE & APOLOGIZE: Realize what Christ did on the cross…He laid down HIS life and took YOUR punishment for YOUR countless list (from A-Z) of sins. He took lashes and whippings for YOUR lies. He took punches for YOUR bitterness and unforgiveness towards others. He took kicks for YOUR idolatry of things or people that you gave more attention to than Him. He took being spat upon and cursed for YOUR foul language. He took thorns and bruises for YOUR drunkenness. He took nails and torment for YOUR sexual immorality. EVERYTHING Christ suffered for was NOT for things HE did…it was for the things YOU did. And yet He STILL chose to give HIS life to save yours…because He loves you IN SPITE of your mistakes, your failures, your rebellion. He unconditionally loves you in spite of knowing who you are and what you’ve done.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

“God… now commands all men everywhere to repent” – Acts 17:30

3. BORN AGAIN & SPIRIT FILLED: Jesus said, “You must become “born again” to enter the Kingdom of God.” This is NOT water baptism. Water baptism is an outward demonstration of the “old” you dying and the “new” you being raised up with Christ, having been washed clean of your sins by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Being “born again” and baptized in water are two separate acts for two separate functions.

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?… Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’… born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8

Being “born again” takes place after you have confessed and repented of your sins, made a conscious decision to pursue God’s will, and declared that Jesus Christ is YOUR personal Lord and Savior. Now…that you ARE forgiven of your sins and washed clean by the blood shed of Christ on the cross, you must verbally (out loud) invite God’s Holy Spirit to enter your body and renew your heart and transform your mind. By requesting God’s Holy Spirit to fill you up, you are inviting God’s Holy Spirit to work in you and transform you from the inside out into what God has called you to become.

”Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out…and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God… says the Lord God.” – Ezekiel 11:19-20

“I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of [you] and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them…you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses”.  – Ezekiel 36:25-29

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead… through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ,”  – Hebrews 13:20-21

 “…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” – Philippians 1:6

“…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13

“…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2

Without God’s Holy Spirit indwelling us, living inside us, we will always lack true joy, peace, contentment, fulfillment, and purpose. God gives us His purpose, fills us with His Spirit to empower us, comfort us, and complete us…no matter our circumstances. Without His Holy Spirit, we are spiritually dead.

”For those who live according to the flesh [“world”] set their minds on the things of the flesh [“world”], but those who live according to the Spirit [“God”], the things of the Spirit [“God”]. For to be carnally [fleshly or “wordly”] minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity [“enemies”] against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh [“world”] cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh [“world”], to live according to the flesh [“world”]. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…”– Romans 8:5-17

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19

The only reason I felt compelled to write these things, apart from God placing it on my heart to do so, is found in a scripture God put in my heart for my loved ones a while back, and it’s still a constant prayer for my friends and family.

“But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish [“religious”] people, as well as from the Gentiles [“wordly”], to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”’- Acts 26:16-18

I apologize if this all seems very “harsh” in my being so direct. Take comfort in knowing that the Apostle Paul had to make a similar acknowledgment to the people in Corinth after giving them “hard to hear” information in the hopes of leading them to true repentance and salvation. 

”For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle [“letter”] made you sorry, though only for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” – 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

I see so much unnecessary internal suffering in loved ones who “believe in God”, but don’t KNOW God. I want everyone to experience the peace and joy found in the presence of God in their daily lives…whether life is going good or when it’s not.