Are you looking for purpose, direction and impact?  Life Internship at River of Life might be the program you need to set your life’s course!  Applications are now being accepted for the upcoming 2010/2011 session.  For more information, please visit LifeInternship.org or pick up an L.I. brochure at the Information Center in the lobby. 

God did not save you just to keep you out of hell. He also saved you so you could partake in the inheritance He has for you. This inheritance is not just for the life to come, but for the life you are living right now.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”  -1 John 5:4,5

I’d like to point out something from this verse that is very interesting. Do you notice that the verse states whatever (not whoever) is born of God overcomes the world? The stress here is not the new birth, but rather what has been begotten - or birthed - since you have been born again. In other words, when God causes you to be born again He also generates some wonderful dreams and visions within your heart. He wants you to fulfill your purpose in life. 
       
It isn’t until you are born again that you can begin to discover God’s real purpose for you in life. Once you understand this, there is nothing that can stop you. Once you are aware of what is begotten by God in you, your drive and passion to know Him will be unstoppable!

Before I was saved I had a vision for my life, and that was to be a martial arts instructor. For about five years, I had studied three to four times a week for four hours at a time and loved it. Whenever Joyce and I would go to the movies, it was always to see a martial arts movie. My poor wife put up with a lot in those days! The desire I had for my life affected my eating habits, my free time, basically my whole life - but once I gave my life over to Jesus, suddenly I noticed that I didn’t have the heart for studying and training like I did before. I remember so clearly the day the Lord spoke to me about this. I was on my way to class in Seattle’s Chinatown, and the Lord spoke to me. He said, ‘If you go tonight, you’re going to get hurt.’ In those days we didn’t have all the protective gear that’s out today. I had just paid one month’s tuition; but instead of going to class, I turned off the freeway and went home. I’ve never gone back.

I began to pursue what God had called me to, and that is to teach his people about faith. Since I have followed God’s will for my life, I have led thousands to Christ and have been blessed to pastor one of the greatest churches in the Pacific Northwest. God has allowed me to witness and partake in many miracles and see much fruit come to pass, and it is all because of what he birthed within me when I gave my life to Jesus.
You may be thinking, ‘Well that’s nice God’s done all that for you, but I’m just an ordinary person.’ Stop right there! Back up the truck! You are not ordinary - you are a new creature in Christ Jesus! You are one-of-a-kind and you are specially made to do God’s will in your life! Hook up to what God is doing in your heart and God will hook you up to His plans for your life.

I love what the scriptures say in Ephesians 3:20. It says God is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.”

Begin thinking bigger than you ever thought before. If you’re not excited yet, check your Exciter - it may be broken! I’m only kidding. God loves you and so do I, so start following after that dream which has been begotten in you today!

One of the common mistakes we make when we pray is praying out of tradition rather than out of the clear teaching found in God’s Word.  Some people think if we ask God over and over again, He will eventually grant our requests.

Jesus said,

“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7)

Rather than do that, let’s do what Jesus taught in Mark 11:24,

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Believe you receive, and then you shall have what you have asked for. But in order for this spiritual principle to work, we must search the scriptures until we find the will of God. God’s Word is His will.  Pray according to the promises found in God’s Word, believing you have already received, and it shall be given to you – in other words, your requests will be manifested.  Isn’t that exciting, wonderful news? Let’s seek out God’s promises for us, pray according to His Word, and begin to receive His incredible blessings.