The Heart: Baptized In Purpose

Summary Scripture:

2 Timothy 1:12

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

I want you to consider just how far pride will take you away from the righteousness of God. I am not even sure that I will be able to articulate what has been revealed to me in such a manner that you may understand. Nevertheless, I will surely try.

The foundation of God’s judgment is motive. Motive is that thing in one’s heart that initiates deeds or establishes mindsets. It seems to me that this is the most forgotten feature of our relationship with God. Many seem to forget that God is a discerner of the heart. Therefore, we tend to think that motives are hidden from the eyes of God. But God looks into our heart, discerns our motives and then judges. Nevertheless, the Holy Ghost is moving in the Body of Christ to purify the heart. It is the motives in the heart that determine our spiritual location. However, many have deceived themselves into believing their hearts are pure when in fact they are full of malice, offense and much iniquity. The Lord however, is faithful to reveal the contents of the heart. There will always be a situation, circumstance or relationship that will unfold and expose all.

A GULF OF SEPARATION

I found that there is a gulf that separates those who refuse to walk after the Spirit, from those who dare to do so. This gulf will not allow even leadership in ministry to move on one accord. But the more I sought to correct this or rather close the gulf of separation, the wider the gulf became. I needed to know how to articulate this to the leaders, for I knew that until the leaders come into the knowledge of the truth, they would never be able to lead the people into God’s rest. “What is this gulf of separation?” I asked God. This is His response.

THE BAPTISM OF THE HEART

Many of your leaders are not baptized in purpose. Now, this may sound ludicrous to you, but the Lord is right. Well, of course, the Lord is right. I could see what He meant by such a bold statement. Now, most of the leaders would argue, that if anything, they are baptized in purpose. They would submit to the discussion, their commitment to ministry, their weathering of the ministerial storms that have come through the ministry; and most of all, their submission to open rebuke and chastening. There seems to be no way that these leaders are not baptized in purpose considering their many sacrifices.

But the heart must be baptized in the purpose of God. Nothing should be able to move you from purpose if you are baptized in it. You too might quickly go to the place to say nothing moves me from purpose. But let us examine your walk to see if that is altogether true. The way the mind of a natural man, processes offenses, trauma, good or evil, should have no bearing as to the disposition the son of God will maintain. When the heart is baptized in purpose, the mind (soul), has no power in the decision-making process. The sons of God simply obey the leading of the Spirit. The same is true with opposition in ministry or physical infirmities.

The baptism of the heart into purpose is the drive that pushes the son of God beyond all circumstances, situations or relationships. The inclination to sin should not be able to deter you from purpose. In other words, the only reason a true son of God can remain in sin, or any negative disposition, is because they lose sight of purpose. Therefore, they do not have that strong rubber band that will readily snap them back into the righteousness of God.

PURPOSE BAPTISM

In the past, I have seen many leaders stop short of this baptism. Therefore, there comes great controversy or trauma in their walk with the Lord. Offenses, circumstances, situations even relationships, can simply knock them out and keep them outside of the boundaries of the Faith for long periods of time. But the deception is that even when they think they have overcome a situation, circumstance, or a relationship that is indeed what they did . . . they overcame that particular circumstance, situation or relationship. Another circumstance, situation or relationship is on the way and the same response is often rendered. The baptism of the heart into purpose allows you to overcome you. That is the difference. The “Purpose Baptism” is powerful enough to destroy the effect that situations, circumstances and relationships have on the flesh.

Purpose does not allow any mindset or response that is not Christ to become a permanent resident. It rebukes the mind of the flesh. The heart is not moved or disturbed by indecisiveness concerning the righteousness of a matter. Believe me, brothers and sisters, this is the key to walking in the Spirit. The heart must be converted and then baptized into purpose. The only way to achieve this baptism is to follow the same principle of water baptism. The candidate for baptism is not ready for such except they agree with the redemptive plan of God. In order to truly be baptized, one must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died for their sins. The same is true of the ‘Purpose Baptism.’ You must believe in every word that is spoken in the scriptures.