We all love to hear the good news of a new life entering the world; it warms our hearts and brings a smile to our face as we get a first glimpse of these gorgeous miracles... there’s just something about a new birth that gets you pondering.
Yesterday, after hearing the good news of a birth, I started to think about the terms ‘arrival’ and ‘delivery’ that are often used to describe the beginning of a baby’s life outside the womb. As adults, we all know that a baby is not just dropped on your doorstep as the stork fable would suggest. When we rejoice that a baby has arrived and/or been delivered, it actually marks the end of a process (9+ months of pregnancy plus labour), and the start of a lifetime. Although when the baby arrives we look in awe and admiration at their tiny but perfectly formed body and features, the reality is, this new life did not just start to exist the moment it became visible to all. No. In order for this baby to exist for all to see, he/she had to already exist for MONTHS in their mother’s womb.
For me, this analogy perfectly depicts how God prepares us to step into our calling i.e. birth our purpose. In order for your purpose to be manifested for all to see, it must first exist on the inside of you. If there’s nothing in you, then what exactly is there to be birthed? “Purpose without identity leads to activities”, as my mentor would say.
In order for the Lord to release you into your calling, who He desires you to be must first be formed on the inside. The Christ in you must already exist, must already be developed, before He can be revealed to all. This is just the way God works. His order is and always has been for that which is seen to be birthed from the unseen. Invisible to visible. Inside to out... Purpose is not something that you just start doing, it is something that is birthed out of you naturally supernaturally.
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)
The Apple Tree
An apple tree produces apples because it is an apple tree. Even before it produced it’s first apples it was still an apple tree; however, the completion of its process allows for its identity to be revealed so that others might benefit. This is really what we’re talking about when it comes to purpose - impacting the lives of others... or in other words, multiplication. Everyone has an innate desire to be impactful, to multiply, as this was mankind’s commission from God from the beginning. The thing is, we cannot do this without fruit. To try to multiply without fruit is to be like the apple tree that never produces apples but is used to make benches, chairs and tables. Yes, it accomplished much work, but one is life giving and can continue to reproduce, whilst the other leads to the end of a life cycle.
Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground." (Genesis 1:28, NLT)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV)
In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples. (John 15:8, NKJV)
Don’t abort your process
We live in a generation where natural abortion is rife; however, the reality is, this is only a reflection of the plethora of abortions that take place spiritually. Most are not interested in the fruit that God desires to birth in them, but solely about their own lives and outward achievements. The truth is, because of free will and because God gives us each gifts without repentance (Romans 11:29), it is possible to “accomplish” many things in life yet never fulfil your calling. The call of God is something that must grow in you and exist internally before it can be observed outwardly. The call of God is never just about you and your success, but about others. The call of God can only be accomplished if you are firstly the right vessel.
This is not a popular message, especially in a day of instant fame and public platforms. But God’s principles are seen in all of creation. Every plant and every creature only ever multiplies after its own kind. Therefore, if we are not first fruitful, we may be able to accomplish, but we will never be able to multiply and give life.
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. (Genesis 1:11, KJV)
The 3 stages of purpose
Every person who desires more than just accolades, but to actually fulfil God’s call for their life will experience the following 3 stages:
Invisibly pregnant - this is the first stage, where you know you are pregnant, but nobody will be able to see it. You will know you have a calling, know who God has said you will be, but this will not be evident outwardly and therefore, people will treat you as though you were not pregnant.
Visibly pregnant - At this stage, the fact that you are pregnant is now glaringly obvious; however, what your baby will look like is yet to be seen. Other people can see that you have a calling; however, there is still no manifestation of that promise. What you are pregnant with is still a mystery, and the appointed time has not yet arrived.
Arrival - This is the manifestation. This is where you and others finally get to see that which God placed in you all along. God already knew who you would be and what you would do, but now is the appointed time. Now is a lifetime of walking in what the Lord has prepared you for, going from glory to glory and strength to strength, multiplying for the glory of the King.
Conclusion
I wrote this post as a reminder and encouragement for the person who knows they are called but is yet to see the manifestation of this. Whether you are invisibly pregnant or whether your pregnancy is now evident, but you are yet to see the manifestation, I want you to know that Abba loves you, He sees you and He is proud of you. Your suddenly is coming and He will not disappoint.
“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.” (John 16:20-21, NLT) [emphasis mine]
The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22, NLT)
The process before you get to rejoice at the arrival can feel like forever; however, should you choose to endure, the joy awaiting you is wonderful.
For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT)
Keep enduring and I’ll see you on the other side x
If you were blessed by this post, please leave me a comment below and/or share it with someone else.
In His love always,
Torema xXx
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