Our text today is taken from Mark 6:22-26 (please read). Let’s take two verses, “[23] And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. [24] And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.”
On Herod’s birthday, his daughter from his brother’s wife whom Herod married came and danced in his honour. King Herod was so pleased that he promised to give her whatever she would ask for, up to half of his kingdom. She obviously had no vision for her life so she ran to her mother, Herodias to ask her what she should ask the king for. She depended on her mother to decide what to ask for when the King gave her a blank cheque to ask for anything. Because she had no vision, her mother used her to take vengeance on her perceived enemy the Prophet John. This is pathetic!
In the same vein, God has promised to you the kingdom, but what do you ask for in your prayers? Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” It will surprise you that many believers are still spending days and months in prayer asking for the head of their enemies because they have no vision or goals for their lives. This is part of the grand scheme of the enemy to defraud the church of its inheritance.
Why ask for the head of your mother’s enemy, not even your enemy, when you can have half of your heavenly Father’s kingdom? Why spending so much time praying for the head of one witch in your father’s house when you should be praying for industries, estates, properties, etc., in Abuja, Lagos, London, Paris, New York, California, and other parts of the US! Why spend all your life praying against witches trying to stop you from getting married when you should be asking for a husband or wife with whom you can build a dynasty!
Why turn stone to bread when you are the bread of life? Why accept the riches of the earth when you can own heaven and earth? Why spend your time on the cross cursing your enemies when you will soon be given a name that is above every name, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth!” Philippians 2:10
Why cry for a plate of food when the birthright and the entire blessing of Abraham is waiting for you? Why beg for swine food when servants in your father’s house eat proper balanced food and have enough to spare!
What happens to people who have no vision?
1. They waste opportunities. Decide ahead of time what you want to accomplish in life so that you will know what to ask for when the opportunity comes.
2. They pursue the wrong things. You will chase shadows if you don’t know what you want in life. Others will decide for you if you cannot decide for yourself.
3. They pursue worthless things; things that are of no benefit to them. This girl did not need the head of a prophet. It had no value to her.
4. They are used by others to achieve their selfish ends. If you are being used by others it’s because you don’t know what you want and how to get it.
5. They perish. The Bible says those who have no vision end up disastrously. Proverbs 29:18
What Goals Should You Set?
God sets goals. He sets goals for individuals. He sets goals for Himself. He sets goals for nations. He sets goals for the church.
A typical example is found in the redemption, freedom, and taking the children of Israel from Egypt through the wilderness to the promised land.
Luke 12:29, “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. [30] For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. [31] But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Stop praying only for a plate of food or small things, go for the kingdom. Go for the big picture! Jesus was not concerned about the hunger He was feeling at the moment, He was focused on the big picture; the task of saving the world! Esau should never have lost sight of the big picture; the birthright.
Here is what we have never been taught: has it occurred to you that the present challenge in your life could be a big distraction away from the big picture? This is the strategy the enemy has used successfully over the years to keep people in lack and bondage. It could be a sickness, loss of a job, house rent, matrimonial challenges, failure to get married, failure to have children after many years of marriage, friends leaving you, etc. And all your attention is focused on dealing with that challenge and you lose sight of the big picture and you stop chasing it. You have just been scammed by the devil!
Vision Preservation and Destiny Recovery
One of the saddest stories in the Bible is found in Genesis 25:33-34! Esau sold his birth right to his younger brother because of hunger! Unbelievable; he gave up something permanent for something temporary! It was a legitimate transaction. Jacob did not steal the birth right; he bought it! The Bible says, “Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:34.
The lesson here is that what you don’t respect you don’t attract. What you don’t value you can’t keep! If you do not value your destiny, someone will buy it cheaply. Frankly, nothing is worth selling your destiny for!
1. Pray that God will reveal your assignment to you. Pray that God will reveal the big picture to you, pray that God will give you access to kingdom inheritance, kingdom wealth and abundance!
Set big goals with the help of the Holy Spirit, but start small.
Goalsetting is a vital requirement for success in life. Unfortunately, most people do not set goals. And when they do, they abandon it quickly when they run into obstacles.
The enemy uses four things to stop you from achieving your goals. Distraction, distortion, delay, and destruction.
2. Pray for solution to your present challenge but don’t allow it to overshadow the big picture. Jesus fixed the ear that Peter cut off, He prayed for forgiveness for His persecutors and killers. He refused to be distracted from the big picture of saving the world.
3. You can tender the blood of Jesus and take back everything the enemy has taken from you. It is an unquestionable and sufficient price for redemption and restoration!
Your destiny will not be highjacked by others; it will not be wasted! You will not miss or waste your opportunities, in Jesus name!!
Bishop Dr. Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l.
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