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SUNDAY SERVICE July 8, 2007
Romans 8:28 AMP 28We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose WE HAVE TO LIVE LIFE ACCORDING TO OUR PURPOSE—ON PURPOSE! IF WE DON’T LIVE LIFE ON PURPOSE, WE WILL LIVE LIFE BY ACCIDENT AND WE DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT. WE DON’T WANT TO LIVE FROM ONE “OOPS” TO ANOTHER. We have to do more than just survive from day to day (although, if we don’t survive today, we’re not going to be around to serve God tomorrow). WE HAVE TO LIVE—ON PURPOSE! To live on purpose, we have to know that we were created for a purpose! WITHOUT A SENSE OF PURPOSE, LIFE IS DEPRESSING. HERE ARE SOME DEFINITIONS OF PURPOSE: The object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal: 1: an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions;
2: what something is used for
3: the quality of being determined to do or achieve something
Does your life have a purpose beyond eating, sleeping, taking care of yourself, work, raising a family, and having fun? Most companies have a statement of purpose, Ministries have a mission statement, and each of us needs to know what his or her life purpose is. This is something that is given by God. Our goals may change as we get more direction and revelation, but our life purpose remains the same. Do you know what your life purpose is? To have power in your life, you must discover what that purpose is. YOU WERE CREATED FOR A PURPOSE. FOR YOUR LIFE TO BE FULFILLING YOU NEED TO BE FULFILLING YOUR PURPOSE. HERE IS A SCRIPTURE THAT CONTAINS A TREMENDOUS MESSAGE. It’s in Deuteronomy 6:23 and we often overlook it. . 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. This is a description of why God brought the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. His purpose was not just to bring them out—it was to bring them in. It may seem obvious to us but it wasn’t to them and, because of that, they wandered for 40 years and a whole generation perished in the desert. They even thought that God had brought them out to kill them in the wilderness and they murmured and complained until every adult except Joshua and Caleb had died. It was only the next generation that got in. They had no vision and they perished. WITHOUT A VISION OF YOUR PURPOSE----you cannot really live! PROVERBS 29:18 KJV 18Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. NASB 18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
NIV 18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. NEW LIVING TRANS 18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. YOUNG’S LITERAL TRANSLATION…18Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness! AMPLIFIED 18Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.(A) MESSAGE BIBLE 18 If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves ;But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. NOW, I USED TO THINK THAT EVERYONE HAD TO KNOW THEIR INDIVIDUAL PURPOSE. WELL, I STILL DO, BUT I HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT TODAY THAN I DID YESTERDAY. EVERY ONE OF US HAVE THE SAME GENERAL PURPOSE AND WE DON’T HAVE TO KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL DETAILS IN ORDER TO FUNCTION. THAT WILL COME AS WE FOLLOW GOD’S PATH. OUR PURPOSE—EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US—IS TO … 1. GLORIFY GOD 2. WORSHIP GOD 3. SERVE GOD 4. BE FISHERS OF MEN 5. FEED GOD SHEEP 6. be holy WE EACH WILL DO THIS IN THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DO. WITHIN OUR PURPSOSE, WE EACH HAVE A PURPOSE AND THAT WILL BECOME CLEAR AS WE LOVE, SERVE, AND FOLLOW GOD. Here is an example of general purpose verses individual purpose and function. I have to admit that, when I first thought of examples, the first thing to come to my mind was a toilet. But, I decided to go with a kitchen sink because I can get a bit more detailed without getting into a whole lot of trouble and grossing everyone out. THE PURPOSE OF A KITCHEN SINK IS TO GET DISHES, POTS AND PANS, AND SILVERWARE CLEAN. IT’S FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE WATER TO DO THAT. A kitchen towel and dishwashing detergent have the same purpose but they each have different functions. The sink has a basin and a spigot (spout). You can’t store dishes in the spout and you can’t have water flowing out of the sink. Well, you can, but then you’re going to have a flood. You can’t rinse dishes with detergent or a towel. You can’t dry dishes with a spout and detergent. You get the point. They all work toward the same purpose but they have different functions. Jesus had a purpose: to do God’s will…the same is true for us.
John 6:38 Amplified Bible
To save mankind Matthew 18:11 "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. HE DID NOT LET ANYTHING SWAY HIM OR DIVERT HIM FROM THAT PUPOSE: John 12:27 Amplified Bible Now My soul is troubled and distressed, and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour [of trial and agony]? But it was for this very purpose that I have come to this hour [that I might undergo it]. Human beings often get diverted because life presents so many distractions. It might be interesting to have a prayer journal and write down what God puts on our hearts to do—then go back and see if it ever got done. It might also be interesting to discover exactly what came up and distracted us so that it never got done. WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR DISTRACTIONS, DETOURS, DECOYS. GOD HAS A PERFECT WILL FOR US AND ANYTHING ELSE IS SECOND BEST. SATAN WILL DISTRACT IS WITH GOOD THINGS BECAUSE “GOOD” IS THE ENEMY OF “BEST”. Once again, Every Believer has a general purpose and message: WE’RE MINISTERS OF RECONCILIATION AND PRIESTS OF GOD. WE MINISTER TO PEOPLE AND WE MINISTER TO GOD. THAT’S WHAT PRIESTS DO. AND WE’RE ROYAL BECAUSE WE ARE CHILDREN OF THE KING. 1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. You and I are here to proclaim Jesus---to call people to God---to be ambassadors. But, beyond that we have an INDIVIDUAL purpose, and a unique Life Message. You can't separate your purpose from the Love of Jesus. Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. WE ARE ALL FISHERS OF MEN! Some people are called to special evangelistic ministries but EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US WHO ARE BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO EVANGELIZE—TO LEAD PEOPLE TO JESUS. EVERY BELIEVER IS GOING TO HAVE CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES. WE ARE NOT CALLED TO STAGNATE! IN ORDER TO FULFILL YOUR PURPOSE AND DESTINY, GOD IS CHANGING YOU DAY BY DAY, HOUR BY HOUR. 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. You cannot accept things the way they are. You are always in transition---being conformed to His Image in order to fulfill your Purpose. You won’t fulfill your purpose in total isolation. You need people—GOOD PEOPLE! WE ARE EACH A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. If I’m an “arm”, I would look pretty funny trying to walk and talk. I could not stay alive if I wasn’t connected to the rest of the body. PURPOSE IS MADE CLEARER BY COUNSEL: Proverbs 20:18 AMPLIFIED Purposes and plans are established by counsel; and [only] with good advice make or carry on war. PROVERBS 15: 22 AMPLIFIED Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished. The right people can help you get to your purpose. The wrong people can keep you from it. RIGHT PEOPLE: God’s people, positive people, people who bring out the best in you—who will tell you the truth even if it makes you angry with them.
Proverbs 27:6 King James Version
WRONG PEOPLE: Ungodly people who are negative and bring out the worst in you—who will flatter you and withhold the truth. They don’t care enough to confront you. You need to find and fit in with god’s plan for you. Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. There is a deliberate plan that God has set for you to fulfill your destiny. The greatest wisdom you will ever find is when you are walking IN HIS WISDOM FOR YOUR LIFE! Wisdom is always connected with purpose. So are blessings and giftings. Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.
What are your core essential dreams? That's the direction your works and ministry should take. Don't spread yourself thin doing a lot of things you shouldn't be doing; concentrate on what you need to be doing to fulfill your purpose. Also, you can't stay in the same position forever---you have to move on. You don't want do keep doing something just because everyone else is doing it. You want to finish your course. Your best constantly changes. You grow and learn, so aspire to giving more and more every day. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE MESSAGE? It's the thing that pervades everything you do in your ministry and message. My message always involves Hope and Destiny and LIFE FROM THE DEAD. Yours may involve Healing or Deliverance. It might involve teaching people to be prosperous. It may be giving comfort ---relieving pain. It may be helping people reach their fullest potential. Every day, when you get up, ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you; to help you make the right choices. Small choices carry us toward our destiny. Every person is on a journey through life. The question which we must think about is this: "Where am I going to end up?" "Where will my journey bring me?" It should bring you to your Destiny. Psalm 57:2 AMP 2I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]! AND PART OF OUR PURPOSE IS TO BE HOLY! “. .that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). EVERYTHING WE DO MUST WORK IN LOVE, FAITH, AND HOLINESS—NOT PERFECTION...BUT LOOKING TOWARD GOD’S WORD AND HIS WAYS! SO, LET’S LIVE LIFE ON PURPOSE—NOT BY ACCIDENT!
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