Today I will be speaking to you about our "Purpose."  I will be coming from(  Luke 19:12-27) " He (Jesus) said therefore, a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, "occupy" until I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying we will not have this man reign over us. And it came to pass that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying Lord, thy pound has gained ten pounds. And he said unto him "well done thou good servant": because thou has been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities and the second came, saying Lord, thy pound has gained five pounds and he said likewise to him, "be thou over five cities." And another came, saying Lord, behold here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared thee because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst  not down and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he said unto him: "out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou  wicked servant," thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that, I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own usury? And he said unto them that stood by, "take from him the pound and give it to him that has ten pounds. And they said unto him, Lord, he has ten pounds. For I say unto you that unto everyone which has shall be given: and from him that has not, even that he has shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them bring hither, and slay them before me. Amen

You may be asking what does this have to do with my purpose? Purpose in Websters dictionary and Strongs concordance means: "an intended or desired result, goal, determination, resolve, to intend to do."  I will give you the end at the beginning- our intended or desired result is to have our Lord Jesus Christ say unto us "well done thy good and faithful servant."

The first thing we must do in order to get this intended result is to know who we are in Christ. We are the righteousness of God, we are sons and daughters of the most high, but for today we are "Ambassadors of Jesus Christ."  An Ambassador is a diplomat of the highest rank accredited by a government as representative in residence to another. Our Government sends representatives or ambassadors to other countries with full backing to do a task. Our Government has the responsibility of taking care of it's representative, and the representative has power and authority in accordance to his backing. Likewise, we are Ambassadors of the highest rank accredited by Jesus Christ, Jesus is responsible for us, and we have his full backing, and the authority to use his name and  he must fulfil what we ask for in his name according to his guidlines, word, directions etc.. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into his marvelous light, and sent forth as lambs among wolves, with a task to do, -which is to lift up the name of Jesus Christ so that he may draw all men unto himself. In order to understand our mission in this country we must look to Christ.

* Jesus was sent from glory by our father to earth for a purpose: "For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19.10) His resolve (desire) To seek (and do) the will of him that sent me. (John 6:38) Jesus is and was the expressed image of Father God. So if he was sent by God, to do God's will and was the image of God for the world to see- he had to do what God said, no more and no less- to get the desired result of seeking those who were lost" reconciling men back to God through his death, burial, and resurrection." This was not easy task!

There was good and bad mixed in his time on earth. Some people ministered to him, welcomed him into their home, followed him, and the ultimate good was God the Father saying "this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." But with this good he also had, direct temptations from satan, mockings, he was beat, called names,  and betrayed. What was ironic was that all of his deeds were good! he delivered people, healed, taught, provided, and  washed stinky feet. He represented well!!

Through all of this the good and the bad, he never lost sight of his purpose or desired outcome-bring men back to God. He knew who he was, he knew he was sent by the highest rank and that he had God's Backing. Now I have said all of this because many in the Body of Christ are in a state of confusion, dismay, fear, unbelief, we don't know who we are in Christ, who is backing us or the power in the name of Jesus Christ, and like in our scripture "don't really want Jesus to reign over us." We call Jesus Lord, yet don't do what he says, we have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof, we are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, and to add to that, we are never loosed, delivered, free, or holy, we are the sickest, our families fall apart either more than or we run neck and neck with the world, people can't tell we are from another country because we mix in so well with the world-doing the same things as they, so much so, that we have made our God a money God. If you need healing, deliverance, finances, or any blessing-then just sow a seed. or we go to the other extreme and tell people to praise there way out of something, speak in tongues your way out, then when all of these things don't work we say "why am I here-what does God want me to do, why am I so miserable?" The answer lies in what Jesus said "why do you call me Lord, but don't do what I say?" We have forget  our love walk  unless it is convenient and we have forgotten to check our motive. This Jesus who we call Lord is: our strength so the weak are to say they are strong, he is a man of war (fully able to fight our battles) so if we shout our way through it is because we believe we already have the victory and "know" the battle is won. He is Gracious-willing to bless us abundantly so we "believe" the need will be met. We are representing Him in our country but don't know what he requires or what to do. Here is a list of our orders:

* Renew your mind-Ep. 4:23, Don't be of a doubtful mind-Lu. 12:29, Cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of our God-(2) Co. 10:5, Worship him in Spirit and in Truth-John 4:23, Let our eyes be toward Zion-Micah 4:11, Incline our ears unto him- Ps.116:2, Open our mouth boldly and don't allow bitter and sweet water to mix, Present our body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto him, cleanse our hands-then lift them up in his name without wrath, refrain our feet from evil, (Ps.119:10), Rejoice in the Lord and be careful for nothing but let him know what you need and while you are here, think on things which are pure, lovely and of a good report.

Our Conduct: seek his kingdom and righteousness and everything will be added, watch and pray, give and it shall be given back to you, if you have children-raise them in the admonition of the Lord, If you have a husband-respect him and submit as unto Christ, work so that you have to give to those in need, our dress should be modest, love your enemies, do good to those that hate you, pray for those who despitefull use you, judge not, be filled with his Spirit.

All of our ways/paths should be in mercy, truth, and righteousness.  Do  you think if our Government sent an ambassador to another country and they did not do what the sending government told them to do, but acted any kind of way, would the sending government get the desired result? Better yet wonder if Jesus didn't do what Father told him to do, we would still be dead in our sin and on our way to hell, and if we desire to reach our intended result we must do what our Lord says and how he says to do it.

My question is are you ready? You will be mocked, rediculed, troubled on every side, yet not distressed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed. One thing you must do is to forget those things which are behind and reach forth (beginning today) unto those things which are before, press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. Count everything as dung that you may win Christ and be found in him, not having your own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that you may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made comformable unto his death.

Go forth today determined to hear him say "well done thy good and faithful servant."

Go forth knowing and staying focussed on your purpose

Go forth knowing who you are and who you are representing

Go forth knowing heaven is backing you

Go forth knowing signs shall follow you

Go forth knowing thay you have authority to use the powerful name of Jesus and at that name every knee shall bow and every demon must flee

Go forth knowing that you overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony

Go forth in boldness

Go forth knowing that you are more than a conqueor

Go forth knowing that no weapon formed against you shall prosper

Go forth! Go forth! in the power of his might

Go forth! Go forth! In the mighty name of Jesus Christ

Recieve your intended result-"Well done thy good and faithful servant!"

***This was first given at a Womens Retreat-it has been modified for the web-site!

Minister Debbie Wagner