Destiny
Destiny is a predetermined end, it is to set or to appoint to a purpose.
We know we have a destiny, because the Bible says “God has predestined us to
conform to the image of His dear Son” (Romans 8:29). Let’s look at Jesus, when He
was 12 years old He stayed in the Temple asking questions and many were
astonished at His understanding and answers (Luke 2:47). As He went to the cross,
He focused on the joy of redeeming mankind (Hebrews 12:2) “who for the joy that
was set before Him, endured the cross, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God”. So did Paul, yet he didn’t look at all he went through, but “he
pressed on for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.
The devil wants to destroy your purpose in life, by keeping you from finding out your
destiny. The Bible says “without a vision, the people perish” (Proverb 29:18).
Remember God has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). Not only does God have
a plan for our life, He has also provided for us to reach His plan. He redeemed us
from the curse of the law (Psalms 107:2). He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and
teach us all truth (John 16:13) “when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide
you into all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself, but, whatsoever He shall hear,
that shall He speak and He will show you things to come”. Jesus has also set
apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastor, and teachers in the world for us (Ephesians
4:11). Jesus gave us the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever you shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever you shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
Many Christians are going through the motions, waiting to go to heaven, but don’t
know their destiny, which makes it hard to reach. We should as God, just as Paul
asked Jesus “what would have me to do”? (Acts 9:6). James tells us “if any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not;
and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Paul prayed for the churches he started
(Ephesians 1:17-19) “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The
eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what the hope of
His calling and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And what
is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the
working of His mighty power”; also in Colossians 1:9-14. This is a prayer you can
pray for your self and or pray this prayer for others, we can help shape and
influence others, and this will build the kingdom.
Paul while on his journey preached the word of God to all he came in contact with.
On our journey to Christ likeness, we are to seek first the kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
As we meditate on the Lord’s prayer, when we say “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven”; we are asking for God’s kingdom to come, and the
Bible tells us to “lay hands on the sick and they shall recover”, “to cast out devils”
(Mark 16:17-18). Jesus and Paul both did this and Jesus tells us “the things I do,
you shall do also, and greater works shall you do” (John 14:12). Let us learn to
enjoy our journey, by keeping our focus on our vision. The Bible says “where there
is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).
God told Joshua “Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, be
not afraid, neither be you dismayed, for the Lord Yahweh your God, is with you
wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Remember that Jesus says “I am with you always,
even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Let us go on and we can say as
Jesus and Paul said “I have finished my course”.
Our destiny in this life is something we should strive to accomplish, it will prepare us
for our final destiny which will determine where we will spend eternity (Matthew 25:
33-46), Jesus separates the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left
hand. He says to them on His right hand, come you beloved of My Father inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. But to those on His
left hand, depart from Me, you cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels. The determining factor is what they did or did not do; whether they
fed the hungry, or gave drink to the thirsty, or took in the stranger, or clothed the
naked, visited the sick or imprisoned. Jesus says “not everyone that says to Me,
Lord Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of My
Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day Lord Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name and in Your name have cast out devils and in Your name
done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you,
depart from Me, you that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings
of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house on a
rock” (Matthew 7:21-24).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 8, 2008
Destiny is a predetermined end, it is to set or to appoint to a purpose.
We know we have a destiny, because the Bible says “God has predestined us to
conform to the image of His dear Son” (Romans 8:29). Let’s look at Jesus, when He
was 12 years old He stayed in the Temple asking questions and many were
astonished at His understanding and answers (Luke 2:47). As He went to the cross,
He focused on the joy of redeeming mankind (Hebrews 12:2) “who for the joy that
was set before Him, endured the cross, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God”. So did Paul, yet he didn’t look at all he went through, but “he
pressed on for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.
The devil wants to destroy your purpose in life, by keeping you from finding out your
destiny. The Bible says “without a vision, the people perish” (Proverb 29:18).
Remember God has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). Not only does God have
a plan for our life, He has also provided for us to reach His plan. He redeemed us
from the curse of the law (Psalms 107:2). He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and
teach us all truth (John 16:13) “when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide
you into all truth, for He shall not speak of Himself, but, whatsoever He shall hear,
that shall He speak and He will show you things to come”. Jesus has also set
apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastor, and teachers in the world for us (Ephesians
4:11). Jesus gave us the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever you shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever you shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
Many Christians are going through the motions, waiting to go to heaven, but don’t
know their destiny, which makes it hard to reach. We should as God, just as Paul
asked Jesus “what would have me to do”? (Acts 9:6). James tells us “if any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not;
and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). Paul prayed for the churches he started
(Ephesians 1:17-19) “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The
eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what the hope of
His calling and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And what
is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the
working of His mighty power”; also in Colossians 1:9-14. This is a prayer you can
pray for your self and or pray this prayer for others, we can help shape and
influence others, and this will build the kingdom.
Paul while on his journey preached the word of God to all he came in contact with.
On our journey to Christ likeness, we are to seek first the kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
As we meditate on the Lord’s prayer, when we say “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven”; we are asking for God’s kingdom to come, and the
Bible tells us to “lay hands on the sick and they shall recover”, “to cast out devils”
(Mark 16:17-18). Jesus and Paul both did this and Jesus tells us “the things I do,
you shall do also, and greater works shall you do” (John 14:12). Let us learn to
enjoy our journey, by keeping our focus on our vision. The Bible says “where there
is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).
God told Joshua “Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, be
not afraid, neither be you dismayed, for the Lord Yahweh your God, is with you
wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Remember that Jesus says “I am with you always,
even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Let us go on and we can say as
Jesus and Paul said “I have finished my course”.
Our destiny in this life is something we should strive to accomplish, it will prepare us
for our final destiny which will determine where we will spend eternity (Matthew 25:
33-46), Jesus separates the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left
hand. He says to them on His right hand, come you beloved of My Father inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. But to those on His
left hand, depart from Me, you cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil
and his angels. The determining factor is what they did or did not do; whether they
fed the hungry, or gave drink to the thirsty, or took in the stranger, or clothed the
naked, visited the sick or imprisoned. Jesus says “not everyone that says to Me,
Lord Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of My
Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day Lord Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name and in Your name have cast out devils and in Your name
done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you,
depart from Me, you that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever hears these sayings
of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, which built his house on a
rock” (Matthew 7:21-24).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 8, 2008
