THE COST OF DESTINBY.

MISPLACED DESTINY.

GENESIS 12:1-20

Identity answers the question “Who am I?” Destiny answers the question “What is my purpose?” Who has God called me to be and God called me to do”? Identity leads to destiny. Without knowing who you are, you cannot reach your destiny. Destiny is a function of time. Delay in destiny means unfulfilled destiny. Satan is a master in delay. Up to now, we have discussed the difference between identity and destiny. The significance of destiny helpers and how not to lose your identity or do not sell your birthright. Today, we want to discuss the difference between predestination (fate) and free will, under the topic “THE COST OF DESTINY.” It is only when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior that we come to know where we are headed. When Esau sold his birthright, he lost the seven (7) blessings of Abraham. He forfeited the Promised Land, I will make you a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, you shall be a blessing, I’ll bless them that bless you and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. In Galatians 3:14 “He redeemed us in order that the blessings given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” So, don’t sell God’s promises, do not sell your priesthood, your direct access to God, do not sell your power, your authority and power in the Holy Ghost. Let us learn:-

1. PREDESTINATION (FATE) AND FREE WILL

• Predestination is a fatalism, predeterminism and fate. Predestination means we have no choice.
• Predestination is defined as something that is unavoidably befalls a person, or that which is inevitably predetermined.
• Predestination says “Whatever will be, will be”- nothing you can do about it.
• Predestination says “If God has planned a beautiful life for you, it will happen no matter what and nothing you can do can change it.”
• Predestination says “If God has planned a bad end for you, there is nothing you can do to change it.”
• Fatalism is a major promise of Islam and Hinduism.
• Christian theologians like John Calvin (Presbyterianism) and St. Augustine promoted the doctrine of predestination that God has predestined some people to be saved and others for destruction.
• This belief system is flawed, unfair, biased, unbiblical, dishonors God and His love and respect for human dignity.
• It implies that God created us not in His own image, that we are only puppets.
• If this doctrine is true, then there is no need for prayer, fasting, trusting God, preaching and coming to church. There was absolutely no need for Jesus Christ to come to this very earth to save us.
• Free will on the other hand means we have a choice in God’s destiny for us.
• Free will means that God has a plan for my life. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.”
• Free will means that man must cooperate with God to make His plans for man come to pass.
• Man was created with the ability to make choices and he is responsible for these choices
• Choice, responsibility and accountability go together.
• When you say, I want to be free, it means I will be responsible for the choices I make and I will account to God at the end of the day.
• Adams’ fall in Eden was not a predetermined event in which Adam was a powerless victim of a puppet-master.
• Adam and Eve had the ability to choose obedience leading to blessings or disobedience leading to the curse.
• Adam and Eve knew what the result of their decision would be and they were held accountable-Gen. 3.
• Accountability for choices continues throughout scripture-Prov. 22:8; 14:23.
• When the Bible speaks of destiny, it is always in reference to a destiny people bring upon themselves.
• Philippians 3:18-19 “Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction.”
• Revelation 20:13 “Each person was judged according to what he had done.”
• We sin because we want to sin, we can’t blame fate or God.
• James 1:13-14 “When tempted no one should say God is tempting me for God cannot be tempted by evil nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.”
• As a Christian believer, I must choose to believe God because “Faith comes by hearing.”
• So, God is in charge, but He has given us the freedom to obey or disobey Him.

1. OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST (1 Peter 2:9-10).

• There are five ways of describing our identity in Christ. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people of God, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

1. We are ‘a chosen race’-Not color but a new people.
2. We are ‘a royal priesthood’-We have immediate access to God.
3. We are a ‘Holy nation’-Set apart for God and exist for Him only.
4. We are ‘God’s people’-you are God’s possession, God owns you.
5. We have been given mercy-There before you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.

• SOME PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR SITUATIONS THROUGH PRAYER.
• Many people in the Bible change their story through serious prayer.
• Prayer changes things and no miracle is a product of laziness.

1. Jacob-Gen 32:25-29
2. Hannah-1 Sam. 1:10-20.
3. Jabez-1 Chron. 4:9-10
4. FOUR THINGS ABOUT KNOWING YOUR DESTINY-Abraham-(Gen. 12:1-4)

• God called Abraham to leave his family and home to a future that he had for him.
• God did not tell Abraham what it was.
• Abraham took a step of faith and trusted God.
• We notice four things concerning destiny in Abrahams’ life of faith.

1. Your destiny will be costly-Gen. 12:1

• Abraham had to leave everything he knew for the promise he could not see.
• God did not give him clear directions. He just told him to leave and start walking.
• As you and I walk by faith, we don’t know all that the future holds for us but we know who holds the future-Prov. 3:5-6.
• The destiny was costly for Jesus Christ-Matt. 4:1-2.
• The destiny was costly for children of Israel-Exo. 13:17-18

2. God will fulfill your destiny- 12:2 “I will make you a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing.

• God will accomplish His part. Today, there are three Abrahamic religions. Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
• God is faithful to complete what He has begun.
• God is able to do immeasurably, more above all-Eph. 3:20-21

3. Destiny is not for you alone-Gen. 12:3

• “I will bless those who bless you and him who dishonors you I will curse and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
• Once we give our lives to Christ, everything changes.
• God blesses people to be a blessing.
• Joseph was blessed to deliver Israel.
• Elijah was blessed to heal others and save lives.
• Elisha was given a double portion to save lives.
• Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost.
• Paul was saved to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
• Moses was saved to deliver Israel.
• The four lepers discovered to reach a starving nation.
• Mary was given Jesus Christ to share with the world.
• When Abraham said yes to God, God changed the destiny of his family and the rest of his generations to date.

4. Your destiny depends on choices you make-Gen. 12:4

• At the end of it all, it depended on Abraham’s choice to say yes or no.
• If he said no, he would have missed out on all that God had fir him and God would have called another person.
• Lots’ choice led to war, kidnapping, torment, loss of material wealth, death of his wife, and the shame of incest with his daughters. All these things happened despite the fact that Lot was a righteous man-2 Peter 2:7-8.
• The difference between foolish and the wise is the quality of decision they make.
• What choices are you making that are greatly affecting your life and the life of your generations?
• The choice that will affect your life more than any other is the choice to follow Jesus; it will also determine your place in eternity.
• Choosing your mate, your friends, choosing where to live. The choice of location will also determine the kind of children.
• If you choose in Sodom and Gomorrah, your wife and children may never trust you. The future sons in-law of Lot thought he was joking-Gen. 19:14
• Each one of us has a choice to make, on whether to receive Christ or not. It is a matter of your free will.
• Biblical destiny is communicated to people by God.
• Biblical destiny is not about the individual but what God wants to do through that individual.
• Biblical destiny is for a blessing of a larger focus.
• Biblical destiny is a life altering experience.
• Biblical destiny requires obedience to experience fulfillment.

1. THINGS THAT CAN KILL YOUR DESTINY.
2. Failing to understand your purpose. Eph. 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Why were you created?
3. Failing to understand the rules of war. God desires to kill your old man, your ego, yourself. 2 Cor. 4:11-12 “For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

• Satan and his agents want to kill your destiny-1 Peter 5:8-9.
• Now that you are in a spiritual battle, use your authority in Christ to overcome.

3. Sin within you becomes the open door for the enemy. Jesus Christ had no sin in His life but we do. John 14:29-31 “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming and he has nothing in me.”

• Satan must have legal right to work; sin gives Satan the ground in our lives.

4. Unbiblical view of work and ministry. We struggle with what is spiritual and what is sacred.

• 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
• Your work is your worship to God, your work ethic must be Christ centered.

5. Failure to understand and withstand Satan’s three pillars of entrapment, passion, possession and position.

• Satan has no new strategies to stop us, except the old. 1 John 2:16-17 “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.”

6. Avoid all extremes-Eccles. 7:15-18
7. HOW TO FIND AND FULFIL YOUR DESTINY
8. Consider why it is important to start living according to your destiny. Living out your destiny will give you fulfillment, direction, stability, significance, identity and provision in your life.
9. Measure what you do according to what God has created you to do.
10. View yourself as God sees you. You are His masterpiece. As a masterpiece, you are rare, special, valuable, named and known-Live in confidence.
11. Seek God’s kingdom first, prioritize your relationship with God. Make God the focus of your thoughts, actions, desires, time, talents and treasures-Expect God to make miracles out of your messes in life.
12. Don’t distinguish between sacred and secular work. Your profession is to advance the Kingdom of God.
13. Trust in God’s Sovereignty-Trust Him in all situations of life.
14. Ask God to reveal your passion and help you connect it with eternity.
15. Move forward one step at a time.
16. Develop and use your natural talents and spiritual gifts.
17. Make the most of your time.
18. Commit yourself fully to God.
19. Cooperate with God as He trains you to depend on Him-Your destiny is bigger than you.
20. Develop a lifestyle of worship. Work for God’s glory not your own.
21. Live by faith.

CONCLUSION

• Your destiny will be costly.
• God will fulfill your destiny.
• Your destiny is not for you alone.
• Your destiny depends on the choice you make.
• Give your life to Jesus Christ if you have not done it yet.

The Aaronic blessings for you (Numbers 6:23-27)

• “The Lord bless you and keep you.
• The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
• The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
• So shall the name of the Lord be upon you and bless you. Amen.