Seven Steps to Destiny Part 4

Seven Steps to Destiny Part 4

This will be the fourth of the series I started, but it is covering the fifth step. We have shared on thoughts, words, decisions, and actions.

Tonight we will share on habits. The fifth of seven steps to reaching your destiny.

As we have gone through these four studies, I pray that you have begun to question, or realize, what your destiny really is. Understanding the things that are important to you, and why.

Considering how you can change things, or make things better. The things that move your heart. The habits we have developed are very important. They have three potential outcomes.

“They can keep you from fulfilling your destiny, delay fulfilling your destiny, or finally, move you forward to realizing your destiny.”

“Our destiny in the Kingdom of God.”

Habits are defined this way today. “A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition.”

Foundational behaviors become habits. Foundational behaviors can be simplified to mean, the things we do on a regular basis.

“It is your habits that create your character.” Character is next time, let me get on with habits.

When Jesus was teaching the disciples how to pray, He gave them this prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13

9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

Verse 11 interested me for tonight. Several other translations say it like this. “Give us this day the bread we need.”

Christ is teaching us to form a daily habit of prayer. Requesting each day for the needs we may have. These may be daily occurring needs, or they may be a request you have made that has yet to come to pass.

“What are some habits we should develop to become a more effective Christian?”

Jesus developed habits in His ministry.

Luke 4:16

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

Custom comes from a Greek word which means, “by habit.”

Early in my Christian life I developed the habit of going to church. In doing so several other habits came about. Tithing, studying, praying, witnessing.

These are foundational behaviors that will enrich your life as you grow in them.

2 Timothy 2:15

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

The word diligent from the Greek means, “to exert oneself, endeavor, give diligence.”

Develop the habit of studying the Word of God.

Titus 2:7-8

7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,

8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

We must have the habit of doing good. Being the light.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. “Our habits produce our character.”

7 habits of highly effective Christians.

1-Read and obey God’s Word.

2-Have an active prayer life.

3-Set spiritual goals.

4-Cultivate the talent of others.

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

5-Take responsibility for souls.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

6-Serve others

Matthew 20:28

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

7-Focus on the Kingdom

Matthew 13:23

And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”

“What are some spiritual goals that you could set to grow and develop towards your destiny?”

#inHisname

Destiny Part 3, Decisions and Actions

Destiny Part 3, Decisions and Actions

There has been an awesome presence of God in this house.

We must be sure to allow Him to speak, and lead as we move forward in each service, and in fact in our daily lives.

It is very important that our heart is aligned with His. That our thoughts are His thoughts. That we speak His Divine will.

This will lead us to make decisions, and prayerfully move forward with the action required to fulfill our destiny. Individually, and corporately.

Once your thoughts have led to words, the next step is making decisions. Then your decisions will lead to actions.

Remember this for the rest of your life. “The actions you take should begin with thoughts. Not spur of the moment decisions and actions without thinking.”

Doesn’t means that life won’t put you in a situation that requires a quick decision with action.

This series is about your destiny, not life moments. Thoughts, words, decisions, actions. The process that moves us forward to fulfill our destiny.

Here is a couple of ways decision is defined. “1-A conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.”

2-the act or need for making up one’s mind.”

Ezra 5:16-17

16 Then that Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from then until now it has been under construction and it is not yet completed.’

17 “Now if it pleases the king, let a search be conducted in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, if it be that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to rebuild this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send to us his decision concerning this matter.”

There are times you need to look for advice to make a good decision. Look to people with experience. Look to history and the way things have turned out relevant to the decision you need to make. “There are times you will have to look at prior decisions you have made. How did they work. Were they completed. After making it did you find confirmation it was right, or possibly determined it was wrong.” “Particularly after you put action with the decision.”

Acts 27:9-12

9 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them,

10 and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”

11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul.

12 Because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

We know by studying Acts that this was a bad decision made by the centurion on the advice of the pilot. Their decision, and their action was based on what they believed they could accomplish. Was that wrong?

Now let’s get to action. Action is defined as, “an act that one consciously wills, and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity.”

1 Peter 1:10-13

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,

11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

To reach your destiny you will have thoughts, turn those thoughts into words. Make a decision about moving forward. Next you will have to take action.

1 Samuel 2:1-3

1 Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 “There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 “Boast no more so very proudly, Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth; For the Lord is a God of knowledge, And with Him actions are weighed.

God will judge, measure, assess, appraise our actions.

“When He does this what is He looking for????”

“His will, your purpose. Your motive.”

Acts 5 records several miracles, and then the early Apostles were brought before the council of Gamaliel.

Gamaliel said this.

Acts 5:38-39

38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;

39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

If this is God’s decision. God’s action you can not lose. His success is based on thought, words, decisions, and actions. It was the right season for the world to be introduced to the Gospel.

Go into all the world was His command. Obedience brought the Apostles to decide, to act, upon His command, and believe in His promises.

James 2:18-20

18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

Works from the Greek means, “an act, deed, or thing done.”

Thoughts are the beginning of everything. Words come from our thoughts. We decide what we will do from our thoughts and words.

To move forward towards your destiny you will have to move these decisions to actions.

#inHisname

Destiny Step Two

7 Steps to Destiny Part 2-Word

Remember to invite someone for either service. “Don’t forget that sheep beget sheep!”

My last study began with the first of seven lessons in a series titled, 7 steps to destiny.

The first step is our thoughts, and what we do with them. Everything on this earth began with a thought, either by God or by man. Our thoughts can make us, or they can break us as the old saying goes.

Maximizing the value of our thoughts is something we have to control.

2 Corinthians 10:5

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

The Message Bible has an interesting take on this passage.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Message

We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

In this lesson we are going to talk about our thoughts becoming words, and its importance for us in reaching our destiny.

To give you an example of creative thought translated into words, we only have to go to the 1^st page of Genesis.

Genesis 1:1-2

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

That word moving from the Hebrew means, brooding.

The word brooding means, “showing deep unhappiness of thought”

God had begun the process of creation. He was reviewing His initial work, and His thoughts were on the next steps He would take. After brooding, or thinking if you will, He began to put His thoughts into words.

Genesis 1:3

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

Genesis 1:6

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”

Genesis 1:9

Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.

Genesis 9:11

Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so

Genesis 1:14

Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;

Genesis 1:20

Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.”

Genesis 1:24

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so.

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Image and likeness is referring to shadow. We are cast from His shadow.

These were His words resulting from His thoughts. Now let’s talk about ours.

2 Corinthians 2:12-13 NASB

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

As Christians our words matter to those who hear. If we think on Him, when the opportunity arises we will speak about Him.

This passage is referring to our Christian faith. As Christians we should speak this way.

Psalms 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Colossians 3:8

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

Thessalonians 4:18

Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Now let’s get down to business, and talk about our words for a few minutes.

Think about the thoughts you have had over the years. Things you would like to do. Things you want to accomplish.

As humans we tend to verbalize our thoughts. God, or maybe just life, puts a thought in our mind. Something we have always wanted to do. A place we have wanted to go. Learning how to play an instrument, sing, teach, or maybe even preach.

Maybe your thoughts go to some sort of freedom. Freedom from your past, unforgiveness, something that has you bound. Often these thoughts are verbalized this way.

I can’t, I can, I will, I won’t. I must, I can’t sing, I can,t teach or preach. I won’t forgive them, or I will.

Often times the first words we speak from a thought that God placed in our minds is negative. Even if it is just a dream or a desire you have, the results are often the same.

Words can destroy your relationships, even with God.

Isaiah 3:8

For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen,
Because their speech and their actions are against the Lord, To rebel against His glorious presence.

Your words can heal, or they can hurt. They will create an atmosphere of success, or one of failure. They will move you to freedom, or hold you fast in bondage. They will open the door to your destiny, or slam it shut.

In Philippians 4 Paul is teaching on excellence. He is also sharing the good times and the bad He has faced. Thanking them for their support. Teaching on living with much, or with little. In the middle of all this, Paul made this declaration.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

GNT

I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

NLT

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

#inHisname

Destiny Step One

Seven Steps to Destiny Step One, Thoughts

I have prayed and thought for weeks on what I would share on Wednesday nights. Some suggested another book from the Bible and I see that in the near future. I came across something that interested me and for a few weeks, seven hopefully, I want to share it.

I first thought to do a Sunday sermon series because the topics are very necessary to our Christian walk. After some prayer and thought I believe, for now I will share these things on Wednesdays.

I want to begin a series titled, “Seven Steps to Destiny”

“Step One, Thoughts”

There are seven steps for each of us to reach our full potential in Christ. I want to share all seven in their proper place. Each step is necessary and there can be no shortcuts.

1-Thoughts, 2-Words, 3-Decisions, 4-Actions, 5-Habits, 6-Character, 7-Destiny

I think you can see from this list that we will be prompted to evaluate ourselves from time to time.

Here goes. “Thought, an idea or opinion produced by thinking or occurring suddenly in the mind.” “Think, direct one’s mind toward someone or something; use one’s mind actively to form connected ideas.”

Everything we see in the world began with a thought. The world, with all the plants, animals, and humanity began with a thought in the mind of God.

Everything else began with a thought in the mind of men and women throughout time.

In 1^st Corinthians 14 Paul is teaching on speaking in tongues. Early on in the church there were problems with this, some of the same things occur today. Understand this. No gift from God is for exhibition purposes. Every gift is for the building up of the body of Christ.

In the midst of Paul’s teaching and correction, he said this.

1 Corinthians 14:20

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

1 Corinthians 14:20 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.

This admonishment is regarding a particular issue from Paul, yet it has the ability to teach us all to be wise in our thinking.

How many knows where wisdom comes from?

“It comes from experience.”

Isaiah 55:6-9

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

The word thoughts in this passage comes from a very long Hebrew word which means, “Thought, device, plan, purpose.” God is clearly teaching us to think right, yet He is also reminding us of who we are. His thoughts are higher than ours.

“The Hebrew word higher means exalted, but it is also used to imply good sense.”

Still, a time would come when our thoughts could align with His.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 AMPC

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

With all of this said Paul will still remind us of who we are.

Romans 12:1-3

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

“Once again we are reminded to think with wisdom.”

Philippians 4:8-9

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8 AMP

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]

You will begin to see why these seven steps are in a specific order.

Tonight we shared thoughts. The next step is words. “Words come from thoughts.”

#inHisname