A Predetermined Course

Destiny Part 6, Step 7

The simple definition of destiny is, “a predetermined course of events.”

My series on destiny will end. My prayer is that something was said that brought understanding to the concept of destiny. I believe that everyone has one, no matter if you believe it or not.

Really it all boils down to character. Everything, thoughts, words, decisions, actions, habits, and character all play a part in accomplishing our destiny.

Let me summarize a few points and then finish with some scriptures, and a story from the Bible.

Eventually your character will lead you to your destiny. There are no shortcuts to success, no easy roads to get there.

Everybody wants to have their destiny fulfilled, but not everyone wants to walk through the entire process. But that is what is required.

Realizing your destiny requires deliberate thought and action. You have to continually watch your thoughts because whatever you obsess about is what you’ll bring about. You must follow the appropriate path and organize adequately. Everything you think, say, and do must be in agreement with your destiny. If it isn’t, you won’t end up in the place you want to go.

Does God work in a predetermined course of action. The Bible most often speaks of purpose which is basically the same as destiny.

Job 42:2

I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

Isaiah 5:19

Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near And come to pass, that we may know it!”

Luke 4:43

But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”

I want to share a very familiar Biblical story that really defines destiny.

Joseph was highly favored by his father Jacob. He was the son of Jacob’s old age. His name means, Jehovah has added. Joseph had two dreams, and I will read the second one.

Genesis 37:9-11

9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, “Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10 He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?”

11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

What Joseph dreamed would be a result of him fulfilling his destiny. He had no idea what destiny was at that time.

There is nothing in his story that indicates that he ever knew what his destiny would be.

He reached his destiny because he was willing to go through the process. His character remained faithful to God.

#inHisname #hopelives

Seven Steps to Destiny, Part 5

Seven Steps to Destiny, Part 5

There is a powerful presence of God calling to His people across this land. Leading, convincing, equipping, and calling for workers to harvest the fields.

Times of uncertainty open doors in the hearts of people who are looking for answers.

We need to be aware of this, and align ourselves with God and His Holy calling for all the church.

Tell the story of Jesus. His grace and His love.

I want to share some thoughts, focusing on the 5^th in the series on destiny. It involves the 6^th word that will move you to destiny. We have talked about thoughts, words, decisions, actions, and habits.

I want to talk about character. Remember last week I shared the process that defines our character. Our character is defined by our habits.

Aristotle wrote, “We are what we repeatedly do,” he made it clear that there’s a direct connection between who we are and what we do. He underscored this fact by concluding, Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” A habit that is performed long enough becomes part of you character.

Character today, is defined this way, “the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.”

Job 1:1

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

This would seem to be the attributes of a man with a very healthy, and honorable character.

Still, his whole world crumbled before his eyes in a very short time. Yet his habit of honoring God kept him from making things worse.

Job 1:20-22

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

21 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

“Somebody tell me why and how he could respond this way.

“Words reveal character.”

Matthew 12:33-37

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.

34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

36 But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.

37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

These are very weighty passages from Jesus. Putting a huge responsibility on us, to be careful what we say.

2 Questions.

1^St, Part A, How meaningful are the words we speak, to our own life. Part B, How meaningful are the words we speak to others.

2^Nd, How do the words we speak, define our character?

Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Let me share a couple of different interpretations of verse 4.

and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;”

AMPC

And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

TLB

And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.

When our character develops, or let’s say been successfully proven. We will respond with strong and unwavering faith in God.

Trusting and believing that as we develop excellent habits. We will also develop excellent, and reliable character.

Job’s excellent and proven character, and His complete trust and faith in God, provided this ending to His story.

Job 42:10

The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.

#inHisname