Discovering Your Destiny Series

DISCOVERING YOUR DESTINY

ILLUSTRATION: ON DESTINY

There was a frog that absolutely knew his destiny was to turn in to a handsome young prince. But for confirmation, he decided to visit a fortuneteller. The fortuneteller brought the frog in and gazed into her crystal ball. She said, “Oh, I see something. You are going to meet a beautiful young woman.”

The frog gets very antsy, “Yes, I knew it. I’m going to become a prince.”

The fortuneteller continues, “From the moment she sets eyes on you she will have an insatiable desire to know all about you. She will be compelled to get close to you--you’ll fascinate her."

The frog is very excited. He asks, “Where am I? At a singles club?”

The fortuneteller answers, “No, Biology class.”

INTRO: There is within each of us, a longing to be useful, to be needed, to contribute to the lives of others in a meaningful way, a desire to know that we’ve made a difference to someone, to be a part of something important, worthwhile, and great.

THE BIG IDEA: God desires that every one of His children would discover their destiny – the good plans that He has for their lives. The starting point for this is a God encounter where we hear His call, and respond with faith and obedience. Then, our lives become something great.

KEY TEXT:

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

QUOTE:

“Finding one’s purpose with God can be a strange and mysterious journey; or, it can be as plain as asking God for a task and then watching your desire for that task grow within you. Problem is, most of us forget to ask God to fill us with a fervent spirit to serve Him. Then, years later, we wake up and realize we had our life. We made our choices....our safe choices; but, somehow, we missed the richness of following our God down an uncharted path.” (Hudson Taylor).

I. DESTINY BEGINS WITH A GOD ENCOUNTER:

“Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.” (Exodus 3:1-6).

• Moses was in the desert (preparation, hunger) and the mountain (God-encounter)

• The Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire and spoke to Him

• We will never fully realize our destiny until we have had an encounter with God!

II. GOD CALLED MOSES TO BE A DELIVERER:

“And the Lord said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows… Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Ex. 3:7,10).

• God wants to set people free, but He uses regular people.

• Part of our destiny is to impact other people’s lives with God’s love and power.

• Quote Acts 10:38 – God calls us to go around doing good and healing people!

III. MOSES MADE EXCUSES:

“But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" So He said, "I will certainly be with you…So I will stretch out My hand…with all My wonders…” (Ex. 3:11-12a,20).

• Moses made excuses but God answered them all - I will be with you!

• You may feel inadequate like Moses - he stuttered, had a bad past, etc.

• But God says, “I will be with you! I will stretch out my hand with my wonders”

• God isn’t looking for your ability, but rather your availability!

IV. WHAT’S IN YOUR HAND?

“Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ’The Lord has not appeared to you.’ " So the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent…” (Exodus 4:1-3).