The Power of Determination
I am glad that you are here today to hear the word of God. I yield my self totally to Him to use me in bringing the “rhema” of God to you.
God has created you with a purpose in mind. The purpose is your destiny. It is destiny that produces dream or vision that you pursue. Dream is the result of discovered destiny. The fact that you have dream does not necessarily mean that you fulfill your destiny. In order to fulfill your destiny in life you need more than dream or vision.
There are other elements that make fulfilled destiny possible. These include planning, determination, dedication or commitment, focus or direction, discipline etc. I will be speaking to you on one of these elements, which I have titled “The Power of Determination”.
There are so many challenges that we face in our lives each day but God has given us the grace and ability to conquer them all. The bible says:
1 John 4:4 - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
It takes determination to be an over-comer. By the virtue of the fact that you’re of God, you will overcome every opposition and challenges in your life. There is nothing that can stand between you and God because the greater one is in you. It may seem at the beginning that you are losing ground but don’t give up for God is on your side.
• I remember the football match between Nigeria and Brazil in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games. The match started with a lot of excitement and Brazil was very confident that they would win the match. The Nigerian side was regarded as the under dog. The Brazilians put on a good performance and scored first. After a while the Nigerians equalized. At the end of the first half the game ended in a 2 – 1 against Nigeria. In the second half Brazil scored another goal, making it 3 – 1. At this time many spectators including me lost hope. About 15 minutes to the end of the match Nigeria scored and the tally came to 3 – 2. Last minute to the end of the match Nigeria equalized. Brazil was shocked at what was happening. The game went into extra time. Nigeria eventually won the match with the golden goal scored some minutes into the extra time making the goal tally 4 – 3 against Brazil. Then the match ended.
It was then I realized that it is not over until God says it is over. It took determination on the side of the Nigeria team to come from defeat to winning the match. The spectators and many Nigerian officials have lost hope that Nigeria will win but it took determination and courage on the side of the boys to continue fighting knowing that it is not over until the final whistle is blown.
It is not over until God says it is over. Determination has to do with courage, being strong and of good cheer. God spoke to Joshua several times and in all those times He kept telling him to be of good courage and be strong (Joshua 1:6-7).
It is pathetic that many people do not fulfill the purpose for which God has made them. The reason is that they give up on the way to fulfilling their purpose in life. You will see an example in:
2 Timothy 4:10 - For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
Demas was a companion and fellow-labourer of Paul during his first imprisonment at Rome (Phm 1:24; Col 4:14). Paul called him a fellow laborer. It appears, however, that the love of the world afterwards mastered him, and he deserted the apostle (2Ti 4:10).
John Mark could not stand the heat of the spiritual battle and abandoned Paul and Barnabas in the battle field (Acts 12:25, 13:13, 15:36-40). Paul was determined not to take him again in the missionary battle and as a result had a sharp disagreement with Barnabas. Barnabas was an encourager. He was able to motivate and encourage him. Paul recognized this and requested for him at the time of his death. Look at what he said:
2 Timothy 4:11 - … Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
How did he become profitable? He was profitable because Barnabas gave him another chance and encouraged him in the ministry. Today we know that he wrote one of the gospels. I am speaking to motivate you for the battle is on. You have another chance in the army of the Lord.
Determination is the strength that carries you through the path of success in the midst of obstacles. The word obstacle is a compound word derived from two words, obstruction and tackle. Every obstruction in life is to be tackled. Determination is the ability to tackle obstruction of life. Have you noticed that most river channels do not have a straight course? Why? They meander from one direction to another in search of less resistance routes. They cannot breakthrough or withstand obstructions. However a river channel with a great force can breakthrough or withstand obstructions. An example is the Tsunami flood disaster. The ocean water came with force and broke through all obstructions on its way because it has a great force.
What is the driving force that is motivating you? Paul had the driving force of the vision he received from the Lord when he had a marvelous encounter with him on his way to persecute the believers in Damascus. This is what he said:
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
He said none of these move me because he has a course that is a vision to finish with joy. He was determined to complete the race no matter what it will cost him. The vision God have given you will not be terminated prematurely. You will fulfill the purpose of God for your life.
The bible in several places encouraged us to hold fast to what we have received. We see some examples in:
In 1Thess.5:21 we are to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
Hebrews 3:6 - …; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
We are admonished constantly to hold fast to the end without wavering.
• I remember a brother giving a testimony in one of the fellowship I co-pastured in my campus days. When he gave his life to Christ he had a lot of worldly friends and one day he went to share with his friends of his new salvation experience. They laughed at him and told him that he won’t last long in his salvation that very soon he will come to join them again. He vehemently opposed their idea and belief and persuaded them to receive Christ into their lives. After a long time of argument he finally said, that they are at one end of a rope and he is at the other end. They are pulling at one end and he is pulling at the other end to see who will pull the other to their side. He said that he is determined to pull them to his side. But if he cannot pull them to his side, instead of them to pull him to their side he will let the rope go because he has made up his mind not to come to their side. That is the statement of a determined believer concerning his salvation. Too many people easily give in and go back to their vomit. You are holding on to the rope of salvation. Don’t let go the rope of salvation. The devil will do all he can to discourage you and pull you down.
If you don’t give up the devil will give in.
• After Tsunami flood disaster, I was watching CNN as they were interviewing and relaying the news of the disaster. A man gave the story of what happened to him during the flood. He said that as the carried him and others he suddenly saw a rope hanging out and he held it. As he was holding the rope he saw dead bodies and debris passing him with great speed. He said that he was determined not let go on the rope knowing that his survival is dependent on his holding on to the rope. The difference between him at that moment and the dead bodies around him was his ability to hold on to the rope. He not only survived the Tsunami but also was able to save a little child he was carrying while he held the rope. It took every breath and strength in him to hold on to the rope until the flood subsided.
