SERIES: RECOVERING STOLEN IDENTITY & RECLAIMING MISPLACED DESTINY: PART 3C: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREDESTINATION (FATE) & FREE WILL – COST OF DESTINY
1. Genesis 12:1-20: 1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family and from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
2. Galatians 3:7-9, 14: 7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
INTRO: RECOVERING STOLEN IDENTITY & RECLAIMING MISPLACED DESTINY: THE DIFFERENCE B/W PREDESTINATION (FATE) & FREE WILL – THE COST OF DESTINY(B)
Series: Recovering Your Stolen Identity & Reclaiming Your Misplaced Destiny. 1) The Intro: Difference B/W Identity & Destiny. 2) Significance of Destiny Helpers. 3) How To Lose Your Identity (Don’t Sell Your Birthright) (A & B). 4) The Difference B/W Predestination (Fate) And Free Will – The Cost Of Destiny – The Abraham Story (A&B).
IDENTITY THEFT IN THE REAL WORLD.
1. Secular Identity Theft: Deceitful / unauthorized use of a person's private info for gains.
2. Spiritual Identity Theft: When Satan distorts the image of God in us that leads to destiny.
ABOUT STOLEN IDENTITY AND MISPLACED DESTINY AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE.
1. Identity: Answers The Question: ‘Who has God called you to be?’
2. Destiny: Answers The Question: ‘What has God called you to do?’
3. Conclusion: So Our Identity Leads To Our Destiny.
WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT PREDESTINATION (FATE) AND FREE WILL
1. Fate – We Have No Choice (Predestination, Fatalism, Predeterminism): Major premise of Islam & Hinduism. That which is inevitably predetermined - nothing you can do to stop it. "What will be, will be." If God planned a good life for you – good or bad - it will happen; you can’t change it.. John Calvin and St. Augustine: God predestinated some to salvation & others to destruction. Flaw Theology - unfair, bias, dishonors God, His love & respect for human dignity. He created us in His image, holds us responsible for what He programmed us to do? There is need for prayer, trust in God, church, Jesus’ death.
2. Free Will – We Have A Choice In God’s Destiny For Us: God has a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11), but it requires my cooperation. Man was created with the ability to make choices and is responsible for those choices. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Adam’s fall was not a predetermined event in which he was powerless victim of a Programmer. Accountability for choices is biblical: Pro. 22:8a He who sows wickedness reaps trouble. Rev. 20:13 Each person was judged according to what he had done. 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. Summary: God is in charge, but He gives me freedom to choose.
PEOPLE THAT CHANGED THEIR SITUATIONS THROUGH PRAYER.
Many Changed Their Story Through Prayer. Prayer changes things. Those that sought God for change in their lives include:
1. Jacob: Genesis 32:25-29 “Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks. But he said, I will not let You go unless You bless me! So He said to him, What is your name? He said, Jacob. And He said, Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed. …And He blessed him there.”
2. Hannah: 1 Samuel 1:10-20 In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. And she made a vow, saying, “O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.” “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief. Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him. She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
3. Jabez: Chronicles 4:9-10 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
SUMMARY FROM ABRAHAM: 4 (FOUR) THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR DESTINY
James 2:23 Calls Abraham “God’s Friend” - a title no one else had. Believers are called “children of Abraham”. We don’t know much about Abraham’s past life. We meet him when he is 75 years old living in Ur, an influential city on the Euphrates River halfway b/w the Persian Gulf and modern-day Baghdad. God called Abraham to leave his family, home, culture, nation, gods for a future He had for him. He didn’t tell Abram what it was. Abram took a step of faith with God. 4 Things About God’s Promise For Israel & Christians: People: God Chose A People. Promise: God Gave His Word To Abraham & Us. Property: Go chose a property. Presence Of God: God Will Always Be There.
1. Your Destiny Will Be Costly. Gen. 12:1: Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you." Abram had to leave everything he knew for the promise he could not see. God didn’t give him clear directions. He just told him to leave & start walking. As we start our walk with Christ, it’s important we realize it is a walk of faith. We don’t know all that the future holds for us but we know who holds the future.
Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. A walk with Christ will cost you something. You might not be able to hang out with the same people you used to hang out with, or do the things you used to do. You might have to change some relationships as a result of this decision. You might go through rough terrains. But I promise you, it’s worth it.
Destiny Is Very Costly
a) Jesus: Matthew 4:1-2 1 Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit as he left the Jordan River. The Spirit led him into the desert, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. During those days Jesus ate nothing, so when they were over, he was hungry. 13 After the devil had finished tempting Jesus in every possible way, the devil left him until another time. 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Ghost, and the news about him spread throughout the surrounding country. In the wilderness, Jesus learned to rely on God and to focus on where he was headed. We want to get to God’s destiny for us, but we don’t like how He’s taking us there.
b) Israel: Exodus 13:17-18 17 When Pharaoh drove the people out of Egypt, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was the shortest way. God said, “If they have to fight, they might change their minds and go back to Egypt.” 18 So God led them through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites were dressed for fighting when they left the land of Egypt. We Always Look For The Shortest Cut. Yet God knows the shortest way is never the best way, especially when it comes to fulfilling His purpose for our lives! The Israelites thought they were ready to fight and ready to take the Promised Land, but God knew they weren’t ready to fight because they still had a very superficial relationship.
c) Israel: Deut. 8:2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. Our Destiny Takes Shape In The Desert, But Too Often We Avoid, resent and isolate ourselves in the desert. If you’ve found yourself more resentful, grumbling more, complaining more, envying others more, blaming more, then that only exposes how unready you are.
Lessons We Can Learn From Abraham – God said Sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 12 & 22)
a) The Greater The Destiny, The Greater The Sacrifice. Gen. 22:3 - Abraham had all night & morning to be terrified about the coming events and to talk himself out of it. He never did.
b) Sacrifice Doesn’t Always Come With Answers. Gen. 22:3 - “Early the next morning…” There was no delay. No procrastination. Pure unwavering obedience. No explanation, folks.
c) Godly Obedience Should Be Swift. Gen. 22:5: Abraham tells servants: “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Gen. 22:8 “Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ See his calmness and stability.
d) Obedience Both Relies On God For Strength & Expects God To Deliver. The altar got built but no lamb. Abraham continues in obedience: Gen. 22:9-14 “He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” He raised knife to kill his future. God came thru as Abraham expected.
e) What God Requires, He Provides. Until we give up the menial for the significant, we will always come up short. Every precious thing must die for God.
f) God Isn’t A Vengeful God, Standing Ready To Destroy Us The Minute We Make A Mistake. Even when Abraham failed, God looked out for him and kept His Promise to him.
g) Do Not Doubt God - Seek His Kingdom First. Was easy for Abraham to doubt when God told him to sacrifice Isaac. But he trusted in His Sovereignty.
h) See Yourself As God Sees You. God created you a masterpiece - rare, special, valuable.
2. God Will Fulfill Your Destiny. Gen. 12:2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you & make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. We see God making it clear to Abram that HE (GOD) would accomplish His part - “I will” make you a great nation & “I will” bless you.
Nothing Is Too Hard For God
? Jeremiah 32:17: “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
? Genesis 18:13-14: 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
1. There Is No PROMISE Too Hard For The Lord To Fulfil. Bible has more than 30,000 promises for Believers. 2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature… Numbers 23:19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
? Joshua 2 & 6: God promised that the walls of Jericho would fall, and that Rahab’’s dwelling on the wall and her family would be spared. This hard thing happened.
? 1 Kings 17: God promised to feed Elijah by ravens at the Brook Cherith and by a widow at Zarephath. This was a hard –- it happened.
? Luke 1: God promised that Mary would bring forth a son, though she was a virgin. This was a hard –- It happened.
2. There Is No PRAYER Too Hard For God To Answer. Great prayer-promises Jer. 33:3 Call to me & I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
? Genesis 21: Humanly & biologically speaking, to give Abraham and Sarah a child was impossible - yet God answered.
? Genesis 24: Humanly speaking, for Abraham’s servant to find just the right bride for Isaac was hard - yet God answered prayer by leading Eliezer to choose Rebekah!
? 1 Kings 18: Humanly speaking, it was hard for fire to fall upon the altar, but it was not too hard for God, and Elijah’s prayer was abundantly answered!
3. There Is No PROBLEM Too Hard For The Lord To Solve. God is a miracle-working God, and nothing is too hard for Him.
? Exodus 14: God enabled Israel to pass through the Red Sea unharmed and on dry land.
? Exodus 17: God gave them water out of the rock.
? Mark 4: Jesus stilled the storm.
? John 11: He raised the dead.
4. There Is No PLACE Too Hard For The Lord To Revive. We say: ‘‘The work is very hard; it has gone down terribly, and it’ll never be the same again!’’ But why accept this defeatist attitude when our God is the God of the impossible?”
? “Is your church dying’’? “Nothing seems to be happening?”
? “Do no conversions take place?” “Do few gather for prayer?”
5. There Is No PERSON Too Hard For The Lord To Save. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
? Luke 7: The woman who was a sinner was saved by the Lord Jesus & anointed Him.
? Luke 23: A condemned criminal was gloriously converted in his dying hour.
? Acts 9: A persecutor was humbled to the dust by the sight of the risen Lord.
? Acts 16: A jailer and his family were suddenly converted.
Eph. 3:20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
3. Your Destiny Is Not For You Alone. Genesis 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. Not only do we change, but our focus changes.
Abraham Was Blessed That We Might Be Blessed: Galatians 3: 7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
God Blesses People Through People. Galatians 3:8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith… It would happen with or without Abraham. But God wanted someone through whom the blessing would pass. He needed a practitioner of faith. So He chose Abraham. What that means is that God wants to bless someone through you. Don’t stop it. “…and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: All nations will be blessed through you.” It would happen and God needed a conduit. 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Galatians 3:14: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles thru Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
God Blesses People To Be A Blessing To Others:
? Joseph: Blessed To Deliver Israel.
? Moses: Saved From The Nile To Deliver Israel from Egypt.
? Elijah: Blessed From A Nondescript Background To teach people not to depend on Men.
? Elisha: Much need. Given Double Portion To Prevent Human Disasters (Shunemite Woman).
? Jesus: Came To Save & Then Was Elevated – No reputation for himself (Philip. 2:7-9).
? The 4 Lepers: Syrian - Samaria: Discovered Food To Reach A Starving Nation.
? Paul: Saved To Reach The Gospel To Others - Gentiles.
Through You, Many Must Be Blessed To Know Christ: Your family, co-workers, neighbors or people you know on social media. Exodus 12:38: Many people followed the Jews when they saw God’s favor on them. They also wanted to be Jews.
4. Your Destiny Depends On Choices You Make. Genesis 12:4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him... At the end of the day, it was Abraham’s choice to say “Yes” or “No”. If he had said “No”, he would have missed out on all that God had for him. We Must Choose Right.
Lot: Making The Wrong Choice - Lot's Choice Led To:
? War – Enemy kings attacked Sodom - Genesis 14:11
? Being Kidnapping – They carried off Lot & possessions - Genesis 14:12
? Oppression & Torment By The Citizens Of Sodom – 2 Peter 2:7-8; Genesis 19:1-11
? Loss Of All His Material Wealth - Genesis 19:15-16, 24-25
? Death Of His Wife - Genesis 19:17, 26
? Shame Of Incest With His Daughters - Genesis 19:30-36
What Choices Do We Make That Greatly Affect Our Lives?
? Choosing To Follow Jesus or Commit
? Choosing Your Mate
? Choosing Your Friends.
? Choosing Your Career
? Choosing Where You Live.
? Choosing to be happy or not.
? Choosing how react when things go wrong.
? Choosing to be responsible for our actions. ? Choosing to be a victor or victim.
? Choosing to save money or spend.
? Choosing to help others.
? Choosing to Eat Healthily Or Exercise.
? Choosing To Read a Book.
? Choosing to enhance on your Career.
? Choosing to appreciate Yourself or others.
Choice To Choose God Put Your Faith In Action
? You identify with Christ, God gives you a new Identity.
? Instead of Sinner, you are called Christian.
? Instead of being Lost, you are called Found.
? Instead of God’s Enemy, you are called Friend.
? Instead of Unrighteous, you are called Righteous.
? Instead of Poor, you are called Rich.
? Instead of the Old Man, you are a New Creation.
? Instead of being condemned, You are free from condemnation
? Instead of being wayward, you are a Child of God.
? Instead of a reject, you are chosen by God.
? Instead of alienation from God, You are adopted by God
? Instead of bondage, you are free.
? Instead of brass of ceiling, you have access to God.
? Instead of being guilty, You have been redeemed & forgiven.
? Instead of a carnal mind, You have the mind of Christ.
How Can We More Likely Make The Right Choice?
? Ask God For Wisdom - James 1:5-8
? Seek Advice From Others - Proverbs 11:14; 12:15
? Consult The Wisdom Found In The Bible (Especially In Proverbs).
? How Will This Add Or Subtract To God’s Purpose For Me?
? Will This Choice Make God Rejoice In Me?
INTERCESSORY PRAYER: LEARNING FROM ABRAHAM ABOUT IDENTITY AND DESTINY
1. Trust In God’s Sovereignty. Trust God as someone who knows the past, present and future.
2. Wait For God’s Timing. Greek word for God’s timing - “kairos” time, or “fullness of time”. God’s timing is not our timing. 2 Peter 3:8 With the Lord a day is like a thousand years….
3. Follow God’s Leading. When God calls you to do something, do it quickly.
