PurposeandDestiny9-16Dec09

City of God Christian Centre

Newcastle-upon-tyne UK

Heaton Methodist Church
7 Simonside Terrace
Heaton, Newcastle

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

The importance of avoiding shortcuts in our pursuit of destiny & Understanding the importance of principle in Life.

When we have known our purpose in life but it's not yet delivered into your hands and are going about fulfilling it, we must avoid the offer of shortcuts that will come our way. there will be opportunities presented to us to take shortcuts in life.

1 Sam 24:1     David was presented with an opportunity to ascend the throne quickly by  slaying Saul. he knew this is against principle and refused to slay Saul even against the counsel of his companions.

Jeremiah 35:1-19   God against principle asked Jeremiah to offer wine to the Rechabites.
God at times would present to us things that he knows are against principle to see wether we would take it.

1 Kings 13     God gave the  young prophet a commandment not to eat or abide in the city he was sent to.

Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was offerred a shortcut to destiny by Satan if he would bow down and worship him.

1 Timothy 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

2 Kings 5:1    Gehazi ran after money but got leprosy; Elisha on the other hand was running after purpose and got fame and wealth with it.

Genesis 14:21-24   The King of Sodom offerred gifts - a shortcut -  to Abraham but he refused it out of a regard to principle. Yet that didn't hider Abraham from being rich in gold, servants, etc

The importance of recognizing that your destiny is tied to certain people that God has placed in your life.

Eph 4:11   for the edification of the church and bringing us to the perfect man

There are people God has placed into our lives to

16 Dec 09
Key scriptures in this series Ps 40,Heb 10 and Ps139(vs16)


Requirements

1. Faithfulness

1. Faithfulness in that which is another mans
2. Faithfulness in little things

1. Avoiding shortcuts
2. God will test us to see if we are consistent with principle. Whether we'll choose the easy way out.
   
3. Our destiny is tied to people/others in the body of Christ to enable us/help us in our journey towards destiny
4. 
   

Today's topic

Your purpose in Life will be manifested when you are pushed to go the extra mile

God will put you in a position where much more will be required from you, where extra will be required from you. ex.

Matt 5: if anyone will constrain you to go a mile, go with him two
miles.

Matt 25: 1- the five wise virgins had to get EXTRA oil.

Dan 1:11-18 It may also be in the form of daniel and his three fellows who purposed in their heart to deny  themselves of simple pleasures. That made them of excellent spirit and set them up for destiny.

Ex 32: Joshua even when not bidden chose to tarry at the foot of the mount 40 days waiting for Moses while the children of israel partied

Ex 33:9-11: When God came to visit the tabernacle, the whole Israel was worshiping at the tent doors but Joshua son of Nun tarried at the tabernacle. He was not a levite

Josh 1:1-3 Joshua called to lead as a result of his heart for God.

Ruth 1:  Ruth was willing to go the extra mile with Naomi even when her fellow sister in-law Ophra cried a little and departed at the request of Naomi.

If you are the kind of person who gives up at every little difficulty, you may not find destiny. Be willing to go the extra mile.

Looking at Elijah and Elisha, everytime Elijah asked him to tarry, Elisha refused and chose to go the extra mile with his master Elijah. His persistent payed off and he got the mantle of Elijah and he became chief amongst the prophets of his time.

You must be willing to go the extra mile.
2 Timothy 2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

The extra mile is cleansing ourselves, purging ourselves.

The need for separating ourselves to God - Rom 12:1-2

Romans 12:1  ¶I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

of Moses the bible will say in Heb 11: ...By faith Moses refused to be called the son of pharaoh's daughter but choose to suffer affliction with the children of Israel. for he counted the

Proverbs 18:1  ¶Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

James 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.


1 John 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

When you love the world, you loose your sensitivity to God and will likely not know when God is leading you.

What do we separate from?

• Unbelievers or Ungodly Companions: - Psalm 1: We should separate ourselves from the ungodly. Our closest friends and companions should not be unbelievers
• Worldly desires:- cares of this world, worldly standards and worldly ways of thinking