Destiny Thieves – Part 1

  11 March 2007

1. Introduction:

· Romans 8:28-29   -  “…called according to His purpose …predestined to be conformed to…”.

· Destiny = Predetermined course of events leading a person towards a destination.

a) There is a course (destiny) the world follows (Ephesians 2:2) – disobedience – Destructive.

b) There is a course (destiny) God has for you (Ephesians 2:10) – obedience – Dominion.

· The spirit you yield your life to will determine your destiny (Psalm 8:6) – for eternity.

· Purpose = The reason something exists – what it has been designed to accomplish.

a) God has a purpose for your live that involves:

i) What you are becoming – character – Romans 8:28

ii) What you do with your life – assignment – Ephesians 2:10

b) Only God can reveal to you the purpose He has for your life.

c) God has a purpose for your marriage, children, work, finances, church and every aspect of life.

2. How Destiny and Purpose are Connected:

· Destiny and Purpose are different but they are closely connected.

· You can never fulfill your destiny without discovering and fulfilling God’s purpose.

· Ecclesiastes 3:14 – What ever God does shall be forever (eternity) – God requires an account.

· God’s purpose for your life determines the reward in eternity – destiny.

· God will evaluate every person’s life – what we did – our works (verse 5).

· Matthew 16:24-27 – “He will reward each one according to his works”.

· We are called to relationship / trust in Christ – salvation.

We are called to fulfill Hi purpose - Works – reward

· Fulfilling God’s purpose in this life determines eternal destiny.

· Bible Examples:

a) Luke 12:16-21

   - Rich man – ‘successful’ – failed to fulfill his destiny.

      - He never understood God’s purpose for his money. 

b) 1 Corinthians 10:1-5

      - Israel – ‘saved’ but failed to fulfill their destiny.

      - They never understood God’s purpose for the “wilderness”

c) John 17:3-6

- Jesus – successful – fulfilled His destiny.

- He understood and fulfilled His purpose in life.

d)   2 Timothy 4:7-8

      - Paul – successful – fulfilled his destiny.

      - He understood God’s purpose for his life and fulfilled it.

e)   1 Corinthians 3:8,15

      - Each one – success => fulfilled destiny.

      - Reward (Destiny) is determined by what we did!

· What we do in this life determines our eternal destiny.

· Don’t clutter your life with “dead works” – activities that are good but not of God’s purpose for our life – Hebrews 6:1

3.  Destiny Thieves:

• Luke 10:30 – “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho”.
• The man had purpose and set out on a journey to a destination.
• On the way the unexpected occurred – fell among thieves.
• The devil is a thief – our personal adversary – John 10:10
• If he can’t stop you from getting saved – he wants to steal your destiny.
• Thieves: - stripped him of his possessions – things of value.

               - wounded him – assaulted and damaged his potential.

               - left him – abandoned him to die.

• We need to recognise destiny thieves or we will be stripped, wounded, and left half dead without purpose and focus.
• Many believers are like this man – unable to fulfill their destiny.
• God wants each one of us to discover and fulfill His purpose.
• Christ = The Good Samaritan.

i)  Compassion          - He is moved by our pain, brokenness and acts.

ii) Care                       - He shows practical care – healing, restoration.

iii) Cost                       - He pays the price for our restoration.

iv) Connection         - He connects us to the corporate destiny.

• God’s blessing is no substitute for you responsibility.
• We are each responsible:

i) To Connect with Christ                            - Personal / Corporate

1 Corinthians 12:18

ii) To Discover His Purpose                          - Philippians 3:12-15

iii) To guard our life from destiny thieves - Proverbs 4:23