Destiny - Design or Default

God is not explained, He is revealed (TD Jakes)

Religion

Means you to behave in a certain way

Dress a certain way

Obey a set of rules and all will be OK

Usually those who make the rules want to control you

Christianity

Means that you become

You share life with God through Jesus

It is revealed

The Gospel of John

..Jesus has not come to condemn but to save us.

Redemption

The great central them of the Bible

That we have peace with God through Christ

That we have fallen short of His expectations

God demands righteousness and Jesus paid the price

That we have our sins forgiven

How does God see us now?

Eph 4

..Take on an entirely new way of life – a God fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside. (Message)

In the family

Accepted forever, forgiven – Eternally Secure

Be a son not just a servant – An heir

Be sure of who you are

We no longer do things out of rules but out of love

Not because I have to but because I want to.

We have been translated from darkness into light

Key Assumption

We something special in God’s economy, we are the apple of His eye

On a human level we all desire to be loved and accepted, we all want to know that there is someone who we can love and never be let down by. That is exactly who God is

But where to now, how do we live our lives as Christians going forward

Hebrew 12:2/3

..Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith

Run with Endurance

No quick answer – Run with endurance

God is not a cosmic slot machine that we can put in a request and get an answer

God’s world is not our consumer world – Instant gratification, change and not repair

Author and finisher

Life is God’s story and we get to participate in a few chapters. (Donald Miller)

Jesus is the author so we know that we win in the end.

Writes the story – taps the pencil occasionally as He waits for us

Our story is part of a much bigger library, yet an important part.

Therefore we have a destiny

Each person has been created unique with God’s specific purpose in mind

The question is do we now live by DESIGN of DEFAULT

Free will still plays a part … Stir it up

Needs application – You can be a Christian and still be on default and mess up your life

Still in the family but like an embarrassing relative

The eternal decision has been made

We now participate in life, not hibernate

Not a thermal contribution (heating the seating)

It is not enough to believe, we must participate (Erwin McManus)

Let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in out head or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out it’s implications in every detail of our lives (Gal 5: 25/25 Message)

Life is about choices and choices have consequences

God says “I place before you life and death, blessings and curses, choose life”

Develop your own story with God’s help and encouragement

Stories have twists and turns, ups and downs

Most stories have a villain in the plot

But we have an outcome, we get a sneak previous

There are even conflicts and disappointments

Only because you do not know the exact ending

Although our life has a story when we die people will most likely summarise you life in one or two sentences.

So why not pick that sentence now (John Maxwell)

Let’s participate,

DESTINY – Living by design not default

Eph 1:..(Read the full first chapter)

4. He chose in Him before the foundation of the earth

5. He predestined us to adoption as sons

7. In Him we have redemption

11. In Him we have obtained an inheritance

14. He is the guarantee of our inheritance

Destiny is divine

Everything in God’s creation has purpose

Nature demonstrates this to perfection

We are unique, no one is the same

6.6 billion individuals on the planet with a unique DNA

Destiny is determined by God

He gives gifts to all

Gifts differ

We are all different yet loved the same

Destiny is discovery

Spending time with God

Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened

The gift is probably already in you

Look back on what pushes your button

Destiny is dated

It does not all come at once

Learning curve – The School of life

We sometime get the message but not the moment

Destiny is interdependent

We are called to interact with others

Not to be a lone ranger

For the benefit of the whole

It is not about me, it is about Him

We must embrace our humanity – Enjoy the journey

We are individual, so do not try and be the same – An insult to God

Destiny is eternal

Will your dream die with you – The test of our gift

The Christian life is about life after death.

But really it is the life you leave behind

Destiny is about dying to your own dreams

Walking backward down the stairs of your own ambitions

Give up on your self, and you will find your real self

Lose your life and you will find it

Submit every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life

Keep nothing back.

Nothing that you have not given away will really be yours.

Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead.

CS Lewis

Give it away – Life is about others

Our destiny is defined by God and intertwined with other

Conclusion

Find your destiny and live by design

God has redeemed you, release redemption into the lives of other

Call to action

Invisible kingdoms are at war for the hearts and lives of every human being who walks the face of the earth. There is a kingdom of darkness stealing the hopes and dreams and souls of humanity. (Erwin McManus)

God says “I place before you life and death, blessings and curses, choose life”

Claim your destiny

Graham Williams, 19/08/2007