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New Life COTR Sunday March 4, 2007
TOTAL DESTINY
“The Door of Your Destiny”
INTRODUCTION: Total God, Total Others, Total Destiny.
Are you ready to walk through THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY? Yes God has a DESTINY for you to live.
Many of you may be asking, what is my destiny? Why do I even exist? What is my purpose in life?
Jeremiah 29:11- “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Psalm 139:13-18- Turn and Read
Revelation 3:8- “….See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut…”
THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY IS OPEN TODAY!
God has a plan for your life. A purpose!
Suicide Statistics in the United States in 2004
32,439 people committed suicide in 2004
An estimated 800,000 attempted suicide
On average someone attempts suicide every 40 seconds
By the time we close this service approximately 135 people will have attempted suicide
On average 88 people a day die of suicide.
SOMEWHERE THESE PEOPLE LOST SIGHT OF DESTINY!
MAYBE THEY DIDN’T KNOW GOD HAD A PLAN FOR THEIR LIFE!
As a Police Officer I can remember the emptiness of having to work a suicide.
THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY IS OPEN TODAY! God has a great plan for your life.
TRANSITION: Things may not always be easy. Sometimes they can be very difficult, but always remember “YOU HAVE BEEN FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.”
In the book of Genesis 37 we read about a man of DESTINY, his name is Joseph.
Genesis 37:5- “Joseph had a dream….”
Genesis 37:9- “Then he had another dream…”
He’s sent to check on his brothers in the field.
Genesis 37:19- “Here comes that dreamer!”
HERE COMES THAT MAN OF DESTINY!
Genesis 37:20- “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
WHAT’S GOING TO COME OF YOUR DREAMS? ARE YOU WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY?
JOSEPH WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR OF HIS DESTINY AND WAS THROWN INTO A PIT!
By his brothers, the ones he was supposed to rule over! Who was ruling over who?
TRANSITION: What they didn’t know was that Joseph was that when Joseph was falling into that pit, he was taking a step toward his destiny.
HE WAS GOING THROUGH THE DOOR OF DESTINY!
*****The purpose of the pit was not to destroy the dream! The purpose of the pit was to develop Joseph to live the dream!******
Genesis 50:20- “But as for you, you meant evil against me: but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
When Joseph had the dream it was about ruling over his family. When destiny is revealed in Genesis 50 it’s about SAVING LIVES!
The purpose of the pit was not about DESTROYING THE DREAM. It was about DEVELOPING Joseph to live the dream. Fulfill his destiny!
THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY!
TRANSITION: Three mental attitudes you’ll need to resist while God is developing you to live your destiny! Or should I say the pit!
I. FEAR
Fear of rejection. What, they don’t like me! Nobody loves me! I’m here in this empty pit. I’ve been rejected by men! I’ve been rejected by God!
Fear of abandonment. I’ve been left here to die. Where is God?
Don’t allow fear to destroy your dream.
2Timothy 1:7- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
HAVE FAITH IN GOD! “God is not a man that He should lie.” “God will never leave you or forsake you.”
RESIST FEAR, HAVE FAITH! WALK THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY!
TRANSITION: If you allow the fear of rejection or abandonment to grow then you could possibly struggle with the next mental attitude that could destroy instead of develop your dream.
II. CONFUSION
What are you confused about?
Does God really love me?
Does God really have a plan for my life?
Maybe I’m not worthy.
If I’ve been rejected and abandoned then I’m really confused about God and my future.
HOW DO I FIGHT CONFUSION? I BECOME CONVINCED!
Romans 8:35-39- Turn and Read
RESIST CONFUSION AND BE CONVINCED! WALK THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY!
TRANSITON: If I fear God has rejected and abandoned me in the pit then I get really confused about who God is and does He really love me.
So then I struggle with the third mental attitude.
III. DOUBT
I begin to doubt everything God has promised me! And if I allow doubt to take root in my life it will cause me to miss the DOOR OF DESTINY GOD HAS OPEN FOR ME!
Have you ever heard of DOUBTING THOMAS?
John 20:27- “Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT TO THIS MESSAGE TODAY?
In many ways the life of Joseph can be compared to the life of Jesus Christ.
Joseph was thrown into a pit which in the end led to saving lives. Jesus died on a cross, which in the end led to saving lives from an eternity in hell.
Hebrews 12:2- “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
When Jesus hung on that cross it looked like it was over! The soldiers standing around him mocked him. “If you’re King of the Jews come down off that cross.”
When Joseph’s brothers threw him into that pit they said, “Let’s see what becomes of his dreams.”
JOSEPH WAS WALKING THROUGH THE DOORWAY OF HIS DESTINY!
WHEN JESUS HUNG ON THAT CROSS HE WAS WALKING THROUGH THE DOORWAY OF HIS DESTINY!
HE WAS DESTINED TO BE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORD’S, DEFEATING DEATH HELL AND THE GRAVE FOREVER MORE!
HE IS ALIVE AND HE IS THE SAVIOR AND LORD OF ALL MANKIND.
“EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS THAT HE IS LORD!”
In John 20 Jesus stands before Thomas having been resurrected from the grave. He commands Thomas, “STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE! “
CONCLUSION: My encouragement to you today is this.
WALK THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY!
Instead of Fear have Faith in God. Instead of confusion be convinced that God loves you. Instead of doubting, believe.
HAVE FAITH THAT GOD IS WITH YOU AND BE CONVINCED THAT HE LOVES YOU AND BELIEVE THAT HE HAS A DESTINY FOR YOUR LIFE.
TOTAL DESTINY!
If God can raise Jesus three day dead body from the grave, He can resurrect your dreams and your destiny!
Pray
New Life COTR Sunday March 4, 2007
TOTAL DESTINY
“The Door of Your Destiny”
INTRODUCTION: Total God, Total Others, Total Destiny.
Are you ready to walk through THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY? Yes God has a DESTINY for you to live.
Many of you may be asking, what is my destiny? Why do I even exist? What is my purpose in life?
Jeremiah 29:11- “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Psalm 139:13-18- Turn and Read
Revelation 3:8- “….See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut…”
THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY IS OPEN TODAY!
God has a plan for your life. A purpose!
Suicide Statistics in the United States in 2004
32,439 people committed suicide in 2004
An estimated 800,000 attempted suicide
On average someone attempts suicide every 40 seconds
By the time we close this service approximately 135 people will have attempted suicide
On average 88 people a day die of suicide.
SOMEWHERE THESE PEOPLE LOST SIGHT OF DESTINY!
MAYBE THEY DIDN’T KNOW GOD HAD A PLAN FOR THEIR LIFE!
As a Police Officer I can remember the emptiness of having to work a suicide.
THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY IS OPEN TODAY! God has a great plan for your life.
TRANSITION: Things may not always be easy. Sometimes they can be very difficult, but always remember “YOU HAVE BEEN FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.”
In the book of Genesis 37 we read about a man of DESTINY, his name is Joseph.
Genesis 37:5- “Joseph had a dream….”
Genesis 37:9- “Then he had another dream…”
He’s sent to check on his brothers in the field.
Genesis 37:19- “Here comes that dreamer!”
HERE COMES THAT MAN OF DESTINY!
Genesis 37:20- “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
WHAT’S GOING TO COME OF YOUR DREAMS? ARE YOU WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY?
JOSEPH WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR OF HIS DESTINY AND WAS THROWN INTO A PIT!
By his brothers, the ones he was supposed to rule over! Who was ruling over who?
TRANSITION: What they didn’t know was that Joseph was that when Joseph was falling into that pit, he was taking a step toward his destiny.
HE WAS GOING THROUGH THE DOOR OF DESTINY!
*****The purpose of the pit was not to destroy the dream! The purpose of the pit was to develop Joseph to live the dream!******
Genesis 50:20- “But as for you, you meant evil against me: but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
When Joseph had the dream it was about ruling over his family. When destiny is revealed in Genesis 50 it’s about SAVING LIVES!
The purpose of the pit was not about DESTROYING THE DREAM. It was about DEVELOPING Joseph to live the dream. Fulfill his destiny!
THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY!
TRANSITION: Three mental attitudes you’ll need to resist while God is developing you to live your destiny! Or should I say the pit!
I. FEAR
Fear of rejection. What, they don’t like me! Nobody loves me! I’m here in this empty pit. I’ve been rejected by men! I’ve been rejected by God!
Fear of abandonment. I’ve been left here to die. Where is God?
Don’t allow fear to destroy your dream.
2Timothy 1:7- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
HAVE FAITH IN GOD! “God is not a man that He should lie.” “God will never leave you or forsake you.”
RESIST FEAR, HAVE FAITH! WALK THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY!
TRANSITION: If you allow the fear of rejection or abandonment to grow then you could possibly struggle with the next mental attitude that could destroy instead of develop your dream.
II. CONFUSION
What are you confused about?
Does God really love me?
Does God really have a plan for my life?
Maybe I’m not worthy.
If I’ve been rejected and abandoned then I’m really confused about God and my future.
HOW DO I FIGHT CONFUSION? I BECOME CONVINCED!
Romans 8:35-39- Turn and Read
RESIST CONFUSION AND BE CONVINCED! WALK THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY!
TRANSITON: If I fear God has rejected and abandoned me in the pit then I get really confused about who God is and does He really love me.
So then I struggle with the third mental attitude.
III. DOUBT
I begin to doubt everything God has promised me! And if I allow doubt to take root in my life it will cause me to miss the DOOR OF DESTINY GOD HAS OPEN FOR ME!
Have you ever heard of DOUBTING THOMAS?
John 20:27- “Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT TO THIS MESSAGE TODAY?
In many ways the life of Joseph can be compared to the life of Jesus Christ.
Joseph was thrown into a pit which in the end led to saving lives. Jesus died on a cross, which in the end led to saving lives from an eternity in hell.
Hebrews 12:2- “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
When Jesus hung on that cross it looked like it was over! The soldiers standing around him mocked him. “If you’re King of the Jews come down off that cross.”
When Joseph’s brothers threw him into that pit they said, “Let’s see what becomes of his dreams.”
JOSEPH WAS WALKING THROUGH THE DOORWAY OF HIS DESTINY!
WHEN JESUS HUNG ON THAT CROSS HE WAS WALKING THROUGH THE DOORWAY OF HIS DESTINY!
HE WAS DESTINED TO BE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORD’S, DEFEATING DEATH HELL AND THE GRAVE FOREVER MORE!
HE IS ALIVE AND HE IS THE SAVIOR AND LORD OF ALL MANKIND.
“EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS THAT HE IS LORD!”
In John 20 Jesus stands before Thomas having been resurrected from the grave. He commands Thomas, “STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE! “
CONCLUSION: My encouragement to you today is this.
WALK THROUGH THE DOOR OF YOUR DESTINY!
Instead of Fear have Faith in God. Instead of confusion be convinced that God loves you. Instead of doubting, believe.
HAVE FAITH THAT GOD IS WITH YOU AND BE CONVINCED THAT HE LOVES YOU AND BELIEVE THAT HE HAS A DESTINY FOR YOUR LIFE.
TOTAL DESTINY!
If God can raise Jesus three day dead body from the grave, He can resurrect your dreams and your destiny!
Pray
