DESTINATIONS
“Can you change your destiny?”
Acts 16
We all start the same way (Birth) and we all end up at the same place (Death). But what you do in the middle is called (Life) and that, we all seem to do a little bit different.
Illustration of life. Birth day, then this year (2021) right in the middle, and Death date. Write down the year based on your death year being at age 79.
The average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78.54 years. So lets be generous and round up. 79 NOW IF YOU ARE OVER THAT AGE, JUST WRITE THE WORD BONUS OUT THERE.
United Kingdom 81.26 years
Canada 81.95 years
Mine, 1979—————————-2021————————————2058
Now draw a line from 2021 to your death date year. How much time do you have left? What are you going to accomplish? Can you change your destiny? How are you going to live LIFE?
What are you going to do right now, to change your trajectory?
What are you going to do right now to change your situation?
How are you going to maintain what you have if it is going good?
What are you going to do when God says no?
What are you going to do when God says go?
Will you jump when it is time to jump?
Are you listening to the voice of God in your time you have left?
Make good choices good things happen.
Your past doesn’t have to be bigger than your future.
We all end up the same place, same destination, death.
The space between where you are, and your final destination is called LIFE? How are you going to live it?
Are there things that you can do now that will change your destiny? Your destination.
Destiny = Something that is to happen or has happened to a particular person or thing. Lot or future. The predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible, course of events. The power or agency that determines the course of events. Fate. (I am your destiny)
Destination = The place to which a person or thing travels or is sent. The purpose for which something is destined. Used as an Adjective – destination wedding. – Noting an attraction or even that people are willing to travel a long distance to get to, either because it is very good or distinctive or because it is located in a popular and interesting place.
Destined = bound for a certain destination. Ordained, appointed, or predetermined to be or do something. Liable, planning, or intending to be or do something.
Now the Bible says that God orders our steps
CHECK OUT THESE VERSES –
Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in HIS way.”
Psalm 119:133, “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”
Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE HEART IS MORE DECEITFUL THAN ALL ELSE AND IS DESPERATELY SICK. Jeremiah 17:9
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Psalm 37:23-24, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way, though he fall, he shall not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the one who holds his hand.”
Vs. 25, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have NOT seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging for bread.”
Psalm 40:2, “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon the rock, making my steps secure.”
Psalm 23:3, “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
Jeremiah 10:23, “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.”
HE TELLS JOSHUA, 1:3, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.”
1 Samuel 2:9, “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.”
Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Proverbs 5:21, “For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.”
JOB SAID, 14:16, “For then you would number my steps.”
Proverbs 20:24, “Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?”
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Proverbs 19:20-21, “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man’s heart, but he counsel of the Lord will stand.”
Ephesians 2:10, “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Ephesians 5:15, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.” – BEST QUESTION EVER – IS THIS WISE?
SO IT IS CLEAR, SCRIPTURE IS FULL OF THE UNDERSTANDING GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU. HE WANTS TO LEAD YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION. HE WANTS YOU TO LIVE LIFE. MAKE SOMETHING OF IT FOR HIM.
HOWEVER IT IS VERY CLEAR TOO, THAT YOU CAN CHANGE THAT DIRECTION, THAT TRAJECTORY, THAT DESTINATION.
AND HE CAN PICK YOU UP WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE FALLEN TOO FAR. OR ITS TOO HARD. OR THAT THING OR ISSUE DERAILED YOU.
THERES A LITTLE STORY OVER IN JOEL.
Joel 2:25, “I will restore the years that the locust have eaten.”
For four straight years the locust had consumed and wiped out the harvest, and drove the people to their knees in desperation. And God saw them, were jealous for them and had pity on them. And God turned it around.
TALK ABOUT A CHANGE IN DESTINY. ALL WAS LOST, NO HOPE, YEAR AFTER YEAR – Then God steps in – and says – Im about to send so much stuff your way you will eat and be satisfied. Joel 2:18-19
THE LOST YEARS CAN BE – (according to the Gospel Coalition.)
The fruitless years.
The Painful years.
The selfish years.
The Rebellious years.
The Misdirected years.
The Christ-less Years.
SO AS WE START OUT ON THIS JOURNEY TO REACH OUR DESTINATION. Learning how to make much of the Life that Christ has given you. Asking can I change my Destiny?
Let’s look at what Paul’s story in Acts 16 tells us about following Jesus and the journey of our destination.
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THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL SAY NO.
Vs. 6-7, “They passed through the Prygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia, and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not Permit them.”
Not only does the Holy Spirit sometimes say NO, regardless of your desire, THE BIGGER PICTURE IS YOU BETTER BE WALKING IN TUNE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
2. THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL SAY GO.
Vs. 9, “A vision appeared to Paul in the night a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
Again IN TUNE with the Holy Spirit. God said go this way.
Now what if Paul had thrown a pity party because God had said no before to what Paul wanted to do, and Paul said NAH, you know what, I’m not getting my way, so I’m not going your way. JUST LIKE THAT THE DESTINATION WOULD HAVE CHANGED. HIS DESTINY ALTERED.
3. YOUR DESTINY AND DESTINATION, IS FOR CHRIST AND OTHERS. IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT YOU.
Vs. 14, “A woman named Lydia, from the city Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshipper of God, was listening, and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”
Paul’s first Convert was waiting on Him, he had no idea when he was in the Galatian region desiring to go where he wanted to Go, God had him a date with Destiny in Philippi! Lydia.
God changed Paul’s destination, and ultimately changed Lydia’s spiritual destination.
