Matters Of Destiny Part 1: Finding Your Place In Destiny by Apostle Joshua Selman: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Power of the Word as Compassion

One of the greatest ways to demonstrate compassion is to bring light. Once people access light, there is no limit to what they can become, no limit to how far they can go. John 1:5 — the light shines in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.

With hands lifted, cry unto the Lord. The entrance of his word gives light and gives understanding unto the simple. They go from strength to strength, as many as appear before the Lord in Zion. We have come to draw strength. We have come to access light. We have come to advance. Spirit of the living God, we submit to your wisdom. You have converged us here to bless us, to cause that our destinies make constructive progress. We yield ourselves to your wisdom. We yield ourselves to your word. We ask in the name of Jesus that you have unrestrained access to our hearts, to our minds, that you will change us indeed — that we will be people of destiny indeed. We give you all the praise, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Delivering the word of God to God's people is one of the greatest demonstrations of compassion. The discussion will cover purpose, destiny, meaning, and fulfillment. Many people live aimless lives even though they are believers. Very few people have been taught constructively on matters that touch destiny, purpose, and God's program. Many people live very frustrated lives because they are unable to find true meaning to their lives. This discussion is intended to add to our understanding about purpose and destiny, and that in the name of Jesus, we will truly be realigned to God's program and live meaningful lives while serving his purposes.

Key Scriptures

Jeremiah 29:11 — "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you," says the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to bring you an expected end. This is God speaking in prophecy to Jeremiah but extending to all of us.

Romans 8:30 — Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, he also justified; and whom he justified, he also glorified.

Hebrews 10:7 — Then said I, lo, I come in the volume of the book; it is written of me to do thy will, oh Lord.

Definitions: Bringing Clarity Through Language

One of the ways to bring clarity of understanding is through language. As preachers, there is an assumption that because English gives us the opportunity to know and pronounce certain words, we necessarily understand them to mean the same thing. It is important to unify our understanding so that when concepts and terminologies are mentioned, there is no assumption as to what they mean.

• Destiny — The pre-ordained path that has been designed for anyone in Christ. Destiny also refers to God's expected end for you. The Bible tells us in Romans 8 that there is such a concept as predestination — meaning God did not decide upon your arrival what to do with your life. There is a script. He told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, while you were in your mother's womb, before thou camest forth, I called you and I ordained you to be a prophet unto the nations. Destiny talks about the pre-ordained path.

  Destiny can be connected to but is very different from ambition. Ambition is usually your choice. Destiny is a preordination. You discover destiny — you don't choose it.

• Purpose — The reason or the motivation for which something is done or for which it exists. Purpose answers the question why.
• Potential — Inherent abilities capable of being refined and developed to one's advantage.
• Fulfillment — The satisfaction that is derived from knowing that you have lived your life effectively: serving the purposes of the kingdom, living a victorious life, and being a blessing to humanity. Not one of the three — all three. A person can be highly successful and yet never fulfilled. The greatest gift you can give yourself is the gift of fulfillment.
• God's Program — His original desire and intent for the nations. God's program is broken into three categories:

  1. His program for the unbelieving world — called global missions or evangelism. He desires that all men be saved.
  2. His program for the church — called discipleship. The process that helps believers attain maturity and stature in experience.
  3. His program for society — called territorial transformation. Instilling the value system of the kingdom across every strata of human activities.

  The reason kingdom advance is faulty in many regards is because believers select only one or more of these. If you select evangelism alone, you have done well, but you are not complete. If you select discipleship alone, you have done well, but you are not complete. If you select transforming territories alone, you have done well, but you are not complete. Every program that is omitted has consequence both to the program of God and to society.

  For example, if believers are trained to become matured but God's program for society is not executed, righteous people will live in an unrighteous territory — as with Lot, who was a righteous man but lived in Sodom and Gomorrah, almost losing his daughters and losing his wife. It was not a personal righteousness problem; it was the decadence of society.

  There is the gospel as the message that saves. And there is the gospel as a value system that transforms society — the gospel as a software that re-engineers the understanding of a territory.

True Success: Your Role in God's Program

True success is discovering and fulfilling your unique role in God's program — not acquiring material things, not achieving academic feats, not whatever kind of exposure a man can have. According to scripture, true success is discovering and fulfilling your unique role in God's program. Everybody has a role. John 1:6-7 — there was a man sent from God whose name was John; the same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that men through him might believe. Finding and fulfilling your role in God's program is the truest biblical definition of success.

A man can have all the material blessings and yet from God's standpoint not be successful, once he is unable to discover and fulfill his purpose to its fullest. Jesus himself said he came to seek the lost. He was very vocal about the reason why he came. With his face like a flint, he was not distracted. He went about fulfilling until he finished. He made a profound statement on the cross: It is finished.

Questions Are the Seed for Answers

There are a number of questions that every person must be able to ask in order to live an effective life and fulfill their prophetic destiny. Questions are the seed for answers. If you do not know how to ask the right questions, you cannot have the answers that move your destiny forward.

The concept of realignment is where we get the word repent. Repentance is not a word only for sinners. Repent means gauge where you are standing based on a reference, and if you are deviated from it, realign. Repentance and conversion are two different words. Repentance is a word that applies to believers — that is how you keep realigning yourself until you are in fullness with the will of God.

Alignment with God's Will

The greatest security and fulfillment will come from knowing that you are walking in the will of God. It is powerful. It is therapeutic. It gives confidence to know that you are at the epicenter of the will of God. Hebrews 10:7 — Lo, I come in the volume of the book as it is written of me, not to do what I want to do, to do your will. Jesus in teaching prayer said: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom comes by your will being done.

All the resources of heaven will be made available to you to the degree to which you are aligned with the will of God. The resources of heaven do not come just because you need them. They come in answer to your determination to be aligned with the will of God.

Faith does not give you what you want. Faith gives you what is consistent with the will of God for your life. If you remove the will of God factor, it is not biblical faith. Faith outside of the will of God becomes a spiritual system for fulfilling lusts. The boundary of executing faith is the will of God. The Bible says, 1 John 5:14 — this is the confidence we have, that when we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

God is not the only one who can answer you. Jannes and Jambres made the rod become a serpent, but it was not God who did it. If God does not answer your prayer, Satan can route a way and make men answer that prayer — but that becomes the beginning of your destruction, because you have accessed a door that was not opened by God. Not every open door is breakthrough. Even the prison has a door. The fact that a door opened does not mean you are free.

Within the confines of the will of God, you become indomitable. Within the confines of the will of God, you are unkillable. The resources of heaven will come to back you.

When it comes to walking in the will of God, it is not always about going forward. It is always about satisfying his desire. Sometimes the way you go forward is by staying in one place for a long time. To you, you are marking time — but in the spirit, you are making progress. Progress is not just motion. It is being where God is, standing where he stands. If he moves, you move.

Moses understood this and said: if your presence will not go with us, we would rather remain here. We will be fulfilled knowing that you are standing with us. Because if we live without your presence, there are consequences.

One of the easiest ways Satan destroys destinies is to give them promotion. Satan can cause advancement. He can make a door open, and you disalign yourself baited by a poor definition of success and progress. If it is by God, you will never decline.

When walking with God, creativity is not what is needed — it is alignment and obedience. He said follow me, not invent a way. There is already a path. It is when executing dominion that creativity becomes necessary.

A weak person who is foolish enough to follow God and align themselves with his will can actualize destiny in such a spectacular way. The real key to those whom God uses mightily is not their intelligence or intrinsic value — it is their ability to master followership.

Illustration: Obedience Over Strategy

Many years ago, still in Zaria, when the internet was just coming to Africa in its infancy and nobody was talking — it was still CDs and cassettes — the Spirit of God spoke in the place of prayer: in the future, cassettes and CDs will no longer be relevant because technology will take over. He said, "This is how I intend to announce you to the nations. Put your teachings online. My angels will take them to the nations, and that is how I will let those whom I've sent you to know you are there."

At that point, what a foolish instruction it seemed. It was audio, not video — nothing desirable. But if at all God is ever foolish, his foolishness is wiser than the wisdom of everyone. It takes trust. Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways — not some — acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.

How does one stand before the Red Sea wanting to bring over 2.5 million people across, and God says, "Stretch your rod and tell the sea to divide"? At the point of obedience, it always looks like foolishness. And Moses stretched the rod and the sea parted. But the Bible tells us in the Psalms that it was not the rod of Moses — it was the breath of God's nostril that parted the sea. Because Moses was working in sync with the will of God.

God Desires Three Things for Every Believer

1. Victory — God desires you to live a victorious life. The Bible says, thanks be to God that causes us always to triumph. Romans 8:37 — nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors. Losing your job does not mean God changed his mind. Tragedy does not mean God changed his mind. Warfare is insisting that the thoughts that remain dominant in your mind are thoughts of dominion and peace. You cast out a spirit, but you do not cast out thoughts — you replace them.
2. Purpose — God desires that you fulfill your role in his prophetic agenda. Everybody has a part to play. God's program is not only for apostles, teachers, pastors, worshippers, and prophets. It is for everyone. You are not just a number among the 8.2 billion people on earth. You count. Your arrival did not surprise God.

   Judas is an example of someone who could have returned. His death did not add or subtract anything from redemption. Peter offended Jesus and did not kill himself — he waited, and was restored. God still has plans for you.

3. Blessing — God desires you to be a blessing. Genesis 12:3 — In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Being a blessing demands that you divorce yourself from self. The concept of being a blessing means your life must be beyond you.

   Abraham waited over 25 years for a son, and then God said take him and offer him as a burnt offering. Abraham arose early. He planned to kill Isaac and beg God to bring him back to life. When God saw that he had killed him in his heart, he said, "Stop. For now I know that you fear me, that you can look beyond yourself for my sake." I swear that in blessing I will bless you. Do not just claim Abraham's blessings without claiming his selflessness and his obedience. John 8:39 — if Abraham is your father, you will do the works of Abraham.

Five Questions That Define Destiny

Question One: Who Am I?

This is the question of identity. Social media has its definition of you. Tribes have their definition. People in the office have their definition. Pain and challenges give a definition. And the Word has its definition. You must answer the question: who am I in Christ? When you remove Christ, what you conclude on will frustrate you.

What the Bible says you are:

• A child of God — a son of God. 1 John 3:1 — Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.
• Crucified with Christ, raised up with Christ, and seated with him in heavenly places — far above principalities and powers, thrones, dominions, every name that is named, not only in this world but in the world to come. Ephesians 2:6
• Light. Salt. A king. A royal priesthood and holy nation.
• A joint heir with Christ. Romans 8:17
• A branch connected to the vine, indestructible. John 15:1-5
• The righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21
• An ambassador. A witness. Acts 1:8
• A battle axe. Jeremiah 51 — Thou art my battle axe, my weapon of war.
• A savior. Obadiah 1:21 — Saviours shall come up on Mount Zion.
• A mighty man or woman of valor.

The concept of "weaker vessel" does not mean you are weak. It is within a context. The Bible says let the weak say I am strong. It matters what you believe.

The Bible calls a woman a mystery. The Bible calls a woman a gate — the only gate through which another life can come. It is a noble honor. No matter how far science goes, machines cannot become women, because it is beyond having a womb. God had to send Gabriel to get permission from Mary. Luke 1:26-38 — When Mary asked the same question Zechariah asked, they shut Zechariah's mouth but took time to explain to Mary. Because she was a woman, the angel honored her consent.

Luke 18:1 — He spake a parable to the end that men ought always to pray and not to faint. In that parable, the illustration used was not a man but a defenseless widow — a woman. One of the strengths of women is staying power. Her importunity wore down even an unjust judge. Jesus used that to teach on the power of prayer: no matter how weak you are, if you become prayerful, you can bring down any gate, bring down any wall.

It matters that identity is defined from scripture, and not allowed to be painted by society. The color of your skin does not mean your destiny is dark. We live in a world that will bully confidence out of you if you do not have the coordinates of your self-worth pegged from scripture.

• I am a child of God. I am the son of a king. I am royalty. I am a royal priesthood.
• I am the habitation of the Holy Spirit.
• I am a blessing. I am a witness. I have a mandate to birth God's program.
• I am part of the church — the only entity authorized to birth and fulfill God's prophetic program.

Question Two: Where Am I From?

Trace your source and connection, because your source becomes your point of strength. The question is not about ethnic or geographic origin — that is just the geography you pass through. You are not truly from there. John 3:31 — He that cometh from above is above all. You are a victim of the limitations of your source. Every region has blessings that follow geographically, but also limitations. When you understand that through Christ you have been called out of every tribe, every tongue, every nation, foundationally you can be free from territorial demonic patterns. If you believe you are only from your natural descent, you will be a victim of what is connected to it.

Psalm 49:20 — Man that is in honor and understandeth not is like a beast in the field that perisheth.

John 3:2 — Nicodemus came to Jesus by night and said, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher sent from God. Even though you carry the body of a Jew, we know you are sent from God.

The reason why God has the liberty to give you an ambitious mandate is because he is aware that he stands behind you — that you are connected to him. When you are connected to the vine, the nutrients do not come from you. They only pass through you. John 15:1-5 — Every branch that is connected to me will bring forth fruit. Without me you can do nothing.

God is your Father. The Greek word pater means your source, your sustainer, your defender, your protector, your provider. When you understand the fatherhood of God, you will respect men but you will not worship men. Nobody will bully you by saying, "I can change your life." The Hebrew boys told Nebuchadnezzar: we will not bow. Our God is able to save us, and even if he does not save us, we will not bow. Daniel 3.

After this, someone will enjoy the fatherhood of God — prophetically, you will not see wind, you will not see rain, yet for the sake of your destiny and for the sake of God's program, your valley will be filled with water. I speak it to your destiny. I speak it over your finances in the name of Jesus. You will step into prepared blessings for you and for your children in the name of Jesus Christ. The Lord will cause your hand to inherit substance by the power of the Holy Ghost. My Father is mindful of me.

He is also called the Father of spirits — every human spirit is subject to him, and he can influence any spirit to come and bless you. When you understand the fatherhood of God, you will respect men but not worship them. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me. Psalm 23:4.

Question Three: Why Am I Here?

This is the question of purpose — your unique assignment. There are two foundational reasons why every person is here:

1. As a demonstration of the dominion — an extension of God's dominion system.
2. To advance the program of God with your life.

Ephesians 2:10 — We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God had pre-ordained that we should walk in them. We are a display of his artistry, a display of his intelligence. When people want to know how mighty God is, the dominion, wisdom, favor, and power that flows through your life is an attestation of how mighty God is. You should become a reason for people to praise God.

1 Peter 2:9 — We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, called to show forth the praises of him who has called us from out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Nebuchadnezzar looked at the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace and saw a fourth man whose form was like the Son of God. He brought them out — the fire had no power over them. He did not know the name of that God, so he called it the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Very soon people will say, "That is the God I want to serve" — the God who favors someone and raises them overnight.

Your being here is more than going to school, more than marriage, more than acquiring things. Those things are tools for the job, not the job. The job is to use all those tools synergized as weapons, serving the purposes of God, to the end that all men through your life would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

Beyond our generic roles, we have individual roles:

• Some are called to use the keys of the kingdom, prosper, and bring resources for God's end-time agenda. Wealth for such a person does not become materialism — it becomes a tool to supply the kingdom.
• Some are called to be prophetic intercessors — like Anna who stayed in the temple and prayed revival to come.
• Some are called through parenting — to raise children until one becomes a prophet, a politician, a businessman. That is your assignment: to midwife their destiny until they win.
• Some are called to intercede for ministers, so that as they go around the nations, they are sure there are intercessors backing them.

Biblical examples of finding your specific place:

• Mordecai — knew his assignment, and even after being exalted and riding on the king's horse, he returned to the gate, the place of his assignment.
• Esther — was beyond duty. It was beyond being a queen. She was a warrior who did not use a sword. She used her influence and stopped the annihilation of the Jews.
• Joseph — used his capacity to provide economic solutions that salvaged the entire world.
• Daniel — used the power of the prophetic and governmental intelligence to bring order and stability to Babylon.
• Ruth — lost her husband, lost her sons, and it seemed as if her life was over. Yet she knew she could realign back to God's program, found Boaz, and became the great-grandmother of Jesus.

It is never too late for anyone who understands there is something they can do. If you cannot give, you can pray. If you cannot pray, you can encourage. The very least you can do is pray. The very least you can do is serve.

Question Four: What Can I Do?

This is the question of potential and giftings. Do not ignore what you have. For Moses, it was a rod. Everything God has given you, if you can worship him with it and present it to him, it can become a weapon of destiny.

The Bible gave unto one five talents, to another two, and to another one — what was common between all three is that he gave. The size does not matter. If the man with one talent had produced two, he would have been at the same level of commendation as the one who had five and made ten. The one who died on the cross did not die as three — he died as one. Yet he saved the entire globe. When God gives you one, it is a proof of trust.

• If God has given you a kind heart — start from there. God can send people to you, and you can raise mighty people.
• If all you think you can do is talk — let the anointing rest on it and you will speak the counsel of God.
• If you are not extroverted — you can use your hands to rub the back of someone and say, "Don't give up."

You discover, you develop, and you serve with it. Nothing is useless when it is serving Jesus. Let your beauty serve Jesus. Let your intelligence serve Jesus. Let your money serve Jesus. Let your talent, your degree, your children, your reputation serve Jesus.

Nothing in itself has intrinsic value. The value of anything in the kingdom is derived from its ability to be aligned with the birthing of God's program. What gives anything value is that it can be used as a tool to serve the purposes of God. That man was called a rich fool because he found rest in wealth and did not understand its purpose.

Everything God has given must worship God. If God gives a little reputation — let the reputation bow. Force everything around your life to join in worshipping him. Like the woman with the alabaster box — not just her ointment but her hair representing her glory, her tears representing her pain, her jar representing her productivity. Her everything worshipped. The reason her worship touched Jesus was that she held nothing back. Her past, her present, her future, her wealth — everything worshipped.

Purpose is not an overly ambitious thing. It is a representation of every contribution through your life toward kingdom come. Maybe much, maybe little — but if it is for Jesus, it counts. The songs, the prayer, the fellowship, the show of honor, the cooking, the disciplining of the children, the laboring to study, the building of capacity — all of this is purpose.