Transcription
I'll be sharing from Psalm 139, verse 13 to 16. Psalm 139, verse 13 to 16. Contemporary English Version of the Bible: "You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous. Of these, I have no doubt. Nothing about me is hidden from you. I was secretly woven together in the earth below, but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do."
And then focusing on Psalm 139:16, 16 in particular, we want to look at four versions of the Bible. First, Christian Standard Bible: "It says, 'Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.'"
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Then we'll look at Psalm 139, verse 16 from the Living Bible. It says, "You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book."
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This is quite interesting. The Voice Bible, the Voice version of the Bible, Psalm 139, verse 16: "You see all things. You saw me growing, changing in my mother's womb. Every detail of my life was already written in your book. You established the sweetness, you established the length of my life before I ever tasted the sweetness of it."
Then we'll look at the Contemporary English Version, verse 16 this time. It says, "But with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do."
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Jesus, this is a revelation of a great mystery. Even before I was born, even before you were born.
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It says God had written in His book certain things that will happen in your lifetime.
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Destiny is one of those mysteries of life that every mature believer should have a very clear understanding about. Some future events have already been predetermined by God in the spirit realm, waiting to subsequently happen here in the physical at an appointed time. Destiny is about certain things and events that God has already predetermined in the spirit realm to subsequently happen in the physical.
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In certain lives, certain families, nations, locations, and at certain times or seasons here on earth. Our journey on earth is like a theme or book written by God.
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With various parts of the storyline already predetermined to end as He so wishes. So you have a responsibility to really discover your God-given destiny. Every prophecy of the Bible that is yet to be fulfilled is a revelation of destiny.
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Yes, it's a revelation of destiny waiting for a sure fulfillment at God's appointed time.
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Many people in every generation have benefited from the predetermined events of destiny. And some beneficiaries of destiny include Israel as a nation. Genesis chapter 15, verse 13 to 14. We look at it from the New Living Translation. It says, "Then the Lord said to Abraham."
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"You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end, they will come away with great wealth." So you could see how events were predetermined by God. In this instance, at least 400 years ahead of time, and God revealed this to Abraham in Genesis chapter 15, verse 13 to 14.
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For good generations over a time of 400 years.
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Before what God said here will be fully fulfilled. And it's quite instructive that just that God had revealed to Abram, it actually came to pass. Israel eventually, the nation of Israel, eventually found themselves in a strange land. We turned out to be Egypt. And what God said will happen to them while in that foreign nation was fulfilled. And then God said their enslavement in Egypt will not be forever. Even though it was going to last for a long time, but it will not be forever. And the Lord said it will go on for 400 years. Then after the 400 years, something will happen. He said He will punish that nation that enslaved the nation of Israel, and that He will also ensure that as Israel is coming out of Egypt, they will come out with great wealth. You can clearly remember the events of the Exodus, the great miracles that happened, ten different signs and wonders that God performed through His servant Moses.
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And at the end of that great move of God, Israel came out of Egypt. I declare to someone listening to me right now that the trials you have been going through will not be forever. The same God whom we have.
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Who has always been faithful and will ever be faithful, will ensure that He brings that persistent trial to an end.
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And at the end of your that trial, everything God has said would subsequently happen, the promise He has given, the prophetic word they have spoken, confirmed for some of you repeatedly, that good word from God shall come to pass when the appointed time comes. Those who have stopped you in the past will no longer be able to stop you. The forces that hindered you will no longer be able to hinder you. Israel came out of Egypt. As powerful as Egypt was, as powerful as Pharaoh was, as powerful as his team of soldiers were, they could not stop Israel from coming out of Egypt. Your captivity shall not be forever, and what God has promised will come.
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In compensation for your season of trial, it will manifest to His glory in the precious name of our Lord Jesus. If you believe God, God is saying this moment, let the Lord hear you say a powerful amen. A second beneficiary of the play out of destiny, the storyline of destiny, was a man called Samson. As we look at Judges chapter 13, verse 2 to 5.
Judges chapter 13, verse 2 to 5. The Bible says, "In those days, a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant and they had no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah's wife and said, 'Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. So be careful: you must not drink wine or any alcoholic drink, nor eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut, for he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth.'"
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"He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines." Here, I will see the story of a man who was at this point in time, not yet conceived, a man who was not yet born, and we are hearing the angel of the Lord declaring what will happen in his lifetime. And this man turned out to be Samson. And it's quite instructive that what the angel of the Lord revealed ahead of time, subsequently played out in the life of Samson. Samson eventually emerged as a deliverer for the nation of Israel. And in order for his destiny to be fulfilled, because of the peculiarity of his own destiny, God even from that endowed Samson with certain talents, with certain special abilities, with certain.
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With a certain measure of extraordinary strength. This was not given for nothing. It was given in connection with his divine destiny, his divine purpose, his divine assignment, his divine mission, his divine mandate. I want you to recognize as you listen to this message that you have an original destiny from God. You have a divine assignment on the surface of this earth. You have a divine purpose. In fact, it is to fulfill your purpose that is why you were born at the time you were born.
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You could have been, you could have come to the surface of this earth 100 years earlier, 200 years earlier, but God did not bring you to this earth earlier than now because this is the appointed season, this is the generation for your own purpose on the surface of the earth to be fulfilled. I pray that you will discover your divine purpose. I pray that you will fulfill your divine assignment here on earth. And I pray that the mistake that Samson made, you will not make that mistake. You will not die before your time. You will not fall into the traps of the enemies of God's kingdom. So you could see very, very clearly, God said to the angel that this young boy that would be born will grow to be a warrior and he will rescue the nation of Israel from the Philistines. This was the nation mentioned here was the nation of the Philistines. So God was very specific, very specific. When God was talking to Abraham in Genesis chapter 15 about Israel being in a strange land, a foreign nation where they'll be enslaved, the Lord was silent on the exact identity of that foreign nation. Genesis 15:13-14, the Lord was silent on the exact identity of the foreign nation. In the passage of time, it turned out to be Egypt. But in the instance of Samson, the angel of the Lord was very specific. He said, "Through Samson, God will bring forth deliverance onto Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
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So that implies that there are certain problems that you have been destined to solve. There are certain challenges. Not necessarily about you as a person, as it was for Samson. Deliverance from the hands of the Philistines was not necessarily a personal challenge for Samson. It had to do with his entire nation. It had to do with his own people. But he was a chosen instrument, he was a chosen vessel that God had in His mercy and wisdom decided to use to bring forth His good intention of national deliverance for His people. I pray that that purpose for which you have been sent at this time, that purpose for which God has brought you to this earth at this time and season, you will discover that purpose. You will arise, you will emerge, you will fulfill your divine mandate, fulfill your divine assignment, fulfill your divine purpose. The deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines was going to bring joy, was going to bring celebration of victory to the entire people of Israel. And so it is for some of you listening to me. Certain things that have been destined to happen in your life through you, by the workings of God and by the working of the Spirit of God, according to your divine destiny, will bring joy, will bring celebration, will bring deliverance, will bring open doors of freedom unto many people. May you fulfill your divine purpose in the name of Jesus. Another instance of destiny being fulfilled was the case of a young man called Josiah.
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In 1 Kings chapter 3, verse 13, verse 2. 1 Kings chapter 13, verse 2. The Bible says, "Then at the Lord's command, he shouted, 'O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: A child named Josiah will be born into the dynasty of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who come here to burn incense, and human bones will be born on you.'"
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Wow. This was revealed even before he was born. And once again, we see the mystery of destiny unfolding. A child was born according to the prophetic word. He was influenced by his parents to be named Josiah because the name was already given.
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In this prophecy. So this implies that when, by the time Israel, when the time is right for this child to be born, either before he was born, like it happened to John the Baptist, or at the time he's born, the Spirit of God will put it in the heart of his parents to name him Josiah.
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When the angel came to Zechariah to announce to him the forthcoming conception and birth of John the Baptist, it was also Zechariah who was given a name, John, for the boy that was coming. And a specific.
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Action that this young man Josiah will carry out at an appointed time was prophetically revealed here unto the glory of God. When the appointed time came, everything that was revealed by prophecy here was fulfilled. I stand as God's vessel in alignment with the dictate of your divine destiny, and I decree today that every divine assignment you have been ordained to carry out at this time and season, the Lord stand up your spirit right now.
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To discover, to recognize that specific assignment, to recognize the precise timing, and to take that step with divine precision to the glory of God in the name of Jesus Christ. Arise and play your role.
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Another beneficiary of destiny was a man called Cyrus. Isaiah chapter 44, verse 24 to 28. Isaiah 44:24-28. He said, "This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer and Creator. I am the Lord, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens; who was with me when I made the earth? I expose the false prophets and lies and make fools of fortune tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools. When I carry out the predictions of my prophets by them, I say to Jerusalem, 'People will live here again.' Unto the towns of Judah, 'You will be rebuilt.' When I say of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd; he will certainly do as I say. He will command, "Rebuild Jerusalem," and say, "Restore the temple."'" It's quite instructive that this particular prophecy was given over 150 years, over 150 years before this man was conceived, was born onto the surface of the earth. And when the appointed time came, his parents were in, obviously inspired and influenced to name him Cyrus. And he grew and eventually emerged as a king of a Gentile nation, but he was ordained to play a very significant role for God at an appointed time. And it's also quite instructive that when that time came, this man, King Cyrus, recognized his divine assignment and played that role expressly. Jeremiah was another beneficiary of destiny in Jeremiah chapter 1, verse 5. Jeremiah 1:5. The Bible says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born."
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"I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations." This is interesting. Before he was born, it was already settled that he was going to be a prophet of the Most High God, speaking God's word, delivering God's word to other nations.
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We read further in Jeremiah chapter 1, God went further to tell him in verse 9 through 10 that He had set him over nations to overthrow nations and kingdoms, to pull them down, to uproot evil kingdoms, to destroy such kingdoms. And God also said He had given him the authority to build and to plant. All of this was confirmed on Jeremiah under that mantle of the prophetic priest, an office that God in His mercy had ordained for him. It came to pass. John the Baptist was another beneficiary of destiny in Luke chapter 1, verse 13 to 17. Luke 1:13-17. This Bible says, "But the angel said, 'Don't be afraid, Zechariah; God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth, and he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and it will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.'" It's also very, very instructive, pretty old. And even more significantly, his wife Elizabeth was also very old, to the point where she was now being generally identified as the barren woman. But because it was irrevocably ordained by God that she would be the joyful mother of not just a child, but a child of great destiny, at an appointed time, Elizabeth conceived, delivered, and this boy was named John. And it's very instructive that everything that was mentioned by the angel came to pass to the glory of God. There are certain significant things that God has already written concerning you, about you. Those great things must be fulfilled. I pray you will not be careless like Samson, who only experienced a part of so much that could have happened. I pray that you will fulfill God's complete outline of God's destiny for your life.
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In closing up this first part, we also look at the case of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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In Luke chapter 1, verse 31 to 32. Luke chapter 1, verse 31 to 32.
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The angel was speaking here.
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He said, and this was to Mary, the mother of Jesus. He said, "You will conceive and give birth to his son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great." Take note of that emphasis there, not just great, he will be very great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David." Hallelujah. To the glory of God, these also came to pass. There is indeed a great mystery, and that is the mystery of destiny.
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That in the course of your life, here on earth, certain things have been predetermined by God to happen.
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In the course of your life, and you have a mandate, you have a responsibility.
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To build up your relationship with God, discover details of your divine destiny, and diligently bring them to pass. Fulfill your purpose within your appointed time.
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In the second part of this message, I will be sharing with you some very, very valuable, time-tested.
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Lessons, insights that will help you make the very best of your divine destiny. At this point, can we therefore pray together? Our Father, that God, we thank you for your word that has come. We thank you for your sons and daughters listening to this message. Man of destiny, women of destiny, Lord, we thank you for the plans, the thoughts, and the intentions you have for them. Thoughts of God are not of evil, to bless them, to prosper them, to make them successful, to make them relevant and impactful.
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In the process of their time here on earth. Lord, we pray that everyone listening to this message will receive clarity as to what you have truly ordained them to fulfill on the surface of this earth. Lord, we know that destiny in many cases comes in different phases. Lord, whatever phase your son is now, your daughter is now, that family is now in their divine destiny, Lord, open their eyes to discover what is expected to happen at this time and season. Stand them up, Lord, to arise and do that which had been ordained even before they were born to happen at this time and season. And we pray that the grace of the Lord, the wisdom of God, the favor of God, the anointing and the power of God will go ahead of you to clear the way. Lord, we ask that you release on their behalf angelic support to go ahead of them and clear the way for the fulfillment of their divine destiny and purpose at this time and season.
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The Lord grant your heart desires and the grace to fulfill that next. May your agenda, your divine destiny, which is due now, may that grace rest upon you, rest upon your family, rest upon everyone on your team and platform in the name of Jesus. Thank you, heavenly Father. In Jesus name, we have prayed. Hallelujah. Thank you for your time with us. Please join for the second part of this message on discovering your divine destiny, coming to you from the platform of Jesus Evangelical Assembly, the House of Answered Prayers. God bless you richly.
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