MLB Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do they light a lamp and place it under a grain measure, but on a stand; then it shines for everyone in the house. Similarly let your light shine among the people, so that they observe your good works and give glory to your heavenly Father.”
MLB Isaiah 60:1-3, “ARISE, SHINE; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth and a dark cloud the nations; but the LORD shall arise over you, His glory shall be seen upon you. Nations shall walk in your light and kings in your dawning radiance.”
•We need to walk in the light of the understanding that the glory and or light of God upon us.
•We need to change our attitude and walk in understanding of who we are in Christ
•We should not let other people, situations, etc detect to us who we are
•We need to have a correct and right value system about ourselves
•We need to have the correct esteem about ourselves
•The scriptures above tell us to “LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE” and ARISE AND SHINE” That leaves us with the responsibility to shine and not God.
•For you to let your light shine, you need to have a correct value system about yourself and correct self esteem
•Remember the world is in darkness and we need to shine
Things that may influence your value system
•self esteem
•background
•how other people treat(ed) you
My example:
a) I came from a divorced family, my parents divorced when I was about 5 years old. I saw the day my mother was fired from home. That made my understanding, appreciation or value of a woman/mother very skewed.
-because of that background, my current appreciation of a woman (that includes my wife) needed God’s grace
-I did not really experience what we call a mother’s love. When I was now grown up and had access to a relationship with my mother, I did not have any passion for her. I could not fake it, it was not there. I had to decide to accept and love as my mother.
-I saw my father beat up my step mother, I saw my cousin wounded by his wife.
-Beside my real mother, there are other 3 women that I had to address as mother before my father died!
b) Also when growing, I was in a harsh background.
- I remember I used to eat with my cousins (Michael & Sipho), who were 6 years and 11 years older than I. You can see that for me to have enough, I had to brace myself up!
- There was no much love, I had a lot of unpleasant nick names, I remember my grandmother used to call me “isivoko sikaMahleka lesi”, others used to say I have a big head, big eyes, big eye brows (they are big that I have to comb them every morning), big teeth, e.t.c
-As a young boy, I had suicide thoughts at times, to kill myself, I only lacked the courage to!
c)On top of that, I was poor. I did not get enough food, clothes, school requirements, etc.
d) But I started having wishes about life. I would imagine myself succeeding in being rich. I used to think like this: “when I get to 18 years, I will do or be this, when I get to 30, I will be this, and a thought will come, “and then you will die” When that thought came. I would stop thinking about the future because by then I did not have the solution for death as I was not born again.
You can see from the above that I have all the natural reasons to have a low self esteem and not amount to anything in life. But when I got born again, praise God, I refused to let that affect me. The bible says in Christ I am a new creature. I saw myself in light of who I am in Christ. Today, I do not feel inferior to anybody! I stand with and or before anybody, no matter how great and I do not feel any less! But I had to get my mind renewed by the Word and see myself in the light of who I am in Christ.
Walk in the light / glory
•You can choose not to let your background or up bringing affect you
•You have to get your mind renewed by the Word and change your thinking
•See yourself valuable, God loves you as He loves Christ.
•You were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1v17-19
•Change the specks or eyes that you look yourself with
•Find out what the Word says God made you to be and walk in that light. Let the glory or light of God be seen in your life.
•If you understand, you will walk in holiness, success, prosperity, health and be a blessing to others.
The Full package of the Gospel
•Sometimes I have heard people talk negative about “faith preachers” or what they call the “American gospel”, they say the gospel is not about healing and prosperity. Well I agree there are extremes in teachings at times but something for sure, the gospel is not about poverty and sickness!
•By now I should be on record that I do teach about success and prosperity, I do not apologize for that, I believe and live by that conviction and will continue to teach it! The bible teaches that and that settles it!
•The reason we have to break it down into faith, love, healing, fruit of the spirit, gifts, prosperity, etc is that many a times we do not understand everything at one go. The whole package of the gospel or salvation has all the above and more.
•People criticize divine healing saying God uses sickness to correct us but when they get sick they rush to seek medication!
•Some criticize prosperity and success teaching but borrow money to meet their needs! They seek money every day but do not believe God wants us to have money, how ridiculous!
2Peter 1v4, Ephesians 1v3
There are enough resources in this world
•Let me challenge you if you think you are rich or if you think there are no resources in the world
•It is said if we were to share the earth’s resources equally, we would all have enough.
•It is said in the world, 20% of nations and or people own 80% resources while the 80% population has 20% of the resources
•An average annual income per person in the world is about $US7500 (about 37 million Zim dollar per month) and in America it is over $36000 (about 180 million Zim dollar per month).
•There is therefore no reason for people to abuse the resources when children of God are suffering. (Ecclesiastes 10v7)
•One American businessman has a $12 million (720 bill) penthouse, a $40 million (2.4 trill) mansion ,a $20 (1.2 trill) million vacation home
•Bill Gates, the richest (once) had over $US100 billion wealthy though now has 56 bill, his house is about $US125 mil (7.5 Tril). Salary plus bonus $US966667 (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
•The 100 top billioniers in the world joinly have over $US1.4 trillion
Value System
•You need to change the way you treat others also. Value yourself right and value other people right also.
•If you understand the value of other people, then you will treat them right.
•Value and treat your spouse right
•Value and treat your children right
•Value and treat other brethren right
•The way you treat others may also be influenced by the way you were raised and treated yourself.
•Despite your background and history, you can change your destiny and future. You can change the face of your family, church, city, etc
•When I look at myself and the call of God in my life, I do not see myself inferior or less important to the other international speakers of our day. It does not matter the size of my light, what matters is to walk in what God called me to be.
•Your value is not determined by material things or possessions.
•What you have or do not have does not add or subtract value from you.
•Do not place your value (and that of others) on things that lose value like possessions and money.
•With the glory of God upon you, you can change and positively affect those around you, your family, church, society, city, generation, etc.
•You can break curses and bad things that have been in your blood line or genealogy.
•Rise up and walk in the favor of God
•Understand that you have God’s grace, love, nature, ability, light, glory, mercy, etc
•See yourself in the light of that which God has done for you
•You have God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit in you!
1John 4 v4
Monday, July 30, 2007
The Knowledge Of The Glory
Glory means: Brilliant showy splendor, brilliance, sparkle, glitter.
Ex 33:13-34:8, “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people. And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth? And the Lord said to Moses, I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, {and} mercy in My sight and I know you personally {and} by name. And Moses said, I beseech You, SHOW ME YOUR GLORY. And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy {and} loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy {and} loving-kindness. But, He said, You can not see My face, for no man shall see Me and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand upon the rock, And while My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen. THE LORD said to Moses, Cut two tables of stone like the first, and I will write upon these tables the words that were on the first tables, which you broke. Be ready and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. And no man shall come up with you, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mountain; neither let flocks or herds feed before that mountain. So Moses cut two tables of stone like the first, and he rose up early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tables of stone. And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, Keeping mercy {and} loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation. And Moses made haste to bow his head toward the earth and worshiped.”
•The glory of the Lord may mean different things depending on the context
•In many instances and in this lesson we will study it as God’s manifest presence, Ex 40:34-35, “Then the cloud [the Shekinah, God's visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle! And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
•When God was leading Israel out of Egypt to Canaan, the Glory of God appeared in the form of: a) Cloud - Ex 24:15-16, “Then Moses went up into the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day [God] called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” Ex 16:10, “And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud!”
b) Fire - Ex 24:17, “And the glory of the Lord appeared to the Israelites like devouring fire on the top of the mountain.”
•The glory was “kept” in the ark of covenant, Ex 25:21-22, “You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony [the Ten Commandments] that I will give you There I will meet with you and, from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the Testimony, I will speak intimately with you of all which I will give you in commandment to the Israelites.” 1 Sam 4:21-5;10, “ And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel!--because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, The glory is gone from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken. THE PHILISTINES brought the ark of God from Ebenezer to Ashdod. They took the ark of God into the house of Dagon and set it beside Dagon [their idol]. When they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again. But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had again fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and [his] head and both the palms of his hands were lying cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left him. This is the reason neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and He caused [mice to spring up and there was] very deadly destruction and He smote the people with [very painful] tumors {or} boils, both Ashdod and its territory. When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god. So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let [it] be carried around to Gath. So they carried the ark of the God of Israel there. But after they had carried it to Gath, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing an exceedingly great panic [at the deaths from the plague], for He afflicted the people of the city, both small and great, and tumors {or} boils broke out on them. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as [it] came, the people of Ekron cried out, They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us to slay us and our people!”
Heb 9:5, “Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.”
•Israel had a condition of experiencing the positive aspect of God’s glory – Purity!. Is 33:13, “Hear, you who are far off [says the Lord], what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge My might! The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the godless ones. [They cry] Who among us can dwell with that devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with those everlasting burnings? He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises gain from fraud {and} from oppression, who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil. [Such a man] will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; water for him will be sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; [your eyes] will behold a land of wide distances that stretches afar.”
The Glory Of God In Israel vs In The church
In Israel, the glory of God appeared physically and they could see it with their eyes. The children of Israel were not born again, they were spiritually dead. They were not spiritually alive hence God had to deal with them in the physical. They could not fully grasp, see or understand spiritual things. The church has been made alive in Christ, we are born again and our spirits alive in God. We are spiritual alive and can see, grasp and understand spiritual things. Gen 22:16-18, “And said, I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] {or} begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son, In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, And in your Seed [Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed {and} [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard {and} obeyed My voice.” This scripture is often quoted to mean Israel is the sand and the church stars. I believe there is some truth in it.
1 Cor 15:46, “But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual.” Mostly, God would deal with Israel in the physical but He deals with the church in the spiritual. With that understanding, let’s go back to out subject. The glory of God appeared in Israel in the physical but we do not see the same in the church. But this does not mean that the glory of God is no longer seen or experienced in the church.
Cor 3:6-4:7, “[It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers {and} dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive. Now if the dispensation of death engraved in letters on stone [the ministration of the Law], was inaugurated with such glory {and} splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its brilliance, [a glory] that was to fade {and} pass away, Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit [this spiritual ministry whose task it is to cause men to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be attended with much greater {and} more splendid glory? For if the service that condemns [the ministration of doom] had glory, how infinitely more abounding in splendor {and} glory must be the service that makes righteous [the ministry that produces and fosters righteous living and right standing with God]! Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor [the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds {and} excels it [the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ]. For if that which was but passing {and} fading away came with splendor, how much more must that which remains {and} is permanent abide in glory {and} splendor! Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely {and} openly {and} fearlessly. Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it]. In fact, their minds were grown hard {and} calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void {and} done away. Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds {and} hearts But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off {and} taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His {very own} image in ever increasing splendor {and} from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. THEREFORE, SINCE we do hold {and} engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) {or} become faint with weariness and exhaustion. We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate {or} handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight {and} presence of God to every man's conscience. But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing {and} obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying {and} veiled [only] to those who are lost. For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image {and} Likeness of God. For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forthd [as i] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty {and} glory of God It is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of {Jesus} Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur {and} exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.”
•In the church the glory of God is manifested in Christ
•It is the Holy Spirit that revels that glory to us
John 17:22-24, “I have given to them the glory {and} honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one {and} perfectly united, that the world may know {and} [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
Christ came to restore unto us the glory of god which we lost when Adam sinned. Rom 3:23, “Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor {and} glory which God bestows {and} receives.” That glory is in us and we are to live in it. We are not to see the glory at a distance in the form of a cloud or fire but that glory is in us. Eph 3:16, “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened {and} reinforced with mighty power in the inner man BY the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].” Col 1:27, “To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within {and} among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.”
Heb 10:20, “Heb 10:19-23 “Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom {and} confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus, By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated {and} dedicated {and} opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh, And since we have [such] a great {and} wonderful {and} noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, Let us all come forward {and} draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance {and} absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled {and} purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water. So let us seize {and} hold fast {and} retain without wavering the hope we cherish {and} confess {and} our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) {and} faithful to His word”
The glory or presence of God was confined in the Holy of holies in the Old Testament but Christ opened the way for all of us to experience the glory. We all have access into the presence of God and experience His glory in us always.
We live in the dispensation of which God said, “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. “ Hab 2v14
We do not to go around looking for clouds and pillars of fire, we just look into our spirits for there is the glory!
Ex 33:13-34:8, “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people. And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest. And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth? And the Lord said to Moses, I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, {and} mercy in My sight and I know you personally {and} by name. And Moses said, I beseech You, SHOW ME YOUR GLORY. And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy {and} loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy {and} loving-kindness. But, He said, You can not see My face, for no man shall see Me and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand upon the rock, And while My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen. THE LORD said to Moses, Cut two tables of stone like the first, and I will write upon these tables the words that were on the first tables, which you broke. Be ready and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. And no man shall come up with you, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mountain; neither let flocks or herds feed before that mountain. So Moses cut two tables of stone like the first, and he rose up early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tables of stone. And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, Keeping mercy {and} loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation. And Moses made haste to bow his head toward the earth and worshiped.”
•The glory of the Lord may mean different things depending on the context
•In many instances and in this lesson we will study it as God’s manifest presence, Ex 40:34-35, “Then the cloud [the Shekinah, God's visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle! And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
•When God was leading Israel out of Egypt to Canaan, the Glory of God appeared in the form of: a) Cloud - Ex 24:15-16, “Then Moses went up into the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day [God] called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” Ex 16:10, “And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud!”
b) Fire - Ex 24:17, “And the glory of the Lord appeared to the Israelites like devouring fire on the top of the mountain.”
•The glory was “kept” in the ark of covenant, Ex 25:21-22, “You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony [the Ten Commandments] that I will give you There I will meet with you and, from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are upon the ark of the Testimony, I will speak intimately with you of all which I will give you in commandment to the Israelites.” 1 Sam 4:21-5;10, “ And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel!--because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. She said, The glory is gone from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken. THE PHILISTINES brought the ark of God from Ebenezer to Ashdod. They took the ark of God into the house of Dagon and set it beside Dagon [their idol]. When they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again. But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had again fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and [his] head and both the palms of his hands were lying cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left him. This is the reason neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and He caused [mice to spring up and there was] very deadly destruction and He smote the people with [very painful] tumors {or} boils, both Ashdod and its territory. When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god. So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let [it] be carried around to Gath. So they carried the ark of the God of Israel there. But after they had carried it to Gath, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing an exceedingly great panic [at the deaths from the plague], for He afflicted the people of the city, both small and great, and tumors {or} boils broke out on them. So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And as [it] came, the people of Ekron cried out, They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us to slay us and our people!”
Heb 9:5, “Above [the ark] and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representations of the cherubim [winged creatures which were the symbols] of glory. We cannot now go into detail about these things.”
•Israel had a condition of experiencing the positive aspect of God’s glory – Purity!. Is 33:13, “Hear, you who are far off [says the Lord], what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge My might! The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the godless ones. [They cry] Who among us can dwell with that devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with those everlasting burnings? He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises gain from fraud {and} from oppression, who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil. [Such a man] will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; water for him will be sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; [your eyes] will behold a land of wide distances that stretches afar.”
The Glory Of God In Israel vs In The church
In Israel, the glory of God appeared physically and they could see it with their eyes. The children of Israel were not born again, they were spiritually dead. They were not spiritually alive hence God had to deal with them in the physical. They could not fully grasp, see or understand spiritual things. The church has been made alive in Christ, we are born again and our spirits alive in God. We are spiritual alive and can see, grasp and understand spiritual things. Gen 22:16-18, “And said, I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] {or} begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son, In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, And in your Seed [Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed {and} [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard {and} obeyed My voice.” This scripture is often quoted to mean Israel is the sand and the church stars. I believe there is some truth in it.
1 Cor 15:46, “But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual.” Mostly, God would deal with Israel in the physical but He deals with the church in the spiritual. With that understanding, let’s go back to out subject. The glory of God appeared in Israel in the physical but we do not see the same in the church. But this does not mean that the glory of God is no longer seen or experienced in the church.
Cor 3:6-4:7, “[It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers {and} dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive. Now if the dispensation of death engraved in letters on stone [the ministration of the Law], was inaugurated with such glory {and} splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its brilliance, [a glory] that was to fade {and} pass away, Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit [this spiritual ministry whose task it is to cause men to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be attended with much greater {and} more splendid glory? For if the service that condemns [the ministration of doom] had glory, how infinitely more abounding in splendor {and} glory must be the service that makes righteous [the ministry that produces and fosters righteous living and right standing with God]! Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor [the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds {and} excels it [the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ]. For if that which was but passing {and} fading away came with splendor, how much more must that which remains {and} is permanent abide in glory {and} splendor! Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely {and} openly {and} fearlessly. Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it]. In fact, their minds were grown hard {and} calloused [they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void {and} done away. Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds {and} hearts But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off {and} taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His {very own} image in ever increasing splendor {and} from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. THEREFORE, SINCE we do hold {and} engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) {or} become faint with weariness and exhaustion. We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate {or} handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight {and} presence of God to every man's conscience. But even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to those who are perishing {and} obscured [only] to those who are spiritually dying {and} veiled [only] to those who are lost. For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image {and} Likeness of God. For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forthd [as i] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty {and} glory of God It is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of {Jesus} Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur {and} exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.”
•In the church the glory of God is manifested in Christ
•It is the Holy Spirit that revels that glory to us
John 17:22-24, “I have given to them the glory {and} honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one {and} perfectly united, that the world may know {and} [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
Christ came to restore unto us the glory of god which we lost when Adam sinned. Rom 3:23, “Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor {and} glory which God bestows {and} receives.” That glory is in us and we are to live in it. We are not to see the glory at a distance in the form of a cloud or fire but that glory is in us. Eph 3:16, “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened {and} reinforced with mighty power in the inner man BY the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].” Col 1:27, “To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within {and} among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.”
Heb 10:20, “Heb 10:19-23 “Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom {and} confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus, By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated {and} dedicated {and} opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh, And since we have [such] a great {and} wonderful {and} noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, Let us all come forward {and} draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance {and} absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled {and} purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water. So let us seize {and} hold fast {and} retain without wavering the hope we cherish {and} confess {and} our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) {and} faithful to His word”
The glory or presence of God was confined in the Holy of holies in the Old Testament but Christ opened the way for all of us to experience the glory. We all have access into the presence of God and experience His glory in us always.
We live in the dispensation of which God said, “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. “ Hab 2v14
We do not to go around looking for clouds and pillars of fire, we just look into our spirits for there is the glory!
Identifying & Unlocking Your Destiny
Rom 8:28, “We are assured {and} know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work
together {and} are [fitting into a plan] for good to {and} for those who love God and are called according
to [His] design {and} purpose.”
Judg 14:14, “And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth
sweetness. And they could not solve the riddle in three days.”
•In every situation that we find ourselves in, we need to be alert & sensitive and find out why we
are in such situations.
•Some of the things or situations that happens to us, are for our good and are linked to our destiny
•Some of the things that seem bad and difficult for us are divinely appointed for our good
•Even the bad things that the devil can put on our way can be turned around for our good
•Some of the situations are tests that we need to go through and pass before we reach our destiny
•I am not saying that every bad thing happening it is God trying to teach us something, no. Because
some of the situations we find ourselves in are because of our wrong choices or decisions that we
or others made.
•You need to find out what your destiny is no matter what situation you find yourself in, if you
check properly, there is always “a light at the end of the tunnel”
•Your background or history cannot be an excuse for your failure to attain your destiny. You
cannot do anything about your yesterday, but can only learn from it. But you can definitely do
something about your tomorrow.
•We need to spend time on identifying and walking in our destiny than having “pity parties” for
ourselves about what happened to us yesterday.
•The fact that you are poor, sick, your parents died, you were raped or abused, did not manage to
get your desired education, do not know your parents, were rejected, etc cannot and should not
lock you down.
•Despite every situation, you need to pursue your destiny and not concentrate on what has
happened to you. Break loose from what holds you down and pursue your destiny.
•I personally come from a poor back ground. – my family was poor – did not grow up in a descent
life – my parents divorced when I was 4 or 5 years old – grew up getting second hand clothes from
richer relatives – at school, I did not get every thing necessary for school including uniforms – did
not reach the level of education I would have desired – when in form 4, part of my fees came from
social welfare fund – did not go to a good school.
•All the above difficulties did not deter me from pursuing my destiny, but instead, it fueled me to
pursue my destiny and I took every bad situation positively as a chance for a testimony.
•When I was walking on bare foot (without shoes) to school, when I used to borrow my grand
mother’s tennis shoes, when I would stay at home without school fees, when I did not get what I
wanted, when I worked as a general hand, cleaning and carrying bins at TM hyper, when I was an
invoice clerk, when I was an accounts clerk, when I was a bookkeeper, when my father died, when
my mother died, I always believed and aimed for better and higher things. As an Accountant
currently, I am believing for and aiming to be a director and later have my own established
company. In difficult situations, I see and perceive my destiny.
•I have always believed there is hope and a better tomorrow and I thrive to see and experience a
better tomorrow.
•So, always refuse to give in. Be positive, do something and refuse to be discouraged. Pastor A
Ndlovu says we need to see problems as challenges. I add, “let us also see problems as
opportunities for testimony!”
•All the great man in history and in the bible are those that faced challenges, stood, refused to give
up but persisted and pulled through to greatness. “Show me a great person and I will show you a
person that went through challenges.
Your destiny can be locked to a) certain situations or b) certain individuals. So, it is your responsibility
to discover and pursue your destiny.
a) DESTINY CAN BE LOCKED TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS
When I say your destiny is locked to certain situations I mean that for you to succeed and walk in your
destiny, you need to go through situations instead of complaining and giving up, you persist, do right,
walk through whatever difficulties you may face until you reach your destiny.
Examples
1. Israel. Gen 15:13-14, “And [God] said to Abram, Know positively that your descendants will be
strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs [Egypt], and they will be
slaves there and will be afflicted {and} oppressed for 400 years. [Fulfilled in Exod. 12:40.] But I
will bring judgment on that nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with
great possessions
God told Abraham that his descendants will be slaves before they reach their destiny which was
the Promised Land. It was pointless for those involved to complain and try to flee and avoid being
enslaved; there was no short cut to their destiny. All they needed was to keep the promise of God
in mind and believe for their release. It is one thing to be positive about situations and see victory
coming and quite a different thing to be comfortable and decide to dwell and stay in those
situations. If the Israelites decided to settle for Egypt after staying for 400 years, then, they would
have missed the best that God had in store for them.
2. Joseph’s dream was locked in him being sold into Egypt. Gen 50:18-20, “Then his brothers went
and fell down before him, saying, See, we are your servants (your slaves)! And Joseph said to
them, Fear not; for am I in the place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.] As for you, you
thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be
kept alive, as they are this day.
For Joseph to be Egypt’s “Prime minister”, he had to go through being sold, enslaved and jailed.
3. Moses. He was a fugitive murderer and stammer but managed to see his and pursue his destiny in
the wilderness when God appeared to him.
4. Esther. Her destiny was locked in her loosing her parents and Jews being exiled. Esth, 4:14, “For
if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but
you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for
such a time as this {and} for this very occasion?
For her to be queen, the Jews had to be exiled, and Vashit had to be “fired”, for Modecai to adopt
her, her parents had to die. So, the bad situation that the orphan Esther found herself in was for her
good, to walk in her destiny. She could have felt sorry for herself and died miserably.
5. David. His destiny was locked in him being a shepherd boy of his father’s few sheep. 1 Sam
17:34-37, “And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep. And when there came a
lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and smote it and delivered
the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and
killed it. Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be
like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God! David said, The Lord Who
delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the
hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you! There he was
trained to be a shepherd king and also to trust God. His faith in God was activated when God
protected him from the bear and lion. David could have said, “My father does not care about me,
he sends me alone to look after sheep and lo, lion and bears are going to kill me and he could have
been killed. But that is not what he did; he saw the difficulties in the bush as opportunity for
testimony.
6. Jesus. His destiny was locked in the cross. Heb 12:2, “Looking away [from all that will distract]
to Jesus, Who is the Leader {and} the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief]
and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the
prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising {and} ignoring the shame, and is now
seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
b) YOUR DESTINY CAN BE LOCKED IN A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL
I mean at times for you to successfully walk in your destiny, there are people that God put before you
that you need to identify and walk with, as your destiny is attached to them. Missing that concept may
mean you missing your destiny.
Examples
1. Esther’s destiny was attached to Mordecai. Esth 2:5-10, There was a certain Jew in the capital
in Shushan whose name was Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives taken away with Jeconiah king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile He had brought up
Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden
was beautiful and lovely, and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own
daughter. So when the king's command and his decree were proclaimed and when many maidens
were gathered in Shushan the capital under the custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken to the
king's house into the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased [Hegai] and
obtained his favor. And he speedily gave her the things for her purification and her portion of food
and the seven chosen maids to be given her from the king's palace; and he removed her and her
maids to the best [apartment] in the harem. Esther had not made known her nationality or her
kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to do so.
2. Jonathan’s destiny was with David, he lost it for the comfort of his father. 1 Sam 23:16-18,And
Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went into the wood to David [at Horesh] and strengthened his
hand in God. He said to him, Fear not; the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be
king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father knows that too. And the two of them
made a covenant before the Lord. And David remained in the wood [at Horesh], and Jonathan
went to his house.
3. Barnabas’ destiny was with Paul, after separating, we do not hear about him. Acts 13:2-4, “While
they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas
and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying, they put their
hands on them and sent them away. So then, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to
Seleucia, and from [that port] they sailed away to Cyprus. Acts 15:39-40, “And there followed a
sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took
Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended
by the brethren to the grace (the favor and mercy) of the Lord.
4. Elisha identified his destiny in Elijah. 1 kings 19v16-24
5. Timothy identified his destiny in Paul. Phil 2:22, “But Timothy's tested worth you know, how as a
son with his father he has toiled with me zealously in [serving and helping to advance] the good
news (the Gospel).
6. The disciples identified their destiny in Jesus. Luke 18:28, “And Peter said, See, we have left our
own [things--home, family, and business] and have followed You.
7. John the Baptist’s destiny was locked in Jesus. John 3:28-30, “You yourselves are my witnesses
[you personally bear me out] that I stated, I am not the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah),
but I have [only] been sent before Him [in advance of Him, to be His appointed forerunner, His
messenger, His announcer]. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the groomsman who
stands by and listens to him rejoices greatly {and} heartily on account of the bridegroom's voice.
This then is my pleasure {and} joy, and it is now complete. [S. of Sol. 5:1.] He must increase, but I
must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]
8. Joshua’s destiny was locked in Moses.
9. Samuel vs Eli. 1 Sam 3:1-9, “NOW THE boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. The word
of the Lord was rare {and} precious in those days; there was no frequent {or} widely spread
vision. The lamp of God had not yet gone out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was,
and Samuel was lying down When the Lord called, Samuel! And he answered, Here I am. And the
Lord called again, Samuel! And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, Here am I; you did call
me. Eli answered, I did not call, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord,
and the word of the Lord was not yet revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel the third time.
And he went to Eli and said, Here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord was
calling the boy. So Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down. And if He calls you, you shall say, Speak,
Lord, for Your servant is listening. So Samuel went and lay down in his place
10. Personal example of Pastor Milson & myself, Pastor Gegana & some of the church leaders who
came from under him, e.g. Macebo, Siphetho, Ngulube,etc.
So, it is important that we do not miss the people that God gives us to help us identify and walk in our
destiny. It is also equally important to realize that there are people that God has given us to help them
achieve their destiny.
together {and} are [fitting into a plan] for good to {and} for those who love God and are called according
to [His] design {and} purpose.”
Judg 14:14, “And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth food, and out of the strong came forth
sweetness. And they could not solve the riddle in three days.”
•In every situation that we find ourselves in, we need to be alert & sensitive and find out why we
are in such situations.
•Some of the things or situations that happens to us, are for our good and are linked to our destiny
•Some of the things that seem bad and difficult for us are divinely appointed for our good
•Even the bad things that the devil can put on our way can be turned around for our good
•Some of the situations are tests that we need to go through and pass before we reach our destiny
•I am not saying that every bad thing happening it is God trying to teach us something, no. Because
some of the situations we find ourselves in are because of our wrong choices or decisions that we
or others made.
•You need to find out what your destiny is no matter what situation you find yourself in, if you
check properly, there is always “a light at the end of the tunnel”
•Your background or history cannot be an excuse for your failure to attain your destiny. You
cannot do anything about your yesterday, but can only learn from it. But you can definitely do
something about your tomorrow.
•We need to spend time on identifying and walking in our destiny than having “pity parties” for
ourselves about what happened to us yesterday.
•The fact that you are poor, sick, your parents died, you were raped or abused, did not manage to
get your desired education, do not know your parents, were rejected, etc cannot and should not
lock you down.
•Despite every situation, you need to pursue your destiny and not concentrate on what has
happened to you. Break loose from what holds you down and pursue your destiny.
•I personally come from a poor back ground. – my family was poor – did not grow up in a descent
life – my parents divorced when I was 4 or 5 years old – grew up getting second hand clothes from
richer relatives – at school, I did not get every thing necessary for school including uniforms – did
not reach the level of education I would have desired – when in form 4, part of my fees came from
social welfare fund – did not go to a good school.
•All the above difficulties did not deter me from pursuing my destiny, but instead, it fueled me to
pursue my destiny and I took every bad situation positively as a chance for a testimony.
•When I was walking on bare foot (without shoes) to school, when I used to borrow my grand
mother’s tennis shoes, when I would stay at home without school fees, when I did not get what I
wanted, when I worked as a general hand, cleaning and carrying bins at TM hyper, when I was an
invoice clerk, when I was an accounts clerk, when I was a bookkeeper, when my father died, when
my mother died, I always believed and aimed for better and higher things. As an Accountant
currently, I am believing for and aiming to be a director and later have my own established
company. In difficult situations, I see and perceive my destiny.
•I have always believed there is hope and a better tomorrow and I thrive to see and experience a
better tomorrow.
•So, always refuse to give in. Be positive, do something and refuse to be discouraged. Pastor A
Ndlovu says we need to see problems as challenges. I add, “let us also see problems as
opportunities for testimony!”
•All the great man in history and in the bible are those that faced challenges, stood, refused to give
up but persisted and pulled through to greatness. “Show me a great person and I will show you a
person that went through challenges.
Your destiny can be locked to a) certain situations or b) certain individuals. So, it is your responsibility
to discover and pursue your destiny.
a) DESTINY CAN BE LOCKED TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS
When I say your destiny is locked to certain situations I mean that for you to succeed and walk in your
destiny, you need to go through situations instead of complaining and giving up, you persist, do right,
walk through whatever difficulties you may face until you reach your destiny.
Examples
1. Israel. Gen 15:13-14, “And [God] said to Abram, Know positively that your descendants will be
strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs [Egypt], and they will be
slaves there and will be afflicted {and} oppressed for 400 years. [Fulfilled in Exod. 12:40.] But I
will bring judgment on that nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with
great possessions
God told Abraham that his descendants will be slaves before they reach their destiny which was
the Promised Land. It was pointless for those involved to complain and try to flee and avoid being
enslaved; there was no short cut to their destiny. All they needed was to keep the promise of God
in mind and believe for their release. It is one thing to be positive about situations and see victory
coming and quite a different thing to be comfortable and decide to dwell and stay in those
situations. If the Israelites decided to settle for Egypt after staying for 400 years, then, they would
have missed the best that God had in store for them.
2. Joseph’s dream was locked in him being sold into Egypt. Gen 50:18-20, “Then his brothers went
and fell down before him, saying, See, we are your servants (your slaves)! And Joseph said to
them, Fear not; for am I in the place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.] As for you, you
thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be
kept alive, as they are this day.
For Joseph to be Egypt’s “Prime minister”, he had to go through being sold, enslaved and jailed.
3. Moses. He was a fugitive murderer and stammer but managed to see his and pursue his destiny in
the wilderness when God appeared to him.
4. Esther. Her destiny was locked in her loosing her parents and Jews being exiled. Esth, 4:14, “For
if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but
you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for
such a time as this {and} for this very occasion?
For her to be queen, the Jews had to be exiled, and Vashit had to be “fired”, for Modecai to adopt
her, her parents had to die. So, the bad situation that the orphan Esther found herself in was for her
good, to walk in her destiny. She could have felt sorry for herself and died miserably.
5. David. His destiny was locked in him being a shepherd boy of his father’s few sheep. 1 Sam
17:34-37, “And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep. And when there came a
lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and smote it and delivered
the lamb out of its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and
killed it. Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be
like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God! David said, The Lord Who
delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the
hand of this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Go, and the Lord be with you! There he was
trained to be a shepherd king and also to trust God. His faith in God was activated when God
protected him from the bear and lion. David could have said, “My father does not care about me,
he sends me alone to look after sheep and lo, lion and bears are going to kill me and he could have
been killed. But that is not what he did; he saw the difficulties in the bush as opportunity for
testimony.
6. Jesus. His destiny was locked in the cross. Heb 12:2, “Looking away [from all that will distract]
to Jesus, Who is the Leader {and} the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief]
and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the
prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising {and} ignoring the shame, and is now
seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
b) YOUR DESTINY CAN BE LOCKED IN A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL
I mean at times for you to successfully walk in your destiny, there are people that God put before you
that you need to identify and walk with, as your destiny is attached to them. Missing that concept may
mean you missing your destiny.
Examples
1. Esther’s destiny was attached to Mordecai. Esth 2:5-10, There was a certain Jew in the capital
in Shushan whose name was Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives taken away with Jeconiah king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile He had brought up
Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden
was beautiful and lovely, and when her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own
daughter. So when the king's command and his decree were proclaimed and when many maidens
were gathered in Shushan the capital under the custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken to the
king's house into the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased [Hegai] and
obtained his favor. And he speedily gave her the things for her purification and her portion of food
and the seven chosen maids to be given her from the king's palace; and he removed her and her
maids to the best [apartment] in the harem. Esther had not made known her nationality or her
kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to do so.
2. Jonathan’s destiny was with David, he lost it for the comfort of his father. 1 Sam 23:16-18,And
Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went into the wood to David [at Horesh] and strengthened his
hand in God. He said to him, Fear not; the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be
king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father knows that too. And the two of them
made a covenant before the Lord. And David remained in the wood [at Horesh], and Jonathan
went to his house.
3. Barnabas’ destiny was with Paul, after separating, we do not hear about him. Acts 13:2-4, “While
they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas
and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying, they put their
hands on them and sent them away. So then, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to
Seleucia, and from [that port] they sailed away to Cyprus. Acts 15:39-40, “And there followed a
sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took
Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended
by the brethren to the grace (the favor and mercy) of the Lord.
4. Elisha identified his destiny in Elijah. 1 kings 19v16-24
5. Timothy identified his destiny in Paul. Phil 2:22, “But Timothy's tested worth you know, how as a
son with his father he has toiled with me zealously in [serving and helping to advance] the good
news (the Gospel).
6. The disciples identified their destiny in Jesus. Luke 18:28, “And Peter said, See, we have left our
own [things--home, family, and business] and have followed You.
7. John the Baptist’s destiny was locked in Jesus. John 3:28-30, “You yourselves are my witnesses
[you personally bear me out] that I stated, I am not the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah),
but I have [only] been sent before Him [in advance of Him, to be His appointed forerunner, His
messenger, His announcer]. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the groomsman who
stands by and listens to him rejoices greatly {and} heartily on account of the bridegroom's voice.
This then is my pleasure {and} joy, and it is now complete. [S. of Sol. 5:1.] He must increase, but I
must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]
8. Joshua’s destiny was locked in Moses.
9. Samuel vs Eli. 1 Sam 3:1-9, “NOW THE boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. The word
of the Lord was rare {and} precious in those days; there was no frequent {or} widely spread
vision. The lamp of God had not yet gone out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was,
and Samuel was lying down When the Lord called, Samuel! And he answered, Here I am. And the
Lord called again, Samuel! And Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, Here am I; you did call
me. Eli answered, I did not call, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord,
and the word of the Lord was not yet revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel the third time.
And he went to Eli and said, Here I am, for you did call me. Then Eli perceived that the Lord was
calling the boy. So Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down. And if He calls you, you shall say, Speak,
Lord, for Your servant is listening. So Samuel went and lay down in his place
10. Personal example of Pastor Milson & myself, Pastor Gegana & some of the church leaders who
came from under him, e.g. Macebo, Siphetho, Ngulube,etc.
So, it is important that we do not miss the people that God gives us to help us identify and walk in our
destiny. It is also equally important to realize that there are people that God has given us to help them
achieve their destiny.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
PURPOSE
Jer 1:4-12, “¶ Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant." ¶ The word of the LORD came to me saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "I see a rod of an almond tree." Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it”
Gal 1:15 “But when God, who had set me apart {even} from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased”
Acts 13:36 "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay;
I believe one of my great passions is to see and or help people discover who they are, understand and fulfill their God given purpose.
• Purpose is the reason for existence. Before you were created, God had an assignment and then He created you to fulfill that assignment.
• Each and every one of us as a specific assignment to fulfill
• It is your responsibility to discover that purpose for your life
• Some purposes or assignments for other people are public or renowned and some are seemingly not public but that does not make anybody superior or inferior
• Your purpose may be different from mine but that does not make either of us more important that the other.
• The volume of what we do does not really matter but doing what we were designed to do.
• It is not being busy that matters but fulfilling your purpose
• It is important that we concentrate on discovering our purpose and not imitating somebody else.
• Many a times the enemy will try to occupy us with in trying to be what we are not and then we will not have time to be what we are supposed to be.
• Doing what is not your purpose is like putting on a left side shoe in your right foot!
• There is great joy and fulfillment in doing what you were created for
• It is said that ignorance of purpose of something leads to abuse of that “thing”, if you do not know or understand the purpose of something / somebody, you will abuse it or them.
• Ignorance of purpose of something will close you from seeing its importance or existence.
• Use my own two illustrations:
i)Borehole, we stayed in the house we are in for more than a year without realizing that there is a borehole, we could have had a garden as we would and during water cuts we would stay without water but there was a borehole in the yard!
ii)The gas stove, when we got married, my mother in law gave us a gas stove. I personally did not appreciate its importance but my wife would always tell me to get it fixed. Until recently I decided to get it fixed, we spent only 3.6 million and now we do not even care when there are electricity cuts! (In Zimbabwe we currently have problems, and there are frequent electricity cuts / load sheding. Now we have water for only 7 hours after every 2 days!)
•If you do not understand the purpose for your life, you will abuse yourself. That is why some young girls give themselves over to abuse by man.
•If you are ignorant of your purpose, you will not recognize the gifts, abilities and resources that God has given or put in you.
•Recognize your purpose and that of people gave to help you
•There could be a purpose why you are here today, in this church, etc
•Your purpose may be different from mine
•Your purpose may be inclined to spiritual, social or natural things or all. Your purpose may be more of making money, being a states man, preaching, being an academic, being a scientist, etc
•There is a reason why you were born
•Your purpose should not be stopped by other people, friends, devil, situations, economy, political systems, failure, poverty or lack
•Challenges might be on your way but should not stop your purpose unless you allow them to.
•You can do something, you have a purpose, you are not a mistake
•Do not waste time trying to be what you are not but instead, develop yourself in being what God created you to be.
Gal 1:15 “But when God, who had set me apart {even} from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased”
Acts 13:36 "For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay;
I believe one of my great passions is to see and or help people discover who they are, understand and fulfill their God given purpose.
• Purpose is the reason for existence. Before you were created, God had an assignment and then He created you to fulfill that assignment.
• Each and every one of us as a specific assignment to fulfill
• It is your responsibility to discover that purpose for your life
• Some purposes or assignments for other people are public or renowned and some are seemingly not public but that does not make anybody superior or inferior
• Your purpose may be different from mine but that does not make either of us more important that the other.
• The volume of what we do does not really matter but doing what we were designed to do.
• It is not being busy that matters but fulfilling your purpose
• It is important that we concentrate on discovering our purpose and not imitating somebody else.
• Many a times the enemy will try to occupy us with in trying to be what we are not and then we will not have time to be what we are supposed to be.
• Doing what is not your purpose is like putting on a left side shoe in your right foot!
• There is great joy and fulfillment in doing what you were created for
• It is said that ignorance of purpose of something leads to abuse of that “thing”, if you do not know or understand the purpose of something / somebody, you will abuse it or them.
• Ignorance of purpose of something will close you from seeing its importance or existence.
• Use my own two illustrations:
i)Borehole, we stayed in the house we are in for more than a year without realizing that there is a borehole, we could have had a garden as we would and during water cuts we would stay without water but there was a borehole in the yard!
ii)The gas stove, when we got married, my mother in law gave us a gas stove. I personally did not appreciate its importance but my wife would always tell me to get it fixed. Until recently I decided to get it fixed, we spent only 3.6 million and now we do not even care when there are electricity cuts! (In Zimbabwe we currently have problems, and there are frequent electricity cuts / load sheding. Now we have water for only 7 hours after every 2 days!)
•If you do not understand the purpose for your life, you will abuse yourself. That is why some young girls give themselves over to abuse by man.
•If you are ignorant of your purpose, you will not recognize the gifts, abilities and resources that God has given or put in you.
•Recognize your purpose and that of people gave to help you
•There could be a purpose why you are here today, in this church, etc
•Your purpose may be different from mine
•Your purpose may be inclined to spiritual, social or natural things or all. Your purpose may be more of making money, being a states man, preaching, being an academic, being a scientist, etc
•There is a reason why you were born
•Your purpose should not be stopped by other people, friends, devil, situations, economy, political systems, failure, poverty or lack
•Challenges might be on your way but should not stop your purpose unless you allow them to.
•You can do something, you have a purpose, you are not a mistake
•Do not waste time trying to be what you are not but instead, develop yourself in being what God created you to be.
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