Beyond Dreams (Part 10) - Finding Your Destiny

Beyond Dreams

(Part 10)

Good morning and welcome to Jesus Church

Welcome to our first ever 8:30/10:30 service

• Before we begin go ahead and tap the sticker in front of you
  • It’s gonna lead you to a landing page with all my sermon notes
  • It has ways to get connected
  • All the past sermons in this and other series

We are in our final week in our series – Beyond Dreams

• God gave Joseph a dream at 17
  • Had a destiny Joseph was created to fulfill
  • But God refined his life thru different trails Joseph faced
  • So that his character could supports destiny

• And when it comes to finding YOUR destiny
  • The questions that we need to answer are…
    • How can I knowGod’s purpose for my life
    • How can I supportHis purpose
    • How can I fulfillHis purpose

Back up chronologically from Gen 50 when Joseph’s dad dies

• Gen 45 – First time Joseph sees brothers after being sold
  • He’s 39 years old
    • His country (Egypt) has 7 good years of food
    • And now the entire world is 2 years into a famine

• So people all around the world are dying
  • Literally selling themselves into slavery to feed their families
  • Everyone is traveling 2 Egypt – Been stockpiling food for 7 years
    • All b/c Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream
    • So they were ready and prepared

• Now Joseph’s brothers come to beg for grain to buy
  • Joseph recognizes them / They don’t recognize him
  • Has them come into his presence… he does mess w/ them a bit

Gen 45:3-8

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth (protect you and your descendants), and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

• This is where Joseph finally realizes God’s purpose of his life
  • So the question is… How can we know & discover our purpose

[Pray]

Famous Failures – Read List

What’s common w/ all of them: Never stopped believing their purpose

• One more: Howard Schultz was turned down for loan by 242 banks
  • If he would have given up… wouldn’t know what a frapachino is
  • B/C there would be no Starbucks

We must believe we have a purpose

When I first came to Phoenix to become the pastor of Jesus Church

• God gave me a distinct vision of standing above the red sea
  • Said - I didn’t part the waters just so u could see my power…
  • I did it because I have something for u on the other side

• I know God gave me that pic so I’d never forget God has a purpose
  • For you… for me…
  • For our community… For our church

• Deepest question & biggest worries that we all struggle with is…
  • What is my purpose…
  • Does God even have a purpose for me but…
  • What I know…God is a purposeful God… not a purposeless God

Eccl. 3:1

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

So everything God creates has purpose… except maybe cat/mushroom

• Looking at everything God made - You can see design & intent
  • Trees… animals… insects…
  • God makes everything with a time/season/purpose

• And the best way to understand you purpose
  • Look at how God made you
  • How did God make you

Illustration: Plunger

• I went to the store to buy something this week
  • I walked by this… what could it be
    • Ring toss game
    • Humingbird bird bath
    • Large cookie cutter
    • Hat for bald men that wont blow off

• No… it’s a plunger
  • You can see it’s designer has a specific plan in mind w/ design
  • Your designer had a specific plan in mind when he designed you
    • Through the way God created you
    • Through ur interests… talents… circumstance… personality
      • And spiritually: Spiritual Gifts… how God wired u

• No one doubts a plunger has a specific purpose… not multi-use tool
  • Because it is created uniquely
  • God made u unique as well (yes just compared us to a plunger)

Tag: So to find ur purpose… you have to believe you have a purpose

And then understand God is in control

Will there be setback… trials… difficulties… absolutely (look at Joseph)

Jn 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace (where is ur trust) In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

• We have to understand that God is in control of my destiny
  • Joseph makes three statements about God being in control
    • V. 5 – Don’t be grieved or angry, God sent me
    • V. 7 – And God sent me
    • V. 8 – It wasn’t you who sent me, but God

• I think maybe he was on 2 something – And remember the process
  • God had to get Joseph to this point…it’s not where he started
  • This is the same guy who constantly created drama w/ brothers
  • Was all about himself – Always at odds with his family

• Who’s now speaking to the guys that sold him at 17 into slavery
  • Wrongfully accused and went to prison
  • But Joseph came to an understanding… God was in control
    • Remember the purpose of the pit…cry out to God
    • Remember the purpose of the prison…trust in God
      • Because He is the only one who has the answers

Thru God’s refining… Joseph understood that God always has a plan

• Even when you face hardship… even when there is injustice
  • But we have to give him that control
  • And trust that HE is IN control

• You see… No one can derail you from your destiny except for you
  • If u hold on to the control that you need to give to God
  • If you put yourself before God… trust in yourself more than him
  • You will never walk into the fullness destiny

Rom. 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

• Even when things go wrong… he is working everything for our good

Is. 55:10-11

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

God says: When I speak…

• My word never returns w/o accomplishing it’s purpose
  • But do we believe that?
    • That God’s word has the POWER
    • To PRODUCEthe PURPOSEfor which he sent it

• Good news… He has spoken over you… spoken purpose over ur life
  • And if u have given him ur life… that purpose will come to pass
  • And thru his life God instilled these character traits in Joseph
  • And if you allow God to develop in your life…
    • Humility
    • Trust
    • Integrity
    • Dependence on Him

• Just like Joseph: God will refine u for something greater
  • And we will slip up… we will fail in trusting… fail in humility…
  • Things are going great until something happens… get derailed
  • Good news: You might fail God…but God will never fail you
    • Remember: God doesn’t give out “F”… just do overs
    • Why: Because God wants you to get to ur destiny

And He wants you to believe He’s gonna work it out

• Did you know if u believe God is in control… ur an optimist
  • That’s the difference b/w an optimist & pessimist
    • Optimist: Hey its gonna work out… why… b/c of God
    • Pessimist: Expects worst – Just how life works
    • Which is absolutely true if God isn’t in his rightful place

Story – I don’t know if u ever heard about the Pessimistic Parachutist

• Sargent says: There’s gonna be plane that will get up to 10000 ft
  • You will jump out - Take right hand on left shoulder
    • Pull down and chute will open

• If for some reason it doesn’t… Take left hand on right shoulder
  • Pull down for backup chute

• And you are gonna land in a field 10 miles north of town
  • Trucks there to bring you back to town

• So guy gets on the plane – Remember he’s a pessimist
  • First says: Bet plane cant even get to 10000 feet (it does)
  • Jumped: Right hand on Left shoulder… didn’t open
    • Thought I knew it

• Left hand on Right shoulder… didn’t open
  • Thought I knew it

• And the last thing he said while he was falling
  • And I bet them trucks gonna be late too

TAG: So 1^st believe you have a purpose, then believe God is in control

Then you can start to discover ur gift & ur direction

• IMPORTANT: If u are going to fulfill destiny God has on ur life
  • You need to find out what ur God’s given gifts are
    • And Physical… you probably know
    • But Spiritual… you might not know

• Now in Romans 12 – What are known as the 7 Motivational Gifts
  • These gifts come natural for you
  • They are how you look at life

Rom. 12:4-8

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

It’s easier if you have names that describe the function of the 7 gifts

• 1: A person w/ the gift of Prophecy – Motivator
  • They desires to motivate people to serve God
  • Prophecy is always given to bring people to God
• 2: The gift of Ministry (Diakwania) - Servant
  • This gift desires to meet needs of people on a practical basis
    • People at restaurant – Getting together plates
    • Have to serve

• 3: Teacher
  • Teachers desires to study and present truths to people
    • Reads books… loves Bible software
    • Always wanting to know the explanation
      • People who send me emails
      • Ask me to explain book of Revelation

• 4: Encourager
  • Desires to admonish and encourage people
    • No matter what, always encouraging
    • Whatever is happening, say something encouraging
      • Lost job – God’s got something better
      • House burnt down – Old anyways

• 5: Giver
  • Desires to meet needs of people on a financial basis
    • Love to help people financially
    • Teach people financial responsibility
    • Teach others to walk out Biblical principles
      • Or person will end up in same place
      • Want to give wisdom and council (Financial Peace)

• 6: He who leads - Administrator
  • Desires to lead people through organization (very organized)
    • Charts everywhere
    • Lines everything up

• 7: He who has mercy is - Sympathizer
  • Desires to identify and empathize with people
  • Want Sympathizers & Encouragers around during hard times
    • You don’t want the prophets… they don’t make it easy

And u’ll see all these gifts in any healthy team/church – Really see them

• First the Administrator leads the meetings & always has an agenda
  • Must be followed… very important!!!
  • Must stay on task
  • And no rabbit trails

• In a meeting you might bring up a situation of person lost job
  • As soon as a person is brought up… gifts go into action
  • Because every one of these gifts are about people
  • Gift are always about serving/helping people

• Here are the Gifts in action when someone is brought up
  • Prophet – What is holding him back (Sin… fear… anger… doubt)
  • Teacher – Well if he would do the 5 steps in 1 Tim. 3.. get a job
  • Encourager – Already texting him (God’s got you taken care of)
  • Giver – Ok… Lets take an offering
  • Servant – Already left the meeting… buying groceries and meals
  • Mercy – is in the corner crying

Looking at Joseph’s gift (leadership) – Used it everywhere he was in life

• And he didn’t wait until he was in his destiny to use gifts
  • Administrated in Potiphar’s house… in Prison… Pharaoh’s house
  • Even when he was in the pit… don’t know this but..
  • Probably the most organized pit u could ever fall into

• Here’s Point: Many say when I get there… then God can use me
  • But it doesn’t work that way
  • Way to GETTHERE…is by ministering BEFORE WE GET THERE
  • So start wherever you are and the doors will open

• Look at one of our leaders – His history and what happened to him
  • 22 He was fired from his job
  • 23 Defeated for legislature
  • 24 Failed in business again
  • 26 Wife died
  • 27 Nervous breakdown
  • 29 Defeated for speaker
  • 31 Defeated for elector
  • 34 Defeated for congress
  • 39 Defeated for congress again
  • 46 Defeated for senate
  • 47 Defeated for vice-president
  • 49 Defeated for senate again
  • 51 Elected president of US in 1860… Abraham Lincoln
    • Led country through only civil war
    • Righted greatest atrocity we’ve ever had in this country
    • God put him in right place at right time
      • Didn’t wait until elected to lead…
      • He knew he gifts regardless of how many setbacks

I know you have had set backs and difficulties… just like Joseph

• But just keep being faithful… keep ministering in ur gifts
  • In prison Joseph uses gifts
    • Gets him out of prison before Pharaoh
    • Imagine if he was just waiting
    • Too consumed w/ own problems… no time to minister
• No matter what you are going through
  • Be conscious of other people – Ministry to them
  • Your ministry NOW will cause you to step into your destiny

Tag: Once you understand your gifts and begin to use them to help others

Believe in your gifting’s and be faithful with them

And I think we all wonder what the specifics of our purpose is

• If the question is can I know the specifics of my purpose: YES!!!
  • Next Question: So WHEN can I know the specifics of purpose
  • Answer: As you start to walk in them

• Bible says – Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path
  • Doesn’t say – Thy word is floodlight way down the road
  • Simply step out and move in giftings God has given you

• I can’t tell you your purpose… and u might not get all the specifics
  • And honestly that’s probably a good thing
    • B/C if he did… you would probably mess it up
    • 2^nd guessing everything you do… trying to make it happen

• But God didn’t tell Joseph specifics either… just he’s a leader
  • Just if he walks in it – He would have great influence
  • Joseph just used his gift& it brought him into his destiny
  • So just use your gifts and trust God will bring you there

• And then Joseph realized “Not u who sent me here… but God”
  • And it was God’s purpose to save many people

Read 1 more thing: Actual entries from John Wesley Diary over 1 month

• Shows if u will be faithful in ur gift… God will move u into destiny

• Sunday AM May 5^th – Preached at St. Ann’s
  • Asked not to come back again

• Sunday PM May 5^th – Preached at St. Johns
  • Deacons say get out and stay out

• Sunday AM May 12^th – Preached at St. Jude’s
  • Can’t go back there either

• Sunday AM May 19^th – Preached St. Someone else’s church
  • Deacons call special meeting, can’t return

• Sunday PM May 19^th – Preached on the street
  • Kicked off street

• Sunday AM May 26^th – Preached in meadow
  • Ran out of meadow, bull let loose during service

• Sunday AM June 2^nd – Preached at edge of town
  • Kicked off the highway

• Sunday PM June 2^nd – Preached in a pasture
  • 10,000 people came to hear me

God has a purpose and calling on your life

• Find out your gifting… read Romans 12
  • Pray about your gifts
  • Ask Godly people who know you… and then be faithful
  • Don’t allow anything to derail you… and walk in that gift

END: And b4 u know it… you’ll find yourself in the destiny God has 4 u

[PRAY]