DESTINY, PLAN & PURPOSE

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you will conceive and bear a son."

Judges 13:3

"When the purpose of a thing is unknown abuse is inevitable."- Myles Munroe

Although the Israelites disobeyed God, He sent a special child to help deliver them from the hands of the Philistines. Before he was born his parents got special instructions. They should not drink wine or anything similar, do not to eat anything unclean or put a razor to his head. Samson was consecrated to the service of God. Samson was powerful, he defeated the Philistines with a jawbone, he killed a lion with his bare hands. His strength came from the Lord, when he was depleated and needed strength he would pray and he would be able to defeat his opposers. Until Judges 16 after Samson fell for the tricks of Delilah, who was paid to find out where the source of Samsons strength came from. Instead of praying for strength to get out of that situation Samson prayed for strength for the last time, he killed more that day than he killed in his lifetime. Samsons life came to an abrupt end. Was destiny fulfilled in his life? Did he fulfill purpose?

“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is there that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.” -Les Brown

However, there was a story in the book of Ruth with this family that seemed to have lost everything. A woman that lost her husband, her two sons and one daughter-in-law that had to be returned to her family. But the second was determined that she would not leave her mother-in-law. She must've discerned the favor on the life of Naomi. The story starts off in despair, tragedy and loss but they got back to Naomi's hometown where the city celebrated her return and at her age she needed help. Ruth went out in the fields to work soon after she herself found favor in the sight of a guy that owned the fields. He fed her, gave her work and redeemed her in marriage and from that marriage they bore a son Obed he was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. Talk about fulfilling destiny and purpose. Ruth's leniage changed, her financial status changed, her future changed.

God knew who to give certain children to that had specific assignments. The right parents would feed them the right food, the right parents would shelter them the right way, the right parents would teach the children the right things.

There was an appointed time for Zachariach and Elizabeth to have a son, their son would pave the way for the Messiah. The Messiah who came from a virgin through immaculet conception. God does not let His Glory go to waste. Jesus wanted to begin His ministry pretty early, we see where His parents could not find Him but He was found days later in the temple. Jesus came back about 15 years later ready for full ministry. Jesus had a destiny and purpose that must be fulfilled and it was.

How do we know the purpose and destiny of a person? Our spouse or children? Is God still greeting parents the same way that He did back then?

For instance, Hannah went to the house of the Lord broken hearted, she wanted children. She promised to give her child back to God, had he bless her with a child. Samuel Hannah's son was judge and saw over the Israelites who begged and pleaded for a king. They got Saul who disobeyed God, got tormented by demons and was replaced with Jesse's son David, who killed Goliath and never saw the throne for years because of Saul's disobedience. Throughout the life of David we see where he made many mistakes, we see the mistakes that Saul made and Eli. There destiny's were unfulfilled, their life ended early or even before their time because of continuous disobedience. Did God send someone like Samson to defeat Goliath but Samson died too early? They would be a great match to each other. Or what would have happened had Eli obeyed his call as a father and priest, to correct and repremande his sons and possibly the other members of the church? Or had he taken care of himself, he may not have died over weight-as a glutton and blind. Many destiny's and purpose has been unfulfilled even because they themselves did not understand their purpose. What a tragedy.

Understanding the purpose is understanding the reason something or someone was created. When I listen to my grandmother tell the story of her child-hood, she seem to have been raised to intercede and take care of the home, which she is still doing to this day. Every one's purpose may not be to be in the spotlight. My grandmother has taken care of at least 14 siblings, she learned to cook, clean and maintain a home. Now as grandmother she has mastered home maintenance. When we get home from a long day of work there is hot food on the table with our favorite sides and a cool drink. I have yet to see my gran serve us with a frown on her face, it is always in laughter. I've made an attempt once or twice to do all that she does in a day but it did not end with that big beautiful smile.

In addition, when I look at the life of being a minister it astonishes me of the grace that is required to hear people's troubles day in and day out. To listen to a story that went wrong even after advice had already been given to do the opposite. To not be able to sit and enjoy a meal without a family calling or intervening share how a sermon helped them. The constant demand and need takes grace. Additionally, being a school teacher, a police officer, or a prime minister.

In Genesis 1 was creation, God created each thing and stated their purpose. So God created man in His own image (like a god); in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God also gave instruction "be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves on the earth. To further emphasis multiplying Jesus said to His disciples in the New Testament "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." -Matthew 4:19

Live a life where you are faithful to me and make more people that will do the same thing, this request is reinterated in Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of age." Our first duty is to love and make disciples who would continue to share and follow God's word, when the job is not being fulfilled their are special people that come on assignment to prophecy, to guide and help restore those that are in disobedience. Noah came and built a ship when no one had ever seen a ship and the people were disobedient. Abraham came and became the father of nations when it seemed like he would not even have his son he was praying for. Moses came and got the Israelites set free from Pharaoh but they still went back to worshipping idols. Then there were prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea and Amos who came with special instructions to speak to God's people.

On the other hand, there was the story of Jonah who was given special instructions but he himself was stubborn and decided he would go the opposite way than instructed. He sat in the belly of a whale for three days after being disobedient. He was sent to warn a group of people. He finally went to them, they repented and he got upset at God. He thought his travel was in vain, he sat under a tree disputing his existence and that was the end of Jonah. His story came to an abrupt end. God is so loving and so forgiving He checks us out to see how obedient we are, can we be used to do small things or bigger things and for some not at all. Jonah was not showing love at all looking for so many people to perish in sin without being able to be forgiven. Life is filled with cause and affect, with purpose and destiny. Jesus said go into all the world, and share the gospel. Should I do it by actually traveling there or using the internet or should it be on television? Ask God if He has a special assignment for you? What is your purpose? What has He called you to do? Have you ever prayed over your children asking God to reveal to you their purpose? Samsons parents asked what should he eat or drink, they wanted to adequately take care of their son. They were not hapazardly raising this boy, they listened to the specific instructions. Had they not listened they probably would've never known his strength but when Samson became a man it was up to him to continue to seek God and follow His instructions. But lust lured Samson into the bed of a woman that led him to his death. Who are you assigned to help? Who's destiny is supposed to be changed as a result of connecting with you?

#gointotheworldandsharetheword #destinyandpurpose #beingobedient #fulfillyourassignment