                    [Times Square Church Pulpit Series]

                          Fulfilling Your Destiny!

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By David Wilkerson
July 8, 1996
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          What is "destiny"? In simple terms, destiny is God's
          purpose for your life. It is your appointed or ordained
          future. Destiny is what God has predetermined you to be
          and to become, in His divine will.

          I get sad when I read of the many godly men and women
          in Scripture who missed their destiny. God chose a
          destined work or ministry for each of them -- but they
          ended up aborting His plan. They started out right,
          moving for a while in the power of their calling. But
          in the end, they died in shame and ruin -- missing
          God's destiny for their lives!

          So, tell me: Is it possible for such Christians to be
          so pressed down and troubled, to be in such despair and
          despondency, they become convinced they're not going to
          make it?

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                  Saul Was a Man Who Missed His Destiny!

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          God Himself chose Saul to lead Israel out of bondage to
          the Philistines. When the prophet Samuel first laid
          eyes on Saul, the Lord said, "...Behold the man whom I
          spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people"
          (1 Samuel 9:17). The Lord was saying, "Take a good
          look, Samuel. This is the man I have chosen to lead
          Israel!"

          Samuel didn't choose Saul. Nor did Israel choose him at
          this time. Rather, God said, "I have appointed this
          man!" The Bible says of Saul: "And the Spirit of the
          Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy...and
          shalt be turned into another man" (10:6).

          Indeed, Saul was transformed by God's touch on his
          life: "...God gave him another heart..." (verse 9).
          Then Samuel said something wonderful to him: "...God is
          with thee"(verse 7). In other words: "Go with
          confidence, Saul -- for God is with you!"

          Here was a man appointed by God, moved upon by the Holy
          Spirit, gifted with a spirit of prophecy, destined by
          God to lead Israel -- and God was with him. What more
          wonderful things could be said about him?

          And Saul started out right. For a while he lived his
          destiny, walking in the fear of God. He quickly won a
          great battle against the Ammonites. And the people came
          home praising God, saying: "...Who is he that said,
          Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may
          put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man
          be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath
          wrought salvation in Israel"(11:12-13).

          Saul was appointed king over Israel. Yet, one of the
          most tragic pictures in all of Scripture is when this
          man began to fall apart. He had walked in his destiny
          for only a short time -- yet God fully intended that
          Saul live out his days with the Lord's blessing. He had
          desired that Saul be remembered as the man who
          delivered Israel from the bondage of the Philistines.
          But Saul missed his destiny! He began to disintegrate,
          caving in to his need for human applause and
          acceptance. He made compromises to attain these things
          -- and he missed the plan God had for him.

          It is so sad to see Saul toward the end of is life. As
          he faced one of Israel's greatest military battles, his
          heart smote him with fear. He ended up consulting with
          the evil witch of Endor! He told her, "...God is
          departed from me,and answereth me no more,neither by
          prophets, nor by dreams..." (28:15).

          By Saul's own confession, God was no longer with him.
          What a chilling, frightful thought! A person can be
          called to a great, divine purpose, walking in God's
          blessing and anointing -- and then suddenly go off on a
          tangent, serving himself and ending up abandoned by
          God.

          That is the picture of Saul here. This king ended up
          prostrating himself before a witch. And he died in
          shame -- forsaken by God. These words might easily have
          been written on his tombstone: "The man who missed his
          destiny."

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                Samson Was Another Man Destined to Greatness
                   for God -- But He Missed His Destiny!

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          Samson is yet another tragic figure in the Old
          Testament. His destiny was known before he was born.
          According to Scripture, "...he shall begin to deliver
          Israelout of the hand of the Philistines"(Judges 13:5).

          Angels announced this man's birth, giving his parents
          detailed instructions on how to raise him. Samson was
          to be a Nazarite -- meaning, he was to be given
          completely to God's service for his entire lifetime. He
          was never to drink wine or cut his hair. And he was
          never to touch anything dead. He couldn't even go to
          the funeral of a near relative.

          Samson was raised under strict training. And at a young
          age he experienced the moving of God's Spirit upon him:
          "...the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at
          times..."(verse 25).

          I know what that is like. The Holy Spirit first moved
          on me at an old-fashioned camp meeting when I was eight
          years old. And He continued to move on me throughout my
          teenage years. I would go into my room and pray, and I
          would feel God's Spirit come upon me.

          I ask you -- what is the first thing the Holy Spirit
          does when He moves on us? He convicts of sin,
          righteousness and judgment. Then He guides, comforts
          and teaches us. And He prays through us with cries,
          groanings, supplications.

          You can be sure God's Spirit convicted Samson. And the
          boy was also taught, guided and comforted by the
          Spirit. If you had met Samson when he was just nine or
          ten years old, he might have told you, "God said I am
          someone special. They say an angel announced my birth.
          I've had God's Spirit on me, and He has called me to be
          a Nazarite. One day I'm going to help Israel become a
          free country!"

          Samson knew he had a destiny. He was born for a purpose
          -- to begin Israel's deliverance from bondage to the
          Philistines! And for twenty years, Samson walked in the
          authority of his destiny. He judged Israel. And he
          harassed the Philistines, bringing a ray of hope to the
          nation.

          You have to understand here -- Samson's strength was
          not in his hair, but in the moving of God's Spirit upon
          him. Scripture says the Holy Spirit would come upon
          Samson, and he would do exploits. Without the Spirit,
          Samson would have been as weak as you or I.

          God had fully intended to bless the rest of Samson's
          years with greater victories. His Spirit would remain
          upon him to his dying hour. History would say of
          Samson, "He was faithful to the end. He did all that
          God appointed for him -- living and dying in honor to
          the Lord. He fulfilled his destiny!"

          But not so! Samson aborted his destiny -- because his
          heart was black with sin! He kept up an outward
          holiness, but he chased after harlots. When he went
          down to see Delilah, he knowingly flirted with danger.
          Although the Spirit moved upon him, this man never
          allowed the Spirit to touch his inner man. Samson had
          no truth dwelling within him.

          Here is yet another tragic picture of a man who missed
          his destiny. After twenty years of walking in God's
          calling, Samson began to degenerate. He became a
          sensuous man -- and he lost the respect of his own
          people.

          Samson should have lived out his days in dignity, as a
          vessel of honor. There should have been one victory
          after another for this man and for Israel. We should be
          able to read of how Samson built strength upon
          strength, and grew in the power and anointing of God's
          Spirit.

          Instead, we read of a man who ended up one of the most
          pitiful weaklings in biblical history. In the end, we
          see Samson strapped into a harness like a dumb ox,
          grinding away at a Philistine mill. His eyes are gouged
          out, and he has lost all his strength. He is the
          laughingstock of the heathen. And his own people have
          turned against him.

          Even in his dying day, when Samson brought down the
          Philistine temple, it was not a great victory. Why? His
          desire was all about personal revenge. His prayer that
          day wasn't about avenging the name of God. Rather, he
          prayed, "God, give me strength one more time -- that I
          may avenge my eyes!"

          Samson died in utter deception, having missed his
          destiny. His tombstone also might have read, "The man
          who missed his destiny."

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              Solomon Also Was a Man Who Missed His Destiny!

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          If ever there appeared to be a man of destiny, it was
          Solomon. He was the wisest, richest, most respected man
          of his time. And his destiny was clearly laid out for
          him. He would be the king who once and for all rid
          Israel of idolatry! Solomon promised both his father
          and the Lord that he would bring down every idol in the
          land.

          For a while, Solomon walked in his destiny. At one
          point, the visiting Queen of Sheba was breathless at
          the mere sight of Solomon's reverence as he ascended to
          the temple. But something happened in Solomon's life --
          and he too missed his destiny!

          This man amassed some 900 wives and concubines, many
          from other nations. And to appease them, he built an
          "embassy row" of heathen temple after heathen temple.
          Soon, the man who had been called to rid Israel of
          idolatry had become an idolater. He accompanied one
          wife after another to their temples, bowing before
          heathen idols.

          Solomon ended up missing his destiny -- a
          disillusioned, decrepit, immoral man. He entered
          eternity crying, "All is vanity and vexation of spirit.
          It's worthless!"

          Like Solomon before him, King Uzziah also missed his
          destiny. This man had come to the throne at age
          sixteen, destined to be one of the greatest kings of
          Judah. He received counsel from the prophet Zechariah.
          He received visions from the Lord. He was mightily
          blessed by God.

          The Bible says Uzziah sought the Lord -- and God caused
          him to prosper and become strong: "And God helped
          him..."(2 Chronicles 26:7). "...And his name spread far
          abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was
          strong"(verse 15).

          Except for Solomon, Uzziah had the greatest reputation
          of any king over Judah. He was anointed of God. He
          brought about revival in the land, tearing down idols
          and walking according to God's Word. When this bold
          king rode his chariot down the streets, he was given
          awe and respect. He received gifts and tributes from
          all over the world.

          But, Scripture says: "...when he was strong, his heart
          was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed
          against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of
          the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense"
          (verse 16)

          Pride overcame this man of destiny. He wanted to be
          priest as well as king! In disobedience, Uzziah entered
          the temple and began to wave the incense before the
          altar. He received a rebuke for this -- and when he
          pointed an angry finger in response, his hand
          immediately began to wither. It suddenly became
          leprous. Uzziah had to be cast out of the temple of
          God!

          Oh, the shame of it! One of the greatest, richest kings
          in Judah's history now had to be isolated. He was taken
          to a small house where he spent the rest of his days as
          a leper: "And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day
          of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a
          leper; for he was cut off from the house of the
          Lord..." (verse 21).

          Uzziah died in isolation -- cut off from every blessing
          of God!

          When this once-great man died, multitudes should have
          been gathered around him. His passing should have been
          an honor to the Lord's name. Instead, he died a
          near-unknown man, his body eaten up with leprosy.
          Uzziah missed his destiny!

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                     In the Old Testament, Every Person
                      Had His Own Individual Destiny!

                      -------------------------------

          There were as many destinies in the Old Testament as
          there were kings, priest, prophets and even ordinary
          saints. Even the lowliest people -- those called to be
          servants, worshipers, shepherds, tentmakers -- had his
          or her own destiny. And as we look at their lives, we
          are to be convicted by them. We are to learn from the
          failures of these past saints who either missed or
          fulfilled their destinies.

          But we cannot compare our destiny to that of any person
          in the Old Testament! You see, in the New Testament,
          God has done an entirely new thing. He no longer
          measures our destiny as He did those under the Old
          Covenant. Their lives have nothing to do with our
          destiny, since the Cross of Jesus Christ.

          At the Cross, God gathered up all the individual
          destinies of humankind into one grand purpose -- and He
          placed them all in His Son: "That in the dispensation
          of the fulness of times he might gather together in one
          all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and
          which are on earth; even in him" (Ephesians 1:10)..

          God gathered up all our destinies in Jesus -- so that
          His Son would have preeminence!

          Today, there are no more individual destinies, but one
          destiny for all believers. Yes, you do have a destiny
          -- and it is the same as mine. It doesn't matter
          whether you're a waitress or the captain of an ocean
          liner. We have all the same fixed, predetermined
          destiny, given to us before the world was formed.

          What is this single, grand and glorious destiny given
          to all last-day saints? The apostle Paul reveals it to
          us in the book of Ephesians: "According as he hath
          chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
          that we should be holy and without blame before him in
          love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of
          children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the
          good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory
          of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the
          beloved" (verses 4-6).

          God says, in essense: "In the last days, in the
          fullness of time, I have one divine purpose. And that
          is for every follower of Mine to come into adoption by
          Jesus Christ -- and to live blameless, as a praise and
          glory to My name!"

          "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
          predestinated according to the purpose of him who
          worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
          that we should be to the praise of his glory" (verses
          11-12).

          Our destiny is to be an adopted child of God! We have
          been adopted by the heavenly Father -- and the devil no
          longer has any claim on us. Now we are to live for our
          Lord, blameless and holy, by the power of God's Spirit.
          Our single purpose on this earth is to live our lives
          as a praise and glory to Him!

          Do you get what Paul is saying here? No person's
          destiny is measured by his great works, his
          achievements and exploits, his special accomplishments.
          No one's destiny ultimately is to build successful
          ministries, institutions or churches.

          You might say, "Wait a minute, Brother Dave. Do you
          mean it wasn't your destiny to raise up Teen Challenge,
          the worldwide ministry to drug addicts and alcoholics?
          Do you mean it wasn't your destiny to come to New York
          and start Times Square Church?"

          I thank God He allowed me to be the father of these
          works. Today there are some 300 Teen Challenge rehab
          centers worldwide. And now there is also a center of
          praise for Jesus on Broadway, at the crossroads of the
          world. But neither of these things was my destiny!

          My destiny has little to do with the things God has
          allowed me to do. My destiny has always been to reach
          lost souls and bring them into the fullness of Jesus,
          to the praise and glory of God. My destiny also was to
          walk as an adopted son of God -- living before the
          world blameless, all to His praise and glory.

          When I came to New York, nothing changed. My destiny
          had remained to build up the body of Christ -- and to
          walk before the Lord as his adopted son! Some day, not
          a single building that our ministry has built will be
          standing -- not the incorporated institutions, not the
          Bible schools, not the rehab houses. They all will
          decay and vanish. And when I stand on Judgment Day, I
          won't be able to take any of those things with me.

          These ministries are simply "burdens of the Lord" that
          God has allowed us to share and undertake, while
          walking in our destiny of doing His perfect will. And I
          believe He has blessed these ministries because we have
          lived in our destiny.

          Dear saint, God is not requiring some great
          accomplishment from you. The Bible makes this very
          clear: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and
          what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly,
          and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God..."
          (Micah 6:8).

          Paul was very certain about what his destiny
          was:"...that we may present every man perfect in Christ
          Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to
          his working, which worketh in me mightily" (Colossians
          1:28-29).

          This is my destiny as well, as a minister of the Lord.
          It is that I become conformed more and more to the
          image of Jesus -- and that I also see you become more
          like Him!

          I feel sorry for many of the young ministers who call,
          write and visit me from all over the country. Most are
          striving to live up to a destiny that is an invention
          of their own flesh. Some of them pastor small churches,
          pouring our their hearts in ministry to their
          congregations. But then another pastor may come to town
          and suddenly build a church of 1,000.

          These young men compare themselves to the newcomer,
          thinking, "Surely I'm destined to do great things, as
          he is doing. What's wrong with me? Why am I not blessed
          with greater results? He's attracting huge numbers of
          people -- and I have only a handful each Sunday." They
          don't realize -- that is not their destiny! Their
          destiny is to get to know Christ better -- to have
          God's hand on them -- to walk blameless before Him in
          their city. The man with true power is the one who has
          a personal knowledge of Christ!

          I see many Christian musicians striving to find a
          little acclaim, hoping their destiny is to write that
          one hit song that will put them over the top. Likewise,
          many Christian writers want to produce that one, great
          book. And many Christian businesspeople look for the
          big break that will distinguish them in their field.

          But, beloved, if you're going to walk in your destiny,
          the only thing that will set you apart is your desire
          to surpass all others in the knowledge of Jesus. No one
          will spend more time alone with Him than you; no one
          will accept his wonderful adoption more eagerly than
          you. That is greatness!

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                  I Want to Talk Now About the Destiny of
             Wives and Mothers -- and of Husbands and Fathers!

                      -------------------------------

          I am talking now not to ministers, but to laypeople. I
          want to show you what it means to fulfill your fixed
          destiny!

          Christian, it doesn't matter how successful you are
          outside your home. You are missing your destiny if you
          are not becoming more and more like Jesus in your
          household. If you are not becoming sweeter, more loving
          and considerate to your family -- if you are not
          growing in the love and knowledge of Christ at home --
          you are not fulfilling your destiny!

          Wives and mothers: Before the world existed, God
          foresaw you in this present place and time. He knew
          what your address would be. And He had a predetermined
          plan for your life!

          At times you may say to yourself, "I'm just a
          housewife. All I do is cook, clean the house and raise
          my kids. How can that be destiny?" But you do not
          understand how important your place is in God. You are
          a great success in His eyes if you can stand before Him
          one day and present your children to Him in
          righteousness!

          God has always known how many children He would loan
          you. He knew their names and personalities. He numbered
          their body members and hairs. And he destined you to
          raise them in a home filled with the power and presence
          of Jesus! Your children are not toys or live-in dolls.
          They are an investment God has entrusted to you. They
          are part of your destiny!

          I ask you: Do your children say to your neighbor's
          kids, "My mother prays for me. She's sweet to me." Or
          do they say, "Oh, boy, there she goes again -- yelling
          her head off!" Does your husband look at you with great
          respect? Does he tell you, "We may have our differences
          -- but I always feel you want to heal, not divide. You
          always run to prayer!"

          Your destiny is to raise your children in a home where
          prayer is commonplace -- where your life and marriage
          are a praise and glory to the God!

          Husbands and fathers: Can you imagine your wife saying
          of you, "My husband is human. He makes mistakes. But he
          is a praying man -- and he is constantly becoming more
          like Jesus! He practices what he preaches. I know --
          because every day he's kinder to me, gentler, more
          considerate of my needs."

          I am not boasting here. But it was one of the great
          thrills of my life to hear my wife say, "David has a
          temper, but he's working on it. I don't care what
          anybody says -- I know he walks with God." I hope that
          can be said of me to my dying day. That is destiny!

          Many preachers' wives have told Gwen and me, "It's all
          I can do to sit in church and listen to my husband
          preach. He's always smiling out at the congregation --
          but he's selfish and mean to me at home. Sometimes I
          just want to scream!"

          I know of one minister who did great works for God. He
          wrote many wonderful books. He built institutions at
          home and overseas. He was in demand as a speaker all
          over the world. He was called a man of faith and vision
          -- a man of destiny.

          But one day his son, a young minister, called me,
          crestfallen. He said, "Brother David, I'm so hurt. My
          dad isn't what people think he is. He doesn't know how
          to tell the truth! Most of the stories he tells about
          miracles are lies. When I approached him about it, he
          admitted it to me. But he won't quit!"

          I ended up talking to the father. He told me, "Yes,
          David, I'm a habitual liar. I don't even know what the
          truth is anymore." I prayed with the man -- but there
          was no change. His son called me later to say things
          were only getting worse. His father apparently had
          committed himself to his sin.

          This man is not a man of destiny. When he stands before
          the Lord at the judgment, all of his works will burn;
          all of his writings will judge him. None of those
          things was ever his destiny. Rather, his destiny was to
          become more like Jesus -- to grow in holiness,
          righteousness, purity, with no lies. He may boast about
          being a "man of destiny." But he has missed his true
          destiny!

          So many Christians are striving to accomplish wonderful
          things for God. But the Lord boils it all down to this
          simple thing: Are you changing from glory to glory? Are
          you becoming more like Jesus? "For whom he did
          foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
          the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn
          among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).

          On Judgment Day, not one word will be said of mighty
          works. There will be no notice of personal fame,
          success or human accomplishments. Instead, the question
          will be: Did you grow in Christ? Did you allow the Holy
          Spirit to teach you to serve others, to give up your
          rights? What were you like at home?

          So, dear saint -- are you fulfilling your destiny? Are
          you more like Jesus this year than you were last year?
          Is your marriage growing or deteriorating? Do your
          children see you as tender and kind, or as a grouch? Do
          the people who know you see the love of Christ in you?

          What will be written on your tombstone: "The man who
          missed his destiny"? Or, "The man who walked humbly
          with his God"?

          ---
          Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O.
          Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771, USA.

          This material is solely for personal use and is not to
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          on its web page. You are free to download, copy, print
          and distribute this material, so long as you do not
          post it on a different Internet site. You may, however,
          link this site to reference these messages.

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