Harvest Ministries Worldwide

Introduction

God visits, touches, communicates, controls, and intervenes, coming before and between people and their needs. His continuous plan demonstrated by the his intervention, predestination, predetermination, and direction of His Will in our life is a clear indication of His Divine Providence. As clear as Divine Providence is to us, there are still concepts that arise in Satan's attempt to snatch God's Glory.  These counterfeit principles creep in many ways and often look amazingly close to the principles of God.

Foundation Scripture:

Jeremiah 29:11

God’s plan and timing are divine (3:8). Sovereignty, not slowness, is the issue. Appealing to the teaching of Psalms90:4  For you, a thousand years are as yesterday!

 Peter pointed out that what was regarded as a long time to people was like a mere day in God’s reckoning. God is not bound by earthly time. The phrase “as some people think” (3:9) is intended as a slur against the opponents who say that delay functions as a prime argument against providential judgment. But, understood correctly, the present lack of God’s full judgment is actually a proof for God’s providence. God’s so-called slowness is actually providing time to repent based on God’s benevolent character. He is patient, not slow. That patience is clearly seen in God’s covenant with Noah. Humans would continue to be as sinful as ever (Genesis 8:21), but God bound himself to withholding his full judgment so that he could show grace in Christ.

Counterfeit Providences:

FATE

Also called Kismet, Karma, or Chance rules the lives of many. Countless numbers of people have believed themselves to be trapped by a sometimes fickle and always foreboding fate. “As fate would have it,” they say.  

LUCK

Optimists speak of “fortune,” or less solemnly of “luck.” Luck is also sometimes called good fortune.  People refer to themselves as lucky or even often used the term fortunate or that they have a charmed life.

SERENDIPITY

This is the term used for seemingly coincidental, unintentional discoveries of good things along the way in life. It fails to acknowledge God’s part in the discovery and sometimes sidesteps gratitude for God's orchestration of the gift.

HISTORY

There is a current trend towards encouraging people to think that their future is dictated or even set up by their past.  This way of thinking has been a new day model of the concept of the Marxist propagandists that championed their cause by saying, “History is on our side.” They were appealing to a supposed inevitability of future events that would lead to a Communistic world. “History” in such a statement appears to have taken on a divine dimension. Likewise, when American leaders have affirmed a “manifest destiny” for the United States to be the superior power in the Western hemisphere or in the world at large, it’s the same kind of reasoning.  

PROGRESS

The development of science and technology, education and social evolution, and territorial conquests have made some people believe in progress as something more than what is seen. Until the two world wars, there was the illusion of a relentless momentum pushing upward and onward forever.

NATURE

Men like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau of nineteenth-century New England attributed to nature the gifts of providence.

NATURAL SELECTION AND THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

Charles Darwin’s classic on biological evolution, Origin of Species, appeared in 1859. It popularized two relatively new theories. For millions of people, the mysterious decisions behind “natural selection” intrigued the thoughtful more than the notion of God’s providence. And the idea that those who are most fit survive best seems to make providence altogether unnecessary.

These counterfeit views compete with the idea of God’s providence. They cannot all be true. Nor can they satisfy the inquirer whose personhood calls insistently for a personal providence that reflects a knowledge of his individual needs and uniqueness. Only the Christian doctrine of providence provides that.

What does the Word Say of God's  PROVIDENCE

Providence is basically God’s provision for the needs of people. The classic statement is found in Abraham’s confession of faith in his life’s most difficult test. He was under the duress of God’s command to provide something he could not afford-his son in sacrifice. He struggled with the dilemma of losing his son or losing God’s friendship. In answer to Isaac’s question about a sacrifice for God, Abraham exclaimed, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8, NIV). The word “providence” means literally “to see before,” and therefore by implication to do something about the situation. In this case, there was already upon Mount Moriah a suitable sacrifice, “a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns” (Genesis 22:13 ).

For the unbeliever, an analysis of the situation would conclude that through an ordinary process an animal had become entangled in dense underbrush, and coincidentally Abraham and Isaac happened to arrive on the scene. But to believing Abraham, who was led for three days toward that one point in time and space in desperate need of a divine provision, it was altogether clear to him that God, by whatever process, had stationed the ram at the place of sacrifice for his use. “Provision” and “providence” are coordinately related to their verbal root, “provide,” and are essentially and etymologically the same. However, they are theologically distinguished in that providence has come to mean God’s foresight of our need.

The great text on providence in the New Testament is also set in a context of sacrifice pleasing to God. Paul had reason to commend the Philippians’ sacrificial support of his missionary work. To them he stated his unbounded confidence in the providential care of God: “This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). The sacrifice of Christ Jesus for us confirms the doctrine of providence with a great certainty. What God initially asked of Abraham but did not ultimately require (the sacrifice of his son), he required of himself two millennia later. It is God’s nature to supply, to foresee human need, and to provide.

Immediately following his reassuring words to the Philippians about the treasury of providence (“his riches in glory”-Philippians 4:19), the apostle Paul wrote a doxology to God “our Father” (Philippians 4:20). Providence is appropriately pictured in the fatherhood of God. His fatherhood is the attribute, and providence is the act that expresses it. Good fathers provide and guide. Fathers construct conditions of opportunity for children without crowding their freedom. They exercise authority and control in a context of caring. Providence, therefore, as an activity of God, flows naturally from God’s fatherly nature.

Being secure in the fact that God is sovereign and Divine Providence is the way that He cares for us leads us to understand that we are never in the grip of counterfeit providences (fortune, chance, luck, fate).  Everything that happens to us is carefully thought out, divinely planned. Each and every event comes is a new opportunity for success in which we will  trust, obey, and rejoice in the God of our salvation, knowing that it all is for our spiritual and eternal good (Rom. 8:28).

Introduction

Destiny is characterized as the events that are pre-ordained or set to happen to you over the course of your life. Your design is a plan produced by God for your destiny before it is actually occurs.

There is an old adage that says, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Although you won’t find it put just that way in the Bible, you will find many accounts of both effective and poor planning. The Bible teaches that God is a God of both purpose and planning.  While we have learned that God controls our Destiny.  The destiny of our success however, is controlled by us.  It is urgent that we realize that God has given us a model for effective and efficient planning and for planning ahead!!! 

Scripture Teaching: Nehemiah 2:1 - 3:32

Key Verses: Nehemiah 2:11-17 . . . 

Nehemiah needed a workable plan with a secure strategy to successfully accomplish the desire (the vision) God had placed in his heart–to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Notice that God placed the vision in Nehemiah's heart and not in his head. Although planning was to be done with his intelligence (the Kingdom Intelligence that God had given him), the vision was placed by God in Nehemiah's heart. It was placed where his passion lay. 

Luke 6:45

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Proverbs 23:7

For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

There are four New Testament scriptures that indicate indirectly that belief takes place in the heart (Mark 11:23; 16:14; Luke 8:12; 24:25).

Before Nehemiah could come up with a plan, however, he had to do his homework. He had to take an assessment!!! He had to evaluate through the process of documenting in measurable terms, knowledge, skills, attitudes and beliefs, available resources and the resources he needed to acquire. Nehemiah knew that he his work was cut out for him–the settlers’ morale was low, and the neighboring kingdoms didn't want the Jews to get ambitious and rebuild. In the midst of all of this Nehemiah took into consideration all of this as he carefully devised his plan according to the vision that God had placed in his heart. 

Nehemiah arrived quietly in Jerusalem and spent several days carefully observing and assessing the damage to the walls. Nehemiah kept his mission a secret, surveying the walls by moonlight to prevent enemies from being alerted to his plans. Only after careful planning would he go public with his mission. A premature announcement could have caused rivalry among the Jews over the best way to begin or a uprising in his enemies that could have delayed his building.  Nehemiah didn’t need brainstorming sessions; he needed one plan that would bring quick action. Following this time of careful assessment, he confidently presented his plan.  The Strategy used by Nehemiah brought the people together unanimously with increased cooperation, improved morale and ultimately the successful completion of the project.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PLAN AHEAD?

Proverbs 20:4 . . . If you are too lazy to plow in the right season, you will have no food at the harvest.

Luke 14:28 . . . Don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills?

Planning for the future is necessary to prevent disasters. Planning is also a necessary part of living.

Proverbs 13:16 . . . Wise people think before they act.

Proverbs 14:8 . . . The wise look ahead to see what is coming.

Proverbs 22:3 . . . A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

Planning and foresight will help us prepare for danger ahead so that we can avoid disastrous consequences.

DOESN’T PLANNING AHEAD CONFLICT WITH TRUSTING GOD TO LEAD US?

1 Chronicles 28:12, 19 . . . David also gave Solomon all the plans he had in mind for the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple, the outside rooms, the treasuries of God’s Temple, and the rooms for the dedicated gifts. . . . “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.”

Rather than conflicting with trust in God, planning helps us put our faith in God into action.

Genesis 11:4 . . . “Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies-a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world.”

Psalm 33:10 . . . The Lord shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.

Making plans without referring to God and his will is a recipe for frustration and disaster.

HOW DO I GO ABOUT PLANNING AHEAD?

Exodus 25:40 . . . “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”

Exodus 26:30 . . . Set up this Tabernacle according to the design you were shown on the mountain.

Follow God’s revealed will when you make your plans.

Genesis 11:4 . . . Let’s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies-a monument to our greatness! This will bring us together and keep us from scattering all over the world.

Don’t make plans that conflict with God’s revealed will.

1 Chronicles 28:19 . . . “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 . . . Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

As we seek God, he will guide us in making our plans.

Isaiah 14:26-27 . . . I have a plan for the whole earth, for my mighty power reaches throughout the world. The Lord Almighty has spoken-who can change his plans? When his hand moves, who can stop him?

Romans 8:28 . . . We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

God will work through our plans, and in spite of them, to accomplish his ends.

Matthew 6:34 . . . Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

James 4:13-16 . . . Look here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog-it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.

Don’t try to plan too far ahead: you don’t know what the future will bring.

PROMISES FROM GOD:

Proverbs 19:21 . . . You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

Ephesians 1:9-10 . . . God’s secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ-everything in heaven and on earth. 

Introduction

Destiny is characterized as the events that are pre-ordained or set to happen to you over the course of your life. Your design is a plan produced by God for your destiny before it is actually occurs.

Foundation Scripture:

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. 

Premise:

"God has purpose, planning, and intentions for us that He desires for us to get in line with. There is a design that exists behind each action that He causes to come into your life.  The only way we will know what those plans are is to know the mind of God.  The only way to know the mind of God is to live in Him and operate from His point of view and from His perspective.  This in only possible when we have received the DELIVERANCE FOR OUR DESTINY AND BECOME CONSUMED BY HIS SPIRIT!!!"

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT MAKING PLANS?

BIBLE READING: Genesis 41:1-40

KEY BIBLE VERSE: Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his advisers. As they discussed who should be appointed for the job, Pharaoh said, “Who could do it better than Joseph? For he is a man who is obviously filled with the spirit of God.” (Genesis 41:37-38)

WE CAN MAKE WISE USE OF RESOURCES THROUGH PLANNING.

After interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph gave the king a survival plan for the next fourteen years. The only way to prevent starvation was through careful planning; without a plan, Egypt would have turned from prosperity to ruin. Many find detailed planning boring and unnecessary. But planning is a responsibility, not an option. Joseph was able to save a nation by translating God’s plan for Egypt into practical actions (implementation). We must take time to translate God’s plan for us into practical actions too.

BIBLE READING: Proverbs 13:1-25

KEY BIBLE VERSE: Wise people think before they act; fools don’t and even brag about it! (Proverbs 13:16)

PLANNING CAN LEAD TO FREEDOM.

Being spontaneous can be fun, but it is not the best way to approach every situation. There is a place for planning and self-discipline, especially when you have goals you want to reach. Some people think planning is too restrictive. In reality, it can set a person free to enjoy life and to be productive. Take time to set goals, to plan your course of action, and to set priorities before you launch into action.

PLANNING CAN LEAD TO STUBBORNNESS.

When you set your heart on something, you may lose your ability to assess it objectively (see verse 19). Your desire blinds your judgment, and you proceed with an unwise relationship, a wasteful purchase, or a poorly conceived plan in spite of the objections from others. Faithfulness is a virtue, but stubbornness is not. If your plans cause you to use people and love things rather than use things and love people, give up your plans immediately.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 6:25-34

KEY BIBLE VERSE: Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)

CAREFUL PLANNING CAN KEEP US FROM WORRY.

Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God’s guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed with fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Don’t let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.

BIBLE READING: James 4:13-17

KEY BIBLE VERSE: What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. (James 4:15-16)

CAREFUL PLANNING SHOULD INCLUDE SUBMISSION TO GOD.

It is good to have goals, but goals will disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist, because the future is in his hands. What would you like to be doing ten years from now? One year from now? Tomorrow? How will you react if God steps in and rearranges your plans? Plan ahead, but hold your plans loosely. Put God’s desires at the center of your planning; he will never disappoint you.

GOD’S GREAT PLAN

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD’S PLAN?

BIBLE READING: Joshua 1:1-18

KEY BIBLE VERSE: They answered Joshua, “We will do whatever you command us, and we will go wherever you send us.” (Joshua 1:16)

GOD’S PLAN REQUIRES OUR SUBMISSION TO HIM.

If everyone had tried to conquer the Promised Land his own way, chaos would have resulted. In order to complete the enormous task of conquering the land, everyone had to agree to the leader’s plan and be willing to support and obey him. If we are going to complete the tasks God has given us, we must fully agree to his plan, pledge to obey it, and put his principles into action. Agreeing to God’s plan means both knowing what the plan is (as found in the Bible) and carrying it out daily.

BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16

KEY BIBLE VERSE: The wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the world began. (1 Corinthians 2:7)

GOD’S PLAN IS FOR OUR ETERNAL BENEFIT.

God’s “secret wisdom . . . which was hidden” was his offer of salvation to all people. Originally unknown to humanity, this plan became crystal clear when Jesus rose from the dead. His resurrection proved that he had power over sin and death and could offer us this power as well. God’s plan, however, is still hidden to unbelievers because they either refuse to accept it, choose to ignore it, or simply haven’t heard about it.

GOD’S PLAN IS MORE WONDERFUL THAN WE CAN IMAGINE.

We cannot imagine all that God has in store for us, both in this life and for eternity. He will create a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1), and we will live with him forever. Until then, his Holy Spirit comforts and guides us. Knowing the wonderful and eternal future that awaits us gives us hope and courage to press on in this life, to endure hardship, and to avoid giving in to temptation. This world is not all there is. The best is yet to come.

BIBLE READING: Ephesians 1:1-14

KEY BIBLE VERSE: God’s secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to his good pleasure. And this is his plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ-everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10)

GOD’S PLAN CANNOT BE UNDERSTOOD APART FROM CHRIST.

God was not just keeping a secret; he was keeping it until the right moment. His plan for the world could not be fully understood until Christ rose from the dead. His purpose for sending Christ was to unite Jews and Gentiles in one body with Christ as the head. Many people still do not understand God’s plan; but when the time is right, he will bring us together to be with him forever. Then everyone will understand. On that day, all people will bow to Jesus as Lord, either because they love him or because they fear his power (see Philippians 2:10-11). 

Delusion is commonly defined as a fixed false belief and is used in everyday language to describe a belief that is either false, fanciful or derived from deception; an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument.  It is distinctly different from a belief based on false or incomplete information (deception) or certain effects of perception which would more properly be termed an apperception or illusion.

Delusion is caused by or derives from deception, distortion, fear, dread, pride, poor concept of God, poor concept of yourself as it relates to God.

What if God is not Real... What if God does not heal me... What if God does not save me... or better yet... What if the prophecy doesn't come true... What if I was wrong... What if that wasn't God... What if, What if, What if???

We use the word “fear” to describe a feeling of dread for the future, and some people claim that this kind of fear is what drives us to practice religion. But humanity’s need for God cannot be so simply explained.

The Bible uses the word “fear” in many ways that we do not. Biblical fear is not just a dread of the future, especially not the fear of God-which is more like a feeling of worship or awed respect. The simpler kind of fear appears in the Bible as well: we are told that “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31, RSV), and Jesus taught that we should fear God because he has the power to punish sin and destroy sinners (Luke 12:4-5). Fear can help people to realize that they need God’s forgiveness. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve hide fearfully from God after disobeying him. Fear is a natural consequence of sin (Genesis 3:10; 4:13-14; Proverbs 28:1), and the Bible shows a great many people who are plagued with deep anxiety (e.g., Cain, Saul, Ahaz, and Pilate). Anxious fear seizes the wicked (Job 15:24), surprises the hypocrite (Isaiah 33:14), and consumes evildoers (Psalm 73:19), whose faithless lives are full of fear (Revelation 21:8). Pharaoh’s mighty army was paralyzed by fear as God moved against them (Exodus 15:16), and Job’s friend Bildad spoke of people being driven to their knees by the judgments of God (Job 18:11).

Fear often does one of two things: it freezes people up, making them unable to act, or it seriously affects their behavior. Saul’s fear of the people caused him to sin against the commandment of God (1 Samuel 15:24). The parents whose blind son was miraculously healed by Jesus were afraid to support Christ because they feared the Jews (John 9:22). In the parable of the talents Jesus told of a man whose fear prevented him from doing his duty (Matthew 25:25).

Jesus Christ, by his death, resurrection, and heavenly intercession for believers, delivers us from fear. The apostle Paul encouraged the Romans (Romans 8:15) by telling them that in their conversion to Christ they received the Holy Spirit, not a spirit of fear and bondage, but a spirit of adoption, through which they could address God as “Abba” (“Daddy”). This is the word Jesus used when talking to his heavenly Father and which Christians may also use in speaking to God (Galatians 4:6). If we have received God’s love, our anxieties and fears can be cast out (1 John 4:18).

Unnecessary fear can harm the people of God. Jeremiah was warned by God not to fear his opponents (Jeremiah 1:8). God gives similar warnings to Ezekiel and to a great many others (Joshua 1:7-9; Ezekiel 2:6). Even godly people are tempted to fear and may be temporarily overwhelmed by it (Psalm 55:5). Therefore, God repeatedly counsels his people not to give in to the temptation of fear (Isaiah 8:12; John 14:1, 27). He tells them to cast their anxieties upon God, whose care for his sheep is infinite (1 Peter 5:7). Faith, then, is the only way to fearlessness, as Isaiah tells us: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3, KJV). The psalmists repeatedly mention the need for faith to conquer fear (Psalms 37:1; 46:2; 112:7).

Genuine faith is expressed in, and full of, an awe and reverence for God, and this is the basic meaning of the biblical idea of “fearing God.” Unless we personally realize the awesome and majestic power of God, it is impossible to have meaningful faith in one’s heart (Psalms 5:7; 89:7). Though Christians should be free from the fear of humans (Hebrews 13:6), death (2:15), and life in general (2 Timothy 1:6-7), they must never lose their sense of the awe of God. Such awareness not only leads to true wisdom (Psalm 111:10) but also provides direction for the child of God throughout life (Ephesians 5:21; Philippians 2:12). Those who love God learn about this kind of fear by searching the Scriptures (Proverbs 2:3-5), the Word of God. In Acts 10:2 Cornelius and his family were called “God-fearers” because of their high respect for the God of Israel and because they stood in awe of him. True reverence for God must be expressed in good works and holy living (2 Corinthians 7:1). This holy fear actually brings joy (Psalm 2:11) and a “fountain of life” (Proverbs 14:27). The fear of the Lord is more valuable than riches (15:16) because the Lord takes pleasure in those who hold him in such high regard (Psalm 147:11).

It leads to Compromise, 

To compromise God’s truth or God’s ways or God’s Word or our Christian life is to negotiate away that which is holy. The test of acceptable compromise is simple: Do both sides ultimately win through compromise? Unacceptable compro9mise is giving up too much for what you get. To give up godliness for anything is a bad bargain. You lose and Satan wins.

Jeremiah 3:24 From childhood we have watched as everything our ancestors worked for–their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters–was squandered on a delusion.

Isaiah 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. 

COMPROMISE CAN DULL OUR SENSITIVITY TO SIN.

Exodus 34:12 . . . Be very careful never to make treaties with the people in the land where you are going. If you do, you soon will be following their evil ways.

2 John 1:9-11 . . . If you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God.

Revelation 2:14 . . . I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you who are like Balaam who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to worship idols by . . . committing sexual sin.

A little sin is just as bad as a lot of sin. Sin is sin, and sin is wrong.

HOW DO WE LIVE IN TODAY’S CULTURE WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR CONVICTIONS?

Daniel 1:8-16 . . . Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food . . . He asked . . . permission to eat other things instead . . . and [suggested] ten days on a diet of vegetables and water . . . the attendant finally agreed to Daniel’s suggestion.

We must stand up for what is right and true, but in a respectful manner. Sometimes, as in Daniel’s case, we are respected for our beliefs; other times we are not.

LEARN TO RECOGNIZE THE AREAS IN WHICH YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO COMPROMISE.

Judges 16:15-17 . . . “How can you say you love me when you don’t confide in me?”. . . day after day she nagged him until . . . Samson told her his secret.

We are most likely to compromise in areas where we are spiritually weak.

PLEASURE IS NOT ALWAYS WORTH THE COMPROMISE.

Judges 16:1 . . . One day Samson went to the Philistine city of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute.

Trading morals, national leadership, and allegiance to one’s people for a night of pleasure is a bad compromise. It is giving up too much to get too little. Trading the best of life for a moment of pleasure is a foolish choice.

WHEN I AM NEGOTIATING FOR A COMPROMISE, HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M ABOUT TO MAKE A BAD BARGAIN?

1 Samuel 8:19-20 . . . The people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said, “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will govern us and lead us into battle.”

The people were willing to lose personal and religious freedoms to win military might. Compromise is a bad deal when you trade eternal loyalties for temporal ones.

IS BAD COMPROMISE ALWAYS TRADING AWAY SOMETHING GOOD?

2 Kings 15:3-4 . . . [Uzziah] did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, where the people offered sacrifices and burned incense.

Bad compromise is not always just a bad trade; sometimes it is failing to take the action that you and God know is right. Doing nothing when you know God wants you to do something is another form of bad compromise.

THERE ARE RELATIONSHIPS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND ALLIANCES THAT CAN QUICKLY LEAD US TO COMPROMISE.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 . . . Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

2 Chronicles 18:1 . . . Now Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he arranged for his son to marry the daughter of King Ahab of Israel.

Ezra 4:1-2 . . . The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord . . . They said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God.”

Romans 12:2 . . . Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person.

Partnership, in business or marriage, is teaming up with another to act as one. God warns against a partnership in which one loves God and the other doesn’t, for how can these two different belief systems act as one?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPROMISING AND NEGOTIATING?

Daniel 1:8 . . . Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief official for permission to eat other things instead.

Compromising and negotiating both have the same end goal-the greater good for all parties involved. Daniel was able to negotiate a settlement without compromising his convictions-both the king and Daniel got what they wanted. Whenever you negotiate, never give up your Christian convictions.

WHEN IS COMPROMISE INAPPROPRIATE?

Romans 6:12 . . . Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires.

Compromise is inappropriate when it involves sin of any kind.

1 Samuel 15:24 . . . Saul finally admitted, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.”

Exodus 23:2 . . . Do not join a crowd that intends to do evil.

3 John 1:11 . . . Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good.

When compromise is motivated by people pleasing or following the bad example of others, it is inappropriate.

WHAT IS A DANGER OF INAPPROPRIATE COMPROMISE?

Proverbs 25:26 . . . If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

Exodus 34:12 . . . Be very careful never to make treaties with the people in the land where you are going. If you do, you soon will be following their evil ways.

Compromising with evil causes us to sin.

WHEN IS COMPROMISE APPROPRIATE AND HOW DO WE EFFECTIVELY COMPROMISE?

Ezra 10:3-4 . . . We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. We will obey the law of God. Take courage, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight, and we will cooperate fully.

Within the will of God and the commands he has given us in scripture, it is healthy to mutually give up something for the common good. But we must never give in if it means disobeying the Bible.

Matthew 5:24 . . . Leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

Seeking God’s approval first requires reconciliation with God’s people. Reconciliation means giving up lesser things to gain greater things.

Romans 14:15 . . . If another Christian is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.

A Christian must be willing to avoid those things that offend others in order to maintain unity in the body of Christ. This may require compromising personal preferences, but never Christian convictions.

Romans 15:1 . . . We may know that these things make no difference, but we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves. We must be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think these things are wrong.

We must be willing to compromise what pleases us for the sake of others’ doubts and fears.

Philippians 2:2 . . . Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.

Agreement may mean giving up something “I” want for the sake of what “we” want.

HOW DO I RESPOND APPROPRIATELY WHEN I AM TEMPTED TO COMPROMISE GOD’S WAYS?

1 Chronicles 22:13 . . . If you carefully obey the laws and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses, you will be successful. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!

1 Corinthians 10:13 . . . Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.

1 Corinthians 16:13 . . . Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.

Ephesians 6:11 . . . Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.

It is never appropriate to compromise your Christian convictions.

PROMISES FROM GOD:

1 Chronicles 22:13 . . . If you carefully obey the laws and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses, you will be successful. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!

1 Corinthians 10:13 . . . God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. 

WHAT IS DISTORTION?

Distortion is the alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation.

When a person's perspective is distorted then their reality is misrepresented, perverted, twisted, falsified, misreported, misstated, garbled, inaccurate; biased, prejudiced, slanted, colored, loaded, weighted, altered, or changed.

WE ARE A SPIRIT LIVING IN A BODY.  AS SPIRIT WE NEED TO USE THE MIND OF CHRIST TO RULE THE MIND THAT IS IN OUR BODY.  WHEN WE DO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THINGS FROM A GOD PERSPECTIVE AND GAIN A GOD POINT OF VIEW.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 14:6 Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

Acts 17:28b ...In Him we live, in him we live, and in Him we exist (have our being).

HOW DOES HUMAN PERSPECTIVE DIFFER FROM GOD’S?

BIBLE READING: Exodus 4:1-17

KEY BIBLE VERSE: “Now go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say.” But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send someone else.” (Exodus 4:12-13)

HUMAN PERSPECTIVE IS LIMITED; GOD’S IS UNLIMITED.

Moses pleaded with God to let him out of his mission. After all, he was not a good speaker and would probably embarrass both himself and God. But God looked at Moses’ problem quite differently. All Moses needed was some help-and who better than God could help him say and do the right things? God made his mouth and would give him the words to say. It is easy for us to focus on our weaknesses, but if God asks us to do something, then he will help us get the job done. If the job involves some of our weak areas, then we can trust that he will provide words, strength, courage, and ability where needed.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 16:21-28

KEY BIBLE VERSE: Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God’s.” (Matthew 16:23)

HUMAN PERSPECTIVE TENDS TO BE DISTORTED; GOD’S IS ALWAYS CLEAR.

In his desert temptations, Jesus heard the message that he could achieve greatness without dying (Matthew 4:6). Here he heard the same message from Peter. Peter had just recognized Jesus as Messiah. Here, however, he forsook God’s perspective and evaluated the situation from a human one. Satan is always trying to get us to leave God out of the picture. Jesus rebuked Peter for this attitude.

BIBLE READING: Mark 5:21-43

KEY BIBLE VERSE: He went inside and spoke to the people. “Why all this weeping and commotion?” he asked. “The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep.” (Mark 5:39)

HUMAN PERSPECTIVE IS TEMPORAL; GOD’S PERSPECTIVE IS ETERNAL.

The mourners began to laugh at Jesus when he said, “The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep.” The girl was dead, but Jesus used the image of sleep to indicate that her condition was temporary and that she would be restored.

Jesus tolerated the crowd’s abuse in order to teach an important lesson about maintaining hope and trust in him. Today, most of the world laughs at Christ’s claims, which seem ridiculous to them. When you are belittled for expressing faith in Jesus and hope for eternal life, remember that unbelievers don’t see from God’s perspective. 

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT A VISIBLE, EARTHLY KINGDOM.

The disciples, like most Jews of that day, had the wrong idea of the Messiah’s kingdom as predicted by the Old Testament prophets. They thought Jesus would establish an earthly kingdom that would free Israel from Rome’s oppression, and James and John wanted honored places in it. But Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world; it is centered not in palaces and thrones, but in the hearts and lives of his followers. The disciples did not understand this until after Jesus’ resurrection.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 6:5-15

KEY BIBLE VERSE: May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A REALITY NOW.

The phrase “May your Kingdom come soon” is a reference to God’s spiritual reign, not Israel’s freedom from Rome. God’s kingdom was announced in the covenant with Abraham (8:11; Luke 13:28), is present in Christ’s reign in believers’ hearts (Luke 17:21), and will be complete when all evil is destroyed and God establishes the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1).

BIBLE READING: Matthew 13:1-58

KEY BIBLE VERSE: [Jesus] explained to them, “You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not.” (Matthew 13:11)

THE VALUES OF THE KINGDOM OFTEN RUN COUNTER TO OUR EXPECTATIONS.

All the parables in this chapter teach us about God and his kingdom. For instance, Jesus gives the meaning of the first parable in verses 36-43. Each story explains what the kingdom is really like as opposed to our expectations of it. The kingdom of heaven is not a geographic location, but a spiritual realm where God rules and where we share in his eternal life. We join that kingdom when we trust in Christ as Savior.

THE KINGDOM GROWS ALMOST INVISIBLY AMONG ITS ENEMIES.

The young weeds and the young blades of wheat look the same and can’t be distinguished until they are grown and ready for harvest. Weeds (unbelievers) and wheat (believers) must live side by side in this world. God allows unbelievers to remain for a while, just as a farmer allows weeds to remain in his field so the surrounding wheat isn’t uprooted with them. At the harvest, however, the weeds will be uprooted and thrown away. God’s harvest (judgment) of all people is coming. We are to make ourself ready by making sure that our faith is sincere.

THE KINGDOM WILL ULTIMATELY BE REVEALED IN ITS FULLNESS.

At the end of the world, angels will separate the evil from the good. There are true and false believers in churches today, but we should be cautious in our judgments because only Christ is qualified to make the final separation. If you start judging, you may damage some of the good “plants.” It’s more important to judge our own response to God than to analyze others’ responses.

CITIZENSHIP IN GOD’S KINGDOM IS OUR MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION.

The kingdom of heaven is more valuable than anything else we can have, and a person must be willing to give up everything to obtain it. The man who discovered the treasure in the field stumbled upon it by accident but knew its value when he found it. The merchant was earnestly searching for the pearl of great value and, when he found it, sold everything he had to purchase it.

GOD DETERMINES WHO WILL BE IN HIS KINGDOM.

The parable of the fishing net has the same meaning as the parable of the wheat and weeds. We are to obey God and tell others about his grace and goodness, but we cannot dictate who is part of the kingdom of heaven and who is not. This sorting will be done at the Last Judgment by those infinitely more qualified than we are.

WE CAN LIVE AS CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TODAY.

Anyone who understands God’s real purpose in the law as revealed in the Old Testament has a real treasure. The Old Testament points the way to Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus always upheld its authority and relevance. But there is a double benefit to those who understand Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of heaven. This was a new treasure that Jesus was revealing. Both the old and the new teaching give practical guidelines for faith and for living in the world. The religious leaders, however, were trapped in the old and blind to the new. They were looking for a future kingdom preceded by judgment. Jesus, however, taught that the kingdom was now and the judgment was future. The religious leaders were looking for a physical and temporal kingdom (via military rebellion and physical rule), but they were blind to the spiritual significance of the kingdom that Christ brought.

BIBLE READING: Luke 12:22-34

KEY BIBLE VERSE: He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:31-32)

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS THE KINGSHIP OF CHRIST.

Seeking the kingdom of God means making Jesus the Lord and King of your life. He must control every area-your work, play, plans, relationships. Is the kingdom only one of your many concerns, or is it central to all you do? Are you holding back any areas of your life from God’s control? As Lord and Creator, he wants to help provide what you need as well as guide how you use what he provides. 

Deliverance for Your Destiny 

Foundation Scripture:   Genesis 45:1-7

1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

2 And he wept ° aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard °.

3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Definition of Deliverance:

Strongs Concordance: 6413.  

 pleytah,  pel-ay-taw';  or pletah {pel-ay-taw'}; feminine of 06412; deliverance; concretely, an escaped portion:--deliverance, (that is) escape(-d), remnant

Deliverance is a rescue or redemption, and a deliverer is the agent of such a rescue. Scripture teaches that God’s ultimate goal in history is to rescue people from the curse of sin, death, Satan, and hell. The Old Testament depicts God as delivering his chosen people from Egyptian slavery, from Babylonian captivity, and from oppression at the hands of various Palestinian tribes. To Christians those deliverances foreshadow the coming of Jesus Christ as the ultimate deliverer.

The noun “deliverer” occurs a number of times in the Old Testament. Three times the word refers to a human being. Othniel delivered Israel from subjugation to Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:8-10). Ehud delivered Israel from Eglon, king of Moab (3:15,30). 18:27-29 states that “there was no deliverer” to protect Laish from conquest by Dan’s tribe. Other uses of “deliverer” refer to God himself as personal deliverer of his people (2 Samuel 22:2; Psalm 18:2).

The basic Old Testament concept of deliverer is expressed in a Hebrew word for “next of kin.” A close relative was responsible to aid an individual in distress and to redeem him or her from slavery. God sent deliverance when his people were in danger, or God himself acted as deliverer, uniquely and forcefully in the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 3:7-8).

In the New Testament, Jesus quoted a messianic passage (Isaiah 61:1-2) as describing his own mission to proclaim release (or, deliverance) to the captives (Luke 4:18). In Acts 7:35 Moses is called a “deliverer” of Israel. In Romans 11:26 the apostle Paul paraphrased Isaiah 59:20, saying “A Deliverer will come from Jerusalem”-referring to Jesus Christ.

Egypt was not necessarily a bad place.  It was just a place that the Children of Israel stayed too long!!! It was what happened in Egypt that gave Egypt a bad name.  The deliverance that Moses facilitated by the power of God was a deliverance from the captivity in Egypt not a deliverance from Egypt itself!!! 

This series is based on the belief that God has provided deliverance from the captivity of a mindset that will delay and sometimes even displace our destiny.

God has provided a great deliverance that will enable us to attain our destiny and experience freedom from captivity by this world system by dispelling six strongholds in our lives:

Distraction, Distortion, Deception, Delusion, Dysfunction, Division

Distraction

Distraction is the diversion of attention of an individual or group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of distraction. Distraction is caused by one of the following: lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; greater interest in something other than the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelty or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention. Distractions come from both external sources (physical stimulus through the five senses), or internal sources (thought, emotion, daydreams, physical urges). Divided attention, as in multi-tasking could also be considered as distraction in situations requiring full attention on a single object (e.g., sports, academic tests, performance). Distraction is a major cause of procrastination.

Distortion

A distortion is the alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. Distortion is usually unwanted. In some fields, distortion is desirable, such as electric guitar (where distortion is often induced purposely with the amplifier to achieve the electric guitar's desired, electrifying, aggressive sound).

Deception

Deception is the act of convincing another to believe information that is not true, or not the whole truth as in certain types of half-truths.  Deception involves concepts like propaganda, distraction and/or concealment. Fiction, while sometimes manipulative, is not a deception unless it is portrayed as the whole truth.  In many cases it is difficult to distinguish deception from providing unintentionally wrong information. One of the reasons for this is that a person or an entire organization may be self-deceived.

Delusion

Delusion is commonly defined as a fixed false belief and is used in everyday language to describe a belief that is either false, fanciful or derived from deception. In psychiatry, the definition is necessarily more precise and implies that the belief is pathological (the result of an illness or illness process). As a pathology it is distinct from a belief based on false or incomplete information or certain effects of perception which would more properly be termed an apperception or illusion.

Dysfunction

Dysfunction is when conflict, misbehavior and even abuse on the part of individual members of a group, company, family etc. occur continually, leading other members to accommodate such actions. People who are by-products of that group sometimes engage to the degree that they take on the attitude and understanding that such an arrangement is normal.

Division

Having different minds at different times; unsettled; undetermined.