“Change Your Destiny” (Part II)

Date: 6/1/2011
Speaker: Pastor Johnny Moore

  Where are you headed in life? What is your destiny? If your life continues on the path you’re going today, where will you be in a year? Two years? Five years? If you don’t like what you see, you can change your destiny!

    We began looking at Jabez last week. He had a dim, dark and gloomy future ahead of him. His destiny was sure to be “sorrow, pain, and trouble.” But Jabez chose to do something about his destiny, and so can you.

    You see, we must realize, like Jabez, that God is the only one who can really make the difference in our lives. I Chronicles 4:10 tells us that “Jabez called on the God of Israel.” If we are going to change our destiny, we must start where Jabez started… with Almighty God!

As Jabez called out to God, he asked for four things:

    #1—Bless Me Indeed: Jabez first realized and acknowledged that God is the source of all blessing. James 1:17 tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights …” Jabez cried out to God and said, “God, give me your best!”

#2—Enlarge My Coast: In reality, Jabez was asking God to enlarge his vision. “Lord, let me see your vision for my life. Let me go beyond the borders of sorrow, pain and trouble.” We must realize that God’s plan and potential for our lives is far greater than our own. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope…”

#3—Let Your Hand Be With Me: God’s hand always represents God’s power. Habakkuk 3:4 says, “He had rays coming out of His hand, and there was the hiding of His power.” God’s hand leads, protects, and strengthens. Jabez knew if God’s hand was with him, his destiny would change.

#4—Keep Me From Evil: The enemy, the devil, is always seeking someone to devour (I Peter 5:8). Therefore, Jabez asked God to keep him from evil. Jesus even taught us in Matthew 6:13 to pray that God would “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” I Chronicles 4:10 concludes by telling us that “God granted Jabez that which he requested.” You can change your destiny! But it will never happen without God! Follow the pattern of Jabez, and watch God change your destiny!

 

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