Whiners Can't Go With Vision Makers: Decisions Shape Your Destiny

Sermon outline

God has a plan for your life, but your destiny is shaped by the decisions you make, so make them wisely, think long term and work with God to fulfil His purpose.

1. Three decisions that changed my life

   God has a plan and purpose, but you must work with Him to shape your destiny. He decided to give his life totally to Christ, to be all he could be and never settle for less, and to raise his standards, values and expectations. That meant leaving some people behind, because not everyone is meant to go into your future.

   Illustration: Those decisions began a journey that let him meet thousands of people, write books, reach many lives on television, and read hundreds of books, listen to tapes and take classes.

   “You cannot take everybody into your future because everybody is not meant to go into your future.”

   • Jeremiah 17:7-8
   • Colossians 1:16
   • John 10:10
   • Philippians 4:13

2. The power of a decision

   Everything in life, success or failure, begins with a decision, and today's decisions determine tomorrow. Don't decide in a hurry or when you are tired, and don't let salespeople or anyone else pressure you; play for time, pray about it and consult God, because those led by the Spirit are the sons of God.

   Illustration: He has heard that some American presidents made no important decisions after three in the afternoon, deciding only while their minds were fresh. When a salesman says the discount ends at 4 p.m., he replies that he has the favour of God and will get a discount tomorrow.

   “Our destiny is shaped by our decisions.”

   • Romans 8:14

3. 1. Have a goal or dream of what you want your future to be

   Whatever your age, picture your future: put it on a wall, dream about it, talk about it and speak it into existence, because you will have what you say. Others may not believe in you, but God and you are the majority.

   “God and you are the majority.”

   • Mark 11:23

4. 2. Ask yourself the right questions

   Ask what you can do this month or this year to change your future, which habit is holding you back, and which course, lesson or action will lift you to the next level. Prudence avoids repeated punishment. Tithing should be as natural as brushing your teeth, because the seed that leaves your hand goes into your future and multiplies.

   Illustration: He tells young people it is better to downsize the car and pay the tithe, so God can give them money for a better car and a better house.

   “Seed that leaves your hand never exits your life.”

   • Proverbs 27:12
   • 2 Corinthians 9:10
   • 1 Samuel 2:30
   • Proverbs 16:3-9
   • Proverbs 4:18

5. 3. Take appropriate action at the appropriate time

   When a good opportunity comes, don't delay or procrastinate. If you can afford a sound investment like a property, take it. He believes every child of God should own a house and a car and be prospering, because the spirit of poverty is a curse believers do not belong to.

   “I don't have a testimony I was rich now I'm poor. I have this testimony: I was poor but now I'm rich.”

   • Deuteronomy 28:6

6. 4. Set your standards and raise them

   Know what you expect of yourself and act accordingly, because your standards will limit or release your possibilities. Respect every person whatever their station, and stay away from strife and offence, which block God's blessing.

   Illustration: As a young man he decided to stop using vulgar and slang words and to choose good English, and it changed how he thinks, speaks and writes.

   “The spirit of strife and the spirit of offense is a blessing blocker.”

   • Galatians 6:7
   • Deuteronomy 32:30

7. 5. Concentrate on the things that count

   Discipline yourself to meditate on what matters, invest your resources where they will be most productive, and keep growing through new knowledge, new friendships, creativity and innovation.

   “Don't major in minor things. Take minor things and do it in a major way.”

8. 6. It is not your condition but your decisions that matter

   God makes the eternal decisions and has set His laws in place, but your day-to-day decisions are yours, and the Holy Spirit is given to help you make them. Never decide in anger; think about what will happen tomorrow and next week, and be grateful for what you have.

   Illustration: Someone told him they were making a decision because they were angry and did not care about the consequences; he warned them the consequences would visit them in two or three days.

   “When we make a decision, we've got to think long-term.”

9. 7 and 8. Follow through, and think long term

   Don't make decisions you don't intend to keep; commit to them and cut off whatever hinders you. You cannot change your life overnight: Moses spent forty years and another forty before he led God's people. Success and failure are the harvest of small seeds planted along the way.

   “Failure or success are not made overnight.”

10. 9. Avoid decisions based on short-term gratification

    Don't go deeper into debt for the dress, the car or the suit; tell God your desire and wait for the money. Practical prudence is not unspiritual: take dominion over your own 'garden of Eden' by drawing up a will, taking out a funeral policy and insuring what you own, so your family is safe.

    Illustration: About twenty years earlier, after a careful discussion with his wife, he took out a long-term insurance policy because 'we are getting older, not younger', and he is glad he did. He also tells of a doctor who would not insure his expensive car because God would protect it.

    “God's delays are not God's denials.”

    • Genesis 1:28
    • Genesis 2:15

11. 10 and 11. Setbacks are not permanent; be willing to change

    Failures, obstacles and adversities are not permanent, and if you persist long enough God will give the breakthrough. You can change almost anything in your life if you have enough motivation. The recording stops partway through this eleventh point.

    “If you persist long enough God will give you the breakthrough.”