Lesson for July 9, 2023
The Doctrine of a Personal Sense of Destiny
Lesson 2
If a believer is going to develop a personal sense of destiny, they must first have a working knowledge of the Word of God. There is only one way to acquire this knowledge and that is through the diligent study of God’s Word. II Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, handling with accuracy the Word of Truth.
Many Christians will never develop a personal sense of destiny because they are distracted by the world around them. These distractions include, but are not limited to, people, career, money, social life, entertainment, or religion. Not realizing or caring, many believers live only for the “here and now,” which leads to a life of self-induced misery and divine discipline. Everything that is accumulated, while here on earth, will not be taken with us when we depart this life. Only those things we do for God will count in eternity. Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
A personal sense of destiny depends on the grace provision of divine power rather than human power and ability. Human success adds nothing to your spiritual life and your relationship with God. The only success that counts for believers is fulfilling the Protocol Plan of God and the accompanying blessings that follow for both now and in eternity.
Our example of how to glorify God is always Jesus Christ. Jesus established the precedent for living a life of victory. Jesus had the greatest personal sense of destiny that will ever exist. He literally gave up the independent use of His divine attributes in order to be our prototype for living the Christian life. When a believer fails to develop a personal sense of destiny, they are saying in effect that they have no interest in following Christ. (Philippians 2:5-8; Isaiah 50:7; Hebrews 12:1-2)
Jesus relied on the same power options that we have been given as believers. These power options are the filling of the Holy Spirit and accurate Bible doctrine. He did not use His divine power to violate the plan of God (the doctrine of Kenosis) Isaiah 11:2, 42:1; Matthew 12:18; Luke 4:1-14; John 3:34; Hebrews 9:14)
Christ used the same three spiritual skills which have been given to us. The use of the three spiritual skills provides unlimited potential for glorifying God by following the pattern established by Christ. The three spiritual skills are the filling of the Holy Spirit, spiritual metabolism, and using the Problem-Solving Devices. Christ demonstrated that the three spiritual skills could handle greater problems than we will ever face in life. The pressure that was put on Him was more than has ever been on any member of the human race.
Christ’s personal sense of destiny was manifest in all He endured prior to going to the Cross and while on the Cross. He never reacted to the suffering and shame of going to the Cross because He had a personal sense of destiny. Hebrews 12:2, “Be concentrating on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (doctrine), Who because of the joy (happiness) set before Him, endured the Cross and disregarded the shame, then He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
With the same divine power that Christ had, believers have the option of executing the Protocol Plan of God and being filled with all the fullness from God. The result of using this divine power, and executing the Protocol Plan of God, is a life beyond academic knowledge of God’s Word. This life is described in Ephesians 3:14-21 as being filled with all the fullness from God (spiritual knowledge), and God being able to do infinitely more than all we ask for or think, on the basis of the power that works continually for our benefit.
If believers have not established Bible doctrine as their highest priority, then they will never develop a personal sense of destiny. The most miserable people on earth are believers who fail to live their spiritual lives. To miss out on developing a personal sense of destiny and living life in light of eternity, is to miss the greatest blessing this life has to offer.
With the development of a personal sense of destiny comes confidence in God and His eternal plan for your life both now and throughout all eternity. The issue for believers after salvation is whether they will fulfill God’s purpose for their lives and glorify God.
Using the Problem-Solving Devices prevents the outside pressures of adversity from becoming the inside pressures of stress in the soul, gives you accurate and objective application of doctrine, provides motivation for the Christian life, and capacity for receiving greater blessings from God.
A personal sense of destiny is included in the Protocol Plan of God. God gives all believers equal opportunity to fulfill His plan for their lives. Protocol in His plan is a strict adherence to the truth of His Word without any distortion or inaccurate interpretation.
Once again, the three spiritual skills that help develop a personal sense of destiny are the filling of the Holy Spirit, spiritual metabolism of Bible doctrine, and the Problem-Solving Devices.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is to empower believers to live the Christian Way of Life. When a believer is living the Christian Way of Life, they bring glory and honor to Christ. All believers are immediately filled with the Holy Spirit the moment they trust Christ as their Savior. The first time we sin after salvation, we are out of fellowship with God, and we lose the filling of the Holy Spirit as a result. In order to restore our fellowship with God, which restores the filling of the Holy Spirit, we must simply name our known sins to God. (I John 1:9) We are then commanded to move forward with the execution of the Christian Way of Life, which the Scriptures call “walking in the light,” (a synonymous term for being filled with the Holy Spirit. (I John 1:5-10) The filling of the Holy Spirit is potential, depending on the volition (free will) of a believer. In Ephesians 5:18 is a command to “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” The Greek word for “filling” is “pleroo” and has four meanings: 1) To fill up a deficiency 2) To be fully possessed 3) To be fully influenced 4) To be filled with a certain quality.
Spiritual metabolism is when the Holy Spirit converts academic knowledge of accurate Bible doctrine into spiritual knowledge. The Holy Spirit “metabolizes” only what you accept as truth by faith. Doctrine is understood only through the power of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s human spirit. Metabolism is a medical term regarding how the body processes matter that is used for growth, repair, and maintenance. This makes a perfect analogy to the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Physical metabolism is comparable to the various stages of growth.
Only metabolized doctrine in a believer’s soul, when properly applied, can fulfill the plan of God. Colossians 1:9-10, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit (divine production) in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Only metabolized doctrine (absorbed doctrine) can provide greater blessing in the plan of God and give a believer a personal sense of destiny. (II Peter 1:1-11)
II Peter 3:17-18 is the challenge to metabolize accurate Bible doctrine. James 1:19-25 gives the principles of spiritual metabolism of accurate Bible doctrine. Colossians 1:9-12 is the prayer for spiritual metabolism of accurate Bible doctrine.
The Ten Problem-Solving Devices encompass every aspect of the Christian Way of Life, the victorious life that God has planned for every believer. The Problem-Solving Devices are to be used as a system of problem-solving for every Christian, regardless of their stage of growth in their spiritual lives. In other words, no one ever outgrows the need to use all ten. Depending on the problem to be solved, believers may use one or several of the devices simultaneously as the solution to any of life’s challenges. When learned, believed, and applied, this system will stabilize, sustain, empower, and liberate a believer. Consistent utilization of the system will advance a believer far beyond what they can imagine, to a lifestyle of a relaxed mental attitude toward circumstances, toward self, toward others, and most importantly, toward God. By realizing that He is a God of love and grace and has prepared a fantastic future for them for all eternity, a believer can live their life in light of eternity.
God’s plan gave us all the freedom to choose, which means we all develop our own values. As we establish our values, those values dictate the manner in which we live our lives. Therefore, we can live in light of eternity, or we can live for the “here and now.” It’s our choice! Philippians 2:14-16, “Do all things without complaining or arguments; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding firmly (focus on) the Word of Life (Bible doctrine), so that on the day of Christ I can take pride because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.”